Founder's Circle
The Founder’s Circle was established in Spring of 2015 for the purpose of honouring the work and contributions of the original team that founded Simcoe Pride and coordinated the first Pride Week in 2012. In the future this Circle may become an advisor to the Board or another capacity in the organization.
The members of the Founder’s Circle include:
The Co-Founders
Mary Sue Robinet
J. Andrew Baker
Founding Committee
Sarah Fuller
Brandon Amyot
Externals/Volunteers/Planning Team
Laura McNevin
Angela Francis
Anne Marie Couture
Notable supporters also included Tina Beausoleil and Marlene Ham.
The members of the Founder’s Circle include:
The Co-Founders
Mary Sue Robinet
J. Andrew Baker
Founding Committee
Sarah Fuller
Brandon Amyot
Externals/Volunteers/Planning Team
Laura McNevin
Angela Francis
Anne Marie Couture
Notable supporters also included Tina Beausoleil and Marlene Ham.
Founding Chair - Mary Sue Robinet
Mary Sue Robinet has lived in the Barrie area for almost 20 years. Prior to, and throughout being Chair, she maintained a strong relationship with the LGBT community. A hardworking mother, she noticed a need for community-based, family-centered events thus, she lead the creation of Fierté Simcoe Pride. As Chair and a Director of Fierte Simcoe Pride, she created supportive relationships and helped spread the message of Pride and the work of FSP. In creating these relationships, she solidified existing partnerships and formed new connections with Simcoe area supporters. It is her sincere hope that with Fierté Simcoe Pride, we will begin a long standing tradition of acceptance, friendship and support that will move the community forward to a stronger presence in Simcoe County.
Mary Sue was Simcoe Pride's founding Chair, who served from 2012 until 2015. We are forever grateful for her contributions, which extend beyond Pride, and we know that she will continue to do good.
Past Presidents
J. Andrew Baker (President, 2015-2017)
J. Andrew Baker (he/him pronouns) is a educator, community worker, counsellor, fire dancer, holistic health specialist, fundraiser, writer, and activist from Simcoe County, Ontario. For the past 20 years, Andrew has focused his career and volunteer work on community development, the environment, language and culture revitalization, the arts, life-long learning, holistic health, and spirituality within Indigenous and LGBT communities.
In 1998, he began to work within the LGBT community as a volunteer and member of the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County’s (ACSC) Youth Outreach H.O.P.E. Theatre troupe. He served on the Board of Directors of the ACSC from 2009 to 2011 as a director; he served as the ACSC’s Board of Directors’ interim chair (2010) and chair (2010-2011). He worked as the Rainbow Health Ontario Community Outreach Worker for the North Simcoe Muskoka Region from 2008 to 2014. He is a founding member of the Simcoe County LGBTQ Network. He was the Vice President of Governance for Fierté Canada Pride from 2015 to 2019, was an active board member of Muskoka Pride, the LGBT representative on the Simcoe County Suicide Awareness Council, and a member of InterPride's Solidarity and Human Rights committees. Andrew was a Vice President of Operations for InterPride from 2016 to 2018, and has served as the Co-President of the organization since 2018.
A Georgian Alumni of the Aboriginal Community and Social Development program at Georgian College in Barrie: where he served as Student Director of Aboriginal Studies (2008-2009), the Orientation Team Leader – Team Development and Training, and co-founded the Georgian LGBTQA Association (now operating as Georgian Pride). He was a researcher and graphic recorder for the Aboriginal Health Initiative: the Indigenous Voices Café community-based research project that resulted in the launch of the Aboriginal-Stream Pre-Health Science Certificate program. Andrew was an active member of the Anishnabe Education and Training Circle at the college from 2009 to 2012. From 2012 until 2019, a faulty member and curriculum development officer at Georgian College for the School of Liberal Arts & Access Programs, the School of Aboriginal Studies and the School of Health and Wellness. Baker was a program lead for employment and training initiatives at the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre in Midland, where he established 6 programs and projects.
Andrew served on the Board of Fierté Simcoe Pride from its founding until stepping down at the organization's AGM in December 2019. In that time, he served as Treasurer-Secretary (2012-2015, President (2015-2017), and Past President (2017-2019) as well as Treasurer (2018-2019).
In 1998, he began to work within the LGBT community as a volunteer and member of the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County’s (ACSC) Youth Outreach H.O.P.E. Theatre troupe. He served on the Board of Directors of the ACSC from 2009 to 2011 as a director; he served as the ACSC’s Board of Directors’ interim chair (2010) and chair (2010-2011). He worked as the Rainbow Health Ontario Community Outreach Worker for the North Simcoe Muskoka Region from 2008 to 2014. He is a founding member of the Simcoe County LGBTQ Network. He was the Vice President of Governance for Fierté Canada Pride from 2015 to 2019, was an active board member of Muskoka Pride, the LGBT representative on the Simcoe County Suicide Awareness Council, and a member of InterPride's Solidarity and Human Rights committees. Andrew was a Vice President of Operations for InterPride from 2016 to 2018, and has served as the Co-President of the organization since 2018.
