Board of Directors

The Alzheimer Society Board of Directors for 2026/27 are:
 

Kent Sander, Chair

Kent Sander is a manager in the Assurance service line of Doane Grant Thornton LLP in their Waterloo office. He primarily focuses on completing audits and providing advisory services to a range of not-for-profit and charitable organizations. Kent also regularly leads internal training at the firm on new assurance or accounting pronouncements, and also with external members through the firms bi-annual in-person sessions for the Charity and Not-for-Profit Sector Group.

Kent received his Bachelor of Accounting from Brock University in 2019 and later obtained his Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2021.

Kent is looking forward to being able to share his industry knowledge and insights with the Alzheimer Society.
 

Janis Randall Simpson, Vice-Chair 

Janis Randall Simpson is a Registered Dietitian. She is Professor Emerita in the Applied Human Nutrition program at the University of Guelph where she is still active in teaching and research.  Janis has just finished a four-year term as volunteer, part-time Executive Director of the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research, the research foundation associated with Dietitians of Canada.  

Recent experience as a caregiver to her late husband, who was afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia, led Janis to the terrific programming through the Alzheimer’s Society of Waterloo Wellington (ASWW).  

She is excited to be able to contribute to the ASWW Board to fulfill its mandate to provide programs and services for those with various forms of dementia.

Ted Bleaney, Treasurer

Ted and his spouse moved to Waterloo Region in 1987 after they both graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1983. They decided that the time they were spending commuting to work in Toronto could better be spent raising a family and volunteering within their community. After raising 3 children, he and his spouse have recently retired and are now balancing travel with volunteer work!

When Ted's father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2012, Ted and his brother became his primary caregivers. They advocated for him and looked after him for 5 years until his passing in 2017. When Ted was considering new volunteer opportunities for retirement, the ASWW (Alzheimer's Society of Waterloo Wellington) seemed like a natural fit.

Utilizing skills he acquired over many years as a Project Management Professional with both IT and Actuarial experience, Ted worked with many firms, both small and large, in Waterloo Region.  Ted retired in 2024 from the University of Waterloo. Additionally, Ted gained extensive Governance and Risk Management experience during his frequent Board of Director volunteer roles with a number of large local non-profit corporations: Grand River Hospital, Kitchener Housing Inc, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro, Center in the Square, etc.

Ted looks forward to helping the ASWW build upon their past successes supporting Alzheimer patients and their caregivers locally while leveraging their connections and partnerships within the larger Alzheimer's Societies of Ontario.

Terri Beaulieu, Secretary

Terri has lived and worked in Waterloo for over 30 years. In 2024, she retired from a 34 year career in finance, with the last 27 years working for Sun Life so that she could use her interest in physical fitness to help individuals be as independent as they can be. She teaches teach group fitness classes for Community Support Connections and Movati Athletic and volunteers with the Alzheimer's Society's Minds in Motion program. Terri's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014 which allowed her to witness and experience the significant impacts this disease can have on the person living with the disease and their family and friends.

Terri believes that everyone has the right to live as independently as possible and with dignity and wants to contribute to making this possible. She values the opportunity to use the skills and knowledge she developed during her finance career.  

Terri is an experienced leader, organized, an effective problem solver and project manager, strong communicator, innovative, logical and dependable. She feels her finance background can positively support the Board of Directors' finance and governance mandates. She aims to ensure the supports and services provided by the Alzheimer's Society are made available to as many people impacted by dementia as possible.

Ian Kaufman, Past Chair

When Ian moved to Waterloo region in 2021, he was eager to give back to his new community and joined the board of ASWW that summer. Through his partner's employment in the healthcare sector, and having had a grandmother face the challenges of living with dementia, Ian appreciates the great work and meaningful improvements that organizations such as ASWW provide to those members of the community that are impacted by this disease.

Having received a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Analysis along with a Master of Political Management, both from Carleton University, Ian has close to 15 years with public service and is currently employed by Metrolinx.

Nancy Cote, Director

Nancy has recently retired after a 38 year career with Randstad Canada, where she held various roles including Vice President in Ontario. Her role was primarily focused on leadership, people development, sales and financial responsibility. She's lived in Kitchener Waterloo for approximately 50 years, been married for 28 years, and has two children currently in university. She's a graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Throughout her career, Nancy consistently focused on helping people and she sees that continuing through the Alzheimer Society. The focus on education and providing support to people living with Alzheimer's and their loved ones is very meaningful to her. Having an elderly father and seeing those around him with various struggles, she strongly believes that the Alzheimer Society can help in many ways.

Nancy's strong leadership skills, strategic thinking ability and financial acumen will be of assistance as a member of the board, as well as her caring, empathetic mind set that has always brought her back to making a difference and helping people. She looks forward to providing insight and helping the Alzheimer's Society maximize it's contribution back to the community. 

Kristie Kimmett, Director

Kristie has worked in marketing, communications and business development roles across a wide variety of sectors. She holds a BA from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.  She lives in Waterloo with her family, and can often be seen walking the family's two black Labrador Retrievers in the green spaces around the city.

Kristie is an excellent communicator and natural networker - she loves to strike up a conversation at a coffee shop or make small talk in a crowd of strangers at a conference.  As a result of these connections in her personal and professional experience, she has seen the stigma and fear that can surround  a dementia diagnosis, and believes that knowledge is power for those living with dementia and care partners.  She is looking forward to amplifying the resources, programs and services of the Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Wellington to those who need them. 

Kristie brings skills in marketing, strategic communications and community building to the board, and is excited to work with new and returning board members.  Most of all, she is looking forward to meeting community members who benefit from the work that the ASWW does.   

