Board of Directors

Dean Demizio

President 

Dean is a local small business owner who recently celebrated 27 years in business here in Fort Erie. He joined our Board of Directors in 2015 serving as Vice President since 2018. He is a father, businessman, and well known community volunteer. He was president of the Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve as a member. Dean believes strongly in giving back to the community, and has worked as campaign chair and vice-president for the United Way of Greater Fort Erie and as a board member of the Fort Erie Multicultural Centre. He also served as president of the Fort Erie Soccer Youth Club. Dean is aware of the Not For Profit needs of Fort Erie and he is well respected in his community. He is an ambassador for our organization, sharing the mission and vision. Dean is innovative and forward thinking and as President his leadership is invaluable. We are grateful for the many positive attributes he brings to Community Living Fort Erie.

Rebecca Parton

Vice President 

As a lifelong resident of Fort Erie, Rebecca is passionate about supporting local agencies such as, Food for the Soul, COPE, Boys & Girls Club of Fort Erie, Hospice Niagara, Niagara Nutrition Partners and many more.  Rebecca joined the Community Living Fort Erie team in June 2018 when she was sworn in as a new Board member. Rebecca, now retired, supported people with intellectual challenges for over thirty years as an Educational Assistant with the DSBN.  Rebecca’s passion for personal health & wellness plays a huge role as she  continues to support people with intellectual challenges in our community and around the Niagara Region. As a board member she has utilized her years of experience, leadership skills and personal characteristics in the best interest of Community Living Fort Erie focusing on service excellence. We look forward to having her serve as our Vice President for the 2021-2022 term as she continues to provide organizational leadership and direction.

Sharon Schilz

Treasurer

Sharon is a long time resident of Ridgeway and Centre Manager for YMCA Niagara at the Port Colborne Branch. We are grateful to have Sharon returning to the position of Treasurer on our 2021-2022 Board of Directors. As Treasurer for the past 6 years Sharon brings a considerable amount of knowledge to our organization.  She and has been a dedicated supporter of Community Living Fort Erie since joining our Board in 2014. Sharon has actively supported our organization for many years and her opinions are valued and well respected.  We appreciate Sharon’s eye for detail and commitment to our organization.

Kimberley Gray

Kimberley Gray was sworn in as a member of the Board at our 2018 Annual General Meeting. She has been a licensed lawyer in Ontario since 2015 and is a partner at DiSanto & Gray LLP. Kimberley is also an instructor at Niagara College and enjoys golfing and spending time with her family and friends.

Kimberley shares her legal perspective with the Board in order to provide advocacy and assistance with our mission of inclusion. Kimberley has a great deal of experience with advocacy and support of people with disabilities and she brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to our Board of Directors. We are grateful to have Kimberley Gray serve on our Board and appreciate her passion for our mission, as well as her dedication and commitment to responsibilities.

Maureen Murphy

As a past Board Member of the Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce, Maureen has been a familiar face in Fort Erie for many years!

She works as a Financial Service Specialist locally at PenFinancial Credit Union, which has given her the ability to be involved with several local community events and charities.

She considers herself a humanitarian, and unselfishly enjoys supporting people, groups and organizations for the betterment of mankind.

With a personal interest in mental health she is an active ambassador with CMHA and does not hesitate to step up when and where needed. We are grateful to have Maureen join our Board of Directors and appreciate the many leadership qualities she brings to our team!

Bobbie Paonessa

Bobbie is a very active member of the Fort Erie community. She is a volunteer of the Fort Erie Royal Canadian Legion who frequently helps out at fundraising events. She is a very strong self-advocate who was a member of the Advocates in Motion Committee for 6 years acting as Vice President for two terms. Bobbie is also a valued member of the Community Living – Fort Erie volunteer fundraising team for the past 8 years. Her greatest joy is her twelve year old daughter, Frankie.  In her spare time Bobbie loves to paint, make crafts and create You Tube videos. One of her passions is to make jewelry that she sells. Bobbie has been working on a book that will allow her to share her experiences about growing up with a disability, in hopes of making a difference for others. Bobbie has been a strong leader and advocate for people with developmental disabilities for many years. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share as a Director. Community Living – Fort Erie welcomes her enthusiasm and understanding of the needs of the people we support.

Stephen Passero

Stephen has been actively engaged in many aspects of our community for the past 20 years; most notably serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce as well as a member of Fort Erie Town Council. He devotes many hours to serving numerous boards and committees in the not for profit sector, and is passionate about fundraising for initiatives that improve neighborhoods and the Town overall. He is a recipient of the 40 Under Forty award which is given in recognition of business excellence and community involvement. His employment experience has given him a wealth of knowledge in the private and public sectors, as well as a decade of small business ownership and entrepreneurship. As Town Council’s representative for 8 years on Fort Erie’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, he is passionate about the continued pursuit of a fully inclusive community; and is excited to serve on the CLFE Board of Directors.

Ray Rosettani

Born and raised in Fort Erie, Ontario, Ray has specialized in the sale of new and existing homes for 30+ years. Ray has always been a firm believer in giving back to his community. Ray and his RE/MAX group of REALTORS® are very community minded. Together they have organized many local events with all proceeds going to local charities or non-profits. For the last 4 years Ray and his team have organized the Fort Erie Corporate Challenge which includes a blood drive with Canadian Blood Services, food donations for Community Outreach Program Erie and Earth Day Clean Up for the Town. All proceeds from this event benefit Community Living – Fort Erie. Ray has been a member of the Board of Directors for the past five years. Our organization is grateful that Ray will be continuing as a Director on the 2020-2021 Board. His passion, non-profit experience and social network presence are a few of his characteristics that make him a true asset to our team.

Susan Doan

Sue Doan is a parent advocate who has a son that has been receiving service from Community Living Fort Erie for the past 24 years.  Sue left her career as an elementary school teacher after 11 years and took a position with a UPS brokerage in Fort Erie. After a two and half year move to Tampa Florida, she returned to Canada and began working for The Cherry Hill Club in 1997 where she is still employed today as a food service supervisor. Shortly after returning to Fort Erie her son Jacob was diagnosed with Autism, this began her relationship with Community Living Fort Erie. Sue feels her son has always received wonderful support and this led her and her family to want to give back to CLFE. Sue has been Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee for the past 8 years and previously served as a Director on the CLFE Board for ten years!  She is an active contributor who has a passion for our organization and is committed to making a difference through her involvement. Welcome back to our Board of Directors Sue. Your experience, insight and ability to respect alternative viewpoints will truly be an asset to the team!

Sandy Leemet

Acting Executive Director

Sandy was appointed Acting Executive Director, effective July 16, 2021 to January 31, 2022. Previously Sandy was the Director of Support Services. She is a 33 year employee who has held a variety of roles and responsibilities within our organization.

Sandy is an excellent communicator who actively listens to others viewpoints while she motivates and inspires others. She is driven by our mission and is passionate about our vision of inclusion. As part of the Board of Directors Sandy’s strong leadership and strategic thinking skills will benefit our organization for future growth.