Board of Directors
Maurice Brenner, Chairman and Board Member since 2022
Councillor Brenner, a City of Pickering resident for over 30 years, is dedicated to building an inclusive community, strengthening local neighbourhoods and sustainability. Along side partner Anne, they raised a blended family of 4 children locally and are now proud grandparents. After retiring as Managing Director for Human Rights, Diversity and Fairness, Maurice is now a self employed Senior Human Rights Consultant, working to promote equality and fairness across Canada. First elected to council for Ward 1 in 1985, he served for over 20 years in both City and Regional roles. Maurice returned to council in 2016 and has served in a number of roles including Acting and Interim Mayor, Chair of Sustainable Pickering, President of Durham Regional Non-profit Housing and Co-Chair of Pickering Ajax Transit. He has also served on a number of City and Regional Committees and is Vice Chair of the Pickering Public Library Board. Maurice is a proud recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, recognizing his 40 years of dedication and work in the community.
Rhonda Mulcahy, Board Member since 2021
Councillor Rhonda Mulcahy is a Durham Region Councillor at the Town of Whitby. A life-long resident of Brooklin, in the north of Whitby, and a Whitby Councillor since 2016. Rhonda owns and operates a small community newspaper and as a result has been a known advocate for her community for decades. The committees of council Rhonda sits on reflect her commitment to the health and well being of a community. At Durham Region she is the Accessibility Council Representative, the Whitby Transit Commissioner, a member of the Finance Committee as well as sits on the Board of CLOCA. Locally, Rhonda is the Active Transportation Council Representative for Whitby. As an active PADI Advanced Scuba Diver Rhonda places great value and gratitude in the volunteers of PARA Marine Search and Rescue.
Lisa Bower, Board Member since 2023
Lisa is the Local Councillor of Ward 3 in the Town of Ajax. Born in Ajax, Lisa grew up in Toronto and moved back to Ajax in 1999 to raise her family. Prior to being elected to Ajax Council in 2018, Lisa’s passion for volunteerism guided her involvement with many organizations throughout the years including Feed the Need Durham, Canadian Cancer Society, Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe, and most recently with Durham Outlook for the Needy, and Girls Inc. Professionally, Lisa has worked for over 30 years in the financial and insurance industry with expertise in training & development and building client service relationships. Since joining Council, Lisa has served on the Ajax Heritage Advisory Committee, Ajax Accessibility Committee, Downtown Ajax BIA, Ajax Homelessness Task Force, Ajax Indigenous Community and Healing Garden Committee, Ajax Pickering Butterflyway Rangers, and the Ajax Pickering Road Watch Committee. Lisa enjoys being part of a team and welcomes the opportunity to learn and grow as a new member of PARA Marine Search and Rescue Board..
Keenan Watters, Board Member since 2019
Keenan Watters grew up in Toronto (West Hill) where he attended the University of Toronto before settling down in Ajax with his wife and two children. Keenan has spent 32 years working in the marina industry starting as far back during his high school years. He has been employed by Bluffers Park Marina, Ontario Place Marina and Port Whitby Marina. For 20 years he has been working for the Town of Whitby as a Manager of Marina & Harbour Facilities. Taking a strong interest in his community, Keenan enjoys teaching as a Certified Sail Canada instructor and coaching hockey locally.
John Rycroft, Board Member since 2015
John Rycroft, originally from Whitby, returned in 1984 after graduation in 1974 from the University of Western Ontario and 10 years working in the computer industry. Mr. Rycroft then spent 31 years with the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), first managing computerization of their Records Systems and then Dispatching/9-1-1 systems. After obtaining the position of Financial Services Manager, he oversaw budgeting, purchasing, Accounts Payable and Receivable, and financial Reporting to Senior Command and the Police Services Board. After 20 years in this position, he retired from DRPS in 2015. Mr. Rycroft has been active in charitable works including Ontario Special Olympics, Canadian Blood Services, Masonry, and with Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons both as local squadron officer and at District levels. An avid sailor, Mr. Rycroft has sailed out of Port Whitby Marina since 2003. Other interests include hiking, reading, golfing, canoeing, and camping.
