Board of Directors

    Our Board of Directors are not shareholders. They are policyholders, just like everyone else. They oversee the governance of Salus Mutual and are responsible for strategic planning, monitoring, advising, and succession planning.

    Teresa Ferguson Chair 2023

    Teresa is the inaugural Chair of Salus Mutual.

    She has recently retired from a 33-year medical imaging career with London Health Sciences Centre where she was an MRI technologist and active in clinical teaching. She continues in the educator role with Fanshawe College as a Clinical Coordinator for the MRI program.

    Teresa’s agricultural background began in Elgin County on the family farm and continued through marriage with her husband on his family farm. She is the mother of three sons who engaged her in their sports programs as manager, trainer, coach, and enthusiastic fan over the years.

    Volunteering with Rosy Rhubarb, the Southwold Community Complex Board, and the Southwold School Parent Council in many different roles has piqued her interest and desire to stay involved with the community.

    She prides herself in lifelong learning.

    Dan McDonald First Vice-Chair, 2023.

    Dan McDonald is the inaugural First Vice-Chair of Salus Mutual.

    Prior to the amalgamation of Howard Mutual and West Elgin Mutual, Dan was on the Howard Mutual Board of Directors (since 2005). He joined after his cousin and friend, Ron McDonald, retired. During his time on the Board, he served as Vice-Chair and as Chair.

    Dan and his wife operate a farm near Duart and are the proud parents of four children.

    Janet Nauta 2nd Vice-Chair, 2023

    Janet is the inaugural Second Vice-Chair of Salus Mutual.

    Since graduating from university in 1989, she has worked mainly in agricultural communications. In her current position at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, she coordinates the training and certification required under Ontario’s nutrient management legislation.

    Janet and her husband live near Blenheim and happily raised their three daughters just down the road from the cash crop farm where she grew up. Janet has volunteered as a baseball coach, Sunday school teacher, and girls’ club leader at her church.

    In her spare time, Janet enjoys camping, gardening, playing volleyball, and spending time at Rondeau Park.

    Darrin Spence

    After graduating from the Ridgetown College of Agriculture Technology, Darrin started his career with Howard Township Roads Department. He has recently retired from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent as Road Supervisor with over 35 years of service.

    Darrin currently continues to operate a small grass cutting business with his son. He is very active with his local church, St. Michael’s in Ridgetown, and currently sits on the St. Michael's Cemetery Board. Darrin, his wife, and youngest son live on their family farm just outside Ridgetown. They enjoy travelling to Halifax to visit their oldest son, his wife, and new granddaughter.

    Gerry Sullivan

    Gerry joined the Salus Mutual Board of Directors after serving on the Howard Mutual Board of Directors since 2010. In addition, he was also a board member of the Ontario Seed Corn Growers of Ontario for twelve years and held the role of Chair for two years.

    He and his wife have been 4-H leaders in the Merlin Field Crop Club for the last ten years. He is an avid curler in the winter and has been a director of the Golden Acres Curling Club and served as Chair.

    Gerry farms in the Blenheim area with his brother where they grow soybeans, wheat, and seed corn. He still lives on the family farm with his wife and their son.

    Jim Clark

    After graduating from the University of Guelph in 1980, farming beef cattle, cash crops, and a small maple syrup operation became Jim’s full-time occupation.

    Having grown up just north of Highgate, Jim has had the opportunity to volunteer with many local organizations. He has enjoyed coaching minor hockey teams and continues to help with minor baseball at the local, regional, and provincial levels.

    In his spare time, Jim enjoys curling, watching the London Knights, and travelling to the East Coast with his wife. He considers himself fortunate to have his son and daughter living in the area and is grateful they are able to help the family and local community.

    Ken McCallum

    Ken lives in North Dunwich with his wife and son and runs a beef cattle and cash crop farming operation.

    He is very involved in his community, has been a Director of the Elgin Beef Farmers Board, a long-time 4-H leader, and is active in his local church. In his spare time, Ken enjoys curling.

    Ken Scott

    Ken grew up near Duart. After graduating from the University of Guelph with a degree in crop science, he returned to the family farm.

    Ken and his wife have four children and are very active members in their church and community. Ken has served in the 4-H club, church, and Highgate Fair boards.

    Michael Ross

    Michael manages properties throughout Chatham-Kent and has been working with families with housing needs for over ten years.

    He has lived in Kingsville for the last fifteen years with his wife and three children. They enjoy travelling and working together. Michael serves on the committee for his local church and enjoys coaching his daughters’ baseball teams.

    Norm Miller

    Norm has lived in West Elgin his entire life and, along with his family, has been an active member of the community.

    Norm has volunteered at the Port Glasgow Yacht Club for over 30 years. During this time, he has participated in the improvement and expansion of the facilities and is currently Past President of the club. For his entire career, he has sold Ford vehicles in Rodney and Dutton.

    In his spare time, Norm is an avid naturalist and has planted thousands of trees on his farm.

    Petra Hathaway

    Petra has lived in the Melbourne area with her husband and two children for the past 19 years. Outside the boardroom, she is an employee of AGRIS Co-operative as the Customer Experience Coach and works with human resources to onboard, train, and develop new employees to the agriculture retail business.

    Petra enjoys all outdoor activities and spending time watching her kids play hockey and baseball. She is proud to serve on the Salus Mutual Board of Directors.

    Remi Van De Slyke

    Remi is the owner and operator of King Lake Farms, which grows and processes ginseng. He is a graduate of the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Agricultural Business. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association.

    Remi has been part of many associations and clubs such as the Elgin and Norfolk Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Aylmer Kinsmen, and the Tillsonburg Curling Club. He lives in the Straffordville area with his wife and son.

    Victor Lapadat, Jr.

    Victor lives near Eagle and has been running a farming operation since 1974. He began with growing tobacco and cash crops and is now cash cropping corn and soybeans.

    Prior to retiring in December 2014, Victor worked for AGRIS Co-operative for 25 years, and managed the Rodney, Muirkirk/Highgate, and Dutton branches during this time.

    Victor has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Rodney from the 1990s through to 2010. While a member, he served on several committees and as Club President. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes of Rodney, serving for several years as President.

    Victor most enjoys spending time with his family. He also enjoys hunting and time in the shop working on anything that comes up. He enjoys new challenges, continuing to learn, and being a part of the community.

    Qualifications of a Director

    • A Director shall be eighteen or more years of age and a resident of the Province of Ontario.
    • No person is eligible to be or shall act as Director unless the person is a member of the Corporation and insured therein for the time the person holds office and is entitled to vote.
    • No undischarged bankrupt shall be a Director, and if the Director becomes bankrupt, the person thereupon ceases to be a Director.
    • No person shall be eligible for election or appointment after having attained their sixty-seventh birthday; provided that if at that time the Director is the Chair or a Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan Inc. or the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association the Director may be elected for one further three year term so as to allow such Director to complete their director’s term on the executive of the Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan Inc. or the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association.

    For more information about the roles and responsibilities of a Director, please click on the following:

    Director Job Description

    Letter of Notifcation

    • The Letter of Notification must be submitted before December 19, 2023, by hand delivery to any Salus branch and to the attention of the CEO, or by email to ceo@salusmutual.ca

    Letter of Notification

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