Board Trustees
The Upper Grand District School Board has ten elected trustee members who represent the municipalities within the counties of Dufferin and Wellington. Trustees are accountable to their communities and to the province for continuous improvement in the level of student achievement in their schools. Two student trustees are selected each year by student senators and are appointed for one-year terms by the Board.
All mail correspondence to all trustees can be sent to the Guelph Board Office at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, Ontario, N1E 6K2.
Learn more about being a Board Trustee or about Student Senate and being a Student Trustee
Board Trustees (2022 – 2026)
Ralf Mesenbrink, Chair
Electoral area: City of Guelph (Wards 2, 3 and 4)
School Liaison for: Central PS, College Heights SS, Gateway Drive PS, John McCrae PS, Mitchell Woods PS, Paisley Road PS, Taylor Evans PS, Victory PS, Willow Road PS, Continuing Education
Email: ralf.mesenbrinkREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 575
Katherine Hauser, Vice Chair
Electoral area: City of Guelph (Ward 6) and Township of Puslinch
School Liaison for: Aberfoyle PS, Centennial CVI, Kortright Hills PS, Rickson Ridge PS, Sir Isaac Brock PS, Westminster Woods PS
Email: katherine.hauserREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 571
Jen Edwards
Electoral area: Township of Guelph/Eramosa, Township of East Garafraxa and Town of Erin
School Liaison for: Brisbane PS, East Garafraxa PS, Eramosa PS, Erin DHS, Erin PS, École Harris Mill PS, Rockwood Centennial PS, Ross R. MacKay PS
Email: jennifer.edwardsREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 572
Irene Hanenberg
Electoral area: Township of Centre Wellington
School Liaison for: Centre Wellington DHS, Elora PS, James McQueen PS, J.D. Hogarth PS, John Black PS, Ponsonby PS, Salem PS, Victoria Terrace PS
Email: marina.hanenbergREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 570
Martha MacNeil
Electoral area: City of Guelph (Wards 1 and 5)
School Liaison for: Arbour Vista PS, Guelph CVI, Jean Little PS, Ken Danby PS, Priory Park PS
Email: martha.macneilREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 574
Ralf Mesenbrink, Chair
Electoral area: Town of Orangeville
School Liaison for: Credit Meadows ES, Dufferin Centre for Continuing Education, Island Lake PS, Montgomery Village PS, Parkinson Centennial PS, Princess Elizabeth PS, Princess Margaret PS, Orangeville DSS, Spencer Avenue ES, Westside SS
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 575
Robin Ross
Electoral area: Township of Wellington North, Town of Minto and Township of Mapleton
School Liaison for: Alma PS, Arthur PS, Centre Peel PS, Drayton Heights PS, Kenilworth PS, Maryborough PS, Minto-Clifford PS, Norwell DSS, Palmerston PS, Victoria Cross PS, Wellington Heights SS
Email: robin.rossREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 577
Lynn Topping
Electoral area: Townships of Amaranth, East Luther/Grand Valley, Melancthon, Mulmur, and Towns of Mono and Shelburne
School Liaison for: Centennial Hylands ES, Centre Dufferin DHS, Glenbrook ES, Grand Valley and District PS, Hyland Heights ES, Laurelwoods ES, Mono-Amaranth PS, Primrose ES
Email: lynn.toppingREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 579
Luke Weiler
Electoral area: City of Guelph (Wards 1 and 5)
School Liaison for: Brant Avenue PS, FA Hamilton PS, Guelph Lake PS, John McCrae PS, John F. Ross CVI, William C. Winegard PS
Email: luke.weilerREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 576
Laurie Whyte
Electoral area: City of Guelph (Wards 2, 3 and 4)
School Liaison for: Edward Johnson PS, John Galt PS, King George PS, June Avenue PS, Ottawa Crescent PS, Waverley Drive PS, Westwood PS
Email: laurie.whyteREMOVE@ugdsb.on.ca
Phone: 519-822-4420 ext. 578
Brooke Hartley, Student Trustee (Rural Schools)
Student at Wellington Heights SS
Paige Knight, Student Trustee (Urban Schools)
Student at Orangeville District SS
Committee Membership
Standing Committees (1-Year Term)
- Policy and Priorities: Trustee Ross (Chair), Trustee MacNeil, Trustee Topping, Trustee Whyte
- Finance and Facilities: Trustee Edwards (Chair), Trustee Hauser, Trustee Mesenbrink
- Governance: Trustee Weiler (Chair), Trustee Hanenberg, Trustee MacNeil, Trustee Mesenbrink, Trustee Ross
Statutory Committees: (1-Year Term unless stated otherwise)
- Audit Committee (4-Year Term): Trustee Hanenberg, Trustee Hauser, Trustee Mesenbrink
- Parent Involvement Committee (PIC): Trustee MacNeil. Alternates: Trustee Hauser, Trustee Edwards
- Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) (4-year Term): Trustee Whyte. Alternates: Trustee Hanenberg, Trustee Hauser
- Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL):
- Wellington County: Trustee Ross, Alternate Trustee Whyte
- Dufferin County: Trustee Topping, Alternate Vacant
- City of Guelph: Trustee Mesenbrink, Alternate Trustee Whyte
First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Council
- Trustee Hanenberg, Trustee MacNeil. Alternate: Trustee Topping
External Appointments
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- Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) Director and Voting Delegate: Trustee MacNeil. Alternate: Trustee Mesenbrink
- Art Gallery of Guelph: Trustees MacNeil, Hauser and Edwards
- Upper Grand Learning Foundation: Trustee Edwards
Ad Hoc Committee
- School Celebration Dates Advisory Committee: Trustees Hauser and MacNeil
MYP Advisory Committees
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- Lifelong Love of Learning: Trustees Hanenberg and Topping
- Health and Wellbeing: Trustees Hauser and Ross
- Equity: Trustees MacNeil and Whyte
- Sustainability: Trustee Edwards
Trustee Secretariat
Jasmine Vorkapic
Manager – Trustee Secretariat
Phone 519-822-4420 ext. 728
Email [email protected]
Additional Information
