Board of Governors

Currently serving as President and Chairman of Board, Cathy McLaughlin has been a director of the Foundation since her return to Bathurst in 1979 after completing an honors degree in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario. She is currently President of Catherine & Company, a gift shop and ladies wear boutique which she founded in 1991.  She is also President of W.J. Kent & Co. Ltd.

Cathy is actively involved in her community, having assumed leadership roles on the Downtown Bathurst Revitalization Corporation, and Gloucester Chapter IODE. She resides in Bathurst, New Brunswick with her husband.

Jack Nielsen has been involved with the Foundation for over 40 years, and currently serves as our Vice President. Prior to his retirement, Jack was responsible for the launch of TD Wealth Management for the Province of New Brunswick, working out of Saint John.  He has been involved in the Financial Services Industry since 1964. He also has been involved with numerous local charities and organizations over the past 30 years.

Jack lives in Saint John and his daughter Angela and granddaughters, Madeline and Olivia, live nearby.

Mauryah McLaughlin is a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier University in 2012, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of New Brunswick in 2015.

In addition to her involvement with the J. Harper Kent Charitable Foundation, Mauryah has also served as a committee member for the Chaleur Regional Hospital Foundation and as a council member for the Canadian Bar Association - New Brunswick Division.

While currently residing in Calgary, Mauryah is proud to call Bathurst home and maintains a strong connection to the area, spending her summers on Youghall Beach.

Born in Toronto Ontario, Nancy has been a life-long resident of Bathurst.  Nancy is a graduate of Bathurst High School and the University of New Brunswick. having graduated with a Masters Degree in Education.

Nancy has had a wonderfully fulfilling career in education in New Brunswick as a classroom teacher, principal of an elementary school, educational supervisor, Director of Education, Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Deputy Minister of Education. In her retirement, Nancy continues to do consulting work. 

In her spare time, Nancy is an avid reader and loves to travel.

A former educator, principal, mayor of Bathurst, Member of Parliament for Gloucester Country, Chief of Staff to the Premier of New Brunswick, and a current senior executive in the private sector,  Roger's deep experience in business, community, and education make him an invaluable member of the Foundation's Board of Directors. 

Roger has served as a board member for NB Power and Landdrill International, and served on the New Brunswick Crown Lands Task Force. He resides in Bathurst, where he is an active member of the community. In his spare time, Roger enjoys quality time with his family, boating on the Bay of Chaleur and playing golf at the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club.