It takes a group of people who really care

Leadership team

ValerieValerie

Valerie McMurtry

President and CEO, CFRE

She/her

Niki GastisNiki Gastis

Niki Gastis

Chief Development Officer (CDO)

She/her

NadiaNadia

Nadia Formigoni

Vice President, Marketing, Brand, and Communications

She/her

While Canada remains one of the world’s most prosperous nations, almost 59,000 of our children are living in foster or group homes as a result of the abuse, neglect, and insurmountable poverty. Several hundred thousand more are living with their families in unstable homes while under the watch of child protection services. Those who have become Crown wards often require significant assistance transitioning to independent living, as they’re financially and emotionally alone at just 18 or 19 years of age.

Many other complex issues exist for these young people. While our funding reached thousands of vulnerable kids across Canada this past year, there is still a huge gap to fill. The lingering effects of trauma are very real and can continue to negatively impact their lives; approximately 82% have been diagnosed with special needs that include physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and social challenges. With little support from their families, the odds are stacked against them, and, sadly, many will drop out of high school, abuse substances, become involved with prostitution and gangs, end up pregnant at a young age, or become incarcerated or homeless.

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is dedicated to funding enriching, educational, preventative, and healing and recovery programs that encourage these kids to build their self-esteem and realize their full potential. With our $75-million Stand Up for Kids: Futures Transformed Campaign, the Foundation is dedicated to expanding its reach and providing increased resources in the areas of health and well-being, education, crisis and permanence, identity, inclusion, and equity, and support while leaving care.

Truly, we would not be in the position we are today without those who believe in and support our work. Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for our nation’s most vulnerable young people, those who have experienced the abuse and neglect.

Valerie McMurtry, CFRE
President & CEO

Our team

NabihaNabiha

Nabiha Arain

Manager, Impact

She/her

Amandaamanda

Amanda Ball

Manager, Impact

She/her

PamPam

Pam Bastedo

Director, Corporate and Community Partnerships

She/her

JessJess

Jess Brayne

Senior Manager, Corporate & Community Partnerships

She/her

Wendywendy

Wendy Chan

Associate Director, Program Impact

She/her

KatharineKatharine

Katharine Chen

Senior Manager, Events

She/her

RaquelRaquel

Raquel Conceicao

Marketing Coordinator

She/her

EnzaEnza

Enza Dibenedetto

Senior Director, HR & Administration

She/her

JaneJane

Jane Durno

Director, Gift Planning

She/her

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Aurora Fox

Program Manager, Youth Employment

She/her

PaigePaige

Paige Goldenberg

Senior Development Officer, Stewardship and Engagement

She/her

Rebeccarebecca

Rebecca Green

Director, Impact

She/her

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Denyse Gregory

Senior Manager, Research & Evaluation

She/her

AilisAilis

Ailis Hamilton

Senior Manager, Major Gifts

She/her

Jojo

Jo Hayward

Digital Fundraising Manager

She/her

BrennaBrenna

Brenna Kelly-Adams

Impact Officer

She/her

StephanieStephanie

Stephanie Knight

Director, Campaign and Major Gifts

She/her

Nicolenicole

Nicole L

Finance Officer, Database

She/her

RachelRachel

Qin Li

Finance Officer

She/her

shayanshayan

Shayan Malik

Manager, Impact

He/him

SarahSarah

Sarah Nanacsik

Senior Manager, Major Gifts

She/her

DianaDiana

Diana Parsons

Executive Lead, Social Innovation Fund and Partnerships

She/her

silhouettesubrina

Subrina P

Financial Analyst

She/her

VanessaVanessa

Vanessa Rankin

Director, External Relations

She/her

TonyaTonya

Tonya Reid

Senior Manager, Communications

She/her

PalvashaPalvasha

Palvasha S

Manager, Media Relations and Communications

She/her

HannahHannah

Hannah Scott

Senior Manager, Marketing

She/her

judijudi

Judi Steadman

Senior Manager, Corporate and Community Partnerships

She/her

Farynfaryn

Faryn Stern

Senior Manager, Database

She/her

JasmineJasmine

Jasmine Y

Impact Officer, Post-Secondary Education

She/her

Board of Directors

Giorgia AntonGiorgia Anton

Giorgia Anton

Managing Director & Head, Equity Research CIBC Capital Markets

Headshot of Daniel BarclayHeadshot of Daniel Barclay

Daniel Barclay, Board Chair

Corporate Director

Bill ButtBill Butt

Bill Butt

Campaign Co-Chair Corporate Director

Headshot of Kristina DepencierHeadshot of Kristina Depencier

Kristina Depencier

Regional President, Greater Toronto Region, Royal Bank of Canada

AncaAnca

Anca Drexler

Executive Vice-President and Head of Treasury, OMERS

barbbarb

Barbara Fallon

Associate Vice President, Research, University of Toronto

Headshot of Pierre FrappierHeadshot of Pierre Frappier

Pierre Frappier

President, AMJ Campbell Inc.

