Item - 2022.CA27.2

During the review of the Order Paper on February 2, 2022, City Council adopted a procedural motion to remove this Item from the jurisdiction of the Civic Appointments Committee and bring it forward for consideration by City Council.

Appointees' biographies:

Christopher Castellano

An award-winning marketing and sales professional with over a decade of experience across multiple industries and cities, Christopher Castellano, currently sits as Camrost Felcorp Inc.'s Vice President of Sales and Marketing where he leads the company’s strategic marketing and sales vision across all functions. Originally from Montréal, Christopher is a graduate of McGill University and has a passion for historic places and cultural expression.

Liza Chalaidopoulos

An award-winning professional with 15+ years of experience in marketing, communications, and strategy, Liza has carefully cultivated her skills and knowledge to become a seasoned and respected marketer. Liza previously held a seat on the AMA Toronto Board, and spent two years as Co-Chair of an Employee Resource Group aimed to promote the advancement of women by providing empowering and enriching networking and learning opportunities.

Dilys Chan

Dilys is a multimedia-savvy communicator with an interest in city-building, history, and architecture. Currently, she is a leader in the development of branded content at Constellation Software, one of the most successful companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Previously, she worked as a news producer at BNN Bloomberg, the most-watched business TV channel in Canada. She has a master's degree in journalism from Ryerson University and a B.A. from Carleton University.

David Ecclestone

David Ecclestone is a Partner at the Ventin Group Architects in Toronto. Originally from the GTA, he graduated in 1995 from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture following attendance at the University of Guelph and the University of Hong Kong. After graduation David Joined the Ventin Group in 1998 and has built a solid reputation for the design of all types of institutional, commercial, and residential, heritage, adaptive re[1]use, and restoration projects.

Bradley Evoy

Brad Evoy is a disabled governance professional and a member of the Qalipu First Nation. Brad’s previous work related to corporate and university governance and the history of education. He has previously served in related roles in Toronto, Guelph, and Ottawa, including as the Executive Director of Makonsag Aboriginal Head Start. He looks forward to being able to serve the community once more through Heritage Toronto.

Martin Green

Martin Green is a Principal of Foresight Strategic Advisors, a Toronto-based consultancy that advises organizations in highly-regulated sectors on complex strategic challenges. He has had a life-long interest in history and architecture, and is an alumnus of Duke University. Martin has served as an honorary aide-de-camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Ontario Volunteer Service Award. He serves on the board of Project Work, a Toronto-based charity that helps people with intellectual disabilities find and keep jobs.

Peter Ignazi

Peter is one of the most successful creative directors in Canada.  Under his leadership, Cossette was named Canadian "Agency of the Year" by Strategy Magazine in 2016, 2017 and 2018.  A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Peter has a B.Sc. in Chemistry from McMaster University as well as an MBA from McGill University.  Active in the industry and his community, Peter is on the Strategic Committee of the Canadian Marketing Association as well as on the Board of Heritage Toronto.

Jeff Junke

When it comes to storytelling, Jeff Junke comes by it naturally—thanks, in part, to two parents with careers in journalism. With over 10 years of communications experience in the non-profit and private sectors, Jeff is a dynamic communicator with a passion for amplifying diverse stories from across the country.  Originally from the Niagara Region, he now calls Toronto's East Danforth neighbourhood home and has a strong passion for Toronto's past and how it can shape the city's future.

Suzanne Kavanagh

Suzanne Kavanagh has been involved in heritage matters since moving to Toronto in 1996. Suzanne led the study and plan work for the Heritage Conservation District in the St. Lawrence Area in 2005 and finally became an HCD in 2021. Most recently Suzanne stopped the demolition of the Dominion Foundry and is a founder of Ontario Place for All.  Suzanne Chairs the Heritage Committee in the St. Lawrence along with Chairing the St. Lawrence Market Precinct Advisory Committee.

Gretchen Mangahas

Gretchen is a Communications Specialist who is involved in various community-led projects and spearheads communications for organizational change management initiatives. Her work extends to various non-profit engagements as a leader of a Filipino-Canadian organization. She is a member of two Igorot Indigenous tribes in the northern Philippines where she learned the practice of oral history and storytelling.

John McAlister

John McAlister is a proud East Yorker with over 20 years of marketing, communications and fundraising experience in the non-profit sector. He has an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Royal Roads University and is a Chartered Marketer. John is a longstanding member of the Not-For-Profit Council of the Canadian Marketing Association and is passionate about amplifying the positive impact of charitable, non-profit and public sector organizations.

Joel Peters

Joel is a proven, results driven leader in marketing and communications with experience forging relationships with community, business and industry partners and a lifelong interest in heritage and culture. He has held senior positions with the Toronto Zoo, Royal Ontario Museum, Tourism Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University. He has led feasibility and business planning efforts with multiple stakeholders and worked closely with staff, boards and committees to develop and approve sound strategies and programs.

