about

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing the organization's long-term directions and policies, developing annual objectives and monitoring the progress of the achievement of those objectives. The President and CEO is responsible for operations.

Kerry Arbour, Chair, Toronto, ON, Vice President, Technical Support & TV, Bell Canada
Deb Craven, Vice-Chair, Toronto, ON, Senior VP & CFO, Purolator Courier Ltd.
Steve Wuthmann, Past Chair, Toronto, ON, Executive Vice-President, Supply Chain, Parmalat Canada
Harry Wierenga, Treasurer, Vancouver, BC, Vice President and Regional Director, Banking, BMO Harris Private Banking

Founding Partner Representatives:

Shelley Martin, Toronto, ON, Business Leader, President, Nestlé Ice Cream, Nestlé Canada Inc.
Richard Rudderham, Toronto, ON, Executive Vice-President, Head of Human Resources, BMO Financial Group - Bank of Montreal
Cheryl Smith, Toronto, ON, Executive Vice-President, Consumer and Trade Marketing, Parmalat Canada Inc.

Social Service Representatives:

Jeanette Lewis, Toronto, ON, Retired, OACAS
Robin Pike, Victoria, BC, Executive Director, Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Dr. Shaheen Shariff, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Integrated Studies, Faculty of Education, McGill University

Regional Representatives:

Sheila Blair-Reid, Halifax, NS
Jeff Gaulin, Calgary, AB
Nick Loporcaro, Montreal, QC
Graham Lute, Toronto, ON
Brenda Stasuik, Regina, SK

Members at Large:

John Cardella, Toronto, ON, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Ceridian International
Court Carruthers, Mississauga, ON, President, Grainger International
Mark Kummer, Toronto, ON, Vice-President, Service Provider Cisco Canada
Steven G. Golick, Toronto, ON, Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Carolyn McGill, Toronto, ON, President and Chief Executive Officer, CNW Group
Harriet Reisman, Toronto, ON , Reisman Law Office

Secretary to the Board and Legal Counsel

Steven G. Golick, Toronto, ON Secretary to the Board & Legal Counsel; Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Biographies

Kerry Arbour, Chair

Vice President – Bell Canada
Technical Support (Residential and Mobility)

Kerry is currently Vice-President Bell Canada – Technical Support. His team supports all technical needs for customers with Bell’s Consumer Products (Home Phone, Internet, Mobility and TV). His team is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in both official languages.....Sounds familiar! Kerry has held several positions within Bell of increasing responsibility, crossing disciplines including Strategic Planning, Finance, Operations and Information Technology.

Kerry is an MBA graduate of the Schulich School of Business (1990), and completed his undergraduate degree at The University of Western Ontario (Econ/Math 1988).

Kerry has a strong connection to volunteering, and has been an active participant and fundraiser for the Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone since its inception. In addition, Kerry is involved in the United Way, The Terry Fox Run, local schools and sports teams.

Kerry and his wife Anne have three children (Jana, Robyn and Jason), each of whom are strong advocates for what Kids Help Phone stands for. To stay active, the family can be found regularly in various hockey arenas, swimming pools or gymnasiums across the GTA.

Why Kerry volunteers for Kids Help Phone

"This is easy to put into words. I am fortunate, fortunate to have three healthy, well balanced, and active children. As I watch them grow, I think of the challenges they will face, and even though they have parents who are there to answer any questions they have, I know we may not have all of the answers. Kids Help Phone is there for any young person who may just need reassurance, but who may also need more consultative counseling and referral services. Kids Help Phone is that outlet, and I want to ensure that Kids Help Phone remains the premier source for kids to call or to go on the web, to seek the guidance they need to grow and to flourish."

"And it is important for me to set an example to my kids, that we’ll always find the time to help others in need."

Deb Craven, Vice Chair

Deb has most recently been the CFO at Nike Canada Corp. Prior to this, she was Director of Administration, then VP Finance & Administration for Purolator Courier Ltd since 2000.

Deb attended Wilfrid Laurier University where she graduated with a BBA with Co-Op Option and has her CA designation through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

Deb has lots of volunteering and community service experience with organizations such as Macaulay Child Development Centre, United Way Campaign – Canadian Tire Corporation, CIBC Run for the Cure, Mississauga Food Bank (Fareshare), Ride to Conquer Cancer – benefitting Princess Margaret Hospital. She is presently a Board Member of The Learning Partnership and a Board Member and volunteer with Girl !mpact.

