The City of Temiskaming Shores' current Mayor and Council will be sworn into office on November 21, 2022.

Mayor & Council Biographies

Mayor Jeff Laferriere 

Mayor Jeff Laferriere

  • I am privileged to be an active part of our community with 14 years of municipal council experience.
  • I moved to Haileybury in 1988 to work at Northern Telephone Ltd. as the Manager of Corporate Finance, promoted to senior management and Vice-President.
  • I have recently retired from RBC where I was the branch manager.
  • I came here because of the people, the hockey, the baseball and a good job which would allow me to support my family.
  • My wife Mairead and I have two sons, Sean (Bethany) and Cavan (Molly) and one granddaughter Líle. I am blessed to have all of them living in Temiskaming Shores!
  • I enjoy being active! I walk my dogs, golf, curl, snowshoe and ski but what I enjoy most is spending time with Líle.

Moving the City Forward:

  • Addressing the housing issues (seniors, geared to income, rental and student).
  • Attracting and retaining human resources for entry level and skilled employment to support our business community
  • Motivated to act now to protect our environment for the future of our children and grandchildren.
  • Guiding the growth in the areas where the infrastructure can support it. Smart Growth!
  • Lobbying for our fair share of infrastructure funding both federally and provincially.
  • Managing taxation. Ensuring taxation will not be a heavy burden on the taxpayers

I am available to listen and learn!

Contact Mayor Jeff Laferriere directly with your inquires.

Councillor Melanie DucharmeCouncillor Melanie Ducharme

  • I grew up in Temiskaming Shores and am proud to serve on council in the city I am now raising my family in. 
  • I have a masters degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Business and hold a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Western University in London.
  • I began my career working for the City of Toronto researching economic development and creative industries internationally. Since that time I've successfully lead organizations and businesses in multiple industries from manufacturing, to the arts, legal services and social services.
  • Currently serving as the Executive Director at Pavilion Women's Centre/Centre des Femmes.
  • I maintain a busy volunteer presence in the community. I've served as Chair of the Temiskaming Festival of Music, performed and participated in countless fundraisers for local causes such as CATScan, Quality Time, Community Cancer Care and Zak's Crib, and has been active in the local skating clubs.
  • When I'm not working you can often find me at the rink with family, coaching CanSkate or directing local theatre productions such as Mary Poppins.
  • I also currently serve as treasurer of Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses.

Contact Councillor Melanie Ducharme directly with your inquires.

Councillor Ian Graydon

Councillor Ian Graydon

  • I am pleased to be newly elected as councillor in the community in which I was born and raised.
  • After living in Southern Ontario, I was happy to return home in 2017.
  • I have been employed by Ontario Power Generation for the past 25 years, most recently as a Planning Officer.  
  • I spent 15 years as a volunteer firefighter, and I currently volunteer my time to several worthy organizations.
  • I enjoy the outdoors and I am an active member of Bike Temiskaming Shores and Nastawgan Trails. 
  • I am married with 3 daughters, and an extended family in the area.
  • I look forward to serving the community in the years to come.

Contact Councillor Ian Graydon directly with your inquires.

 conseillère Nadia Pelletier-Lavigne

Councillor Nadia Pelletier-Lavigne

  • I grew up in Sherbrooke, QC and attended university in Montreal.
  • I first visited Temagami as a teenager, and moved to northern Ontario in my 20s. I've lived in the Temiskaming Shores area since 2001 and raised my family in Haileybury;
  • I am someone who values independence, appreciates diversity and strives for a good work-life balance.  Most of my free time is spent outdoors enjoying activities like hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing, cycling, playing tennis and walking our dog. I also like reading, gardening, knitting, playing music and doing puzzles.
  • My degree is in Business Administration, with additional training on cultural safety, quality improvement and change management. 
    • Coordinator at Centre de santé communautaire du Témiskaming for 20+ years

    • Previously co-owned and operated an outdoor tourism business

    • Former youth canoe trip leader & wilderness guide;

  • Community involvement includes:

    • Peer trainer for aspiring adoptive & foster families

    • Member of the Temiskaming Community Concert Band

    • Member of the Folk Dancing troupe at Festival des Folies Franco-fun

    • Member of 100 women who care, Temiskaming Shores & more.

Contact conseillère Nadia Pelletier-Lavigne directly with your inquires.

 Councillor Danny Whalen

Councillor Danny Whalen

  • I was born and raised in the area.
  • I am married to Suzanne with two daughters Trina and Tracey. We also have two granddaughters Mya and Lily and a grandson Calvin to whom we devote much of our time.
  • I just recently received a 25 year appreciation certificate from the Province of Ontario for service to the community.
  • I also hold the position of President of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) and I hold a seat on the Executive for the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO).
  • I feel privileged to represent our community.
  • Being retired allows me to devote myself full time to bettering our municipality and Northeastern Ontario.

Contact Councillor Danny Whalen directly with your inquires.

Councillor Mark Wilson  

Councillor Mark Wilson

  • I am a retired Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) after a 30 -year career in occupational safety as a trainer and Safety Program Developer. My family also operated a cattle and crop farm in Temiskaming over the same 30-year period.
  • For the last 10 years I’ve been a road safety advocate after my family lost our son and brother, Danny, at the age of 17. Danny along with his friend Andrew were killed when they were passengers in a vehicle involved in a head-on crash on Highway 11 in Northern Ontario.
  • I am also the Volunteer Resource Member for the GEMS Committee (Going the Extra Mile for Safety) in Temiskaming Shores Ontario, a group that has been advocating for 2+1 roads in Northern Ontario.
  • I am a member of the Vision Zero Alliance in Ontario; a group established by Parachute Canada and the Ontario Traffic Council to encourage and influence road authorities to adopt safe system design on their roads.
  • I am a board member of Safer Roads Canada, a group advocating for safety improvements to the Trucking Industry.
  • I also served on the board of the Temiskaming Foundation for the last 4 years of his term as President.
  • When I’m not doing the above, I operate a small building and renovation company.

Contact Councillor Mark Wilson directly with your inquires.

Councillor Dan Dawson

Dan Dawson Appointed as Councillor for the City of Temiskaming Shores

October 15, 2024 - For Immediate Release

At the Regular meeting on October 15, 2024, Dan Dawson was appointed as Councillor for the City of Temiskaming Shores. The appointment was made effective immediately as Councillor Dawson took the declaration of office at the meeting. He will act in his official capacity for the balance of the current term (November 2026).

"On behalf of Council, we welcome Dan Dawson as Councillor for the City of Temiskaming Shores, and look forward to working with him throughout the term”, said Mayor Laferriere. “We extend our appreciation for Dan’s commitment to serving the Community.  His experience and dedication to the City, including his service on local boards and committees, makes him an excellent candidate for the role.”

Contact Councillor Dan Dawson directly with your inquires.