Meet The Board

Darlene Shepherd
President
I am honoured to serve as your President. I was a member of the Hamilton Police Service for 33 years. I retired in 2016. As an active civilian member I worked in various capacities; Records Clerk, Communications, Custody, Records Supervisor and Freedom of Information Coordinator. I also served as a HPA Director for 10 years.

Pieter Ciere
Vice President
I was with Hamilton Police for 33 years and retired in 2008. I have been on the Retirees Board since 2008 and have been the Social Director, Vice President and President for 5 years. I am now the Vice President. I have taken over the job of curator from Art Faguy at the Museum cataloging photos and documents of the history of our department from 1833 until the present. There have been thousands of photos scanned , copied and filed. For each person I get information including documents and photos I place in a file folder.

David Bowen
Past President
I served with the Hamilton Police for 30 years and retired in 2000. While an active member I served as the President of the Hamilton Police Association in the 80’s and again as President of the Senior Officers Association in the 90’s. I joined the Police Retirees Association in 2015 and became President in 2018. I became Past President in December 2022. I am also on the Board with the Hamilton Police Historical Society and Museum.

Craig Ellis
Treasurer
I worked in communications for 35, retiring in 2012. I joined the Board in 2013 and have served as your treasurer since my election. I am also actively involved in the hard of hearing community. I have been the treasurer of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, Hamilton Branch (CHHA-Hamilton.ca) since 2008. As a certified lip reading instructor I taught 2 classes a year up until COVID prevented me from continuing. To bridge the gap people can go to the CHHA website and sign-up for an online course.

Kelly Dziemianko
Secretary
I retired in 2016 after serving 26 years in Communications. I joined the Retirees Board in 2019, and also serve as a Director on Hamilton Police Historical Society and Museum Board.

Peter Abi-Rashed
Charity/House
I retired in 2011 after 32 years with the Hamilton Police Service. Following that, I spent 5 years with the Ontario Police College coordinating the Homicide & Major Case Management courses. I presently instruct the Major Case Management course in Canada and the USA. I recently joined the HPRA Board of Directors and some might say, and I agree, the House/Charity position is a perfect fit.

John Rusnak
OMERS/Benefits
I retired in 2014 after a 40 year police career. I spent 12 years with the Hamilton Harbour Police and 28 years with the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police and Hamilton Police Services. I joined the HPRA Board of Directors in 2019 as the Volunteer Coordinator and assumed my present position in 2021. Picture taken in a Whisky bar on the Royal Mile just outside Edinburgh Castle, September 2022. Whisky is a Glenfarclas 105 Cast Strength Single Malt. Smooth.

Dave Place
Special Events
After retiring from HPS in 2018 with over 33 years service, I joined the Retirees Association Board in 2019, taking on the role of Special Events Chair. With the onset of Covid in early 2020, our special events were put on hold for pretty much 2 years but we’re glad to be back with our Spring Luncheon, Golf Tournament, Turkey Roll and other events.

Paul Lahaie
Volunteers
I retired in 2019, after 34 years with the Hamilton Police Service and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Following that, I spent 2 additional years working with the Ontario Provincial Police, Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit until 2021. Presently, I am a Board member with the HealthCare Municipal Credit Union in Hamilton and have done so as a Director since 2019. In the past, I have served as the Treasurer with the Hamilton Police Association and as a Director with the Canadian Police Association. Peter asked and I accept this position so I can help and be among friends.

Bob Slack
Membership / Pensions HWRF
I retired in September 1993 after 33 years service, during a part of which I was President of the Senior Officers Association. I joined the Retirees Association Board of Directors in 1995, eventually becoming the President in the early 2000’s. For approximately the last 20 years I have maintained the membership database. I also represent the retired Hamilton Wentworth Retirement Fund members as a member of the City of Hamilton Pension Advisory Committee. I also sit on the Board of Directors of the Hamilton Police Historical Society and Museum.”

Cath Collard
Benevolent
I have been on the Board of Directors since 2007, replacing Jessie Stoneman. I am a surviving spouse as well as a board member. In my position as benevolent chair, I am tasked with sending out sympathy, get well and thinking of you cards. I also send out special birthday cards as well as yearly birthday cards to our surviving spouses.