Deb enjoys running, biking and is learning to play golf. She is married to Jim and they have two children, Eric and Meagan and two very enthusiastic Labrador retrievers.

Steve Wuthmann, Past Chair

Since 2004, Steve has been on the Board of Kids Help Phone, moving through the roles of Founding Sponsor Representative, Vice Chair and Chair. In that time he has consistently worked to assist the organization in any way he can.

Steve is currently the Executive Vice-President, Supply Chain, Parmalat Canada, a role he moved into from his prior position as National Vice President of Supply Chain and Senior Vice President Human Resources & Corporate Affairs. Before joining Parmalat, Steve was the Senior Vice President Human Resources for Purolator Courier Ltd. and had also been employed with Labatt’s and Canada Packers earlier in his career.

Born and raised in Montreal, Steve has a B.Comm from Concordia University and a C.Dir from McMaster University. He has been a speaker at numerous conferences and seminars on issues ranging from human resources to customer service.

He and his wife have two wonderful teenage children and they all enjoy travelling abroad as a family.

Why Steve volunteers for Kids Help Phone

"I am a father who dearly loves his children, so it breaks my heart to hear of the difficulties some kids face on a daily basis. Supporting a group like Kids Help Phone that makes a real difference in helping children lead better lives provides me with a true sense of satisfaction."

Harry Wierenga, Treasurer

Harry is currently Vice President & Regional Director, Banking with BMO Harris Private Banking in British Columbia. He has also held positions in Personal and Commercial Banking and BMO Capital Markets in both Vancouver and Toronto.

Harry became involved with Kids Help Phone through BMO Financial Group, one of the founding sponsors of Kids Help Phone and also his employer of the last 25 years. He has been a volunteer member of the Vancouver Chapter of Kids Help Phone since 2000. He served as Chapter Chair for four years and organized the first Major Gifts campaign for the BC Region. Harry is currently the Regional Chair and representative of the Futures Campaign for Kids Help Phone in British Columbia and continues to be actively involved in capital fundraising for the organization. He was recognized for his volunteer efforts with Kids Help Phone by receiving the Volunteer of the Year award in 2005 for BC Region.

Harry has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. He is a Certified Management Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. In addition to his volunteer work with Kids Help Phone, Harry is on the Finance committee of Mulgrave School in West Vancouver where he was also Treasurer and a Board member for six years, overseeing the construction financing for the School’s new facilities.

Harry and his wife, Janice Wells, have three daughters; one currently at university, one graduating from high school this year and one enrolled in Grade 5.

Shelley Martin, Toronto, Ontario

Founding Partner Representative - Nestlé Canada Inc.

Shelley Martin is the President of the Nescafé, Beverage and Dairy portfolio at Nestlé Canada. She joined Nestlé in 1990 in Pet Care and progressed through various positions to lead the overall business in 1994. In 1997 Shelley became the Leader of the Confectionery business, returning to Pet Care in 2000 to lead the Canadian acquisition and transition of Nestlé Purina.

She has served on the boards of the Canadian Coffee Association, the Confectionery Manufacturers’ Association and the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association.

Shelley has two active daughters, Julia and Emily, who spend many hours on the soccer field. They enjoy traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Why Shelley volunteers for Kids Help Phone:

"I am honoured to be part of the Kids Help Phone organization. They are an amazing group of staff and volunteers fully dedicated to our children. Their efforts help kids with a wide range of issues, and, most importantly, they provide hope and a compassionate voice for the children. Whether through the phone or online, it is an invaluable resource for the children of Canada, which benefits us all. I am privileged to have the opportunity to help in a small way."

Richard D. Rudderham

Founding Partner Representative – BMO Bank of Montreal

Richard is Deputy Head of Human Resources and Senior Vice President, Institute for Learning, Human Resources. He participates in all aspects of the Human Resources mandate. Richard is also responsible for developing and delivering BMO’s overall learning strategy. Richard brings with him a breadth of experience in customer-focused leadership positions that help ensure BMO’s learning strategies are fully aligned with the needs of the businesses.

Richard joined BMO in 1989 as a Senior Financial Analyst, in the Planning and Controllers Department. Richard rose through increasingly responsible positions in Corporate and Institutional Financial Services, then in 1996, he was promoted to Vice President, Finance, Corporate and Institutional Financial Services, Corporate Services. The following year, Richard was appointed Vice President, Finance, Electronic Financial Services. In 1998, he became Vice President, Client Contact Centre, Direct Banking. In 2001, Richard was promoted to Senior Vice President, Distribution Services. He was Senior Vice President, British Columbia Division, P&C Canada from 2003 to 2008. Most recently he was Senior Vice President, Institute for Learning, Human Resources.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Wilfred Laurier University.

