Board of Directors

Meet Our Board Members

Jeremy Creed

Board Chair

Jeremy is an entrepreneur with a long history of work in the software development and payment processing space. In the past decade, he has focused most of his efforts in residential and commercial real estate development. He has over 12 years of board experience with independent schools and over 10 years as board Chair of the Mabin School in Toronto.

Jeremy moved with his wife and 3 children from Toronto to Meaford in 2018.

Sam Arafat

Board Member

Sam is the leader of Arafat Private Wealth with nearly two decades of financial services experience. Before establishing his practice, he spent several years in financial planning and today serves as a senior portfolio manager and wealth advisor. He holds designations as a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), Personal Financial Planner (PFP), and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI).

Sam and his wife live in Thornbury and have one child at Pretty River Academy.

Selina Eizik

Board Member

Selina is an experienced executive with over 20 years in marketing and advertising. She founded and scaled two companies, serving as CEO and COO, leading growth for global brands and supporting CMO teams across Fortune 1000 companies. Currently, she is founder of an AI-driven tech platform for realtors. Selina holds a BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and business degree from NYU.

Selina has three children attending Pretty River Academy.

Mary Riopelle

Board Member

Mary is a realtor with RE/MAX Four Seasons in Collingwood/Blue Mountains. She has been involved in a number of educational committees during her teaching career, including being an educational advisor for program development in Interior Design at Georgian College.

Originally from Toronto, she moved to The Blue Mountains permanently in 2012.

Lindsay Rowe

Board Member

Lindsay is a Collingwood native and an Investment Advisor in town with BMO Nesbitt Burns.  She holds her Chartered Investment Manager, and Certified Financial Planner designations. Furthermore, Lindsay is a Certified Financial Services Coach, a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Yoga teacher, hockey player, and an active runner who sits on various charitable committees throughout Simcoe County.

Lindsay keeps busy as a Single Mother by Choice with her young daughter Kit Simone, who brings much joy to Lindsay’s life.

Dasha G. Smyth

Board Member

Dasha is a technology and financial services executive. As CEO of PortfolioXpressWay, she’s helped drive the mission by delivering a trusted, unified view of their clients’ portfolios. Over the past 20 years, she has built and led high-performing teams, launched new ventures, and driven transformation within startups and global institutions. She has served on the boards of United Way and Junior Achievement. Dasha holds a business degree from the University of Western Ontario. 

Dasha has one child attending Pretty River Academy.

Adriana Valentine

Board Member

Adriana is the former Founder and Lead Designer of Jules Valentine Interior Design, a Toronto boutique firm recognized with the 2021 Brownie Award. She now consults for Castlepoint Numa, a Toronto real estate development company. She holds a degree in Interior Design from Toronto Metropolitan University and The New School in New York.

Adriana and her husband recently moved to the Town of Blue Mountains, where they are raising three boys who attend Pretty River Academy.

Know someone else who might be a great board member?

Pretty River Academy, like most independent schools, is governed by a Board of Directors. The primary role of an independent school board is to hire, oversee and evaluate annually the Head of School and to uphold the PRA mission and values. The Board collaborates with the Head in developing strategic goals and putting them in place. The Board oversees the school’s financial sustainability, sets tuition and approves the annual budget. Additionally, the Board supports financial stewardship with annual fundraising and capital campaigns. The Board sets policies which require its approval. Finally, the Board oversees the physical assets of the school, primarily through a multi-year planning process.