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.
Alicia Smith is the Executive Director of Dyslexia Canada. After an extensive national search in 2022, the Board of Directors selected Alicia to take on this important role and lead Dyslexia Canada as it continues to champion its mandate to ensure that every child in Canada with dyslexia has access to fair and equitable education. Alicia is a collaborative, strategic and passionate advocate for dyslexia, most recently serving as the International Dyslexia Association – Ontario Branch’s President. In this role, Alicia led IDA Ontario in a great period of growth. With the support of our board members and volunteers, Alicia helped to create the Literacy Alliance, worked closely with the Ministry of Education, provided guidance to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read Inquiry, released ‘Lifting the Curtain on EQAO Scores’, and organized a multitude of webinars and workshops, including the Literacy Leaders Series, among many others.
Artak Babayan is VP Volunteers for the Project Management Institute’s North Saskatchewan Chapter. The local is part of the leading project management professional association in northern Saskatchewan. Artak has a history of supporting the Project Management community and volunteering for the PMI North Saskatchewan chapter since 2018. His experience includes delivering challenging projects in new product development, networks and infrastructure implementation projects. As a hands-on professional who enjoys challenges, Artak manages projects by utilizing knowledge and expertise in IT and IT products, software application development and project management, contracts fulfillment, and execution management in IT or Telecom. Experienced in networks and infrastructure roll-out project execution.
Ruth Squires is Manager Telethon & Gift Planning at Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation in Newfoundland. Every year, Ruth is at NTV preparing for the annual Janeway Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. It will is broadcast to raise money to help the Janeway obtain new technology to improve health care. “When we have the Telethon every year it gives the foundation an opportunity to thank our donors” Squires says. “We have donors all year around raising money for the children of Newfoundland and Labrador. Right after the telethon some of our donors will call up and say, ‘OK, I want to start another community project.’” Squires said Newfoundlanders and Labradorians’ telethon donations for equipment, programs and research reflect their commitment to health care, because children should live to their best potential and grow up to be the people they were meant to be.
The Niagara Impact Awards recognize community members who have made a positive impact on life in Niagara. Residents are encouraged to nominate individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations who have gone above and beyond to help make living in Niagara a little better for others during the past year. This year’s Youth Award Winner is Katie-Ann Wolfenberg. The sixteen-year-old Niagara Falls resident received multiple nominations for her fundraising initiatives that helped serve as a model and inspiration in our community to inspire other young people to volunteer and contribute to society in meaningful ways. Among her many endeavours, Katie-Ann collaborated with local businesses to purchase a commercial BBQ, which she then used to host Community BBQs to help feed those less fortunate. Through her volunteer work with the GROW Community Food Literacy Centre, Katie-Ann later donated the BBQ to them for future community gatherings.
Theresa L.M. Man of Carters Professional Corporation was the most recent recipient of the Ontario Bar Association’s Charity and Not-for-Profit Section’s AMS/John Hodgson Award of Excellence in Charity and Not-for-Profit Law. This award recognizes exceptional contribution and/or achievement by members of OBA development of the law, which is integral to the governance and accountability in the voluntary sector; enhancement of the practice of law in the charity arena; and leadership and service in the charitable sector. She is also co-author of Corporate and Practice Manual for Charitable and Not-for-Profit Corporations published by Thomson Reuters. She has also written on charity and taxation issues for various publications, including The Lawyer’s Daily, The Philanthropist, CSAE Trillium FORUM, and Charity & NFP Law Bulletin. Man advises on charity and non-profit matters, including incorporation, reorganization, amalgamation, asset merger, restructuring, corporate governance, multiple corporate structures, affiliation and association agreements, dissolution, gift planning, facility and property use, fundraising, non-profit organization operations and tax status.
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