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Thanks to our incredible community of funders, champions, and partners, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada has made significant strides over the past five years in improving the lives of children and youth involved in the child welfare system. This event is both a celebration of that collective impact and an urgent call to continue building a brighter future through bold, outcomes-driven philanthropy.
This year, we’re curating a fresh new format and hosting a unique Canadian Club-style luncheon: Powering Potential; The Promise of Philanthropy to Accelerate Better Outcomes for Children from Care at the iconic Fairmont Royal York Hotel on June 19, 2025, where guests will:
- Discover the outcomes and impact of CAFC’s donor-funded initiatives, which have shaped our bold new direction.
- Hear from young people with lived experience in care and learn directly from their stories and insights.
- Be the first to see our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and Impact Framework, a blueprint for creating measurable, lasting change.
- Engage in a thought-provoking panel featuring youth leaders, sector experts, and philanthropic partners exploring how strategic giving can be a powerful driver of systems change.
Meet this year’s Host and Moderator
Anna Maria Tremonti, Current Events Journalist, Podcaster and Former Host of CBC Radio’s The Current
Anna Maria Tremonti, Current Events Journalist, Podcaster and Former Host of CBC Radio’s The CurrentListeners from around the world were privileged to hear Anna Maria Tremonti’s compelling interviews every day on Canada’s most popular radio program, The Current. After 17 years at its helm and a distinguished career as a foreign correspondent and war correspondent—spending nearly a decade covering international affairs from Berlin, London, Jerusalem, and Washington—Anna Maria, a two-time Gemini Award winner, has the gift of tackling everything from politics to societal changes, to the personal stories of individuals whose journeys and traumas affect us all. Without a doubt, her genuine approach to interviewing has consistently moved and inspired her dedicated listeners. A masterful storyteller, Tremonti continues to deliver content and talks that touch the human spirit and captivate audiences.
Meet this year’s Youth Speaker
Regene Mallare, BSW
Regene Mallare is a community advocate working at the intersections of youth mental health, housing, and systems change. She has supported transitional-age youth through frontline work, peer programming, and public speaking, and has contributed to conference presentations, research, and fundraising for youth-led solutions. Her work focuses on amplifying the voices of young people from care through storytelling, participatory research, and collective action. This fall, she will begin her Master of Social Work at the University of Toronto, specializing in children and their families. Regene’s commitment to equity, dignity, and youth leadership is grounded in both her professional experience and her own journey through the child welfare system.
Meet this year’s Panelists
Carina, Chan, Partner, Family Law Lawyer and Mediator, Burrision Hudani Doris LLP
Carina Chan was a Foundation scholarship recipient for eight years. After growing up in care in Toronto, Carina graduated from the combined Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work program at the University of Toronto in 2015. Carina is now a Partner, Family Law Lawyer and Mediator at Burrison Hudani Doris LLP. Part of her practice includes representing children, some of whom are in care, in court proceedings through the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.
Outside of work, Carina is actively involved with advocacy initiatives aimed at systemic changes for the child welfare sector. She has also served as a Board Member for the Red Door Family Shelter and West Toronto Community Legal Services. Carina was the 2022 recipient of the University of Toronto – University College Young Alumni of Influence Award and the 2025 recipient of the Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers.
Valerie McMurtry, President and CEO, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada
Valerie McMurtry is the President & CEO of Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada (CAFC), a national charity dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, and families impacted by the child welfare system. A dynamic leader with a deep understanding of the sector, she is committed to innovative solutions that break down barriers and improve outcomes. Valerie has redefined the Foundation’s priorities, making strategic investments that strengthen communities, prevent family separation, and reduce poverty. She successfully led Stand Up for Kids, a $100-million campaign that has already supported over 85,000 children and youth through a strong network of donors and partners.
Lisa Tomlinson, CEO of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
Lisa Tomlinson is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST), Canada’s largest Board-governed child welfare agency. With more than 35 years of experience in child welfare, Lisa brings a deep commitment to service excellence, equity and sector leadership.
Her career spans frontline practice to senior leadership roles, and she is nationally recognized for her pioneering work at the intersection of child welfare and domestic violence. Lisa developed Canada’s first dedicated Domestic Violence Team within a child welfare agency, creating practice principles and guidelines that continue to inform work across the sector. Her expertise has been sought by police services, government bodies, and child welfare organizations nationwide.
As an equity champion, Lisa is a strong advocate for inclusive and anti-oppressive child welfare practices. She is also a respected trainer, public speaker and collaborator, dedicated to strengthening partnerships and enhancing the support available to children, youth and families.
Lisa’s leadership at CAST is grounded in her belief in meaningful, mission-driven service. As the Agency’s CEO (previously Chief Operating Officer and Director of Service), she is advancing the Agency’s strategic goals in collaboration with the Board of Directors and remains focused on service excellence, strong community partnerships, and achieving the best outcomes for children and youth across all areas of CAST’s work.
John Phillips, Founder & Funder of the Northpine Foundation
John Phillips, with his wife Cathy Phillips, is the co-founder of the Northpine Foundation, established over two decades ago. Since being professionalized in 2021, Northpine has focused on the needs of selected under-served and under-invested Canadian cohorts including Canadian youth in or aged out of government care.
After 20 years of corporate law at Blakes, John joined Cleanet in 1994 until a year or two after its acquisition by TELUS in 2000. John has since retired from over 20 years of angel investing and now with Cathy plays an active role in Northpine as a director and funder, encouraging Northpine’s highly skilled team to make riskier investments focused on directly improving the lives of its target populations as measured by anticipated outcomes. Northpine reports its activities in detail on its website.
