Item - 2025.NC22.2

Appointees' Biographies

Fareed Amin

Over 30 years of leadership experience across the public sector at provincial, municipal, and international levels. In Ontario, Canada.  Deputy Minister roles in several ministries, including Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Energy and Infrastructure; Municipal Affairs and Housing; Economic Development and Trade; and Intergovernmental Affairs. Also served as Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ministries of Transportation and Finance. Internationally, in 2012 to 2013, advised the Chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Also served as Deputy City Manager for the City of Toronto, overseeing portfolios such as land use planning, building services, water and wastewater services, municipal licensing and standards, fire services, solid waste management. In recognition of outstanding service to Canada and internationally, was awarded the King Charles Coronation Medal in 2025.

Jesse Cohoon (Tenant Director)

Retired, but not retiring, Jesse Cohoon is an active member of the community, sharing his experience and knowledge to promote living in place for seniors. His advocacy work resonates with organizations like the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Toronto, Family Councils of Ontario, and WoodGreen Community Services. A member of WoodGreen's Senior Advisory Council and its Students of Aging program, he has helped to produce the podcasts that share the interests and histories of people from various backgrounds. As Director of Programming for the Writers Collective of Canada, Jesse published six anthologies that provided an opportunity for people to be heard and honoured for their insights and courageous stories. The expressive writing workshops have helped thousands of writers find their voices. A filmmaker with over 45 years of experience, he has been a part of Toronto's creative growth.

Lawrence D’Souza

Lawrence is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner and Internal Auditor. He brings a diverse set of skills and real-world work experience from the private and public sectors in finance, audit, risk management, policy and corporate governance. He holds multiple professional designations and certifications in management, accounting, auditing and risk management. Besides the private sector, he has worked for the Canadian federal and Ontario provincial governments.

Linda Jackson

Linda is an experienced health and social service leader and senior, who retired from full time work in 2024 and wishes to continue to provide her knowledge and expertise to support older adults to age successfully in their own homes. Linda has volunteered on many community-based boards focused on services for older adults. Linda believes that tenants feeling engaged and empowered to make decisions in well maintained and safe buildings needs to be the focus of Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation. Linda will support this vision as a publicly appointed Board member with personal experience having had a mother that lived her last years of her life in one of the seniors building now operated by Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation.

Konstantinos Kostouros

With over 25 years of leadership in seniors’ care, housing, and health services, Konstantinos (Kosta) Kostouros is a seasoned executive dedicated to advancing the well-being of older adults. As Chief Executive Officer, Hellenic Home for the Aged, he oversees multi-site operations including long-term care, independent living, and supportive housing, serving diverse communities across Toronto. He brings deep expertise in governance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and culturally inclusive care. His leadership has guided major capital projects, quality improvement initiatives, and sector advocacy. With an Executive Master of Business Administration degree and a background in psychology and sociology, he combines operational excellence with a strong commitment to equity and public service.

James Meeks (Tenant Director)
 

James (Jim) Meeks has been involved in community building efforts and projects for many years and his skills and experience are a good fit with the mandate of the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board. His commitment as a tenant representative helped to build a strong and vibrant community with special focus on security, agency liaison, community animation and harm reduction. He is dedicated to building a legacy of a just, diverse community that respects each individual’s rights.

Brenda Parris

Brenda Parris is a respected senior management professional with over 20 years of experience in public and not-for-profit organizations in settlement and immigration, services for seniors and persons with disabilities and tribunal and adjudicator roles. Her leadership in workplace diversity and community advocacy provide her with the ability to mediate solutions and 'think outside of the box' for effective solutions. People feel listened to and respected under her direction. She is recognized as a 'bridge builder', noted for her established leadership qualities, dedication and resourcefulness.

The Corporations Nominating Panel recommends that:

1. City Council treat the portion of the City Council meeting at which the Appointment of Public Members and Tenant Directors to the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board of Directors is considered as a special meeting of the Shareholder for Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation.

2. City Council appoint the following candidates to the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board of Directors, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending October 10, 2027, and until successors are appointed:

Konstantinos Kostouros

Brenda Parris

3. City Council waive the provisions of the Public Appointments Policy concerning restrictions on multiple appointments, that the term of appointment to corporations is 2 years, and that the limit on length of service for any citizen member on the board of directors is 8 consecutive years, and adopt the following as a resolution of the Shareholder of the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation:
 

Notwithstanding the Shareholder Direction, City Council, as Shareholder, appoint Lawrence D'Souza to the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board of Directors, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on October 10, 2028, and until successors are appointed.

