2016-2017 CACE Executive

Catherine has worked in communications at Trillium Lakelands District School Board in Ontario since 2003. Prior to this she was the Creative Director at Broadfield Communications, a marketing and communications firm based in Peterborough, Ontario. She brings over 22 years experience in public relations, publishing, design for print and web, media relations, and event planning to her role as Communications Manager for TLDSB.

Catherine also manages the Director of Education’s office for the Board which includes parent engagement, character development, healthy schools, and working with trustees as part of her portfolio. Catherine has been a member of CACE since 2003, was the Ontario regional co-liaison for 3 years and then the CACE executive treasurer for two years. Catherine co-chaired the Niagara Conference in 2012. In December 2012 Catherine received her APR accreditation (Accredited in Public Relations).

Kim Hamilton is the Communications and Special Projects Director for the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA). Kim joined QESBA in 2003 following five years as Regional Coordinator for the Québec Liberal Party. Prior to the Québec Liberal Party, Kim worked with Senator E. Leo Kolber for two years as a project manager on various fundraising activities and the Heritage Minutes project. Kim began her career with Reynolds Aluminum as the Québec public relations liaison with the western provinces.

Bringing experience as a classroom teacher, school and district administrator, Bruce Buruma has been Director of Community Relations with Red Deer Public Schools for 15 years. His role also includes serving as Executive Director of the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools. In addition to his undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, he holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations Management from Royal Roads University and certification through the International Association for Public Participation. Areas of interest in education communication include the power of storytelling; strategy and government relations; community relations and public engagement as well as education foundations.

Steve Lapierre is the Strategic Relations Coordinator for District scolaire francophone Sud in New Brunswick. In his role, he manages corporate and strategic communications, marketing, and student recruitment and retention strategies.

Prior to moving to New Brunswick in 2010, he worked for two years at Conseil scolaire Viamonde in Toronto as a Communications and PR Officer.

Steve has been a member of CACE for 6 years, and has won a total of 11 BRAVO awards over the years.

Bilingual, Steve joins CACE executive this year as treasurer, and he’s happy to bring along his expertise and his passion for communications and marketing.

Trish has been working in public relations for ten years, spending much of her career in health care and education. She is a proud graduate of both the Master and Bachelor public relations programs at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. While completing her graduate degree Trish focused on communication in education, specifically around the communication styles of senior administration.

For almost five years Trish has worked with the South Shore Regional School Board as Communications Manager. In this role she works with the Superintendent of Schools as well as the Governing Board. Working with the schools is what Trish enjoys most, as she loves sharing their stories and highlighting all the amazing work being done in classrooms along the beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia.

Debbie is the Senior Communications Manager for the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, based in Truro, Nova Scotia, a position she has held for the last five years. As Senior Communications Manager she is responsible for providing strategic communications advice and support to the governing board, Superintendent and members of the Senior Management Team. She also serves as spokesperson for the school board, and has a passion for media relations and issues management.
Debbie has been a practicing public relations professional for the last 15 years. Before joining CCRSB in 2012, she was a Senior Communications Advisor with Environment Canada, providing strategic communications support to all aspects of Atlantic operations, including the Canadian Hurricane Centre. She is a graduate of Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University (BPR 2002), and is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Relations at the Mount.