Ontario Provincial Police Veterans' Association

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Robert H. (Rob) Pilon

President

(Board member since 2016 - present term expires 2028)

BIO

Joined the OPP on Feb 1973 served in Sturgeon Falls, Dubreuilville (one man detachment), Midland, Dubreuilville (again!), Sudbury, Sudbury DHQ Crime Unit as the first DIC, promoted to Corporal in Crime Unit, promoted to Sergeant in Hearst, Staff Sergeant in Hearst, North Bay DHQ, Sturgeon Falls (again), Mattawa, Belleville DHQ, promoted to Inspector at Burlington DHQ, promoted to Superintendent at North Bay RHQ Retired in 2003. Managed Securitas Branch in Sudbury 2003-2009.  Married to my Silent Partner Suzanne since 1967. We have 4 children ( Jeannine Grassie recently retired from OPP and Mike is Chief Superintendent at NorthEast Region HQ, 10 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. We live in Sturgoen Falls. Joined OPP Vets Assoc in 2002 Presently Secretary of Chapter 12 North Bay and Secretary of the PPAO.

  • President
  • Ad hoc member of all committees
  • Liaison with Chapter 10 Pembroke; Chapter 13 Sudbury; and Chapter 14 Sault Ste. Marie 
  • Solicit Website sponsors
  • Flags, Stands, Backdrop & Display Table: Assemble/Dismantle at OPP/OPPA/OPPVA if attending meetings and functions.
  • Represent the OPPVA at OPP, OPPA and other events.
  • Prepare President’s Newsletter
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Robert (Al) Badour

Vice President

(Board member since 2022 - present term expires 2027)

BIO

Englehart 12N, Prince Edward 9, Belleville TRU East Region, RegionalERT Coordintor East Region, Aboriginal Critical Incident Coordintor FSB / GHQ, Commander Emergency Response Teams FSB / GHQ

 

  • Chair -Finance Committee
  • Vice President OPPVA – Carry out duties of President when required
  • Member Governance Committee
  • OPPVA representative for Bridge Dedications – liaison with OPP and OPPA
  • Solicit Website Sponsors
  • Represent OPPVA at OPP, OPPA, and other events as directed
  • Assemble OPPVA displays at various functions
  • Liaise with Chapter 9 Kingston, Chapter 9 Belleville and Chapter 10 Smiths Falls
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Carmen Marrier

Secretary

(Board member since 2016 - present term expires 2027)

BIO

I joined the OPP as a civilian in 1970 and retired in 2004. During my 33 years, I worked as an Administrative Assistant in several areas, including the Office of the Commissioner, Staff Services, and Field Divisions. I ended my career as a researcher/writer in the Corporate Communications Bureau. I worked at three General HQs, 125 Lakeshore, 90 Harbour St, and 777 Memorial Ave, Orillia.

I have been a member of the OPP Veterans’ Association since my retirement in 2004. Shortly after joining Chapter 18, I became the secretary-treasurer. I recently relocated to Hamilton and transferred membership to Chapter 3 Burlington

I was also involved in the administration of the OPP Youth Foundation for several years.

  • OPPVA Provincial Secretary
  • Chair Governance Committee
  • Reserve meeting room for Board meetings at GHQ as required.
  • Liaison with Chapter 3 Simcoe/Brantford, Chapter 5 Toronto and Chapter 4 Niagara
  • Liaison with OPP Print Shop
  • Maintain OPPVA display case at GHQ
  • Solicit Website sponsors
  • Represent the OPPVA at OPP, OPPA and other events as directed.
  • Flags, Stands, Backdrop & Display Table: Assemble/Dismantle at OPPA/OPPVA if attending meetings and functions.
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Dinty Garnett

Treasurer
Elected 2023 - term expires 2026

Provincial Treasurer

BIO

Born in Edmonton, Alberta.  Both of my parents grew up on farms in Western Canada.  As a youth I lived in the following communities:  Goose Bay, Labrador; Red Lake and Hearst,  Ontario; Edmonton and High Prairie, Alberta.  Graduate of Confederation College, Thunder Bay.  Commenced working as a Civilian Communications Operator for the OPP in Hearst, May, 1977.  Transferred to North Bay DHQ Comm Center 1990.  CPIC Unit from 1997 to 2000.  Promoted to Senior Communications Operator 2000.  Retired April of 2010.  Married with 3 children.  Was at one time heavily involved in curling and have the level 1 Ice Making Technician Certificate.