Cheryl Smith

Founding Partner Representative - Parmalat Canada Inc

Cheryl is currently Executive Vice President, Consumer and Trade Marketing, Parmalat Canada, where she has held various positions since joining the company in 1999.

Parmalat is proud to be a founding partner of Kids Help Phone. As one of Canada’s largest food companies, Parmalat’s leading dairy brands include Beatrice, Lactantia, Astro, Black Diamond and Balderson. Children may find the Kids Help Phone number on many of Parmalat’s packages.

Cheryl has a Master of Applied Sciences degree in Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, both from the University of Waterloo.

Cheryl was born, raised and now resides in the community of Oakville with her young family. She is a volunteer for the Oakville Community Foundation. Cheryl served on the OCF Board of Directors from 2002 to 2008. During her term, she held the Chair position on various committees including Heritage Trust, Marketing and Human Resources.

Why Cheryl volunteers for Kids Help Phone:

"Children are precious—they are our future. We need them all to have access to the basic needs for survival. We want them all to be loved. Sometimes life is difficult. In the best of circumstances, children may benefit from an anonymous interaction with a Kids Help Phone counsellor. In the worst of situations, Kids Help Phone is there to listen, offer hope and even community resources to try to make a child’s life a little better. I am thankful to be able to contribute to Kids Help Phone in a very small way."

Jeanette Lewis

Social Service Representative

Jeanette Lewis recently retired as the Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, a position she had held since February 2000. Prior to coming to the OACAS, Jeanette served in various children’s services agencies, in positions including executive director of a large multi-site, multi-service, children’s mental health centre, treatment director in a children’s mental health setting, and residential services director in a clinical agency.

In addition to these leadership and administrative roles, Jeanette is a professional social worker who spent many years on the front line as a clinician in marriage and family therapy.

Jeanette’s academic credentials include a Master of Social Work degree, a Diploma in Health Care Administration, and a Master of Business Administration degree.

Jeanette supplements her academic qualifications with advocacy and volunteer board activities. She has served on many boards, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ontario, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Hagerman Corners Community Housing, Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Lutherwood, the Trillium Foundation for Youth, and the Ontario Association of Marital and Family Therapists. She is currently a board member of the Child Welfare League of Canada.

Jeanette is married with one adult son who lives in Toronto. Outside of work she practices yoga, cycles and goes to the cottage for meditative beach walks whenever possible

Robin Pike

Social Service Representative

Robin has a 30 year background in the child welfare field within both government and community agencies. She has extensive experience in developing and managing residential community programs for children.

Robin joined the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development in 1999. Robin is the newly appointed Executive Director of Canada's first Human Trafficking Office, located in Victoria, B.C. In this capacity, Robin assumes responsibility for developing and implementing a comprehensive, cross-sectoral response to situations of human trafficking and exploitation in partnership with federal, local and provincial governments, community agencies and law enforcement authorities. Additionally, Robin will continue to hold responsibility for services for refugee and unaccompanied children arriving at B.C. Ports of Entry.

Robin holds a BA in Child and Youth Care, and a Master of Arts degree in Human and Social Policy from the University of Victoria. She has extensive volunteer involvement on the Boards of organizations such as the B.C. Society for Children and Youth, Choices Adoption Agency, the Child Welfare League of Canada, Big Brother-Big Sister of Greater Victoria and is the Canadian representative on the National Child Welfare Advisory Board (US) on Immigrant and Refugee Children. Robin was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal for Community Services in 2003.

Robin lives in Victoria with her Archaeologist, and budding Chef, husband James. Sons Andrew and Duncan are busy completing undergraduate degrees. Robin and James enjoy traveling, cycling, camping and the glorious West Coast, where they have both lived for most of their lives.

Sheila Blair-Reid

Regional Representative Atlantic Region

Sheila is an award-winning entrepreneur who most recently held the position of owner and publisher of Metro Guide Publishing, which she started in 1989. During that time, Sheila was awarded international sales and production awards for several of Metro Guide’s publications, in worldwide competition with magazines in 41 cities. She also received the Progress Women of Excellence Award and was a finalist for an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Under her leadership, Metro Guide Publishing was awarded Small Business of the Year by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and a Tourism Service Provider award from the Tourism Industry of Nova Scotia.

