OUR TEAM

Lois is a retired librarian; she spent most of her career managing small specialized libraries in such diverse areas as fisheries research, rubber and plastics, steel and most recently health care.  She participated actively in the Special Libraries Association, the Medical Libraries Association and is a former President and Life Member of the Canadian Health Libraries Association.  Lois has always been fascinated by textiles, particularly their history and contributions to cultural development.  She is a Master Weaver, a spinner, knitter, sewer and quilter.  With her husband Lois especially enjoys sailing Georgian Bay, cottaging, travelling to interesting parts of the world and trying to keep their herb and perennial gardens growing.

Marg has been a snowmobiler since she retired from Bell Canada.  Every year, as a member of the Bass Lake Snowmobile Club, she has taken part in the Snowmobile Ride for Literacy.  She was always impressed with the hard work that the ODLC did for this event and thought that maybe she could help too.  Marg is also a member of the Alzheimer’s Society and the Women’s Institute, whose main functions are helping in the community, so why not help in this much needed community volunteer organization.

Beulah Iqbal is a veteran supporter of the ODLC as a former board member, tutor,  and a current volunteer for a number of years.  

She is originally from India and has lived in Canada for 53 years.  She enjoys time with her two sons, her daughter and her granddaughter, volunteering, spending time with friends, and participating in social events.   

Beulah also thoroughly loves her work with the Montessori and Simcoe County School Board in early childhood care and education. We are pleased and grateful to have Beulah as a part of our Board of Directors and a long-time supporter of the Council.

Tanya is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University. She studies the development of knowledge and the cognitive processes involved in reading comprehension. She earned a PhD in Psychology from Duke University in 2009. She loves reading and puzzles, and lets her dachshunds run her life. Tanya moved to Orillia in 2022, and is excited to get to know the community better.  

Debbie Shaw is a former board member and is delighted to be rejoining the ODLC Board! She is aware of the important services ODLC offers to adult in the Orillia community.

Debbie began her career as a Professional Social Worker working with families and children in the area of mental health services in both Alberta and Ontario. She then worked with the Board of Education and the Ontario Parole board helping children who lived in group homes to adjust to the school setting in the area. After two years, she moved on to work with Dufferin Child and Family Services where she remained for over 34 years. She began work at DCAFS as a front line child protection worker. Debbie worked for a year in the agency’s Developmental Support  Service. Later she moved into the agency’s Children’s Mental Health program and set up a treatment foster care program for children in care and their families. Debbie moved into various management positions in the agency and finished her career there as the Manager of Residential Services and Adoption.

Following retirement, Debbie worked as an intake/ recruitment worker for a private foster care agency and was also contracted to write foster family assessments.

Debbie has had the privilege of working on various boards throughout her career including Big Sisters and Big Brothers, Family Transition Place ( hostel for women and their dependent children) and on the Orangeville Police Services Board.

Debbie is married and has two adult daughters. She loves spending time with them and her six grandchildren. Debbie loves singing and sings in her church choir. Other activities she enjoys are swimming, hiking, camping, cross country skiing and socializing with friends.

Having recently retired from 20 years employment in the hospitality field (Auditor), I was looking for a place to volunteer.  The Literacy Council was a natural fit.  My first experience in the adult learning field was while earning a Bachelor of Social Work Degree.  The field placement turned into employment.  Other opportunities for employment in adult learning were found in Sioux Lookout, ON, St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and Orillia, ON.

Leisure activities include spending time with my family, knitting , and a special love for cross-stitch.  

Being a tutor and board member for the Literacy Council is a very rewarding volunteer experience.  Thank you for the opportunity! 

Tim's interest in ODLC stems from his 27 years in the educational field as a teacher, counsellor and support worker. Although semi-retired, he still has the desire to use his skills, abilities and background to help others. Presently, Tim volunteers and tutors at the ODLC. Offering his services to a worthwhile organization allows Tim to keep growing and learning as well as continuing to use his skill sets in whatever areas he can. Tim's education took him around the world teaching ESL in other countries and he gained valuable knowledge of other cultures and their process for learning. The one thing that stood out for him in this experience was that all students, young or old, are pretty much the same no matter where you are in the world. They all have an innate desire to learn and improve themselves. As a father of 2 teenagers, Tim continues to offer support to their learning where needed, especially during the pandemic. Tim' fitness minded family takes advantage of the walking & biking trails in Orillia. They feel that physical activity and learning go hand in hand as the mind and body have a way of balancing out each other. One of Tim's pleasurable duties as a father was reading bedtime stories to his kids. A process he hopes they pass down to their kids some day and instill in them and others the desire they grew up having for reading and learning.