Member Profiles

Virginia Stites (President):

• First joined Rotary in 1995 in Minto, New Brunswick then transferred to the Rotary Club of Hampton, New Brunswick.
• As a member of the RC of Hampton, served in several roles including youth exchange co-ordinator, secretary and president as well as chair of fundraising projects such as the annual used book sale.
• Was chosen to lead a Group Study Exchange team to Adelaide, Australia.
• Participated in a clean water project in the Dominican Republic and has subsequently returned numerous times on medical teams.
• Joined the Rotary Club of Middleton in November 2023 and became President in 2026.
• Currently lives in Bridgetown, NS and works as a pharmacist at the Bridgetown Pharmasave.

Calvin Gough:

• Became a member of the Rotary Club of Middleton in 2022 and served as Club Treasurer 2022-24
• Engineering graduate from Dalhousie University
• Currently working in the construction and real estate industry

Jamie Peppard (Past President):

Jamie was born and raised in Middleton, the youngest of 4 siblings. Attended Acadia where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Physical Education. Returned for a Masters in Leadership and a second Masters in Outdoor Education from St. F. X.

He is currently the principal of Lawrencetown Education Centre, where our Rotary Club also has a Youth (Interact) branch of the club.

Al Peppard:

• Born in 1927 in Truro, Nova Scotia
• Studied Physical Education at McGill University
• Teacher/School Administrator at MRHS for 37 years; newly published author
• Coached countless local sports teams including 37 years with the MRHS boys hockey team
• Involved in establishing Rotary Raceway Park and Rotary Riverside Park in Middleton
• Rotary Club of Middleton Club President in 1971
• Received Paul Harris Fellowship designation in 1989 and PHF+1 in 2024.
• Al Joined the Rotary Club of Middleton on Nov. 26th, 1967 and has been a member for nearly 60 years

Brian Neville:

• Born in Kentville in 1943
• Post Secondary Education: Business of Commerce degree
• Joined the club on Jan. 03, 1985
• Club President  in 1995-96 and 2005-07
• Retired businessman and financial advisor
• Other accomplishments and achievements include:
  • Deputy Mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
  • Deputy Mayor of Middleton, NS
  • Club President, Lions Club of Deer Lake, NL
  • President of Kinsmen Club of Goose Bay, NL
• Currently leads the Rotary Club's "Pull Tab Collection" initiative  which raises funds for the purchase of wheelchairs and other medical equipment and needs. 

Bob Demers:

Bryson Crowell:

• Born in Middleton, NS
• Acadia University: BA in 1977 & Dalhousie University: B. Comm. in 1980
• Started his career as a realtor, then became owner/broker of ReMax/Banner real estate offices in the Annapolis Valley, employing 35
• Obtained CRA Designation (Canadian Residential Appraiser) from Appraisal Institute of Canada with appraising over 6,000 households
• A Rotarian with the Middleton Club since 1984; serving as President in 1989-90. He has served in many capacities, most recently as the Gold Mine 50/50 Committee Co-Chair. Has Chaired or Co-Chaired countless fundraisers, including the annual rubber duck race and golf tournament, and currently plays an active role in the club’s weekly Gold Mine 50/50
• Played a pivotal role in establishing Riverside Rotary Park in Middleton
• Other roles within the Middleton area include Town Councillor (9 years), Town Mayor (3 years), Vice-Chair of Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation, MacDonald Museum/Annapolis Valley Historical Society member, and member of the Middleton Railway Museum Society
• Recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award in 2010 and named a PHF+1 in 2024.

Cathy Mailman:

Chuck Shields:

• Born in 1957 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• Also is a member of RMC Club
• Plays an active role with the Middleton Rotary Gold Mine 50/50
• Roles over the years with the Rotary Club of Middleton include Secretary, Treasurer for 2 years, President, and Past President
• Active in Club functions in the past including running the canteen for the annual Rotary Auction
• Received Paul Harris Fellowship Award
• Rotary Club of Middleton member for 28 years (As of June 1995)

• Born 1988 in Middleton, NS
• Avid sports fan. Participated in assisting junior boys basketball team at Bridgetown Regional High School and did the score clock for majority of the school's volleyball and basketball games (2003-2007)
• Respect For Diversity at BRHS
• Won Hill Family Award for my volunteer work at BRHS in 2007
• Office Administration Certificate at NSCC in 2012
• Member of Rotary Club of Middleton since September 2022
• Currently do data entry work on casual basis
• I am the great grandson of one of the Club's Charter Members, Don Stewart

Dave Ross:

• Born in Truro, NS
• Attended St. FX university in Antigonish, NS, getting a BA in 1993
• Was sales rep for West Nova Fuels in multiple New Brunswick offices such as Miramichi and Bathurst
• Returned to university to get teaching degree at Acadia University
• Former employee at Valley Correctional Facility in Waterville, NS
• Currently a teacher at Lawrencetown Education Centre
• Rotary Club of Middleton member since 2021
• Served as Club President 2022-23