Sheila has extensive community and volunteer involvement. Her previous involvement with Kids Help Phone includes holding the position of Co-Chair for the Designer Showcase for Kids Help Phone. She has also served as a board member for Feed Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Magazine Association (where she also co-chaired).

Sheila is also a mother and wife, and made the decision to sell Metro Guide Publishing in late 2010 in order to spend more time with her family.

Sheila holds a degree in Management and Marketing from Dalhousie University.

Jeff Gaulin

Regional Representative – Alberta

Jeff has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Victoria, a Master of Arts (Journalism) from the University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor of Arts (English) from McGill University.

Jeff's community service includes previously serving as the chair of the Calgary chapter of Kids Help Phone, as the co-chair of the Jim Prentice-Stephen Ames charity golf tournament, serving as a Big Brother, and has been on the fundraising committee of scores of community organizations.

Graham Lute

Regional Representative – Ontario

Graham has committed himself to the work of Kids Help Phone for the last 17 years as a volunteer, a member of the Board and on staff as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. He was the Founding Partner Representative from Nestlé Canada on Kids Help Phone’s Board of Directors from 1999 to 2003. After his retirement from Nestlé in 2003, Graham accepted the position of Vice President, National Marketing and Fund Development and was on the Kids Help Phone staff from 2003 to 2008.

Graham’s professional background includes various marketing, sales and general management roles at Nestlé Canada and Carnation Inc., including 3½ years based at their world headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland as Vice President, Worldwide Marketing Communications. He was Chairman of the Association of Canadian Advertisers, a post that he held previously (1994 to 1995). From 1996 to 1999 Graham was a member of the Executive Board of the World Federation of Advertisers headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

His personal interests and hobbies are golf, wakeboarding, travelling, oil painting and a cottage in Haliburton. Graham and his wife, Pat, are the proud grandparents of two granddaughters, Kara and Alexa.

Why Graham volunteers for Kids Help Phone:

"At Kids Help Phone I have seen how the efforts of many individual volunteers have contributed significantly to helping Canadian kids with their various issues. These individuals have inspired and been mentors for me. I am a true believer that “one person can make a difference” and I have seen firsthand how many of my fellow volunteers have brought their unique experience, their passion and their personal commitment to the growth and development of Kids Help Phone. There is no greater cause than helping our kids to deal with the everyday issues that confront them. I am glad to do my part."

Nick Loporcaro, Eng.

Regional Representative – Quebec

Nick Loporcaro is Vice President and General Manager, Eastern Canada. He is responsible for managing the Eastern Canadian market of McKesson Canada, which serves 2,500 hospitals and pharmacies in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Nick joined McKesson Canada in 2003 as Director, National Sales and Marketing, and prior to his current appointment, progressed to the role of Vice President and General Manager, McKesson APS.

Prior to joining McKesson Canada, he was Managing Partner with Ascend LLC, a business development and management consultancy which he founded. He has also worked in progressively responsible management and executive roles in a variety of sectors, notably in telecommunications and manufacturing.

Nick holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from McGill University.

Nick is President of Kids Help Phone’s Montreal Council. He was approached by a council member of Kids Help Phone about five years ago soliciting his interest in joining the council and contributing to the cause as a volunteer. He had been a volunteer with several organizations for many years and was interested in a “new” cause. The more he learned about what Kids Help Phone does, the more interested he became. He joined the council and has been actively involved ever since.

Why Nick volunteers for Kids Help Phone:

"As a parent of two children, I appreciate the pressures our kids are under daily to perform, be accepted and assimilate all of what’s going on around them, especially in this day and age – it can be overwhelming to say the least. Compound this by the pressures brought on by family situations, economic instability, etc., I realized that whether it is my child, a friend’s child, someone I know or don’t know, it doesn’t matter, they are “Our Kids” and they need someone to be there for them when either no one else is or they are not comfortable enough to discuss without anonymity."

"I believe what Kids Help Phone does is amazing; no matter what the issue is, if a child ultimately feels better about themselves and has greater self-esteem following an “intervention” with Kids Help Phone, then we are the better for it."

"On a personal note, feeling that I, in some way, was able to be part of this, makes me feel great and I have the opportunity to work with some incredibly dedicated people who do amazing things."

Brenda Stasuik

Regional Representative – Manitoba/Saskatchewan

Brenda is Director, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Farm Credit Canada, the country’s leading agricultural lender and a federal Crown Corporation. FCC provides financing, insurance, software, learning programs and other business services to producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations. In her role at FCC, Brenda is accountable for the development and execution of the national CSR strategy, including Community Investment.

