BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Victoria Gibb-Carsley
Executive Director
Victoria was born and raised in Perth. She moved back after 38 years of work in adult education and social justice both abroad and in Canada. She knows how fortunate she is to be working for PDCF, an organization that believes in the importance of community as much as she does. Victoria feels privileged to contribute her efforts locally just as her parents, John and Natalie, did before her.
Shannon Baillon
Board President
Shannon has lived in the Perth area for more than 20 years and loves everything it has to offer. She has served in the military, worked for engineering and IT companies, and most recently for the Town of Perth. She is thrilled to be part of the PDCF and is very proud of the positive impact it has on our community.
Youssef Sawan
Board Vice-President
Joseph Sawan – better known as Youssef – was born and raised in Kansas and moved to Canada in 2009. He currently lives in Lanark on a hobby farm with his spouse, three kids and three dogs. When he isn’t hanging out with his sheep, he teaches Sociology part-time at the University of Ottawa and performs in community theatre productions in Perth. Over the past decade, he has also worked and volunteered with several community organizations in the Lanark Highlands and Perth area, including Plan B and The Table Community Food Centre.
Terry Daly
Board Treasurer
Terry moved to Perth with his wife Ann and his daughter’s family in 2022. He is retired from a 37 year career with Xerox in finance and marketing. Terry enjoys golf and cooking and volunteering at the Table.
Ann Hawthorne
Board Secretary
Ann has lived in Perth and District for over 30 years now. She has been involved in local theatre for most of them, and ran Tickets Please for 10 of them. While going through the list of Community grantees she realized how many have touched the lives of herself, family and friends.
Alyson Colòn
Director
Alyson moved to Perth in 2022 with her partner, two children, and parents. She works remotely for a non-profit organization in Nunavut and is actively involved in the community through her work and volunteer roles with The Table and Girl Guides. She values the vibrant network of non-profit organizations in Perth that do so much for the community and is excited to support this work in her new role as a board member.
Evelyne Guindon
Director
Evelyne enjoyed a long career leading international non-governmental organizations and brings experience in program delivery, resource mobilization, governance, collective action and partnerships. She’s worked on a wide range of social justice issues including gender equality, food security, nutrition, children’s rights and climate change. After moving to the Perth area in 2023 she is eager to dedicate her time serving this beautiful and caring community as a board member of the PDCF.
Deb McGuire
Director
Deb McGuire has a great deal of community based professional and volunteer experience. She is a Registered Social Worker who runs a Psychotherapy practice in the Perth area. Some of the things Deb appreciates most about the PDCF are that it is community centred, embodies principles of shared and collaborative leadership and works with organizations to support creative and necessary community initiatives.
Bob Mingie
Director
Bob is retired from 36 years with IBM Canada. He moved to Lanark Highlands in 2007, and volunteers with Lanark & District Civitan Club, Lanark & District Chapter of the Ontario Woodlot Association and Lanark County Tourism Association. Bob feels that the PDCF provides a mechanism to turn a current contribution of his time, experience and talents into an enduring legacy towards the success of his local community.
Stephen Scott
Director
Steve is a fifth generation Perthite and a mixed animal veterinarian with deep agricultural roots in Lanark County. He knows that the PDCF is an ideal organization to enhance Perth and District as a great place to work, play and raise a family.
Wendy Shatner
Director
Wendy is a former Federal Public Servant, with twenty-three years experience in social policy development in a number of departments. She has a Masters in Social Work in Policy and Social Administration. Since moving to the Perth area in 2018 she has volunteered at The Table, Lanark County Community Action Network, and has been chairperson of the Friends of the Perth and District Union Library. Wendy is honoured to be on the board of the PDCF, and looks forward to supporting the Foundation’s good works.
Rachel Simon
Director
Rachel is an active mom, leader with Girl Guides of Canada, and contract researcher currently focused on accessibility and equity in remote communities. A resident of Lanark Highlands and Perth for much of the past 30 years, she feels honoured to give back in a meaningful way to the community she loves through her work with PDCF.
Derek Zeisman
Director
Derek has called Perth home since 2021. He works as a lawyer with Global Affairs Canada, where he specializes in international oceans and environment law. He is an active local volunteer, serving as Chair of the Perth Family Health Team and Vice-President of the Friends of Murphys Point Park. He is also a member of the Perth Lions Club, volunteers with the Friends of Perth & District Union Library, and is a regular blood donor. (Please consider donating – you could save a life!) Derek is honoured to be a PDCF director, and looks forward to supporting the many fine contributions the Foundation makes to strengthen our community.