creating Ontario's
young innovators
Board of Directors
Youth Science Ontario is governed by a board of directors whose members share a commitment to the development of project-based science and technology, innovation and excellence by elementary and secondary school students.
We thank the following Board members for their tireless commitment to youth science in Ontario:
Mr. Lorne Heslop, Chair – Ottawa
Lorne has spent much of his career at the interface of government, industry and the public. After spending a decade in industry, Lorne joined Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa in 1982. Over the next 25 years, he worked as a research engineer, science policy director and finally as Director of Science and Innovation before retiring in 2008. Lorne has been active in the youth science movement since 1994.
Dr. Patrick Whippey, Vice Chair – London
Patrick Whippey is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Western Ontario. He has long been involved with outreach activities, notably the Science Olympics and Science Fairs, at all levels. Chief Judge at the CWSF in 2000, he is currently the Chair of Youth Science Canada's Selection Panel for Team Canada-ISEF, the team of students who represent the country at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
Ms. Lorraine Cantin, Member - Timmins
Lorraine Cantin is a key member of the Timmins Science Community playing a major role in their superb network of varied science programs and events. She has served as an Area Representative for Sci-Tech after her retirement from a full career in education as a teacher, consultant, principal, teacher at Laurentian University’s Faculty of Education, and coordinator of a Teacher Resource Network for Northern Ontario. Lorraine also co-chaired the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Timmins in 1998.
Dr. Patricia Gillies, Member - Thunder Bay
Patricia has a PhD in Marine Geophysics (Auckland, New Zealand) & teaches as an occasional sessional lecturer in geology & geophysics at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay. She became involved in the Northwestern Ontario Regional Science Fair in 1987 as Chief Judge, and has held a number of positions since, including Chair for the last 10 years. Additional science fair tasks have included running: judges’ training workshops at both school & regional level in Thunder Bay, an intermediate level enrichment science fair class in Auckland, NZ, & science fair training workshops for student teachers at Lakehead University’s Faculty of Education. Patricia lives in Thunder Bay with her husband & 5 children.
Mr. Mike Newnham, Member - London
After 25 years as a science teacher, enrichment teacher and computer consultant, Mike spent nine years as the science learning coordinator for grades 7 to 12 with the Thames Valley District School Board where he developed an initiative called Smarter Science to support teachers in the delivery of hands-on, inquiry-based learning. In 2008 Mike joined the staff of Youth Science Canada to further develop and promote this initiative.
Dr. Mira Ray, Member - Toronto
Mira Ray brings to Youth Science Ontario a combination of expertise in health sciences and a solid business background. She completed a BSc in Biochemistry, a MSc in Immunology and a PhD in Pathology. In 2006, Mira received a Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Science to Business scholarship and went on to complete an MBA at the Richard Ivey School of Business. She is a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in Toronto and has worked in many industries including health care, retail, and oil and energy. Her example and insight into how science can open doors to all sorts of exciting opportunities beyond the traditional careers will be greatly valued as we continuously aim to encourage Ontario’s youth to pursue education and careers in Science, Technology and Engineering.
Dr. William Smith, Member - Oshawa
Dr. Smith is the Founding Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Ontario's only fully laptop university, which accepted its first students in fall, 2003. With a goal at the outset of being both a research-intensive and student-centric university, by 2006 UOIT has grown to over 4300 students, has several prestigious Canada Research Chair positions, and will initiate several graduate programs in fall 2007. Dr. Smith has a keen interest in promoting science to youth and to the general public, and he has initiated several outreach events at UOIT, including the rebirth of the Durham Regional Science Fair and the launch in Fall 2006 of an innovative 3-year program directed at the encouragement of youth project-based science, in collaboration with Youth Science Foundation Canada and funded by Ontario's Youth Science and Technology Outreach Program (YSTOP) and local industry partners . William has also acted as a judge for Team Canada selection and given presentations at Canada-Wide Science Fairs.
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