John GosslingJohn Gossling

John Gossling

Treasurer Executive Vice President & CFO, Corus Entertainment

Barry HildredBarry Hildred

Barry Hildred

Principal Level 2 Advisors Inc.

Headshot of Dougal MacdonaldHeadshot of Dougal Macdonald

Dougal Macdonald

Campaign Co-Chair, Corporate Director

Headshot of Gordon RamanHeadshot of Gordon Raman

Gordon Raman

Past-Chair Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Headshot of Sean St. JohnHeadshot of Sean St. John

Sean St. John

EVP, Managing Director and Co-Head of Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities Group National Bank

Headshot of Nicole Stewart KamangaHeadshot of Nicole Stewart Kamanga

Nicole Stewart Kamanga

Barrister and Solicitor, Corporate Director

Headshot of Jeremy WalkerHeadshot of Jeremy Walker

Jeremy Walker

Deputy Chair – Global Head, Communications, Media and Technology, Investment Banking – TD Securities

Terri LeeTerri Lee

Terri-Lee Weeks

Executive Vice President, Retail Customer, Scotiabank

Jaime WattJaime Watt

Jaime Watt

Executive Chairman of Navigator

Campaign Cabinet

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is deeply grateful for the leadership and support of our Futures Transformed Campaign Cabinet, led by co-chairs Bill Butt, Laura Dottori-Attanasio, and Dougal Macdonald.

Bill ButtBill Butt

Bill Butt

Campaign Co-Chair, Corporate Director

Laura Dottori-AttanasioLaura Dottori-Attanasio

Laura Dottori-Attanasio

Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer, Element Fleet Management

Headshot of Dougal MacdonaldHeadshot of Dougal Macdonald

Dougal Macdonald

Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair, Corporate Director

Giorgia AntonGiorgia Anton

Giorgia Anton

Managing Director & Head, Equity Research CIBC Capital Markets

Headshot of Daniel BarclayHeadshot of Daniel Barclay

Daniel Barclay, Board Chair

Corporate Director

Jeff BowmanJeff Bowman

Jeff Bowman

Partner, National Ecosystems & Alliances Leader, Deloitte Canada

Carrie CookCarrie Cook

Carrie Cook

Co-Head Canadian Investment Banking, RBC Capital Markets

Richard FalconerRichard Falconer

Richard D. Falconer

Senior Advisor, Lazard Canada Inc.

Michel FortierMichel Fortier

Michel Fortier

Principal, NDB Group Syndications Inc.

Pierre FrappierPierre Frappier

Pierre Frappier

President, AMJ Campbell

John GosslingJohn Gossling

John Gossling

Executive Vice President & CFO, Corus Entertainment

Shael KalefShael Kalef

Shael Kalef

Managing Director, Global Markets, BMO Capital Markets

Nicolas MarcouxNicolas Marcoux

Nicolas Marcoux

Chief Executive Officer, PwC Canada

Ben MetzlerBen Metzler

Ben Metzler

Managing Director, Head of Canadian Financial Institutions, UBS

Adam SinclairAdam Sinclair

Adam R. Sinclair

Managing Director, Investment Banking, Head of Financial Institutions, BMO Capital Markets

Jaime WattJaime Watt

Jaime Watt

Executive Chairman, Navigator Ltd.

Jeremy M WalkerJeremy M Walker

Jeremy M. Walker

Deputy Chair, Global Head, Communications, Media and Technology Group, Investment Banking – TD Securities

Danny WrightDanny Wright

Danny Wright

Winnipeg Managing Partner and Tax Leader, PwC Canada

Young People’s Advisory Council

Founded in 2013, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s Young People’s Advisory Council (YPAC) is a group of young leaders who share their lived experience, professional expertise, and wisdom to guide us on how to best meet the needs of the children and youth we serve. They also represent the Foundation in the community, raising support and awareness for our mission.

We are grateful to all YPAC members –– past, present, and future –– for lighting the way forward.

Chelsea Rudd
Brittany Loveday
Tom Alfandry
Cam Bautista
Chanice McAnuff
Suzie Brooks
Bill Xu
Myla Cooper
Tiago Fisher
Keziah Oduro
Regene Mallare
Danielle Semko

Honorary Young People’s Advisory Council Members

Young People’s Advisory Council members serve two-year terms and have significant impact on our work at the Foundation and across the child welfare sector.