A Georgian Alumni of the Aboriginal Community and Social Development program at Georgian College in Barrie: where he served as Student Director of Aboriginal Studies (2008-2009), the Orientation Team Leader – Team Development and Training, and co-founded the Georgian LGBTQA Association (now operating as Georgian Pride). He was a researcher and graphic recorder for the Aboriginal Health Initiative: the Indigenous Voices Café community-based research project that resulted in the launch of the Aboriginal-Stream Pre-Health Science Certificate program. Andrew was an active member of the Anishnabe Education and Training Circle at the college from 2009 to 2012. From 2012 until 2019, a faulty member and curriculum development officer at Georgian College for the School of Liberal Arts & Access Programs, the School of Aboriginal Studies and the School of Health and Wellness. Baker was a program lead for employment and training initiatives at the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre in Midland, where he established 6 programs and projects.
Andrew served on the Board of Fierté Simcoe Pride from its founding until stepping down at the organization's AGM in December 2019. In that time, he served as Treasurer-Secretary (2012-2015, President (2015-2017), and Past President (2017-2019) as well as Treasurer (2018-2019).
Brandon Rhéal Amyot (President, 2017-2019)
Brandon Rhéal (they/them pronouns) is a post-secondary student involved in community work, and activism. Growing up in Simcoe County for most of their life, they have been an avid volunteer and advocate for the past eight years, involved in initiatives focused on education, youth, diverse communities, and intersectional causes.
In 2010, they launched a anti-bullying campaign called Born This Way Day. From this, Brandon joined in the founding of Fierté Simcoe Pride. In secondary school, they were involved in various student clubs ranging from student governance and the GSA to the arts and mental health. They served as a Student Trustee on the Simcoe County District School Board from 2013 to 2014.
Brandon is currently studying at Lakehead University (Orillia) in the Interdisciplinary Studies program, where they are specializing in Political Science and Media Studies. At Lakehead they have been involved with multiple campus groups, including in their role as the student union's Campaigns Commissioner (2018-2020) and as CFS Ontario's Two Spirit/Trans Constituency Commissioner (2019). They now sit on the Board of Directors for the student union.
Brandon has a diploma in Aboriginal Community and Social Development from Georgian College (2017) and was a participant in the Ontario Post-Secondary Model Parliament Program (2020).
With FSP, Brandon served in several roles: Youth Representative (2012-2013), Secretary (2013-2017), Co-Chair of the Awards Committee (2015-2019), and President (2017-2019). Brandon previously served on InterPride as the Regional Director for Canada (2016-2018).
In 2010, they launched a anti-bullying campaign called Born This Way Day. From this, Brandon joined in the founding of Fierté Simcoe Pride. In secondary school, they were involved in various student clubs ranging from student governance and the GSA to the arts and mental health. They served as a Student Trustee on the Simcoe County District School Board from 2013 to 2014.
Brandon is currently studying at Lakehead University (Orillia) in the Interdisciplinary Studies program, where they are specializing in Political Science and Media Studies. At Lakehead they have been involved with multiple campus groups, including in their role as the student union's Campaigns Commissioner (2018-2020) and as CFS Ontario's Two Spirit/Trans Constituency Commissioner (2019). They now sit on the Board of Directors for the student union.
Brandon has a diploma in Aboriginal Community and Social Development from Georgian College (2017) and was a participant in the Ontario Post-Secondary Model Parliament Program (2020).
With FSP, Brandon served in several roles: Youth Representative (2012-2013), Secretary (2013-2017), Co-Chair of the Awards Committee (2015-2019), and President (2017-2019). Brandon previously served on InterPride as the Regional Director for Canada (2016-2018).
Colin Nelthorpe (President, 2021-2023)
Colin Nelthorpe (He/Him) is a long-time resident of Barrie. He is always looking for new ways to get involved in the community and engage others. He attended Georgian College for Mechanical Technician Precision Skills and graduated in 2018. While attending college he ran successfully to become the Vice-Chair of the Change Makers, a group dedicated to using technology to solve environmental and manufacturing issues.
Always needing to be part of something, Colin joined the Fierté Simcoe Pride Barrie Subcommittee in early 2019, served as the Vice-Chair, and then joined the FSP Board of Directors as Vice Chair in late 2019. More recently, he was appointed Chair in January 2021 and then became president in July 2021. He plans to continue supporting harm reduction strategies, mental health support, and the inclusion of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. His interests are in science, politics, handyperson skills, environmental activism, and progressive social activism. Being rather talkative, he is always willing to engage in conversation and discuss any topic to the best of his abilities.
Colin was elected to the Board as Vice-Chair in December 2019, appointed Chair in January 2021, and elected President in July 2021.
Always needing to be part of something, Colin joined the Fierté Simcoe Pride Barrie Subcommittee in early 2019, served as the Vice-Chair, and then joined the FSP Board of Directors as Vice Chair in late 2019. More recently, he was appointed Chair in January 2021 and then became president in July 2021. He plans to continue supporting harm reduction strategies, mental health support, and the inclusion of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. His interests are in science, politics, handyperson skills, environmental activism, and progressive social activism. Being rather talkative, he is always willing to engage in conversation and discuss any topic to the best of his abilities.
Colin was elected to the Board as Vice-Chair in December 2019, appointed Chair in January 2021, and elected President in July 2021.