Past Chair - Earl Black
Earl Black has been a prominent figure in Sudbury’s disabled community for the last two decades. In 1975, Earl was involved in an automobile accident, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Since then he has dedicated much of his life to improving the lives of those living with disabilities in the Greater Sudbury area.
Earl Black has been the coordinator of special needs at Laurentian University since 1989. He founded Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin and is a former chairman of the board. His previous involvements include organizations such as Persons United for Self Help (P.U.S.H), absolute abilities, and other grass roots organizations serving people with disabilities.
He has also held several Ontario ministry appointed positions. Earl was a former member of the Accessibility Advisory Committee for the Province of Ontario for disabled persons between 1990 and 1995 and was involved in the 2006 transportation standards committee and 2007 Employment Standards Committee for the province of Ontario.
He currently holds the position of chairman in the Accessibility Advisory Panel for the City of Greater Sudbury, a position he has retained since 2003.
Chairman - Craig Ticalo
Craig Ticalo is a lawyer, licensed to practise law in Ontario since 1989. Craig became a board member in 2004 and was elected Chairman in 2008. He is also an active member of the Government Relations Committee and an advisor to the Accessibility Advisory Committee of Greater Sudbury. Craig was a participant in the 2009 Customer Service symposium for employees of the Ontario government at the Sudbury Courthouse.
Much of Craig Ticalo’s interest in the challenges facing people living with disabilities stem from his own personal experiences with Cerebral Palsy, which he has had since birth. He now spends a great deal of his professional time serving those with disabilities in his community. A major aspect of Craig’s practise involves working with clients who have mental illnesses and various special needs, which may leave them at risk in the Criminal Justice system.
Vice Chair - Dr. Tara Leary
Dr. Leary has been in general and family practice in Sudbury since 2001. A graduate of Queen’s Medicine and the University of British Columbia, she is certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and is a Clinical Lecturer at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Her professional interests include health promotion, surgery and teaching, while her personal pursuits focus on community activism. She sits on the Mayor’s Roundtable for Children and Youth as well as the Roxborough Greenbelt Stewardship Committee, in addition to her role as Vice Chair with the Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin Board of Directors.
Treasurer - Claudette Sambo
Claudette is a graduate in Social Services from Collège Boréal and has many years of experience in Social Services. Her strong organizational, communication and analytical skills make her a valuable member of both Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin and the ACCLAIM Ability Management Inc.
Claudette has been involved with the ILSM for over 2 years, originally as a volunteer in the 2008 Dragon Boat Festival. Today, she is the treasurer of the board of directors.
Interim Secretary - Althea Gibson
At just 22 years of age, Althea is Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin’s youngest board member and a former Neil Squire’s Computer Training assistant.
She is a lifelong resident of Sudbury and a recent graduate of the Development Service Worker program at Cambrian College. Her experience in social service work is quite extensive, having worked at Sudbury’s ICAN center, interning with the ICAN teens program and serving in several school job placements, as a respite worker for both youth and adults in Copper Cliff, Lansdowne, and Churchill schools.
She likes to make a difference in the lives of the people she works with and is happy to interact with people and find creative solutions that make people’s lives less challenging. We are happy to have her.
Craig Barkley
Craig Barkely has been a member of the board at Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin for the last year. He is a lifelong resident of Sudbury and has worked in social services, for the last decade. Much of his passion for the cause stems from his own experiences living with spina bifida.
His past experiences include working with the department of parks and recreation, where he was a qualified playground supervisor, at the Laurentian hospital daycare center, with the March of Dimes, and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Craig first joined Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin as a member, then a volunteer, and most recently as an elected board member. He is proud of his work with Independent Living and values the time he spends as a volunteer. He says, “The center does a lot of good for people in the community. It brings them together, shows them they are part of a group. ILSM is very important to me.”
Peter Bernier
Peter Bernier is a former small businessman from Chapleau, ON. Peter ran a family department store for eighteen years and served with the local branch of the Rotary club in several positions, including chapter president. He has also served as a volunteer with the Chapleau chamber of commerce, the Knights of Columbus, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, March of Dimes, as well as with Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin and several other charitable organizations. He is currently involved with the Sudbury post polio support group and the stroke support group. Generosity and commitment have been the hallmarks of Peter Bernier’s career and we are happy to call him one of our own. 
Dr. Shelley Watson
Dr. Shelley Watson is a professor of psychology and long time advocate for people with disabilities. Her work in the field is extensive and she has held positions at several social service providers throughout the province. She received her undergraduate degreen i Child Studies and Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling and special education from Brock University. Shelley received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta and has held professional positions at the University of Alberta, the University of Edmonton, Grant MacEwan College, and most recently at Laurentian University where she is an assistant professor of psychology. Shelley Watson has also been the editor of several books and academic journal articles in the field of psychology, many focusing on issues concerning people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Pamela Lamarche
Pamela Lamarche has been involved in social service for people with developmental disabilities for over sixteen years. She is a long time resident of Sudbury and a graduate of Algonquin College in Ottawa where she earned a certificate in developmental service work. Her experience ranges from working with children, in personal support work and homecare to assisted living with the older adults. She has held two positions with Sudbury Parks and Recreation, helping to organize recreational programs for people with developmental disabilities. She currently works with the Canadian Mental Health association in Sudbury, a position she has held for the last seven years. Pamela is a proud advocate for children and people living with disabilities.
Dave Copeland
Jeff Dixon
