OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lisa Nicol
Board Chair
Registered Nurse
Lisa has volunteered for AOTC since it opened in 2017 as a shelter host as well as on the initial Steering Committee. Growing up in the community she has always had a concern for the marginalized members of our community. Being part of the Board enables Lisa to work with like-minded individuals to make a difference in these people’s lives.
Andrew Mackenzie
Vice-Chair/Maintenance Director
Farmer – Mackenzie Corn
Andrew is a life-long resident of the Alliston area, and a self-employed farmer. He has been involved with Alliston Out of the Cold since the planning stages. As a member of the Alliston Christian Fellowship (Anchor Point) Church, he has been overseeing the maintenance of the building for some time. It was in this roll, that he met with like-minded people, and the idea of Alliston Out of The Cold was born. Apart from being a member of the Board of Directors, Andrew continues to look after maintaining the building, performing yearly renovations to better the use of the space and is always on call during the winter months to fix and repair any problems that arise.
Melissa Marshall
Board Treasurer
Manager, Continuing Education and Corporate Training – Georgian College
Melissa is a relative newcomer to the Alliston area, having lived in Alliston since 2015. She is currently the Manager, Continuing Education and Corporate Training with Georgian College and has acted as Treasurer and Chair for various non-profit organizations in her home province of Nova Scotia. When not at work or performing her duties for Alliston Out of the Cold, Melissa can be found on the baseball diamond, in her garden or playing with her two beautiful boys. A lover of people, and a strong believer in social-responsibility, Melissa is grateful to volunteer her time for Alliston Out of the Cold.
Cindy Poole
Board Secretary
Speech-Language Pathologist
Cindy has called New Tecumseth home for the past 20 years. She is a speech-language pathologist who enjoys gardening and traveling. Cindy deeply appreciates living in a clean, safe town with a high level of community engagement. She believes that all community members deserve the opportunity to live a secure, healthy life. Cindy volunteers her time as the Secretary of the Board, helping to keep everyone organized and informed.
Martha Whelton
Director of Food/Meals
Teacher – SMCDSB
Martha grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. After graduating from Carleton University, she spent 6 years living and working with the sisters of Mother Teresa in various locations both in the States and further abroad which awoke in her a passion for helping marginalized populations. Her love for travel has allowed her to see the beauty of God’s creation while giving her both a perspective and appreciation of multiple cultures. She now teaches with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board where she is able to share her passion for social justice with teenagers. Martha serves as the Director of Food/Meal
Sandy Doyle
Director of Donations
Administrator – BDO Canada LLP
As a long-time resident of New Tecumseth, Sandy has benefitted from the love and kindness of the community in the face of tragedy. She has worked with BDO Canada LLP for the last 8 years and has been a volunteer with Alliston Out of the Cold since it’s first season. She got involved with AOTC because she is a great believer in giving back to the community who has been there for her and given her strength through some very difficult times. After our first season, Sandy was asked to join the team, unofficially, as a manager of physical donations, keeping our inventory clean, organized and stocked; she joined our Board in an official capacity at its inception. Sandy believes that everyone has something to offer and the smallest of gestures can be the one thing that gets someone through their day.
Christine Molenaar
Director of Fundraising
Owner of Circle Theatre and Cool Moose Ice Cream
Christine is a local business owner, born and raised in New Tecumseth. She is the owner of the Circle Theatre and Cool Moose Ice Cream and also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for 100+Women New Tecumseth. Through her businesses and volunteer work she pours her heart into the community around her. Christine is married with four beautiful children. Christine is the head of our fundraising committee and is passionate about supporting the shelter and the people it connects with.
Brenda Powling
Community Coordinator
Addiction & Community Service Worker
Brenda has been married for 25 years and is a mom to 4 adult children. She has been working in the field of people care for a long time in various roles. She is an Addiction and Community Services Worker and has experience working in residential rehabs, churches, transitional housing, outreach projects and has served as a pioneering member of The Well and Alliston Out of the Cold. Currently she assists in training AOTC volunteers, and volunteers her time as a Team Leader once a week. She is passionate about providing opportunities and care for the marginalized and is thankful for the team she works alongside at AOTC who work collaboratively to see AOTC programs thrive.
Jenifer Pergentile
Director of Programming
Executive Director – Alliston Out of the Cold
Jenifer is a life-long resident of New Tecumseth, having grown up in Tottenham and eventually settled in Alliston with her husband and their 3 small children. She has made a living in the social services field for well over 10 years, working predominantly as an Addiction Counsellor at various agencies throughout Ontario, and for a brief time in Alberta. She has had the privilege and honour of being a part of Alliston Out of the Cold since its initial planning stages, having developed AOTC Policies, Procedures & Operational protocols as well as the shelter program’s intake paperwork and procedures. As the Executive Director of the organization, she oversees the day-to-day operations of AOTC programs and is responsible for all aspects of the operational and administrative duties within the organization. Jenifer feels blessed to serve along-side an incredible Board of Directors and over 200 volunteers from throughout the community who give their time in a variety of ways, from working directly in the shelter, to making and serving meals, and numerous behind-the-scenes roles.
PHOTOS GENEROUSLY DONATED BY PAUL NADEAU PHOTOGRAPHY