Meet the new members of your Board of Directors

Article from Volume 12, Issue Number 4, 2025

Meet the new members of your Board of Directors

By Kirsten Bishop | Other articles by Kirsten Bishop | Feature

Fifteen directors serve on our Board of Directors, with each normally serving a three-year term. The terms are staggered so that five are elected by members each year at our Annual General Meeting.

Heading into our AGM on Sept. 24, there were two vacancies besides the expected five positions. We are excited to report that all seven positions have been filled, with two directors being re-elected and five new directors elected.

The five new directors are Joanne Dyer, Lee Klassen, Robyn Lowe, Sean Restall and Starla Ginter. The two re-elected directors are Doug Forbes and John Popowich.

The director profiles that follow highlight the diversity of skills and experiences our board members exhibit. We hope they might prompt you to consider sharing your skills and abilities with us in the future, either as a committee member, as a director or as a volunteer.

Joanne Dyer

Joanne rose to the position of executive director, financial planning at the University of Manitoba. Over the course of her 39-year career at the U of M, Joanne held a variety of progressively responsible positions and was also appointed to numerous cross-functional committees, including administration, academic, research and external relations, which significantly expanded her breadth of knowledge across the various portfolios.

Joanne also served on the Society for College and University Planning International conference committee for four years as the associate convener for budgets/financial planning and then convener for budgets/financial planning.

Joanne served on the board of the Winnipeg Humane Society and now serves on the board of the Lac du Bonnet Farmers Market, where she also sells her hand-made products.

Joanne moved into her condominium in 2014 and at the time of turnover was elected to its inaugural board in 2015. She stepped back from the board in July 2021 but was persuaded to return in July 2023. Joanne is now secretary/treasurer. For most of Joanne’s tenure on the board she held the position of treasurer and also did double duty as president for just over a year.

Joanne enjoys spending time at the gym (mostly in the yoga studio) and at her seasonal RV in the Lac du Bonnet area. She also enjoys travelling to visit her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, who now live in Germany but also lived in Australia and, briefly, in Texas.

Doug Forbes

Doug was introduced to condominium law as an articling student in 1989, and then as a unit owner. He became a member of the Board of Directors of his condominium’s corporation and eventually served as president.

Doug has been a professional member of the Canadian Condominium Institute (Manitoba Chapter) for more than 30 years. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Manitoba Chapter since 1998 and is a past president of the Manitoba Chapter. Doug is also the chair of the Manitoba Chapter’s Communications Committee. Doug is also a past president of CCI National.

As a partner in the law firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, Doug acts for condominium corporations, developers, lenders and individuals in apartment, townhouse and bare-land-style condominiums. In addition, he practices real-estate law and corporate/commercial law.

Doug frequently provides advice and assistance in areas such as drafting, interpreting and amending declarations and bylaws, disputes between boards and unit owners, collection of common expense arrears, and assisting in governance issues for condominium developments of all styles and sizes. Doug regularly contributes to, or chairs, meetings for condominium corporations.

Doug says he likes condominium law because “it is a nice mixture of commercial and business law with a human element. There is more at stake than money, it involves how people live, and how they live with each other.”

Starla Ginter

Starla, who started as a property manager with Schinkel Properties in 2023, has worked in the industry for more than 12 years, managing rentals, co-ops, life leases, commercial properties and condominiums. Condos have quickly become her favourite.

This is Starla’s first year on the CCI Manitoba board and she is looking forward to serving the condo community. Starla is also taking on the role of chair of the newsletter committee and has some big shoes to fill. She is also looking forward to connecting with and learning from the other board members.

When she isn’t immersed in her work, Starla spends her time volunteering with a charity close to her heart. She has been a member of the board of directors for Rise Above Bursaries since its inception in 2016 and currently serves as its president.

Lee Klassen

Lee grew up in the small Manitoba town of Crystal City in an entrepreneurial family. He has owned Greenlawn, a sprinklers, lighting and snow removal company, since 2012 and has expanded the business group to include Boreco and Limitless Landscaping. The businesses now represent all of their pursuits in the marketplace collectively as Character Trades Group, which has a strong focus with each of the companies on building lasting relationships with their customers, their suppliers, their staffs and their communities. They take pride in taking care of their clients’ needs to the best of their abilities and staying dedicated to innovation and evolution, both professionally and personally. Lee is married with four children, aged 12 to 21. There might be a few dogs around too!

Robyn Lowe

Robyn is a workplace health and safety adviser at Wakefield Consulting Ltd., the family business she owns with her husband and sister. She enjoys working with people from all backgrounds and brings extensive experience in collaboration, communication and regulatory compliance, with a strong focus on maintaining high standards and attention to detail.

As a condominium owner since the late 1990s in both WCC 78 and WCC 90, Robyn has served on the boards of each corporation, where she focused on proactively addressing emerging issues in these ageing buildings. Robyn is committed to contributing her knowledge and practical perspective to CCI Manitoba. She has a particular interest in advancing improvements to the Condominium Act of Manitoba and strengthening its enforcement to benefit condominium owners and boards across the province.

Outside of work, Robyn enjoys reading, travelling, exploring food and wine, and spending weekends “roughing it” at the cabin, a small shed in the woods with no electricity or running water!

John Popowich

John is a senior manager of Indigenous Services with MNP LLP and obtained his certified Aboriginal financial manager (CAFM) designation in 2006. He has been involved with Indigenous communities for more than 30 years, starting with First Nation audits and then becoming an adviser on financial matters as well as providing training and direction to First Nation communities in Manitoba and Ontario.

The Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA) has become a key component in John’s life, from developing new friendships and business relationships to being able to stay current on the latest news and requirements by government agencies. The CAFM designation is recognized as an integral part of Indigenous finance.

Outside of his work life, John loves to travel and is a model train enthusiast. He has travelled throughout Europe, Asia, South America and the Caribbean.

John has always been concerned about the condition and management of the condominium he purchased in 2001. He was elected to its board and became the treasurer of Winnipeg Condominium Corporation 14, a position he has held since 2011. Along with the other members of the board, he has ensured his condominium corporation has met the requirements of the reserve study and feels the board has been instrumental in keeping the condominiums in pristine condition. In September 2019 John joined the board of CCI Manitoba and has served as chapter president and national council representative.

Sean Restall

Sean is a corporate and commercial lawyer based in Winnipeg who advises clients on transactions, governance, contracts and dispute resolution. His practice includes assisting condominium corporations, property managers and developers with governance and operational matters, providing practical and strategic advice to support effective management and long-term stability.

Through his work with condominium corporations and community associations, Sean has seen how informed governance and collaboration strengthen shared ownership communities. He is committed to supporting education and best practices within Manitoba’s condominium sector.

Sean looks forward to contributing to the continued growth of CCI Manitoba and supporting its efforts to build a stronger, better-informed condominium community across the province.

Kirsten Bishop has more than 30 years’ experience in the property management business, is an individual member of CCI Manitoba and is on its Board of Directors. For the past few years Kirsten has been CCI Manitoba secretary and was the Nominations Committee chair heading into the recent AGM.

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