Each issue Foundation Magazine provides a mini-profile of five people whose work and commitment make Canada a more liveable country. We thank them for their service.

 

Francine Negre Laroche is excited for the opportunity to be the Vice President of TAVA, serving it’s members and connecting with Volunteer Managers in the community. Francine has been working in the non-profit sector for the past 15 years, helping with affordable housing and healthcare in the Greater Toronto Area. The spirit of giving rings true in all that she does, whether through volunteering weekly at a local food bank in her neighborhood or helping to organize food drive and feminine hygiene products, she is a strong believer in making our community a stronger and healthier place together. She has devoted herself to ensuring volunteers feel a sense of connection, engagement, and appreciation through their contribution to the community.

Jane Chambers-Evans, N, M.Sc. A., M.Sc. (Bioethics), McGill University. Her areas of interest are end-of-life care, surrogate decision-making and the role of family in care decisions. She chairs the McGill University Health Centre’s Clinical Ethics Committee. In that role, Jane has helped research and author key papers on the kidney donation process and outcomes in Canada, collaborating with a large team. The resulting recommendations in this report were intended to guide individual programs, regional health authorities and jurisdictions in the development of DCD protocol. Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation (CCDT) worked to strengthen Canada’s donation and transplant system through recommendations to the Conference of Deputy Ministers of Health.

Through three IIHF World Junior Championships and over 30 years with Hockey Edmonton, Joan Kirillo has dedicated her life to her city. Like most hockey parents turned volunteers, Joan Kirillo got involved in the game when her kids started playing. For over 30 years, Kirillo gave back to her community as a volunteer with Hockey Edmonton, and she served as a board member for Edmonton Minor Hockey Week for 27 years. “From that, I got to meet some really good people,” explains Kirillo. “[Including] Al Hamilton and Ted Green.” Identifying the need for an outdoor rink in Edmonton’s inner district, Oilers alumni Hamilton and Green, along with Father Jim Holland of Sacred Heart Church, recruited Kirillo to their committee to build what would eventually be the McCauley Community Rink. The group raised $200,000 to build the rink, which came to life in 2012. When the World Juniors return to Edmonton this summer for a renewal of the 2022 event that was cancelled last December, Kirillo stayed involved, navigating her commitments with the golf course and the international event. After more than 30 years of volunteering in her community she encourages others to do the same and reap the same fulfillment.

Gifted Storyteller, Marketing Strategist And Fundraiser, Bernie Forestell has been around the nonprofit sector for many years. From his early days at Lee Valley Tools when he’d mail catalogues one day and see the flood of orders a few days later, Bernie Forestell found his calling – getting people to take action. Bernie is a fundraiser, storyteller, strategic thinker and marketing and business development professional. A gifted writer, Bernie’s compelling copy draws the reader in, helping them see how they can positively impact the world in which we all live. Bernie has worked inside large healthcare institutions, for national industry associations and has produced fundraising campaigns for local, national and international non-profits. Since his early direct mail beginnings, Bernie has helped raise millions of dollars and has created exponential national partnership programs growth.

Marshall Watson is the Communications Coordinator for the Paws for Hope animal rescue in Maple Ridge, BC. Marshall manages the Paws for Hope website and makes sure the organization’s documents and reports are clear and effective and look professional. He is also the Communications Manager at The Federation of Community Social Services of BC. He grew up in Edmonton where he played in queer rock and roll bands, helped run a leadership camp for queer youth, and was a professional wedding photographer. He also volunteered his time to take professional photos of the animals at the Edmonton Humane Society to help them get adopted as quickly as possible. It was dope. He lives in Vancouver with his partner and their terrible cat-child, Record. He thinks that everyone should play Dungeons & Dragons.

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The Editor

The Editor