Ryan Hallam, Director

Ryan is a molecular neuroscientist that specializes in studying neurodegenerative diseases that cause dementia. He lives in Cambridge with his wife and husky/shepherd, Red. He has a PhD and an M.Sc. in molecular and cellular biology and an undergraduate in neurobiology, with experience studying Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Lewy Body Dementia. He currently holds a postdoctoral fellowship from the Alzheimer Society of Canada at Robarts Research Institute, with his research focusing on how and why protein interactions inside of brain cells cause disease long before symptoms arise, as well as developing and evaluating new treatments that can slow or stop this process.

Ryan's family has a long history of dementia, most recently including his Papa, who lived with Alzheimer's disease for more than 10 years before passing in 2023. Throughout the progression of his disease, he witnessed and experienced firsthand the effects of dementia not only on the individual living with dementia, but also on their care partners and loved ones. He is motivated by the care and empathy that others showed to his Papa during his stay in long-term care, and hopes to give back by supporting the many programs and services provided by the Alzheimer Society to improve the lives of those affected by dementia

As a scientist, Ryan hopes to bring his advanced knowledge of the causes, treatments, and ongoing research surrounding dementia to the board to advise and support evidence based decision-making and organizational strategy. As well, he previously served on the board of directors for the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region from 2024-2026, gaining valuable skills in governance, organizational oversight, and strategic planning that he looks forward to bringing to ASWW. As a member of the board, He hopes to advocate for the importance of scientific research, especially locally and in Canada, to advance care and potentially provide new treatment options in the future. He also hopes to advocate for individuals living with disease, their families, and their care partners by supporting the vital programs of the ASWW that serve many members of our community.

Mary Ann Winterhalt, Director

Mary Ann has worked as a legal professional and insurance industry executive for over 30 years in Ontario.  Known for legal acumen, litigation management, risk assessment and strategic oversight, she currently works for global reinsurer, Munich Re. 

She holds a B.A. from the University of Waterloo, a M.A. from Western University and a LL.B. from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Mary Ann is a 5th generation resident of Waterloo Region and is eager to give back and contribute to our community.  She has experienced the challenging role of caregiver and advocate for ailing parents and is dedicated to giving back and helping others struggling with dementia and navigating as caregivers for family members and loved ones.

Jocelyn Vieth, Director

Jocelyn is passionate about supporting older adults and their families and have more than 20 years of experience in seniors' services. During her graduate studies in Gerontology, she facilitated a caregiver support groups through the Alzheimer Society of BC, which strengthened my commitment to dementia education, advocacy, and support. As Director of Operations at Luther Village on the Park, she lead teams dedicated to helping older adults and their families navigate the aging journey with confidence. Outside of work, she enjoys biking, travelling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jocelyn brings over two decades of experience in seniors' services, including community-based supports, senior living, dementia care, operations, strategic planning, community partnerships, market development, and organizational sustainability. Her work has provided her with a broad understanding of the aging continuum, from independent living and community supports to assisted living, memory care, and long-term care. As these systems increasingly work together, her focus has been on deepening her understanding of system navigation and identifying opportunities for advocacy, collaboration, and innovation that improve outcomes for older adults and their families.

Jocelyn's goal is to help advance the Board's mission while ensuring the voices of older adults and their families remain at the center of decision-making. She hopes to contribute to strategic discussions that strengthen services, improve community awareness, and help address the challenges facing seniors and caregivers today and in the future. She is particularly interested in supporting initiatives that improve system navigation, dementia program awareness, caregiver support, and access to services for older adults. 

Jim Eso, Director

Jim moved to Waterloo from British Columbia with his wife and daughter in 2009 and recently retired from a long career in insurance executive management. Jim is a graduate of UBC and has extensive experience as a board member of non-profit corporations, private and public companies, and industry associations.

Jim's father, two uncles, and grandmother all passed from Alzheimer's. Jim has participated in several Alzheimer's research trials, but now is primarily interested in supporting delivery of community support services like those offered by the Alzheimer's Society Waterloo Wellington. Jim is keen to give back to the community to help others going through similar experience, by helping to ensure the continuity of the exceptional services that the Alzheimer Society delivers.

Jim's career and board experience provided him with insight into how a important it is to have a productive and supportive Board of Directors to oversee the governance of the organization while supporting the management team to ensure successful delivery of the organizations mission. Jim is a consensus builder with a strong understanding of the laws and best practices of non profit and charitable organization.

To support the development and implementation of expanded support and guidance to those suffering from Alzheimer's, as well as the community of families and caregivers who are navigating an emotional and difficult path alongside the loved one suffering from the disease. The research into treatments and eventually a cure for Alzheimer's will be ongoing for years. In the meantime, patients and their caregivers need ongoing assistance while that work proceeds.

Ian Wright, Director

Ian has dedicated more than 25 years to serving communities across the healthcare system, building a career across the continuum of care. He currently works as a Manager with the Waterloo Regional Health Network, where he is passionate about improving the quality of care and services for patients and families. Ian lives in Guelph/Eramosa with his wife of 21 years and their two children. When he is not working, he enjoys giving back to his community through his local Scout group, where he teaches outdoor skills and helps young people develop confidence, leadership, and a love of the outdoors.

Ian's commitment to supporting older adults began early in life when his grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Witnessing the impact of the illness on his family inspired a lifelong interest in seniors' care and well-being. This passion led him to earn a degree in Gerontology from the University of Guelph, followed by a Master of Social Work and a Master of Health Administration both form the University of Toronto. He is a Registered Social Worker and a Certified Health Executive.

Throughout his career, Ian has worked across a variety of healthcare settings, gaining valuable experience in leadership, quality improvement, strategic planning, and service integration. Ian is excited about the opportunity to contribute to ASWW and support its important work in the community. He is committed to supporting seniors, their care partners and strengthening community partnerships to enhance access to the high-quality services and programs of the ASWW.