Photo Gallery

---

 Currently Heather is a Professor in the Baccalaureate School of Nursing at St. Lawrence College, located in three campuses – Kingston, Cornwall and Brockville. She has taught nursing at the Northern College in Moosonee, Ontario, primarily to First Nation's students. For over ten years

Heather has worked in First Nations communities in northern Canada, operating programs for aboriginal children and youth. Her nursing skills were also put to use in several rural clinics, including Attawaspiskat First Nation. During her time working with First Nations communities, she completed her Master's research in the areas of self-respect and well-being. 

LORI has served as a RN at Muskoka Woods and became the Health Care manager in 2011. She also works part-time as an RN at the Missionary Health Institute

Lori has been a board member of Muskoka Woods since its inception in 1980 when her father founded Muskoka Woods.

She hasvolunteered with Light Patrol which was started by Tim Huff of Youth Unlimited  and initiated the startup of "health light"  a nursing outreach for homeless people and served there for approx. 12 years.

Lori has also visited Mishkeegogamang and was instrumental in bringing the youth down to Muskoka Woods for the first week of every summer for the last 14 years.

After a recent trip to Mishkeegogamang with the BSM program director, Shirley felt  she had left a piece of her heart there.  As the current Vice-President of Programs and Mission at Prison Fellowship Canada, Shirley knew working with Burning Stone would be beneficial for all involved. The over-representation of Indigenous young adults in correctional Institutions across Canada is a critical issue and one that both Prison Fellowship and Burning Stone Ministries programs are attempting to address.   With a Bachelor of Law degree from McGill and as a Certified Mental Health First Aide Facilitator, we know Shirley's experience and knowledge with be a great addition to the Burning Stone team and board.

Ken spent 1+ years in Sri Lanka leading in post tsunami rebuilding; nine years serving inner city families in downtown Toronto as Executive Director of the Toronto City Mission; over six years directing the relief and development projects of World Relief Canada; five years living in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; and five years in Bangkok, Thailand. Three of the Thailand years were as an Operations Officer with IOM, the refugee resettlement organization of the United Nations. His studies include a Masters of Missiology and an MBA in non-profit sector management from York University.  

Most recently and for 10+ years until retirement in June 2017, Ken served at World Renew (the relief and development arm of the Christian Reformed Church North America), as a Senior Project Manager on the International Disaster Response 

Liza first connected with Burning Stone Ministries while working in Mishkeegogamang First Nation.  Liza is originally from Muscrat Dam First Nation and has an extensive amount of experience in many areas that have helped hers and other northern communities.  Liza's positions and experience include:

• A counsellor at the Reverend Tommy Beardy Memorial Family Treatment Centre
• A native language instructor and teachers assistant at The Samson Beardy Memorial School.
• Teacher and Family support worker and then program Coordinator at the Aboriginal Headstart organization.
• Clinical and crisis worker in Mishkeegogamang First Nation.

Myrtle is a Registered Dental Hygienist  and works as an Independent contractor with Health Canada for Remote Area Program ( Northern Ontario) since 2019. She just retired from a private dental practice In Mississauga after 25 years. 

Myrtle is also a board member for Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelter and a volunteer host family for Northern Youth Abroad. 

She attends with her husband, Westside Burlington Church. 

Eric obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1977 after graduating with his Business degree in 1976. He was elected as a Fellow Chartered Accountant in 2000 (FCPA). Eric spent most of his career in public accounting as a partner with firms KPMG, EY and Grant Thornton. After retiring from Grant Thorton in May, 2008, he joined an Indigenous Airline in a Corporate Financial role and at the same time started a consulting partnership with his spouse Christina. Eric served on many boards over his career including Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Big Brothers of Peel Region, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Children’s Aid Society of Thunder Bay. At the present time Eric is on the Condominium Corporation Board where he and Christina own a condo. Eric and Christina attend Redwood Park Church (Alliance Canada) in Thunder Bay.  They have four children, ten grandchildren and in a few weeks our first great grandchild.

Reverend Ray Aldred is ordained with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada. He is status Cree.  He resides with his wife Elaine in Richmond, British Columbia.  Ray is the director of the Indigenous Studies Program at the Vancouver School of Theology whose mission is to partner with the Indigenous Church around theological education.  Formerly Ray served as the Assistant Professor of Theology at Ambrose Seminary in Calgary, Alberta.   He is a frequent speaker at college conferences and meetings.  Ray and Elaine assist and train others to facilitate support groups for people who have suffered abuse.  

Lori has travelled to Mishkeegogamang with Burning Stone and has assisted in bringing several of the youth to the south to have a wonderful experience at Muskoka Woods. Lori is a nurse and oversees the health care at Muskoka Woods.  John McAuley is the president and CEO of Muskoka Woods and has an extensive background in the camping industry and in organizational leadership. Together, John and his wife Lori have more than 36 years of senior leadership experience at Muskoka Woods.  

Jacqueline Ottmann is Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), a speaker of the Nakawe language and a member of the Fishing Lake First Nation in southern Saskatchewan.  Ottmann has been recognized with numerous honours throughout her career, according to a FNUniv news release, by her extensive involvement in higher education with the University of Calgary and the University of Saskatchewan as an educator, adviser, researcher and administrator.  In September of 2021, Jacqueline became the 10th President of The First Nations University of Canada.

Linda is a Cree from Muskrat Dam, Ontario. She met her husband Rick when he was teaching in her community. They are responsible for the development and facilitation of peer counselling and training programs. Through workshops and small group settings, they deal with life’s issues in First Nations communities (abuse, family crisis and grief).  Karen Ward has worked with Rick and Linda during which time she learned much about suicide prevention, traditional values and how best to walk with Indigenous friends.  They currently live in Niverville, MB and serve with MSC Canada.

Christina is a Registered Psychotherapist and a member in good standing with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.  She completed a MA in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University and has over 20 years of experience providing support group, individual and couple counselling services to clients from diverse backgrounds. Additionally she brings 52 years of married life and parenting to her practice. Her counselling practice focuses on helping clients struggling with relationship difficulties, grief and loss, abuse and trauma, anxiety and depression, stress and marital conflict, and spiritual issues