Board Directors

Don Smirl

Don continues to lead a team of staff spread across Canada and Ireland in his long standing career in Information Technology. Raised on a farm near Killarney and now in Winnipeg, Don’s family are “routine” Family Campers at Camp including various family with staffing experience.

Ingrid Pedersen

Ingrid Pedersen is a lifelong Wannakumbac Camper! She was a camper for 7 years, a counselor for 4 years, and the Camp Director for 2 summers. It would be an understatement to say that Camp has had a huge influence on the adult she is. She has been an educator for 34 years and retired June 2025. She finished up her teaching career as the Vice-Principal of J.H. Bruns Collegiate. After working with children for so long she knows how valuable camp and leadership experiences are for kids.

Graeme Kingdon

Graeme has a Diploma in Agriculture (Business) from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Economics) from the University of Guelph. He nows operates a U-pick Strawberry farm near Basswood with his wife Nakella and daughters Nora and Bailey. Recently retiring from the RCMP after 20 years in rural and Northern Manitoba, Graeme now provides public presentations on rural crime and security. He continues his lifetime connection to Camp by helping in any way he can.

Hannah Granger

Hannah has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology and a minor in Geography and in 2022 graduated with a Bachelor of Education from Brandon University. Hannah’s Camp experience includes campground manager (2021) with alternative programming for camping families and Summer Director in 2022. Now working as a Grade 5 Teacher at Tanner’s Crossing School in Minnedosa, Hannah enjoys working with youth and feels camp is the starting point for their connection to nature where they can grow into their true selves.

Joanne Parsons

Joanne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Manitoba teaching physical therapy students and conducting sports injury-related research. Serving many committees and boards for professional associations, Joanne chairs the Master of Rehabilitation Sciences program overseeing graduate students. Joanne’s life and family connection to camp includes staffing the kitchen, summer counselling and yearly Christmas trips to Camp with family.

Marika Dewar Norosky

A recent grad of Biosystems Engineering from the University of Manitoba, Marika plans to delve into sustainable land management at the family farm in Newdale. Marika is the Executive Director at Manitoba Organics and volunteers with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets as a supervisor and Gliding Instructor. Marika’s strong sense of community involvement has included involvement in 4-H, Cadets, and Ski-Patrol.

Phil Samyn

After moving from a private legal practice in litigation and media law, Phil has worked for the Department of Justice drafting legislation for over two decades. Phil holds a BA from University of Winnipeg and a law degree from Dalhousie University. From a young age and many summers at Camp, Phil has served diverse and numerous community boards and sport organizations in Winnipeg. Phil and Diane have three children who have attended camp including staffing experience.

Sam Sinclair

Sam farms near Strathclair and parents of two sons who have attended Camp. Same has been involved in a variety of community support committees and projects in the community of Strathclair. Sam has served on the Camp board since 1999 representing Co-operative Hail Insurance Co Ltd., for almost 25 years.

Mona Cornock

As a Professional Home Economist, Mona has been committed to rural community and leadership development for many decades. Now retired, Mona worked with Manitoba Agriculture and as Director of Community Development with Manitoba Municipal Relations. Her extensive committee and volunteer work includes the Assiniboine Community College Prairie Innovation Centre Campaign committee, YMCA Strong Kids, 4-H and a variety of national curling events.