BRENDA DALES
Executive Director

Brenda has worked for the past 27 years in the voluntary sector. She has a strong commitment to community development and social justice. For the past 10 years she has been the Director of Community Leadership and Learning Services with the United Way of Peterborough and District. Through her work with United Way and United Way of Canada-Centraide Canada she has had the opportunity to work with individuals and community groups pan Canada, including Nunavut and Brazil by developing resources in governance and leadership, community capacity building and volunteer management for the voluntary sector. Prior to United Way she worked for 17 years at Community Living in both Lindsay and Peterborough in a senior management position. She has served on, provincial and national groups, including the Ontario Canadian Volunteerism Initiative Network, PAVR-O, United Way Canada-Centraide Canada, and Volunteer Canada. She developed the Not for Profit Leadership Certificate Program at Fleming College and continues is associate faculty to the program. As well she has volunteered locally as a member of the board of directors of KWIC, YWCA, PHAC, and as a past chair of the Peterborough Housing Corporation to name a few.

DAWN BERRY MERRIAM
Research & Policy Analyst

Dawn Berry Merriam is now the Research & Policy Analyst for the Peterborough Social Planning Council. Dawn has over 30 years of experience in community development and social planning. She started her career with the City of Peterborough as Social Planner with the City’s Planning Department. Following her work in municipal government, she worked with the Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge District Health Council as the Associate Executive Director. In addition to her experience in community planning, she has served as the Manager of Support Services with St. Joseph’s At Fleming where her portfolio included admissions, social services, volunteers, pastoral care as well as recreation and therapy services for the resident care in the home.

ROBIN STEED
Research Associate

Robin is a research associate for the Peterborough Social Planning Council. Her skills and experience are a welcome addition to our team. Her educational experience includes a Bachelor of Arts with honours from the University of Guelph and the recent completion of Fleming College’s Social Service Worker program where she received the honour of being Valedictorian. Robin is passionate about advocacy and social justice issues and her professional experience has allowed her the opportunity to work with many vulnerable sectors of society including seniors, those struggling with mental health and addiction challenges, female offenders and many other demographics. Her field experience has led her to work in conjunction with and develop documents for several service providers including the Chebucto Communities Development Association and the City of Peterborough. She believes that with mutual respect anything can and will be achieved.