Commissioner Biographies
The Niagara Escarpment Commission has 17 members (Commissioners) appointed by Order-in-Council. Nine members, including the Chair, represent the public-at-large and eight municipally-elected members represent counties, cities and regions within the Niagara Escarpment Plan area.
Rocco Vacca
Chair
Rocco “Rocky” Vacca was born and raised and continues to reside in Niagara Falls. He received both an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Western University and is a Senior Partner of the law firm Sullivan Mahoney LLP. He practices primarily in the areas of Land Use Planning, Real Estate, and Business Law. Rocky is also the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee of Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. and has volunteered as a coach and as legal counsel to the Niagara Falls Soccer Club for the past 10 years. He has previously served as Vice-Chair of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (Peace Bridge). Rocky is committed to the pragmatic interpretation and application of the policies in the NEPDA and in carrying out the NEC’s objective to design and situate development in a manner which is compatible with the Escarpment landscape and natural environment.
Laurie Golden
Municipal Representative - Bruce County
Laurie Golden is an Office Manager for Miller Lake Rona. Her community involvement includes serving as a committee member for St. Edmunds Recreation Committee, St. Edmunds Museum, and National Park Advisory Committee.
Dane Nielsen
Municipal Representative - Grey County
Dane Nielsen is currently the Deputy Mayor of Grey Highlands and a Grey County councillor. He lives in a multi-generational home with his wife, two children and his wife’s parents. He also has horses, goats, and chickens to keep him company on his 28-acre hobby farm. Owner of a small business in Eugenia, Dane has a passion for the Beaver Valley and the Escarpment as a whole, having hiked a lot of the Bruce Trail.
Lynn Kiernan
Municipal Representative - Peel Region
Councillor Lynn Kiernan was first elected in 2018 and served her first term representing the residents and businesses of Ward 1 as Area Councillor. In October 2022, Councillor Kiernan won the support of her community to continue to serve as the Ward 1 Councillor. During her first four years, Councillor Kiernan acted on significant issues for residents and business such as: being a persistent and strong advocate for much-needed safety measures for the highway 10 corridor as well she championed the development and approval of the aggregate interim control bylaw in collaboration with the Forks of the Credit Preservation Group. She has a long history of community involvement and will continue supporting grass roots, resident-led organizations. Prior to entering the political world, Councillor Kiernan enjoyed a successful career in the investment industry. Councillor Kiernan has lived in Caledon all her life and currently resides in the village of Inglewood.
Gordon Krantz
Municipal Representative - Halton Region
Gordan Krantz has been serving the Milton community continuously since 1960. Elected as a Local Councillor to Milton Town Council in 1965 and as Mayor and Head of Milton Town Council in 1980. Also, Mayor Krantz has been an essential contributor to the Region of Halton’s growth plan, by serving on the Regional Municipality of Halton Town Council since 1980, Conservation Halton Board of Directors since 1973, the Niagara Escarpment Commission for three terms and various Ad-Hoc and Standing Committees. Mayor Krantz is a founding member and strong supporter of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance.
Albert Witteveen
Municipal Representative - Niagara Region
Albert Witteveen has been sitting as a volunteer on boards within the community and on committees at the Niagara Region. His list of involvement includes, Waste Management Advisory and Steering Committees, Chair of the Agriculture Policy Action Committee, Chairman of the Ontario Hop Growers Association, Chairman of the Niagara North Federation of Agriculture. Member of the Industry Advisory Committee at Niagara College.
Matt Francis
Municipal Representative - City of Hamilton
Matt Francis is newly elected as councillor to represent the City of Hamilton in Ward 5 for the 2022-2026 term of council. Matt has been a key figure in a number of community initiatives, most notably spearheading the successful “Save Our Pier - Hamilton Beach Community” campaign. Matt has dedicated years of service to his community in many volunteer and leadership capacities. Matt has a passion his community, sport, outdoors and the Niagara Escarpment which his home is situated adjacent to. This is where Matt spends quality family time exploring and enjoying.
Douglas Measures
Municipal Representative - Simcoe County
Doug Measures has resided in Simcoe County since 1977. He has been an elected official with the Township of Clearview since 2006 and had a 36-year career in local community television.
Gail Little
MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVE - DUFFERIN COUNTY
Gail Little has been actively involved in the Dufferin County community for many years, serving as a Board of Education Trustee from 1988 to 1998 and since 2014, as a council member of the Township of Amaranth. Currently Gail is the Deputy Mayor of Amaranth, a member of Dufferin County Council and Chair of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority. Throughout, Gail has always been a strong advocate for agriculture as an executive member of the Dufferin Federation of Agriculture, as an organizing member of the annual Dufferin Farm Tour and as an owner/operator of a working farm. As well, she is a partner in a business in the Heavy Construction industry.
Ron Gibson
Public at Large
As project manager, and later project director of a joint initiative between municipal Chief Administrators and the Province of Ontario, Ron oversaw the planning and implementation of a series of innovative pilot projects to advance accounting, asset management, and performance reporting in the municipal sector. This required coordinating, collaborating and consolidating the work of over 600 members on 35 project teams from 15 municipalities, 42 professional associations, and 5 Ontario Ministries. Best practices and lessons learned were shared through workshops across Ontario. As a consultant to the Asia Productivity Organization, Ron trained representatives from 21 countries on advanced business improvement methodologies. Prior to this, he held management positions at the Region of Niagara, in Community Planning (Special Projects) and Community Services (Quality Assurance and Program Evaluation). Born and raised in Grimsby on a farm near the Bruce Trail, Ron is committed to balancing conservation and development per the NEPDA.
Duncan McKinlay
Public at Large
Duncan McKinlay brings a passion for environmental stewardship, sustainable land use planning and progressive rural communities, as seen through his work as a municipal councillor, county councillor and Grey County Warden. He has worked in agriculture as a farm manager and as a farm specialist in a rural mental health facility for children. Currently, he is a beef farmer at Farview Farm in Ravenna, Ontario with his wife Susan. Enjoyment of the outdoors is shared with their three children and ten grandchildren. Duncan believes strongly in our duty to leave our environment and our communities better than we found them.
Jennifer Vida
Public at Large
Born and raised in the Niagara Region, Jennifer Vida left the area to pursue education and career development. Jennifer ultimately ended up settling back in Niagara to continue her passion in development. Jennifer is a mother of one. For 18 years, Jennifer has been working as a planner to facilitate wise land development and construction throughout the province in cities that included Ottawa, Toronto, Oakville and the entire Niagara Region. Jennifer has a passion for building and has developed a deep and abiding respect for the beautiful landscape we are so lucky to be blessed with in the Niagara Region. Jennifer received a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from Ryerson University and she maintains professional memberships as a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP). Jennifer also sits on the Government Liaison Committee for the Niagara Home Builders Association (NHBA). Jennifer is passionate about her industry and strives to play a role in how it progresses.