Member Biographies

Mr. Gilbert Barrette 106 Langlois Avenue La Sarre, Quebec J9Z 2P5 Tel.: (613) 957-1968 Fax: (613) 957-1176

Mr. Barrette worked as a high school teacher and then as a principal for primary and secondary schools, specializing in helping children with learning disabilities. Also a volunteer in the health sector, he was president of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Regional Board of Health and Social Services for 16 years.

He served as an elected Member of Parliament for the riding of Témiscamingue in 2003-2004. He also sat on the Standing Committee on Health and the Special Commitee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs, and was a member of the Prime Minister's Caucus Task Force on Seniors.

Gilbert Barrette was born in St-Eugène de Guigues, Témiscamingue, and has lived in La Sarre, Abitibi, for the past 41 years. With his wife Rita, Mr. Barrette has three children, Alain, Martin and Sylvie, and six grandchildren.

Mr. Lloyd Brunes 47099 McKenzie Hwy. Hay River, Northwest Territories X0E 0R0 Tel.: (867) 874-6847 Fax: (867) 874-6433

Lloyd Brunes is a National Advisory Council on Aging member from the Northwest Territories. Until he retired in 1995, he was Superintendent of Public Works for the Town of Hay River. He has been the NWT representative of the Seniors' Advisory Council for the past three years and a member of the Board of Directors of the NWT Seniors Society for four years. Mr. Brunes is an untiring volunteer with and for the seniors/elders of the community. He believes that volunteer work benefits the giver as well as the receiver and encourages seniors to stay healthy and involved. He was guest speaker at the launch of the 2001 International Year of Volunteers in Yellowknife.

Mr. Brunes was reappointed to Council in June 2005 for a three-year term.

Ms. Bhupinder Kaur Dhillon 6963 Jubilee Avenue Burnaby, British Columbia V5J 4B4 Tel.: (613) 957-1968 Fax: (613) 957-1176

Ms. Bhupinder Dhillon has been a volunteer on committees and fundraising events for organizations as varied as the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, the Multicultural Society, Adoptive families of Greater Vancouver, the Cancer Society, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. She is currently a board member of the Burnaby Multicultural Society, where issues of cultural diversity in health care are of great concern.

Ms. Dhillon, who has a background in accounting, is customer service representative with Vancity Credit Union. She lives with her husband in Burnaby, British Columbia, where they have raised their four children. She was appointed to NACA in August 2005 for a three-year term.

Mr. Robert R. Dobie 1693 Desmarchais Blvd Montréal, Quebec H4E 2B5 Tel.: (514) 766-8805

Robert Dobie was an educator in Montreal for over 30 years, occupying a wide range of positions from teacher to Department Head. He has also been an active community worker for most of his adult life.

Mr. Dobie has been a volunteer director of Caritas, a summer camp for Youth, of the Social services committee of Catholic Community Services and its United Way campaign, of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, of the Ville Emard CLSC and of the Yvon Brunet residence. He has experience as a columnist and in labour relations and was a founding member of Alliance Quebec. He is the founder and current president of the Holy Cross Residence (a residential complex for seniors) and also serves on the Board of the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal.

Mr. Dobie was appointed to NACA on May 18, 2005, for a 3-year term.

Mr. Reg MacDonald 7500 Route 117 Miramichi Bay, New Brunswick E1N 5L4 Tel.: (506) 228-4436 Fax: (506) 228-9103

Reg MacDonald is a National Advisory Council on Aging member from New Brunswick who has a long experience serving his fellow Canadians. An electrician by trade, he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1979. Over the years, he was active on a number of legislative committees and served as Party Whip and Deputy Speaker. In 1998, he became New Brunswick's first Minister of State for Seniors, working with seniors' groups and on their behalf to raise awareness on the needs and issues of seniors. Mr. MacDonald continues to work for seniors through his contribution to NACA, a Citizens Advisory Committee and his Parish Council. He has also served on the local recreational council, School Board and professional association.

Mr. MacDonald was appointed to Council in October 2000 for a two-year term and was subsequently reappointed in 2002 and 2004 for two-year terms.

Mr. Verdon Mercer P.O. Box 121 10 Ringwood Crescent Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador A0A 4E0 Tel.: (613) 957-1968 Fax: (613) 957-1176

Verdon Mercer graduated from Memorial University and had a rewarding career as a senior high school teacher, focusing on studies dealing with religious, historical, social and cultural values.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Mercer has volunteered as guitar teacher, career guidance counsellor, and cultural guide. Mr. Mercer has long been a supporter and performer at folk festivals around his home province and he continues to provide entertainment at charitable events and in seniors' retirement homes. He has served on various committees of his church at the parish and provincial levels, and helped establish and chair the first chapter of the Canadian Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis in his region.

Verdon Mercer lives in Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland with his wife Mary; they have three children and two grandchildren. He was appointed to NACA in September 2005, for a three-year term.

Ms. Roberta Morgan #310 - 100 Lambert Street Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 1Z2 Tel.: (613) 957-1968 Fax: (613) 957-1176

Roberta Morgan was born in British Columbia and moved to the Yukon with her family when she was 7 years old. She devoted her early adult life to raising her children then returned to studies and work, eventually completing her career with the Yukon Housing Corporation. After retirement from paid employment, she opened up her own business and is currently semi-retired again.

Ms. Morgan is an active volunteer and has dedicated countless hours to children's and seniors' affairs. She is past president of the Yukon Council on Aging and is still deeply involved with the Council's issues of concern. She has compiled for the Council information for a 70-page Seniors Crime Prevention Booklet to be published in the near future. She currently participates on many committees on issues of elder abuse, health, transportation, ageism, seniors' safety, etc.

Ms. Morgan was appointed to NACA on June 22, 2005, for a 3-year term.

Mr. Mohindar Singh 32 Ambergate Dr. Winnipeg, Manitoba R2P 2R7 Tel.: (204) 694-9456 Fax: (204) 694-9456

Mr. Mohindar Singh has had a successful career as a teacher, school administrator, program consultant, college professor and psychologist, also working at the community level promoting talent development, conflict resolution, creative problem solving and heritage language teaching. He has considerable knowledge of seniors' health and communication issues, having developed workshops, health surveys and interactive sessions to address geriatric problems. He has worked throughout his life to eradicate racism and promote the civic participation of all Canadians. He was recently awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal.

Mr. Mike Sommerville 8767 Twiss Road Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel.: (613) 957-1968 Fax: (613) 957-1176

A chartered accountant by trade, Mike Sommerville has spent his professional career in the financial services industry. He enjoys active pursuits such as squash, skiing and hiking. He contributes to the community through his involvement in addiction programs, sports programs, and more recently seniors programs.

Mike Sommerville is the NACA member from Campbellville, Ontario. He was appointed to Council in October 2005 for a three-year term.