Sanah Rizvi

Sanah (sun-ah) Rizvi is an Organization – Behavioral Psychologist by profession. She is currently working at Sobeys Inc. as a Change Management Lead where she strategizes, develops, and implements large scale change. A graduate from New York University, Sanah enjoys keeping abreast with the future of work and employee engagement. She has over a decade of experience in strategy, facilitation, persuasion and negotiation. In addition to her work, Sanah is an avid reader and watercolourist.

Aaron Sanderson

Aaron Sanderson is an international award-winning fundraiser with over 15 years of experience at leading nonprofit organizations: War Child, SickKids Foundation, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Plan International and Kids Help Phone—where he currently serves as Chief Development Officer. He has over a decade of experience on nonprofit boards and committees, including: Habitat for Humanity, the Arthritis Society, Athletics Ontario, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and University of British Columbia.

Colin Smillie

Colin is a leader in the creation and application of innovative and easy-to-use online tools to engage the public in some of the most pressing public policy issues of our day. He is one of the leading Facebook developers in Canada, serving as co-founder of the Toronto Facebook Camp, the largest Facebook-focused community technology event outside of Facebook’s own F8 conference.

Trinh Tham

Trinh Tham is a seasoned and results-oriented transformation and retail business leader with expertise in managing a $2 billion P&L, eCommerce, brand and product marketing, loyalty programs, customer insights and creative teams. She is passionate about building organizational capacity through delivering strategic plans, nurturing the best talent, launching and optimizing digital technology and driving innovation. She brings a customer-centric mindset and blends insights with creativity.

Sarah Watson

Sarah Watson is a communications consultant with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and an Executive Program Lead at Mozilla, the maker of the Firefox web browser. Sarah’s work centres on harnessing technology for the betterment of society. She has a Master’s in Complex Emergencies from Simon Fraser University. On the weekend you can find Sarah admiring Toronto’s architecture on foot with a coffee in hand, or deep in the Don Valley on her cross country skis.

The Civic Appointments Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council appoint the following candidates to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office beginning February 5, 2022 and ending February 4, 2026, and until successors are appointed:

Christopher Castellano

Liza Chalaidopoulos

Dilys Chan

David Ecclestone

Peter Ignazi

Jeff Junke

Suzanne Kavanagh     

Gretchen Mangahas

Sanah Rizvi       

2.  City Council appoint Bradley Evoy to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors, who will serve as public member from the Aboriginal Community, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office beginning February 5, 2022 and ending February 4, 2026, and until a successor is appointed.

3.  City Council appoint the following candidates to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office beginning February 5, 2022 and ending February 4, 2024, and until successors are appointed:

Martin Green

John McAlister

Joel Peters

Aaron Sanderson

Colin Smillie

Trinh Tham

Sarah Watson

4.  City Council direct that the balance of Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (January 20, 2022) from the City Clerk remain confidential as they relate to personal matters about identifiable individuals being considered for appointment to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors.

Candidates' biographies:

Christopher Castellano

An award-winning marketing and sales professional with over a decade of experience across multiple industries and cities, Christopher Castellano, currently sits as Camrost Felcorp Inc.'s Vice President of Sales and Marketing where he leads the company’s strategic marketing and sales vision across all functions. Originally from Montréal, Christopher is a graduate of McGill University and has a passion for historic places and cultural expression.

Liza Chalaidopoulos

An award-winning professional with 15+ years of experience in marketing, communications, and strategy, Liza has carefully cultivated her skills and knowledge to become a seasoned and respected marketer. Liza previously held a seat on the AMA Toronto Board, and spent two years as Co-Chair of an Employee Resource Group aimed to promote the advancement of women by providing empowering and enriching networking and learning opportunities.

Dilys Chan

Dilys is a multimedia-savvy communicator with an interest in city-building, history, and architecture. Currently, she is a leader in the development of branded content at Constellation Software, one of the most successful companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Previously, she worked as a news producer at BNN Bloomberg, the most-watched business TV channel in Canada. She has a master's degree in journalism from Ryerson University and a B.A. from Carleton University.

David Ecclestone

David Ecclestone is a Partner at the Ventin Group Architects in Toronto. Originally from the GTA, he graduated in 1995 from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture following attendance at the University of Guelph and the University of Hong Kong. After graduation David Joined the Ventin Group in 1998 and has built a solid reputation for the design of all types of institutional, commercial, and residential, heritage, adaptive re[1]use, and restoration projects.

Bradley Evoy

Brad Evoy is a disabled governance professional and a member of the Qalipu First Nation. Brad’s previous work related to corporate and university governance and the history of education. He has previously served in related roles in Toronto, Guelph, and Ottawa, including as the Executive Director of Makonsag Aboriginal Head Start. He looks forward to being able to serve the community once more through Heritage Toronto.

