Our Board

Would you like to join the Board of Directors of Family Councils Ontario? We are seeking enthusiastic community members with a connection to our community to help shape the future of this essential community service organization. Click here for more information and application details.

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  Kathryn Pilkington

  Chair

  Kathryn Pilkington, a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, Brock University and Niagara College, is a lawyer with significant expertise in policy development, government relations and long-term care.
  

  Most recently, as the Director of the Special Projects Branch in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Kathryn and her team led the ministry’s response to the Public Inquiry into the Safety and Security of Residents in the Long-Term Care Homes system, which considered the effect of policies, procedures, practices, and accountability and oversight mechanisms.

  Prior to this, Kathryn worked closely with long-term care providers as the Director of Professional Services and Health Policy at AdvantAge Ontario, an association representing not for profit providers of long-term care, housing and senior services. Kathryn led the analysis and development of public health policy with a dedicated focus on resident care issues, legislative and regulatory matters, quality and performance, compliance, and risk management.

  Kathryn began her career in social services and community based mental health and credits that work for inspiring her desire to be an advocate for seniors’ issues. She has been involved in numerous provincial law reform, policy and seniors’ initiatives and has sat as an expert on several provincial tables, steering committees and advisories to advance the interests of older adults, generally, and long-term care home residents, specifically.

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  Linda Strome

  Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair, Nominations & Governance Committee Chair

  Linda Strome has been actively involved with Family Councils for over 10 years. She encourages family members to join the Family Council to connect with other family members and persons of importance. She has found that family members appreciate having the opportunity to discuss their feelings with others who are on the same journey. Family Council meetings provide a safe environment to receive and give support to each other.
  

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  Peter Munavish

  Director and Fundraising Committee Chair

  Peter is Chairperson for the Cooksville Care Centre Family Council. He has held this volunteer position for four years with a focus to ensure family engagement and advocacy maintaining and improving a caring supportive long-term care environment. He brings twenty-five years of experience in the health care field as an RPN on an admission ward in a Psychiatric Hospital then as a Charge Technologist in the Department of Pathology at a large acute care teaching hospital.
  

  Concurrently Peter volunteered at a local Child Care Centre as Treasurer then Chair for the Board of Directors and Building Committee helping to guide this group through financial challenges and planning the new build which was government licensed for 50 children from infant to preschool age. Peter then moved into the business sector working 15 yrs. for a large international IT Services Provider as Quality Systems Coordinator and Internal Auditor maintaining and improving the Quality System in the GTA office to meet the ISO 9001 Certification standard. Now retired, Peter continues to attend classes and seminars to improve his skills.

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  Neil Gross

  Director

  Neil Gross is a senior capital markets policy consultant. Through his firm Component Strategies, Neil provides guidance on investor protection, financial industry professionalism, client complaint resolution and organizational governance issues.Neil currently serves as Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Investor Advisory Panel. He’s also a director of portfolio management firm R. N. Croft Financial Group Inc. and a member of the independent review committee for Alignvest Capital Management Inc. Previously, Neil enjoyed a 30-year career as a lawyer litigating investor loss claims and regulatory enforcement cases. He then served as executive director of the Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights (FAIR Canada) while concurrently appointed to the OSC’s Exempt Market Advisory Committee and Seniors Expert Advisory Committee.
  

  In the volunteer sector, Neil is a director of Family Councils Ontario – a public charity dedicated to supporting family advocacy for residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the province. He also sits on the Vulnerable Investor Task Force convened by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada, and the selection panel for the Portfolio Management Association of Canada annual award of excellence in investment journalism.

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  Heather Mountford

  Director

  Heather is a Tax and Estate Planner with TD Wealth. In her role, she provides clients with holistic estate and tax planning support. She collaborates with the entire Private Wealth Executive Services team and with external advisors to help the clients, and their families, develop a plan to preserve and transfer their wealth to future generations. Prior to joining TD Wealth, Heather was in private practice at a boutique law firm in downtown Toronto, specializing in estate planning, estate administration and estate litigation. She has experience advising on strategic estate planning, including charitable giving, cross-border planning, family law planning, tax planning, probate planning, and planning for beneficiaries with special needs.
  

  Heather was admitted to the bar in Ontario in 2009, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University ,and a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School. She has also obtained a Certificate in Elder Law, and am currently progressing towards her Trust and Estate Practitioner designation with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) .In addition to her role with TD Wealth, she volunteers as an executive member of the Ontario Bar Association's Elder Law Section.

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  Sarah Pettersen

  Director

  Sarah Pettersen is a MEd candidate at the University of Toronto with a Collaborative Specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care across the Life Course. She has served on two Family Councils in Toronto and considers the active engagement and advocacy of family members, friends and caregivers to play an important role in ensuring a positive long term care experience. Sarah’s professional career in the non-profit sector has centred on strategic initiatives and communications.
  

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  Nancy Edwards, RN, PhD, FCAHS

  Director

  Nancy Edwards is a Professor Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor in the School of Nursing, University of Ottawa. Nancy has worked in the field of community health in Canada and internationally for over 40 years. Preventing falls among seniors, both in long-term care and community settings, has been an issue of particular interest. Nancy has undertaken many research projects and worked with various clinical and policy-making partners on this topic. She currently serves on several provincial and international health-related boards and advisory committees.
  

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  Danette Romard

  Director

  Danette Romard has over 25 years of experience within the healthcare sector, working for both indusrty leaders and major healthcare institutions. She focuses on building collaboration across diverse teams to deliver business solutions. Danette holds a Bachelor of Health Administration from Ryerson University and a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s-Cornell. Her passion is facilitation. Since 2003, she has provided pro bono consultations and led strategic planning workshops in the not-for-profit sector as a volunteer consultant with Management Advisory Services. Through her professional and volunteer activities, she is committed to building sustainability within our healthcare system.

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  Helen Lee

  Director

  Helen is active in the Chinese community, with her church and more recently advocating for residents and families as Chair, and now Past Chair, of Family Council at Mon Sheong Home for the Aged. She enjoyed a career with the Ontario Public Service leading innovative business and program initiatives in human resources, labour relations, finance, project and change management. Helen retired to spend time with her grandmother, who transitioned to a long-term care home at the age of 107, after living independently on her own. She has an interest in supporting family councils and caregivers, promoting age-inclusive communities and fostering intergenerational solidarity.

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  Alison Wesley-James

  Director

  Alison Wesley-James brings both a professional and personal interest to her role as Board Member with Family Councils of Ontario. She has experience as an advocate and caregiver to her two elderly parents as well as over 30 years experience in hospital management and planning new healthcare facilities. Alison has a Masters of Health Administration from the University of Ottawa, is a Project Management Professional and has certifications in Lean and Change Management.

  Alison has served on several boards, fulfilling the role of President of MADD Ottawa and President of Sole Responsibility. She is pleased to be part of FCO, helping to support families and residents during this important time for long-term care.