The Halton Children’s Aid Society’s Board of Directors is composed of 13-15 members elected for a three-year term. Board members are elected at the Annual General Meeting. Those interested in participating as a Director should submit a letter of interest to the Board Secretary.
Jason Barr was elected to the Board of Directors May 25, 2022.
Eslyn Blair was elected to the Board of Directors September 26, 2018. Eslyn has over 25 years of managing experience and is currently the Managing Director for Everest Home Health Care, a role she has held since 2005. Eslyn has an extensive musical background and is an accomplished musician playing the piano and organ. She has been a member of the Oakville Symphony (1st Violin) for more than ten years.
Jacqueline Dinsmore was elected to the Board of Directors on June 23, 2021. Jacqueline is a corporate lawyer and serial entrepreneur. After launching her career as a corporate/securities lawyer on Bay Street at Blake, Cassels & Graydon, Jacqueline joined Torstar Corporation as Assistant General Counsel for several years. Jacqueline also founded FlapJackKids, a company designing and creating reversible products for children and sold in over 5,000 stores. Currently Jacqueline is a co-owner of Caravel Law, a revolutionary law firm disrupting the legal services industry by making big firm and in-house trained lawyers financially accessible to entrepreneurs and in-house legal departments.
Emad Elsayed was elected to the Board of Directors on March 28, 2012. He holds the office of Chair and is a member of the Executive Committee. Emad has over 40 years’ experience in the energy sector and is a member of the Ontario Energy Board. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the John Howard Society of Hamilton, Burlington and Area.
Muhammad Wajahat Faizan was elected to the Board of Directors on June 23, 2021. Muhammad is a Lawyer with over ten years of working experience in three jurisdictions—Canada, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. He is also a professor of laws at a prestigious university in Ontario.
Terry Kelly was elected to the Board of Directors on March 27, 2019. Terry has over 30 years’ senior leadership experience with global organizations such as Ernst & Young (EY), Canon and 3M. He has always been active in the community whether coaching hockey, activities with residential associations or volunteering at his kids’ schools. Terry also regularly mentors youth on education and career considerations.
Karen Marshall was elected to the Board of Directors on June 24, 2020. Karen has a wealth of experience in both British Columbia and Ontario. She provides consulting services to various organizations and is very active with the Halton Region Red Cross as a Public Education and PDA Responder.
Janice May was elected to the Board of Directors on June 23, 2021.
Brendan Neil was elected to the Board of Directors on July 30, 2019. Brendan was certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Criminal Law in 2011. As a member of the Children’s Rights Legal Panel of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, he worked with youth and the Court system to advocate and ensure the opinions and views of the child were considered in family law disputes.
Joyce See was elected to the Board of Directors on June 18, 2014 and currently holds the position of Vice Chair and a member of the Executive Committee. Joyce has extensive experience in health public policy, community development and health promotion.
Terry Spearin was elected to the Board of Directors on June 18, 2014. He is Chair of the Society’s Governance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee. Terry has had senior management careers in broadcasting, education, planning and community development and has been a resource to the non-profit sector for 20 years.
Reena Vanza was elected to the Board of Directors on June 23, 2021. Reena is a Registered Psychotherapist and holds experience in both health promotion and counseling psychology. Reena has been a stout mental health advocate in the community for over 15 years and currently works with women and children escaping violence and homelessness.
Board Meetings 2022
- January 26, 2022
- February 23, 2022 — Board Retreat
- March 23, 2022
- April 27, 2022
- May 25, 2022
- June 22, 2022
**Summer Recess**
- September 28, 2022
- October 26, 2022
- November 23, 2022
Delegations to Board of Directors’ Meetings
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be open to the public except in cases where matters are confidential and the meeting is deemed closed. Members of the public are required to inform the Board of their attendance not later than one business day in advance of the meeting. Members of the public attending the Board of Directors’ meeting are observers and are not to participate in the discussion of the meeting. Individuals or groups wishing to appear before the Board of Directors shall advise the Board Chair, in writing, no later than 4:30 pm on the Wednesday prior to the meeting. CLICK here for more information on requesting to appear before the Halton Children’s Aid Society Board of Directors.