Every member’s contributions live on after their term ends, which is why we are proud to recognize YPAC alumni as Honorary YPAC Members.

Rasnat Chowdhury
Tawnya Foster
Ellen He
Sarah Kothlow
Vivian Patruno
Rachael Richards
Chelsea Rudd
Brittany Loveday
Justin Ford
Tom Alfandary
Cam Bautista
Chanice McAnuff

Jay Bruneau
Rasnat Chowdhury
Tawnya Foster
Suzie Brooks
Jesse Gardner
Conner Lowes
Andrea Barker
Kia Lesage
Ellen He
Sarah Kothlow
Rachael Richards
Vivian Patruno

Christopher Ababko
Mercy Achan
Andrea Barker
Marko Berrak-Tinaz
Jesse Gardner
The Hoang
Liana Langley
Taneisha Lawrence
Kiaunna Lesage
Conner Lowes
Chantal VanLeeuwen

Christopher Ababko
Mercy Achan
Marko Berrak-Tinaz
Jay Bruneau
The Hoang
Sarah Innes
Liana Langley
Joshua Law
Samidha Singhal
Chantal VanLeeuwen
Yessinia Vasquez

Troy Elleston
Sarah Innes
Joshua Law
Taneisha Lawrence
Erine Roberts
Breanna Ryan
Eli Shour
Reshma Shiwcharran
Samidha Singhal
Yessinia Vasquez

Tolumade Atkinson
Alisha Brooks
Troy Elleston
Brittany Herbold
Anna Amy Ho
Christina Li
Breanna Ryan
Samidha Singhal
Eli Shour
Reshma Shiwcharran
Riley Spence

Tolumade Atkinson
Alisha Brooks
Crystal Groves
Brittany Herbold
Anna Amy Ho
Christina Li
Shyanne Nichols
Shameer Rahman
Melissa Sayers
Riley Spence
Jemal Thompson

Michele Farrugia
Jemmy Felix
Kristy Graves
Crystal Groves
Wendy Hayes
Shyanne Nichols
Shameer Rahman
Maya Ramchandani
Cheyanne Ratnam
Melissa Sayers
Jemal Thompson

Michele Farrugia
Jemmy Felix
Kristy Graves
Wendy Hayes
Tamia Kerem
Shameer Rahman
Maya Ramchandani
Cheyanne Ratnam
David Rutherford
Jemal Thompson

Michele Farrugia
Jemmy Felix
Kristy Graves
Wendy Hayes
Tamia Kerem
Noah Negash
Nana Quainoo
Cheyanne Ratnam
David Rutherford
Yuan Barnes

Group photo of people standing in front of a whiteboard in a classroom

The Foundation's 2017-2018 Young People's Advisory Council

Volunteers of Hope Program

Since 2014, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada has honoured our most dedicated volunteers through the Volunteers of Hope Program. Each of these volunteers has demonstrated their commitment by volunteering at 10 or more events since late 2010, volunteering in our office for a minimum of three years, or by giving their time and creativity to design 10 or more Collector Bears for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Gala – Teddy Bear Affair.

Jasmin Dixon, event volunteer since 2005
Sandra Col, event volunteer since 2013
Jenny Shaw, event volunteer since 2013

Peter Ng, event volunteer since 2012

Pamela Akasaka, event volunteer since 2015

Sandra Wilton, office volunteer since 2013
Wayne Yeung, event volunteer since 2011

Ann-Marie Ceballo-Joes, event volunteer since 2010
Pamela Neblett, event volunteers since 2009
Alvin Paliuanan, event volunteer since 2012; event committee member

Dianne Blencoe, Collector Bear Artist
Susan Conacher, Collector Bear Artist
Sharon Edwards, Collector Bear Artist
Shane Elliot, Collector Bear Artist
Gail Hancock, Collector Bear Artist
Lesley Mallet, Collector Bear Artist
Rita Tumminieri, event volunteer since 2006
Katie Willoughby, event volunteer since 2008

Rhonda Cohen, event volunteer since 2006
Frances Forrester, office volunteer since 2005
Cindy Gahunia, event volunteers since 2010
Agnes Jenkinson, event volunteer since 2006
Pat Kane, office volunteer since 2007
George Lam, event volunteer since 2009
Cathy Ramsamujh, event volunteer for over 20 years
Polly Singh, office volunteer

heart icon being placed into a donation box

Volunteer Opportunities

Are you interested in volunteering your time to make a difference for kids in need? Learn about the different opportunities available and sign up today!

Learn more