Antony (Tony) Stephens, President
Tony has served as president of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation since its inception in 2005. He and his family spend the summer on Bulman Island close to Kenora which has been in his wife's family for over 100 years. Originally from Winnipeg he moved to Toronto with Morguard where he served in many capacities including President Morguard Investments Limited and founding President of Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust of which he is currently a trustee. Tony believes the development of a sustainability plan for the watershed which has stakeholder input and support is the best way to ensure future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy our Lake.
Richard Sjoberg, Vice-President and Director
Richard lives in Thief River Falls, Minnesota and spends his summers with his family at their cottage on Lake of the Woods near Morson, Ontario. Richard has led the foundation's efforts in Minnesota to build community consensus and support for the foundation and also for bring in the International Joint Commission to coordinate water quality research and monitoring on Lake of the Woods. Richard is president and CEO of Sjoberg's Inc., a cable television and high-speed internet business that operates in 33 Minnesota towns and townships in Northwestern Minnesota. In 2008, Minnesota Governor Pawlenty appointed Richard to the State's High-Speed Broadband Task Force to make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the creation of a state high-speed broadband goal and a plan to achieve it.
Don Konantz, Director
Don is a fourth generation summer resident of Lake of the Woods. Since his great-grandparents first set up camp in the early 1900s, Konantz families have returned year after year. Lake of the Woods is a passion for Don as a place that families come together and feel at home. Don says "it's the allure of the lake with its pristine wilderness, waters and 14000 islands to explore that draws families like mine back year after year". Don is passionate about sailing and is a past Commodore of the Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club. Don is Chairman and Founder of Colorworks, Canada's leading automotive paint and dent repair company. As a university student, Don developed one of the first operations of College Pro Painters in the west and after two years joined the management team as Executive Vice President and developed College Pro to become the largest painting company in the world. Don has a masters degree in business from the Ivy Business School at the University of Western Ontario. Don and his wife Catherine have 4 children and spend their summers on Lake of the Woods near Kenora.
Polly Craik, Director
Polly and her family are long-time summer residents of Lake of the Woods. Polly spent the first half of her life in Clearwater Bay where her father Don Craik was one of the developers of the Condominium project on the old Ken Whitey property and then moved to the Kenora end of the lake to Treaty Island where she and her husband David Rattray and their two children spend their summers.
When not working as a volunteer Director of the Foundation, Polly is President and CEO of Winnipeg-based FineLine Solutions, a leading provider of customer and donor engagement solutions to the commercial and non-profit sectors across North America. Polly also serves as a member of the Boards of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy and the Manitoba Business Council.
Bruce Ormiston, Director
Bruce practices law in Kenora, Ontario with Shewchuk, MacDonell, Ormiston, Richardt & Fregeau LLP. Bruce received his B.A. in 1969 at the University of Winnipeg, and his LL.B. at the University of Manitoba in 1972. Bruce is very involved in the Kenora community and has lent his expertise to various Kenora boards, including the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, the Lake of the Woods Child Development Centre, the Kenora Rotary Club, Northwestern Ontario Crime Stoppers, Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club and the Lake of the Woods Museum. Bruce was the founding President of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation and served on Kenora Town Council for a three-year term. One of Bruce's favourite past-times is boating, with a particular love for wooden boats.
Michael Radcliffe, Director
Michael and his family are long-time, multi-generational summer residents of Lake of the Woods. When not working as a volunteer Director and Treasurer of LOWWSF, Michael is a chartered accountant with the Winnipeg Office of MNP. Designated a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), and a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 1994, Mike received the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designation in 2000, and is Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF). He sits on the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants/Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators’ Liaison Committee.
Joan Richardson, Director
Concerned by deteriorating water quality and blue-green algae blooms on Lake of the Woods, Joan led the efforts to establish the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation. At the time she was a Director of the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association and was tasked with the job to create a Foundation that could address the water quality issues of the Lake with all stakeholders, not just cottagers, on both sides of the international border. She was instrumental in encouraging others to join the team that is now addressing the task. Joan has always been interested in the communities where she resides. She has used her City Planning background whenever she has volunteered. It has been a valuable tool when dealing with the several agencies within two federal governments, two provinces and one State that manage the transboundary waters of Lake of the Woods. She has also used her planning background when volunteering on several community and Arts Boards in Kenora, Winnipeg and at the national level. She is passionate about the Lake and is working hard to sustain the Lake quality for her family, friends and for those yet to enjoy this amazing body of water.
Jim Dagg, Director
Jim and his family live in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, they spend summers at the Dagg family cabin on Lake of the Wood near Morson, Ontario. Jim and his wife, Tamar, have 3 children and they all enjoy the beauty of the lake. Jim believes his efforts with the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation is a great way to help ensure future generation opportunities to enjoy the lake as much as he and his family does. Jim is a former Mayor of Thief River Falls and is very much involved in his community. He has served on many boards and been President of the following organizations, Thief River Falls Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Advance Thief River. Currently, he is serving on the Pennington County Housing Authority board and also Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation. Jim owns and operates a commercial property and two Insurance Agencies located in Thief River and Warren Minnesota.