Martin Green

Martin Green is a Principal of Foresight Strategic Advisors, a Toronto-based consultancy that advises organizations in highly-regulated sectors on complex strategic challenges. He has had a life-long interest in history and architecture, and is an alumnus of Duke University. Martin has served as an honorary aide-de-camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Ontario Volunteer Service Award. He serves on the board of Project Work, a Toronto-based charity that helps people with intellectual disabilities find and keep jobs.

Peter Ignazi

Peter is one of the most successful creative directors in Canada.  Under his leadership, Cossette was named Canadian "Agency of the Year" by Strategy Magazine in 2016, 2017 and 2018.  A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Peter has a B.Sc. in Chemistry from McMaster University as well as an MBA from McGill University.  Active in the industry and his community, Peter is on the Strategic Committee of the Canadian Marketing Association as well as on the Board of Heritage Toronto.

Jeff Junke

When it comes to storytelling, Jeff Junke comes by it naturally—thanks, in part, to two parents with careers in journalism. With over 10 years of communications experience in the non-profit and private sectors, Jeff is a dynamic communicator with a passion for amplifying diverse stories from across the country.  Originally from the Niagara Region, he now calls Toronto's East Danforth neighbourhood home and has a strong passion for Toronto's past and how it can shape the city's future.

Suzanne Kavanagh

Suzanne Kavanagh has been involved in heritage matters since moving to Toronto in 1996. Suzanne led the study and plan work for the Heritage Conservation District in the St. Lawrence Area in 2005 and finally became an HCD in 2021. Most recently Suzanne stopped the demolition of the Dominion Foundry and is a founder of Ontario Place for All.  Suzanne Chairs the Heritage Committee in the St. Lawrence along with Chairing the St. Lawrence Market Precinct Advisory Committee.

Gretchen Mangahas

Gretchen is a Communications Specialist who is involved in various community-led projects and spearheads communications for organizational change management initiatives. Her work extends to various non-profit engagements as a leader of a Filipino-Canadian organization. She is a member of two Igorot Indigenous tribes in the northern Philippines where she learned the practice of oral history and storytelling.

John McAlister

John McAlister is a proud East Yorker with over 20 years of marketing, communications and fundraising experience in the non-profit sector. He has an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Royal Roads University and is a Chartered Marketer. John is a longstanding member of the Not-For-Profit Council of the Canadian Marketing Association and is passionate about amplifying the positive impact of charitable, non-profit and public sector organizations.

Joel Peters

Joel is a proven, results driven leader in marketing and communications with experience forging relationships with community, business and industry partners and a lifelong interest in heritage and culture. He has held senior positions with the Toronto Zoo, Royal Ontario Museum, Tourism Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University. He has led feasibility and business planning efforts with multiple stakeholders and worked closely with staff, boards and committees to develop and approve sound strategies and programs.

Sanah Rizvi

Sanah (sun-ah) Rizvi is an Organization – Behavioral Psychologist by profession. She is currently working at Sobeys Inc. as a Change Management Lead where she strategizes, develops, and implements large scale change. A graduate from New York University, Sanah enjoys keeping abreast with the future of work and employee engagement. She has over a decade of experience in strategy, facilitation, persuasion and negotiation. In addition to her work, Sanah is an avid reader and watercolourist.

Aaron Sanderson

Aaron Sanderson is an international award-winning fundraiser with over 15 years of experience at leading nonprofit organizations: War Child, SickKids Foundation, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Plan International and Kids Help Phone—where he currently serves as Chief Development Officer. He has over a decade of experience on nonprofit boards and committees, including: Habitat for Humanity, the Arthritis Society, Athletics Ontario, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and University of British Columbia.

Colin Smillie

Colin is a leader in the creation and application of innovative and easy-to-use online tools to engage the public in some of the most pressing public policy issues of our day. He is one of the leading Facebook developers in Canada, serving as co-founder of the Toronto Facebook Camp, the largest Facebook-focused community technology event outside of Facebook’s own F8 conference.

Trinh Tham

Trinh Tham is a seasoned and results-oriented transformation and retail business leader with expertise in managing a $2 billion P&L, eCommerce, brand and product marketing, loyalty programs, customer insights and creative teams. She is passionate about building organizational capacity through delivering strategic plans, nurturing the best talent, launching and optimizing digital technology and driving innovation. She brings a customer-centric mindset and blends insights with creativity.

Sarah Watson

Sarah Watson is a communications consultant with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and an Executive Program Lead at Mozilla, the maker of the Firefox web browser. Sarah’s work centres on harnessing technology for the betterment of society. She has a Master’s in Complex Emergencies from Simon Fraser University. On the weekend you can find Sarah admiring Toronto’s architecture on foot with a coffee in hand, or deep in the Don Valley on her cross country skis.

This report recommends the appointment of 17 public members to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors.