Jessica Hill - Chair
Jessica became the first chief executive officer of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, a national not for profit organization, in October 2007. She brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in health care, social services, post-secondary education and children’s services with the Ontario public service and Health Canada. Her recent roles have included Deputy Minister in Ontario’s Ministry of Children and Youth Services where she led the development of Ontario’s Best Start programs and services for mothers and babies as well as programs for children with special needs, child welfare and youth justice. As Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities she worked with stakeholders and agencies to ensure capacity in the post-secondary education system for students in the “double cohort” as the province eliminated a year from the high school program. In the early 1990s, as Assistant Deputy Minister for the Ontario Ministry of Health, she led mental health reform. In 1995, she was awarded the C.M. Hincks Award in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of mental health in Canada. Jessica has a master’s degrees in social work and adult education from the University of Toronto. Jessica has been a Member of the Board of Children’s Aid Society of Toronto since 2007. She is married and has two grown children, a son and a daughter.
Anthony Fralick - Vice Chair
Anthony is currently a Chief of Staff with TD Waterhouse. Anthony brings a strong background in IT Governance and Internal controls to the Board table. Previously, he has led the Enterprise Architecture Governance and Standards department at TD Bank Group, as well as the Strategy and Architecture group at AstraZeneca Canada, and was the Chief Privacy Officer for Union Energy LLP. Anthony holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University and a postgraduate diploma in Information Technology from the University of Liverpool.
Tony Veneziano- Treasurer
Tony Veneziano was appointed Chief Administrative Officer of the Toronto Police Service on December 12, 2005. He is responsible for the Service’s overall operating and capital budget process as well as information technology services, fleet operations, facilities management, procurement, payroll and accounting services. Mr. Veneziano holds a Certified General Accountant designation. Prior to joining the Toronto Police Service, he held senior management positions with the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and current City of Toronto. Mr. Veneziano exemplifies high ethical standards, and actively promotes the importance of transparency, integrity, accountability and fiscal responsibility in carrying out his responsibilities with the Toronto Police Service. Tony has been a CAS of Toronto Board member since September 2006, and sits on the Board’s Audit and Risk Committee.
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Sheila Jarvis - Secretary
Sheila is the President and CEO of Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, which is Canada’s largest children’s rehabilitation facility and academically fully-affiliated with the University of Toronto. Currently she is also Vice-Chair of The Change Foundation and brings extensive governance experience.
26e2Marvin M. Bernstein
Marv Bernstein,B.A., J.D., LL.M., is a lawyer with 34 years of experience and currently holds the position of Chief Advisor, Advocacy for UNICEF Canada, which he assumed in September 2010. From 2005 to 2010, Marv served as Saskatchewan’s second Children’s Advocate, where he was an independent officer of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly. Marv had 28 years of advocacy and senior leadership experience in the child welfare field in Ontario prior to moving to Saskatchewan. He served from 2001 to 2005 as the Director of Policy Development and Legal Support at the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies in Toronto. For 20 years previous, he served as Chief Counsel to the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, and for 3 years before that, he acted as in-house Counsel to the Children’s Aid Society of York Region in Newmarket, Ontario .
Kerry Bowser
Kerry Bowser has been a foster parent with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto since 1997 and was a Community Home for the agency from 1992 – 1997. Currently he runs a Specialized Foster Home for Toronto CAS. He was elected to the Board of directors in 2006, but did not seek re-election last year for personal reasons. Mr.Bowser is the Senior Program Director for the Yonge Street Mission, overseeing all of its downtown operations, and formerly served as the Senior Pastor of Yonge Street Mission’s Church at the Mission.
Raquel Clarke
Raquel Clarke is a former youth in care of the CAS of Toronto. She is has completed a four year degree in Criminology at York University and is studying to complete the LSAT exam to attend Law School. She currently works as a law clerk and is determined to become a lawyer and fulfill her dreams.
Gerry Connelly
Gerry holds an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Alberta. Currently, she recently retired as the Director of Education for the largest School Board in Canada - TDSB, a post she has held since 2005. Gerry is looking forward to donating her time, energy and experience to serve on the Board of the CAS of Toronto.
Karen Engel
Karen is the Executive Director of Yorktown Family Services which includes Yorktown Child and Family Centre and YorkTown Shelter for Women. She has extensive experience in research and offering keynote speaking engagements relating to Social and Family Services.
