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.
Gavin Goes is the Director, Digital Infrastructure, Strategy, and Solutions, for Prosper Canada. He describes himself as an entrepreneurial thought leader with a breadth of experience building. Gavin has been transforming and leading enterprise technology environments over his 20+ year career. He founded, built and sold a technology company that provided proactive and reactive IT services and solutions to small and medium businesses. Gavin’s versatile and personable demeanor allows him to build strong relationships with colleagues and external vendors and partners alike. This allows him to continually align his team’s initiatives with both internal and external stakeholders to manage expectations. Founded in 1986, Prosper Canada is a national charity dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for Canadians living in poverty through program and policy innovation.
Kate Linder is the Ambassador of Conductive Education for March of Dimes Canada. Kate Linder has played Esther Valentine on The Young and the Restless since 1982. Kate became the national spokesperson for March of Dimes Canada’s Conductive Education (CE) program in 2012, a dynamic learning system that blends elements of education and rehabilitation to help children living with neuro-motor disabilities become more mobile, independent and self-confident. Kate was moved when she saw firsthand the significant, life-changing impacts CE has, not only on the participants, but their families as well. “I’ve seen firsthand the remarkable progress our kids make. I know how hard they work and I’ve seen the smiles on their faces as they reach each new milestone. Nothing is more rewarding.”
Kate Hammer is a recent appointment as Vice President, Engagement, at Vancouver Foundation to its Board of Directors. For more than 15 years she has been at the BC Unclaimed Board in public policy, advocacy, social impact and journalism. She is responsible for leading communications, advocacy, marketing, research and engagement functions at Canada’s largest community foundation, which administers over 1,600 funds on behalf of individuals, families, corporations and charities throughout B.C. Kate has served on think tank and non-profit boards, including the BC Centre for Ability, the BC Association of Neighbourhood Houses, the BC Steering Committee of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre. She started her career as a reporter covering news for the New York Times and the Globe and Mail and won awards for her feature writing and investigative work.
Calvin Campbell works as a General Manager at Calgary Villains Football Club, which is a not-for-profit organization managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. CVFC was established in 1981 by Chris Baker and several current Club alumni motivated by love and passion for the game they grew up playing. The passion for soccer has continued to grow CVFC into one of the most successful clubs in the City of Calgary with a membership of approximately 1200 youth players and 150 adult players of all ages. CVFC is devoted to fostering and providing a Grassroots, Development and High-Performance Soccer environment in order to give all players, coaches, referees and managers every opportunity to enjoy the game of soccer and to help them achieve their maximum potential as participants in this sport.
Toni Andréa Belschner is a member of the Board of Directors of Companion Animals Adoption Centres of Quebec (caacQ). The caacQ’s mission is to reduce the number of companion pets killed in the province of Québec. An attorney and a mediator who has been involved in animal issues for over 20 years, Toni has been a member of several boards of administration for many non-profit organizations and is interested in ethics, moral dilemmas and how they can be reconciled in an ever-evolving world. She helps work to encourage municipalities and the provincial government to establish and enforce stronger animal welfare laws. Sterilization and micro chipping: educate the public on the importance of sterilization and permanent identification of companion pets. Adoption option: promote and facilitate the adoption of homeless pets and responsible animal guardianship. Innovate: find and deploy new ideas and projects that make it possible to bring pets into the daily life of Quebecers.