Dianne McDonald:

• Born in East Chester
• Education includes education develop curriculum at St. Mary’s University in 1990, Educational Leadership at University of Northern British Columbia in 2010
• Employment history includes Employment Counselor Educator for ESL, Special Needs, English Composition, Sociology, Social Studies
• Paul Harris Fellow +1
• Rotary work includes:
  • Chair of International Student Exchange
  • Valley Faces of Business Committee
  • Public Relations Committee for Fundy Rotary Clubs
  • Club Host
• Other organizations or committees involvement:
  • Accessibility Committee for Town of Middleton
  • Middleton Choral Society
• Other: Non-government organization delegate of United Nations & facilitated delivery of Masters of Education Fairview, AB

• Born in Flin Flon, Manitoba
• Former nurse
• Prior to being a member of the Rotary Club of Middleton, she was a member of the Rotary Club in Marathon, ON and Miramichi, NB
• Past District Governor of District 7810 (NB and Maine)
• Former franchisee of 2 Robin’s Donuts
• Serving as Co-President with Sharon, 2024-2025

• Born in Middleton, NS
• Graduated MRHS
• Worked in Toronto and Halifax for Halifax Insurance Company
• Joined family business in 1973, Balcom Insurance and Real Estate.
• Retired fully in 2010.
• Club President
• Paul Harris Fellow
• Have been involved, chaired, co-chaired many projects in the club: Golf Tournament, Rubber Ducky Derby, Gala Dance, and others.
• Founding Chair of the Development Committee for the Rotary Raceway Park.
• Other volunteer activities include:
• Past President, Nova Scotia Insurance Brokers Association.
• Director, Canadian Insurance Brokers Association.
• Chair, Middleton Downtown Development Corporation
• Chair, Middleton & District Rink Association
• Chair, Middleton Tourist Bureau

Janel Warmington:

Kevin Bauer:

Macael Baxter:

Michael was born in Lancashire, in the United Kingdom, in 1968. He has had a fairly varied working life, including roles as an epidemiologist for Leukaemia Research UK, Channel Tunnel Data & Network Manager for British Rail Freight, Head of Commercial Security for British Telecom,  CEO of Recruitment.com, Managing Partner of Trolltamers, and Head of Safety & Advocacy for OkCupid and Match Group. Michael later became a whistleblower on safety failures at Match Group and has appeared in several documentaries and media reports on dating-app safety.

His education includes Computational Science, Social Psychology, Law, and Chartered Engineer status, along with doctoral work in Social Psychology.

Michael has been a member of the Rotary Club of Middleton since 2021. He has been Secretary and VP, chairs the Club Service Committee, sits on the District Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and is usually the person blamed for anything involving Zoom, computers, or other mysterious technology. He introduced remote meeting capabilities to the club and continues to act as its unofficial tech lead.

Outside Rotary, Michael is Treasurer of the North Mountain Gun Club in Annapolis and Kings County, collects oddities, and also helps with community and heritage issues in Port George.

The only thing he likes about having a Wikipedia page is his sheep photo:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lawrie

Nancy McGrath:

Peter Hebb:

Sandra Fournier:

Sandra relocated to Middleton in 2024 after many years in British Columbia. Soon after arriving, she became involved in the community and was elected to Middleton Town Council, where she served on the Audit Committee and Police Advisory Committee. A seventh-generation Maritimer, Sandra has deep roots in the region. Her mother was a Palmer from Northumberland County. Although she spent part of her childhood in Ottawa, she retains fond memories of attending a Rotary International Christmas event at the Château Laurier. That experience left a lasting impression and she fulfilled a long-held aspiration by joining the Rotary Club of Middleton. Sandra has a diverse background in health care, social work, public policy, governance, and community service. She holds a Diploma in Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Economics, and Political Science, and a Master of Social Work specializing in Social Policy. Over the course of her career, Sandra has worked as a rehabilitation nurse, social worker, supervisor, manager, policy analyst, and provincial quality auditor in Ontario and British Columbia. Her experience includes program and policy development, quality improvement, financial oversight, risk assessment, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and community organizations. Sandra values practical service, sound governance, and respectful community collaboration. She currently serves on the Rotary Club of Middleton’s Service Committee and as Chair of Vocational Services, and she looks forward to continuing to contribute to the work of the club.

(Editor's Note: The pup is called Lewis)

Walt Crocker:

• Born in 1942 in Freeport, NS
• B.Sc. with Diploma in Engineering from Dalhousie University
• Former Major and pilot in Royal Canadian Air Force
• Worked for Imperial Oil
• Roles with Rotary Club of Middleton include:
  • Gold Mine 50/50
  • Medical Needs Request Committee
  • Member of Community Service Committee
• Paul Harris Fellowship winner
• Rotary Club of Middleton member since February 2017