The people behind GBFN
Alexandria Hamelin
Executive Director and Founder
Alex created Georgian Bay Food Network to provide a welcoming, supportive environment for people in need of food assistance, and to help eliminate the social stigma associated with food insecurity. As Executive Director, she is responsible for the overall management and direction of GBFN, working with our volunteers, donors, sponsors and partners to get food on tables today and open paths to a better tomorrow.
Born in Midland to a family of Ojibwe heritage, Alex carries on a tradition of giving back exemplified by her grandmother, who in 1960 founded an organization devoted to supporting children with developmental needs. Through GBFN, Alex’s strives to focus the community’s energy and generosity on making sure no one goes hungry.
Mary Moreau
Community Resource Navigator
Once clients have met their immediate food needs at GBFN, Mary guides them to other sources of support, helping navigate access to programs and services that foster self-sufficiency. Recently retired from the provincial Ministry of Community and Social Services Income Maintenance Branch, Mary worked for 29 years with the County of Simcoe Social Services Division.
Starting her career as a case manager, she went on to supervise Ontario Works offices across the region, as well as programs focused on housing retention, discretionary benefits and emergency social services. She also represented Simcoe County on many committees and collaborated with other agencies to support individuals facing multiple barriers. Mary’s goal is to help people get the support they need right now while working to address the root causes of food insecurity.
Current GBFN Board of Directors
Robert Dolan
Chair and Non-Executive Director
Bob, who also serves as President of GBFN, is a retired executive with wide-ranging board and senior management experience. He chaired the board of engineering firm DST Group Inc. from 2013 to 2018 and was a director of GCT Global Container Terminals Inc. from 2007 to 2015. He was also a director of Hamilton Utilities Corporation from 2000 to 2012, serving from 2006 as chair of its jointly owned subsidiary, Horizon Utilities Corporation.
Progressing through executive roles with Bank of Montreal and John Labatt Limited, Bob completed his corporate career as a Senior Vice President with CN Railway from 1996 to 2001. He has since worked as an independent management consultant and executive coach.
Leo Houle
Non-Executive Director
Leo, who also serves as Secretary and Treasurer of GBFN, is a retired executive with extensive corporate and board experience in Canada and internationally. He was an independent director of global farm equipment manufacturer CNH Industrial (formed through the mergers of Case Corporation, New Holland N.V. and Fiat Industrial) from 2006 to 2023. He was also on the board of Chrysler Group, later Fiat Chrysler, from 2011 to 2016.
Leo’s management career, which includes progressive senior roles in banking and the packaging industry, culminated in his appointment as Chief Talent Officer of BCE and Bell Canada in 2001 — the position from which he retired in 2008.
We believe in sound, ethical governance.
Georgian Bay Food Network (GBFN) is a not-for-profit organization and a registered charity in Canada. (Registration number: 775169261 RR0001.) As a non-affiliated social service organization, we focus solely on meeting a vital need in the communities we serve — helping people overcome food insecurity with dignity and respectful support — while ensuring our long-term financial sustainability.
GBFN is governed by a board of directors that adheres to recognized best practices with regard to fiduciary responsibility and strategic development. The current size and composition of the board reflect the fact that GBFN is still in an early phase of its evolution; succession planning is underway to ensure future continuity.
GBFN’s Executive Director, while a full board member, is excluded from any decisions that could result in a potential or perceived conflict of interest.
Board meetings follow a regular schedule. The minutes from each meeting are signed by all directors and secured in GBFN’s confidential files.
Since our founding, GBFN has implemented externally validated systems and procedures to ensure sound financial controls. These are reviewed annually.
The GBFN board has engaged highly experienced professional advisors to support and augment directors’ capabilities. Legal counsel is provided by Iler Campbell LLP, an Ontario law firm that that has specialized in serving charities for more than 40 years. Accounting and tax expertise is provided by Loftus Allen & Co., Chartered Professional Accountants, founded in 1926.