Samuel Cummings, Board Member since 2021
Samuel is a long time Brooklin resident and has been a member of Frenchman’s Bay Yacht Club since 2012 serving in such capacities as Chair of the Membership Committee, Vice Commodore, Commodore and Past Commodore. Professionally, he is currently the AVP & Market Lead, Ontario Region at Canadian Western Bank and has 18 years of experience in the financial services industry including a mix of Personal, Wealth and Commercial Banking. Samuel currently hold his CFP® through the Financial Planning Standards Council – FPSC – as well as his PFP® through the Canadian Securities Institute – CSI. Samuel is also a member of the Financial Services Program Advisory committee with Seneca College and Centennial College as well as a past member of the Exam Review Committee – Applied Financial Planning with the Canadian Securities Institute. In his free time, Samuel enjoys cooking, travelling and hitting the links. In the summer, you will find Samuel spending time sailing on Lake Ontario with his wife Christina and children Gabriella & Ethan
Colin Thomson (PARA Marine SAR Member), Commodore since 2016 www.linkedin.com/in/colinathomson
Colin grew up in Ajax and spent most of his life in Durham Region. While obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics) from Queens University, he began a 10-year Canadian Armed Forces Navy officer reserve role. He served on both east and west coast vessels with 3 reserve units. In parallel, Colin undertook a 17 year career in information technology, joining Ontario Power Generation in 2007. Since 2020, Colin has led Beachcomber Management and Marine Services successfully combining his management, information technology and maritime skills. He is a contributing expert in crowdsource bathymetry solutions with Orange Force Marine supporting Lakebed 2030 and Seabed 2030. Colin, a PARA Marine Search and Rescue and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteer since 2012, has completed over 60 search and rescue missions. As Commodore (unit leader), held since 2016, he is leading the unit’s focus on crew development, financial sustainability, and vessel management. Colin serves as SAR instructor and District Training Coordinator. Colin is also an active sailor on the Great Lakes.
Gary Endicott (PARA Marine SAR Member), Past Commodore since 2016, Board Member since 2003
Gary Endicott grew up in Scarborough and after graduating from Seneca College with a Technologists Diploma in 1979, Gary began a career with Bell Canada which lasted until his retirement in 2011. Gary Endicott has been a member of the PARA Marine SAR since 1972. Mr. Endicott was the past Commodore from 3 times during 2003-2008 and 2011-2016. Gary Endicott has completed over 50 search and rescue (SAR) missions. He currently is a past president of the CCGA Central and Arctic region and serves as the CCGA District 1 Director.
Rob Anderson (PARA Marine SAR Member), Board Member since 2009
Rob Anderson grew up in Toronto and has Bachelors and Masters Degrees in engineering from the University of Toronto. He retired in 2017 from a 34-year career with Ontario Power Generation. He has been a member of PARA Marine SAR since 1986 and was commodore during the period 2009-2011. Rob has also been a CCGA instructor in marine search and rescue for 14 years, as well as a District Commander and a Director for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. He has completed over 50 search and rescue (SAR) missions.
Mark Poray (PARA Marine SAR Member) Board Member since 2021
Dr. Mark Poray grew up in Ottawa and Don Mills. After graduating from York University in 1975 with an honours degree in Physical Education and working for 6 years in recreation administration, he returned to school and graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1985 and has spent over 36 years in Durham Region specializing in sports medicine. He has treated athletes from around the world at 2 Pan Am games, 1 Olympic Games, 1 Invictus Games and many World and National Championships. He is currently on the medical staff of the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League. Mark joined PARA Marine Search and Rescue in 2015 and has been part of the regular and emergency call-out crews since then
Jennifer McGuinty, Volunteer Secretary / Treasurer since 2015
Jennifer McGuinty attended the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto studying Geology and Physics. After working as a geoscientist in Northern Ontario and overseas she spent a number of years at home caring for her children and volunteering – including President of the YWCA of Kirkland Lake and later Treasurer of the Pickering Swim Club. Returning to the work force she moved into office management and finance support roles in the service, manufacturing and exploration sectors. After running a private investor relations firm and being the Corporate Secretary for a publicly traded company she semi retired, now taking bookkeeping contracts.
