Leadership team

Valerie McMurtry, CFRE
President and CEO

Diana Parsons
Chief Development Officer

Nadia Formigoni
Vice President, Communications, Brand and Marketing
Valerie McMurtry, CFRE
President and CEO
Diana Parsons
Chief Development Officer
Nadia Formigoni
Vice President, Communications, Brand and Marketing
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
Giorgia Anton
Managing Director & Head, Equity Research CIBC Capital Markets
Daniel Barclay
Board ChairCEO, BMO Capital Markets
Bill Butt
Campaign Co-Chair Corporate Director
Kristina Depencier
Regional President, Greater Toronto Region, Royal Bank of Canada
Anca Drexler
Executive Vice-President and Head of Treasury, OMERS
Barbara Fallon
Associate Vice President, Research, University of Toronto
Pierre Frappier
President, AMJ Campbell Inc.
John Gossling
Treasurer Executive Vice President & CFO, Corus Entertainment
Barry Hildred
Principal Level 2 Advisors Inc.
Dougal Macdonald
Campaign Co-Chair President & Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Canada Ltd.
Gordon Raman
Past-Chair Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Sean St. John
EVP, Managing Director and Co-Head of Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities Group National Bank
Nicole Stewart Kamanga
Barrister and Solicitor, Corporate Director
Jeremy Walker
Deputy Chair – Global Head, Communications, Media and Technology, Investment Banking – TD Securities
Terri-Lee Weeks
Executive Vice President, Retail Customer, Scotiabank
Jaime Watt
Executive Chairman of Navigator
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.
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Bill Butt, Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair, Corporate Director | Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer, Element Fleet Management | Dougal Macdonald, Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair, President & Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Canada Limited | Giorgia Anton, Managing Director & Head, Equity Research, CIBC Capital Markets |
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Daniel Barclay, Foundation Board Chair, CEO, BMO Capital Markets | Jeff Bowman, Partner, National Ecosystems & Alliances Leader, Deloitte Canada | Carrie Cook, Co-Head Canadian Investment Banking, RBC Capital Markets | Richard D. Falconer, Senior Advisor, Lazard Canada Inc. |
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Michel Fortier, Principal, NDB Group Syndications Inc. | Pierre Frappier, President, AMJ Campbell | John Gossling, Executive Vice President & CFO, Corus Entertainment | Shael Kalef, Managing Director, Global Markets, BMO Capital Markets |
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Nicolas Marcoux, Chief Executive Officer, PwC Canada | Ben Metzler, Managing Director, Head of Canadian Financial Institutions, UBS | Adam R. Sinclair, Managing Director, Investment Banking, Head of Financial Institutions, BMO Capital Markets | Jaime Watt, Executive Chairman, Navigator Ltd. |
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Jeremy M. Walker, Deputy Chair, Global Head, Communications, Media and Technology Group, Investment Banking – TD Securities | Danny Wright, Winnipeg Managing Partner and Tax Leader, PwC Canada |
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
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
The Foundation's 2017-2018 Young People's Advisory Council
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
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