  •  Provincial Treasurer – responsible for all accounting/finances/budgeting
  • Member of Finance Committee
  • Maintain record of all members and process new members 
  • Solicit website sponsors
  • Represent OPPVA at events as directed
  • Set up or dismantling of flags, displays, backdrop at events as required
  • liaison with Chapter 12 North Bay and Chapter 15 Timmins
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Shawn Nash

Webmaster
Elected 2023 - term expires 2026

Appointed as a Board Officer 2025

BIO

Nash started with the OPP as an Auxiliary member in 1998 and officially began his career in 2000 at Burlington Detachment. He has served in various areas including Brant County, Investigation and Support Bureau (Tech Crime), Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau, Office of the Provincial Commanders – Investigations and Organized Crime, Office of the Commissioner, and Communications and Technology Services Bureau. As a member of West Region, he served in Business and Finance and Operational Support each with diverse portfolios while also completing interim assignments as a Regional Director, and Detachment Commander for Brant, Norfolk, and Oxford Counties. He completed an interim assignment in Field Operations Command with a leading role in the Field Implementation Team for Service Delivery. He currently serves as an Operational Superintendent, overseeing and supporting select Detachments and the Operational Support portfolio. He previously held the roles of Critical Incident Commander, Public Order Unit Commander, Incident Command instructor, SIU Liaison and part-time Hearing Officer.

Shawn Nash holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies (with Distinction) from the University of Waterloo and a Technology Diploma in Computer Electronics Engineering from Mohawk College. He further holds Police Leadership Certificates in three concentrations (Administration, Service Delivery and Supervisory Skills) from Dalhousie University and is a graduate of the Rotman School of Management Police Leadership program.

He is the recipient of a Ministry Ovation Award for Innovation, Commissioner’s Citation for Community Service, Police Exemplary Service Medal (20 Years), Canada’s 125th Anniversary Medal, and Canadian Forces Decoration.

  • Webmaster
  • Member Website Committee
  • Member Social Media Committee
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Michael Catton

Director
Elected 2023 - term expires 2026

BIO

Five years OPP – Chatham, Forest, Grand Bend and Merlin

Twenty-Seven years RCMP – Manitoba and Ontario.  Limited Duration Posting, Highway Patrol, Drug Section (Winnipeg and Toronto West), Commercial Crime, Intelligence, Federal Enforcement, Data Base Management.

Member OPP Veterans’ Association, RCMP Veterans’ Association, International Police Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Probus Club of Old Oakville, the Combined Probus Club of North Oakville, and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 82 Port Credit (currently serving on the board, and I am the Membership Chair).

Volunteer – Oakville Milton Humane Society, and Crime Stoppers of Halton (treasurer).

  • Member of Finance Committee
  • Member of Governance Committee
  • Maintain the Over 90 Section of the Website and prepare the Over 90 Certificates 
  • Solicit Website sponsors
  • Represent OPPVA at events/functions as required
  • Set up and dismantle flags. stands, display, and/or backdrop when attending events
  • liaison with Chapter 1 Chatham, Chapter 2 London and Chapter 3 Burlington
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Robert (Bob) Cousineau

Director
Elected 2024 - term expires 2027

BIO

During his +38 year career with the OPP, served as:

Front-Line Constable, at Essex and Tecumseh (M) Detachments,

Sergeant Shift Supervisor, at the No. 1 District Communications Centre – Chatham, and performed Communications Advisor duties at Incident Command / Major Events,

Staff Sergeant Operations Manager, at the Provincial Communications Centre – London, and performed Communications Advisor duties at Incident Command / Major Events,

Completed interim assignments as Acting Detachment Commander for Perth County, Middlesex County and Brant County,

Inspector Manager of Strategic Planning, at the Government Mobile Communications Branch,

Inspector Manager of Video and Voice Services, at the Communications and Technology Services Bureau – GHQ.

