Our advisors

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Ian Attridge is of Celtic settler heritage living in Nogojiwanong (Peterborough), Michi Saagiig Anishinaabe territory. As an Associate at Trent University, an ecologist and lawyer, he practices and teaches environmental and non-profit law. 

Over a 35-year career, Ian has played key roles in developing and applying the legal framework for creative land securement, related tax incentives, protected areas and trails in Ontario and beyond. He has authored numerous publications and policy submissions and has advised diverse land holders, including land trusts and governments at all levels.  

Ian co-chairs the Indigenous Land Trust Circle of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership and is part of Indigenous ally groups. Ian is most at home on the land and waters of the Kawarthas and in fostering community.

Paul Downs is the past president and previous owner of Nexicom Incorporated and Nexicom Systems Incorporated. Nexicom is a local telecommunication company with its head office in Millbrook, Ontario. Nexicom Systems is a supplier of telecom products to companies across Canada. 

Paul was born and raised in the independent telephone industry. Upon completion of high school, Paul attended Lakeshore Teachers College and then Wilfrid Laurier University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then returned to the teaching profession and over the period of fifteen years was a teacher, Vice-Principal and Principal. During those years, he obtained his Master of Education degree in Educational Administration from the University of Toronto. 

Following the death of his father in 1978, Paul, along with his brother John, became involved in a full time basis with the Nexicom companies. Since 1978, Nexicom expanded its service offerings and grew its staff from ten employees to over eighty employees. 

Over the period of thirty-seven years, Paul served as President and/or Director of many Canadian and US Telecommunication Associations. Paul is currently Vice-Chair of Fleming College, and on the Board of Directors of Kawartha Land Trust. 

Paul and his family have properties in Millbrook, Mississauga, and the Township of Trent Lakes. 

Mike Howard is originally from Northern Ontario with his formative years in Peterborough. His career began as a truck driver before transitioning into warehouse and transportation management. This background afforded Mike the opportunity to explore most parts of Ontario’s geography and demographics. His admiration for the rural settings that he observed inspired him to move to nearby Millbrook where he has resided for the past 31 years. 

Mike and his wife have raised three children who have all chosen to remain in the area, thus further solidifying Mike’s commitment to enhance our community. Over the years Mike has actively volunteered with the Millbrook Lions Club, Figure Skating Club, and the local minor hockey organization. 

His participation with these organizations has provided the opportunity to meet many fellow residents of the area. Having enjoyed the benefits that the community has given him and his family, and having watched the expansion of the GTA for over 30 years, it is his belief that responsible growth is necessary and rural landscapes should be protected and incorporated responsibly into this growth. 

Mark Davidson and his family live in Millbrook and are proud to be a part of this incredible community. His career has provided experience working closely with municipalities, regions, environmental groups, utilities, road authorities and water ways; to build relations and gaining project approvals.   

Mark is an avid outdoorsman, he loves many sports and hobbys that take place in the great outdoors. He takes pride in his volunteer work with OFSC (Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs) preparing trails and securing land use agreements. 

He has planted hundreds of trees to improve and diversify his mostly forested property.  He believes a “boots and the ground and shovel in hand” approach is his best way to contribute to the BCWA. He feels that together we can help preserve sensitive areas, while enriching the aesthetics, value and social aspects of our community. 

Kirk Hillsley is a resident of Millbrook and is an assistant professor teaching micro and cellular biology at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.

In his spare time Kirk enjoys operating unmanned aircraft for capturing aerial imagery of natural areas. He does this work in compliance with Transport Canada's regulatory framework and all regulations to ensure public privacy.

Kirk is assisting the Baxter Creek Watershed Alliance with our land use planning and stewardship projects by capturing aerial images of open natural areas in the Baxter Creek Watershed in public areas or where we have permission to collect images. The imagery used on our website and documents was captured with the help of his work.

 Samuel Pethick received his bachelor's degree in science from Carleton University in 2022 and received a post-graduate GIS - Cartographic Specialist certificate from Fleming College in 2023 in his hometown of Lindsay, Ontario. Having spent time in the Kenreid Conservation Area during his youth, the importance of watershed conservation, and protecting nature are a high priority to Samuel.  Samuel was the lead cartographer on the 2023 Fleming GeoCommunity Baxter Creek Watershed Phase Two Community Connections project. 

He is currently volunteering with BCWA using the techniques he has learned in GIS to assist watershed geo-visualization and community outreach. As the lead cartographer, Samuel is tasked with leveraging spatial data collected and organized by BCWA team members, interpreting it, and displaying it in a way that is intuitive to users. Through this process, Samuel hopes to make these complex issues easily understood by the public, increasing conservation efforts in the Baxter Creek sub-watershed.