Slate of Candidates and Nomination - ACC Thunder Bay Section Executive
Marleine Gelineau – Chair – ACCLAIMED
Marleine serves as the Secretariat of the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board, where she provides critical logistical support to the leadership, overseeing meeting scheduling, developing annotated agendas, and ensuring meticulous follow-up on all action items. Beyond this high-level governance role, she is a highly organized doctoral student and an avid, experienced rock and ice climber who leads trad and ice routes.
Karina Buntemeyer – Financial Coordinator – ACCLAIMED
Karina is a certified CPA, and brings over 25 years of experience working in Finance, including managing accounting teams throughout her career. Her current role as Treasury Manager involves responsibility for cash flow forecasting for a provincial organization. She has extensive experience working with a charitable organization, which included issuing charitable receipts and managing the annual Charitable Return filing. She offers comprehensive expertise in financial management, team leadership, and the specific regulatory requirements essential for a non-profit organization.
Chantal Denis – Administrator, Event Coordinator – ACCLAIMED
Chantal moved to Thunder Bay from BC in 2022 after she fell in love with all of the amazing rock and ice climbing in the region. Having been lucky enough receive generous support and inspiration from many local climbers, Chant is passionate about paying it forward by helping to strengthen and grow the Thunder Bay climbing community. In particular, she wants climbing to feel more accessible to other women and queer folks. With a post-graduate certificate in Event Management along with over 2 decades of event planning, fundraising and hospitality experience, Chant is stoked to put her organizational and communication skills to use as a member of the Thunder Bay ACC executive.
Barb Ruth Schumacher – Membership Coordinator – ACCLAIMED
Barb has a long-standing connection with the Alpine Club, actively participating from 2003 to 2014. She brings her dedication and commitment to organization, responsibility, and accountability. Barb is an experienced educator, she brings significant transferable skills in organizational management, pedagogical instruction, and effective governance, having served extensively as a school steward. She is passionate about the climbing community, and she is prepared to apply her structured professional background to support the strategic objectives of the section.
Stephen Ingles – Communications Lead – ACCLAIMED
Stephen brings a powerful blend of professional expertise and lifelong passion for the outdoors. As a Social Worker and Psychotherapist, he works extensively with Indigenous communities in remote northern regions, utilizing adventure-based and land-based therapeutic approaches that integrate Indigenous and Western perspectives on wellness. This work centers on relationship-building, communication, advocacy, and community development.
His early foundation in the outdoors included hiking, backpacking, paddling, and bushcraft, which then transitioned later into climbing. An avid climber, he leverages this passion with his professional experience, which includes many years serving on various committees, strengthening his abilities in marketing, planning, and facilitating large-scale events.
Jared Miller – Leadership Development Coordinator – ACCLAIMED
Jared brings an unparalleled 18-year background in technical risk management and complex field operations across diverse global environments. He is an expert in safe operations in complex alpine terrain and is a certified Lead Instructor of Wilderness Medicine.
Since moving to Thunder Bay, he has become a core member of the local climbing community, having established numerous new rock, ice, and mixed climbs in the area.
Liz Woodside – Equity and Inclusion Lead – ACCLAIMED
Liz is a passionate advocate for the intersection of mental health and outdoor recreation, currently training to merge her professional skills in psychotherapy with nature-based therapy. Professionally, she has successfully led mental health rock climbing programs for youth, and she prioritizes creating opportunities for diverse families and individuals to participate in these sports. She is an experienced rock and ice climber, who has served as an instructor for the women’s ice climbing clinic at the Nipigon Ice Festival.
Warren Pringle – Youth Programs Coordinator – ACCLAIMED
Warren brings extensive practical experience managing and working in high-risk job sites within the tree and powerline industries, giving him an advanced understanding of safety protocols and operational risk. For the past nine years, he has successfully operated a small business, demonstrating crucial skills in logistics and financial management. This hands-on experience is complemented by his formal education and leadership background in Outdoor Recreation from Lakehead University. With 20 years of rock and ice climbing experience in the Thunder Bay area, he is a dedicated local expert, now passing that passion onto the next generation.
Cameron Prest – Climbing Coordinator – ACCLAIMED
Cameron grew up in Southern Ontario and was first introduced to climbing at a friend’s birthday party. His outdoor climbing journey began in high school through an outdoor education program. In 2010, he moved to Thunder Bay to study Outdoor Recreation at Lakehead University, later relocating to British Columbia in 2016. During that time, climbing took a back seat as he explored Northwestern Ontario through hiking and paddling.
After returning to Thunder Bay in 2021, Cameron reconnected with climbing through a group of new friends. Regular sessions at the local gym deepened his appreciation for the strength of the climbing community, which grew even stronger as they transitioned to outdoor climbing. Cameron feels lucky to be part of Northwestern Ontario’s vibrant climbing scene, inspired by the dedication of local climbers who establish crags, clean routes, and advocate for access. With climbing growing locally and globally, he believes it’s important to help shape its future. Climbing is a meaningful part of his life, and he’s committed to sharing it with others.
What happens next?
Role descriptions:
Role description have been developed by the ACC Governance Committee as a guideline for Sections. Please note that these descriptions are examples, and non-exhaustive. Sections may develop additional roles to meet local specificities and needs. Roles such as Vice-Chair and/or Section Representative can hold multiple roles.
For some small Sections it may not be realistic to have all the below positions filled by separate individuals. At a minimum, a Section must have a Chair, Administrator and Finance Lead. If there is no other option, more than one of these positions may be filled by the same person. Once elected, the Governance Committee will work with the Section Executive to adopt a Section Administration Policy, a guiding document to ensure governance continuity and best practices.
Section Chair – The Chair is primarily responsible for leading the Section executive and Section organization in conjunction with the ACC office policies and goals. The Chair is responsible for being a primary contact with the ACC office, chairing meetings, circulating and implementing information, promoting a spirit of cooperation and teamwork, and fostering an environment that promotes ACC’s values and vision.
Section Vice-Chair – The Vice Chair supports the Chair in leading the Section executive, chairs meetings in the absence of the chair, and steps in when the Chair is unavailable.
Section Financial Lead – The Finance Lead will be responsible for working on and keeping financial reports.
Section Administrator – The Section Administrator is responsible for keeping minutes of meetings, records, and copies of bylaws and policies.
Section Leadership Development Coordinator – Develops section HSE procedures and oversees their implementation across section operations. Delivers leadership and training opportunities to section members. Lead vetting of Section Coordinator.
Section Memberships and Fundraising Coordinator – Manages member engagement and leads fundraising initiatives to support section activities.
Section Events Coordinator – Plans and organizes section events, ensuring they align with community interests and club values.
Section Communication Lead – Coordinates internal and external communications, including newsletters, social media announcements, website updates, and email inquiries.
Section Activities / Climbing Program Lead – Designs and delivers climbing-related programming, including clinics, trips, and mentorship opportunities.
Section Youth Programs Coordinator – Leads initiatives that engage youth and families in climbing and outdoor activities, fostering skill development and stewardship.
Section Equity and Inclusion Lead – Promotes inclusive practices and supports programming that welcomes diverse participants and perspectives.
Resources and policies:
The Governance Page of the ACC has resources for Sections, Club Reports, Bylaws and Policies. Note: The Governance Committee is starting a significant modernizing work for the Club’s Bylaws – For Sections, look for SEC-Policies.