Retired December 2021

OPPVA Experience: Past Director Chapter #18, current Chair of Chapter #18

  • Assistant Webmaster
  • Member of Website Committee
  • Member of Social Media Committee
  • Member of Governance Committee
  • Represent OPPVA at OPP/OPPA and other events as required
  • Set up and dismantling of OPPVA displays at events
  • Solicit website sponsors
  • Liaison with Chapter 18 Orillia and Chapter 8 Peterborough
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Lise Santana Santos

Director
(Board member since 2018 - present term expires 2026)

BIO

986-2004 – Teletype Operator/Signal Operator Canadian Armed Forces, served in Ottawa, Alert NWT, Lahr Germany, Brunssum The Netherlands.

2004-2005 – Communication Operator Provincial CommCenter Smiths Falls

2005-2006 – Switchboard supervisor Prime Minister’s Office

2006-2008 – Administration Clerk/Finance Clerk Drake

2008-present – Court Room Clerk/Registrar Ministry of the Attorney General in Cornwall

Legion member and volunteer weekly

Member of the OPPVA Chapter Cornwall since 2010, and have been chapter secretary since joining

  • Member Finance Committee
  • Flags, Stands, Backdrop & Display Table: Assemble/Dismantle at OPPA/OPPVA meetings and functions if attending.
  • Solicit Website Sponsors
  • Represent OPPVA at OPP, OPPA, and other events as directed
  • Liaison with Chapter 11 Cornwall; Chapter 11 Ottawa and Chapter 11 Hawkesbury
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Jeff Simpkins

Director
(Board member since 2022 - present term expires 2028)

BIO

1987 Coboconk; 1988 NW Patrol; 1990 Kenora Ident; 1993 Sgt. South Porcupine Ident; 1996 Kenora Comm Centre; 2001 Cochrane; 2001 Nottawasaga; 2002 NAPS Support Unit; 2005 Seconded OPC; 2007 Academy; 2008 First Nations Bureau; 2012 Afghanistan (Civ-Pol Mission); 2013 Aboriginal Policing Bureau; 2014 Academy; 2016 S/Sg5 Comm Safety Serv; 2018 Ukraine, Civ-Pol Mission

  • Chair Website Committee and Social Media Committee
  • Solicit website sponsors
  • Represent OPPVA at OPP, OPPA, and other events as directed
  • Assemble OPPVA displays when attending functions
  • Liaise with Chapter 16 Thunder Bay and Chapter 17 Kenora
  • Submit articles for the OPPA Beyond the Badge
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Kevin Walker

Director
Elected 2025 - term expires 2028

BIO

Policing career began in December 1992 with the Wingham Police Service, 1994 with the Listowel Police Service, amalgamated with the OPP in June 1999, assigned to General Patrol in  Listowel, Perth County Detachment. Completed duties in the Crime Unit, School Resource Officer and Court Officer. Completed three summer postings in Pikangikum and one posting in Killarney. Retired in February 2019.

Joined the OPPPVA in Guelph in 2019. Became a founding member of the Huron Perth Chapter, being the first Chair in September 2022. Became the Secretary / Treasurer for the Chapter after one year and remain in that position to date.

  • Member of Governance Committee
  • Liaison with Chapter 6 Mt. Forest, Chapter 6 Huron Perth, and Chapter 6 Guelph
  • Solicit Website sponsors
  • Represent OPPVA at OPP, OPPA, and other events as directed
  • Flags, Stands, Backdrop & Display Table: Assemble/Dismantle at OPPA/OPPVA if attending meetings and functions.