4. City Council waive the provisions of the Public Appointments Policy that the term of appointment to corporations is 2 years and that the limit on length of service for any citizen member on the board of directors is 8 consecutive years, and adopt the following as a resolution of the Shareholder of the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation:
 

Notwithstanding the Shareholder Direction, City Council, as Shareholder, appoint the following candidates to the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board of Directors, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on October 10, 2028, and until successors are appointed:

Fareed Amin
Linda Jackson

5. City Council appoint the following candidates as tenant directors to the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board of Directors, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on October 10, 2027, and until successors are appointed:

Jesse Cohoon

James Meeks

6. City Council appoint Fareed Amin as Chair of the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board of Directors.

7. City Council direct that Confidential Attachments 1a, 1b and 2 to 6 to the report (September 11, 2025) from the City Clerk remain confidential in their entirety as they relate to personal matters about identifiable individuals being considered for appointment to the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board of Directors.

Candidates' Biographies

Fareed Amin

Over 30 years of leadership experience across the public sector at provincial, municipal, and international levels. In Ontario, Canada.  Deputy Minister roles in several ministries, including Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Energy and Infrastructure; Municipal Affairs and Housing; Economic Development and Trade; and Intergovernmental Affairs. Also served as Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ministries of Transportation and Finance. Internationally, in 2012 to 2013, advised the Chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Also served as Deputy City Manager for the City of Toronto, overseeing portfolios such as land use planning, building services, water and wastewater services, municipal licensing and standards, fire services, solid waste management. In recognition of outstanding service to Canada and internationally, was awarded the King Charles Coronation Medal in 2025.

Jesse Cohoon (Tenant Director)

Retired, but not retiring, Jesse Cohoon is an active member of the community, sharing his experience and knowledge to promote living in place for seniors. His advocacy work resonates with organizations like the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Toronto, Family Councils of Ontario, and WoodGreen Community Services. A member of WoodGreen's Senior Advisory Council and its Students of Aging program, he has helped to produce the podcasts that share the interests and histories of people from various backgrounds. As Director of Programming for the Writers Collective of Canada, Jesse published six anthologies that provided an opportunity for people to be heard and honoured for their insights and courageous stories. The expressive writing workshops have helped thousands of writers find their voices. A filmmaker with over 45 years of experience, he has been a part of Toronto's creative growth.

Lawrence D’Souza

Lawrence is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner and Internal Auditor. He brings a diverse set of skills and real-world work experience from the private and public sectors in finance, audit, risk management, policy and corporate governance. He holds multiple professional designations and certifications in management, accounting, auditing and risk management. Besides the private sector, he has worked for the Canadian federal and Ontario provincial governments.

Linda Jackson

Linda is an experienced health and social service leader and senior, who retired from full time work in 2024 and wishes to continue to provide her knowledge and expertise to support older adults to age successfully in their own homes. Linda has volunteered on many community-based boards focused on services for older adults. Linda believes that tenants feeling engaged and empowered to make decisions in well maintained and safe buildings needs to be the focus of Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation. Linda will support this vision as a publicly appointed Board member with personal experience having had a mother that lived her last years of her life in one of the seniors building now operated by Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation.

Konstantinos Kostouros

With over 25 years of leadership in seniors’ care, housing, and health services, Konstantinos (Kosta) Kostouros is a seasoned executive dedicated to advancing the well-being of older adults. As Chief Executive Officer, Hellenic Home for the Aged, he oversees multi-site operations including long-term care, independent living, and supportive housing, serving diverse communities across Toronto. He brings deep expertise in governance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and culturally inclusive care. His leadership has guided major capital projects, quality improvement initiatives, and sector advocacy. With an Executive Master of Business Administration degree and a background in psychology and sociology, he combines operational excellence with a strong commitment to equity and public service.

James Meeks (Tenant Director)
 

James (Jim) Meeks has been involved in community building efforts and projects for many years and his skills and experience are a good fit with the mandate of the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board. His commitment as a tenant representative helped to build a strong and vibrant community with special focus on security, agency liaison, community animation and harm reduction. He is dedicated to building a legacy of a just, diverse community that respects each individual’s rights.

Brenda Parris

Brenda Parris is a respected senior management professional with over 20 years of experience in public and not-for-profit organizations in settlement and immigration, services for seniors and persons with disabilities and tribunal and adjudicator roles. Her leadership in workplace diversity and community advocacy provide her with the ability to mediate solutions and 'think outside of the box' for effective solutions. People feel listened to and respected under her direction. She is recognized as a 'bridge builder', noted for her established leadership qualities, dedication and resourcefulness.

The Corporations Nominating Panel will conduct interviews and recommend five public members and two tenant directors to City Council for appointment to the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation Board of Directors. One of the seven candidates will be recommended for appointment as Chair.