Rex Hagon
Rex Hagon has a degree in Sociology from U. of T. with a specialty in Communication & Interpersonal Relations. In 1985, after a 40 year career in the Canadian film and television industry, he formed Rex Hagon & Associates to provide Executive coaching and Management training in the area of Effective Business Communications. Rex has always been community minded having served for a number of years as President of his local Ratepayer’s Association and as President of ACTRA, the Alliance of Canadian Television & Radio Artists. He has been an active Board member of CAS of Toronto for over 3 years, serving as Chair of the Communication Committee, and is no stranger to the world of adoption: his sister was a Ward of the agency in 1954 and as well his two older sons were adopted in the ‘80’s. Rex’s younger children are now 14 and 16. On a personal note, he enjoys cooking, and has a deep love of the outdoors: particularly back river canoeing and hearing the sound of loons in the early morning.
Barbara Hopper
Barbara Hopper, EVP & Chief Operating Officer of TIM-BR MART, has more than 25 years experience as a finance and business strategist, change agent and business partner. She has held senior leadership roles through start-up, survival, turnaround and growth phases. She has a passion for the overall business – aligning business groups, integrating business teams, processes and technology and has successfully lead strategic initiatives domestically and internationally in various branded companies in the manufacturing, retail, distribution and financial sectors. Her board experience includes Big Sisters of Ontario and A Cappella Services for Young Women. She remains committed and sensitive to issues that impact children and their families. Barbara Hopper holds Commerce & Economic degree from University of Toronto and a Masters of Business Administration. She is also a Chartered Accountant.
Victoria Kondo
Victoria holds Bachelors of Law and Education Degrees from the University of Toronto. Currently, she is Deputy Director, Legal Services Branch, Ministry of the Environment. Her past Board experience includes the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre and the John Ross Robertson Child Care Centre. In her current position, Victoria Chairs the Diversity Committee for the Legal Services Branch.
Niru Kumar
Niru possesses Bachelors Degrees in Civil and Common Law and a B. Comm. from McGill. In addition, she holds a Certificate from the International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France. Since 2006, she has been a Director on the Board of the Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights and in 2008 became a Director on the Board of Manor Road Nursery School. Over the past several years, Niru has provided legal services to the Walkerton Inquiry, the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services, and the Electrical Safety Authority.
Noella Milne
Noella is a partner at the law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais, practicing in the area of Commercial Real Estate in their Toronto office. Noella has been a long-standing member of the Children’s Aid Foundation Board of Directors, UNICEF Canada, Street Kds International, The Canadian Club and St. Michael’s Hospital, to name but a few of her community activities.
Haroldene (Deany) Peters
Deany brings twenty years of experience serving on Boards of not-for profit organizations, primarily in the downtown East end of the City of Toronto. She has served on the Regent Park Residents Association, Regent Park Community Health Centre, Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre and Dixon Hall, to name a few. For the past seventeen years, Deany has been employed as a Community Development Worker in Regent Park and brings forth a wealth of front-line and Board experience.
Shelley Quinn
Shelley is a lawyer in the Ontario Regional Office of the Department of Justice Canada. In the past, she worked as a child protection worker in Durham. Shelley is currently on the Board of Houselink Community Homes.
Aqeel Saeid
Aqeel holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University Putra Malaysia (UPM), a Master degrees in sociology from the University of Baghdad, and another one in Criminology from the University of Toronto. Furthermore, he obtained an advanced diploma in addiction from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). He is a full time professor at Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in the Criminal Justice Studies (BAA Degree). Aqeel facilitates group sessions for children, youth, and families traumatized by war and immigration for several communities. In his capacity as president of the United Nations Association –Toronto Region Branch, Aqeel participated in several projects such as Sports in a Box, Healthy Children – Healthy Communities and he also organized several events on Human Rights, Youth at Risk, environment and fundraising. Aqeel is also an active member of the Muslim Services Reference Group at our Agency.
Wayne Zronik
Wayne Zronik is a Chartered Accountant. Wayne is currently a Director of Finance at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Previous to this, he was the Vice President of Finance and Treasurer of Alliance Films, previously part of the Alliance Atlantis Communications group of companies. Wayne began his involvement with CAST as a community member of the Finance and Audit Committee for the Society. Wayne joined the Board in 2006.
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