Welcome to the website of Huronia Branch. Our aim is to keep members informed on branch activities; provide information on meeting schedules, including meet and greet, branch advocacy and other areas of interest. In addition to our regular events, from time to time you’ll find information on association advocacy as well as national events.
The results of the Huronia Branch board elections held during our May 6, 2026 BAM (branch annual meeting) are as follows, with short introductions to our new board members:
President: Mark Burchell was declared for a two year term. Mark was director of communications from May 2021 until May 2025 and again from February to May 2026. Mark is a retired naval officer.
Vice president: Vacant
Secretary: Bob Martinell was declared for a one year term. A former army officer and resident of Barrie, he joined the Huronia Branch in 2014.
Web editor: Lindsay Lyall was declared for a two year term. Lindsay retired in 2004 after a 36 year career with Atomic Energy of Canada. He has held most of the executive positions with a Probus Club and has been active in the Collingwood Trails Network. Hobbies include gardening and cycling.
Director of membership and recruitment: Kathy Rupnow was declared for a two year term. Kathy has 10 years’ experience as a board member in communications, membership and recruitment. Kathy retired after 37 years of service in two federal departments.
Director-at-large: Lynne Ellis was declared for a one year term. Lynne has been a member of the association for the past 28 years, the majority of time she was on the branch board, first as secretary, then several turns as president/past president, and even vice president. Lynne was employed with Service Canada for 23 years.
Director of communications: Vacant
Director of advocacy: Vacant
Treasurer: Julia Nicholls. She still has one year remaining of her two year term.
The Huronia Branch board of directors
Huronia has been in existence since 1990 according to documents found at the national office and sent to the Huronia branch President Albert Secor at the time. This seems to also match the date that appears with our branch by-Laws (1990 Charter date).
Huronia covers a large area that comprises of six Federal/Provincial ridings: Parry Sound – Muskoka, Barrie – Innisfil, Simcoe – Grey, Barrie – Springwater – Oro – Medonte, Simcoe North and York Simcoe. Federal Retirees members are assigned to a branch based on their postal codes within the branch’s geographical areas. For more details, see the tab “Branch Federal and Provincial Ridings” under the main page “Huronia Branch” on this website.
The branch is a not for profit organization and is an entity and agent of the National Association of Federal Retirees (“the association”), established by the Charter issued by the board in 1990. The branch is subject to the association’s national by-laws. As an agent of the association, the branch provides services to its members and carries out local programs consistent with the purpose, strategic direction and policies of the association.
The core services of the branch are advocacy at the local level in support of national initiative to advocate measures to protect and promote the pensions, benefits and general welfare of members and potential members. Oppose measures detrimental to the interest of members and potential members, information sharing, membership recruitment and engagement, etc. More information on core services is contained in the branch bylaws (tab “Bylaws and Regulations” of the main page “Huronia Branch” on this website).