Brenda is a member of the Adaptation Advisory Committee of the “Climate Change Adaptation Project: Canada”, and her role at FCC has recently expanded to include accountability for measuring, managing and reducing the impact of FCC's internal operations on the environment. In the past, she has served as a national board member with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, playing an integral role on their Public Relations Committee.

Brenda’s background also includes experience in public and media relations, advertising and promotions, special events and corporate sales. She presents at the national and local level about implementing CSR strategy and developing community investment programs that create social impact, while engaging employees and building an organization's reputation as a good corporate citizen. She holds certificates in Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Community Involvement, Public Relations and a diploma in Business Administration.

While Brenda is passionate about her work, she enjoys spending time with her two young boys, Noah and Lucas. She has been an avid volunteer for many years and can often be found volunteering with the school or managing and coaching her boys’ sports teams along with her husband Darcy.

John Cardella

Member at Large

John Cardella is a senior Human Resources Professional with more than 25 years of experience. His responsibilities as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for Ceridian Canada includes managing all aspects of Human Resources for Ceridian's 1,400 employees as well as providing counsel and thought leadership to Ceridian’s overall strategic business direction.

John’s vision to create a highly engaged workforce together with support from Ceridian’s leadership team has truly put the Company on the road to greatness. Key achievements in this area include the successive “employer of choice” oriented awards garnered over the past six years, including the 50 Best Employers in Canada (Hewitt - Globe & Mail), the Top 100 Employers (Macleans - Mediacorp) and the Best Workplaces in Canada (Canadian Business).

As much as John enjoys the world of HR, he is also very business oriented and has in the past held Profit and Loss responsibilities for Ceridian’s growth oriented businesses, as well as International segments. He continues to play a leadership role in the launch of new business ventures.

John is a proud member of the Conference Board of Canada - Senior HR Executive Council East. He has also worked as a member of the fundraising cabinet for the United Way of York Region.

John enjoys golf, trout fishing and travel with the family. He is married to Jean and has two teenage children.

Court Carruthers

Member at Large

Court is currently President, Grainger International where he is responsible for Grainger’s operations outside the United States. Previously, Court served as President of Grainger's Canadian subsidiary, Acklands-Grainger, which was recently recognized as one of Canada’s Ten Most Admired Corporate Cultures. Grainger is the leading global distributor of industrial and safety supplies, with 2009 sales of $6.2 billion.

Court holds a B. Comm. from the University of Alberta, an MBA from Queen’s University, and is a Fellow of the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario.

Highly active in the community, Court serves on the University of Alberta Business Advisory Council and Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, and is Past Chair of the United Way of York Region Campaign Cabinet. Court was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under Forty for 2007.

Court and his wife Kirstin live in Mississauga with their two young sons.

Mark Kummer

Member at Large

As Vice President, Service Provider Canada, Mark Kummer is responsible for all sales and support for Cisco’s service provider business in Canada, serving telecommunications service providers, cable companies, Internet service providers, wireless providers, and utilitie.

A 20-year veteran of the information technology and communications industry, Kummer has extensive experience within the global service provider community that spans from infrastructure to managed service sales. In his most recent role, he led Cisco’s Service Provider and Media Business team in the United Kingdom,transforming key wireline and wireless telco, cable, and media/broadcaster customers into strategic accounts. Previously he served in a variety of senior roles at Cisco UK including Director of Vertical Sales for the European Service Provider Segment, Director of the Service Provider Channel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Operations Director for the British Telecom account. Prior to joining Cisco in 1996, Kummer was a regional manager with 3Com Corp in the UK.

Kummer has served on the board of the European Competitive Telecoms Association and actively participated in forums to engage UK service provider bodies and regulators.

Kummer holds a bachelors degree in engineering from King’s College at the University of London, and a masters’ degree in engineering from London University’s Imperial College

Steven Golick

Secretary to the Board and Legal Counsel
Member at Large

Steven has been a member of the Bars of the Province of Ontario and the State of New York since 1985 and 1983 respectively and a Partner with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt since 1991. He advises financial institutions, banks, insurance companies, creditors and debtors on insolvency and debtor/creditor matters, restructurings, workouts and reorganizations. Steven has also acted as advisor to the Federal Government in connection with the amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act enacted in 1992.

Steven holds a Bachelor of Common Law and a Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University and a Bachelor of Commerce Law from Concordia University. He has co-authored several books and publications and he frequently provides seminars and lectures on his areas of practice.

Steven is a partner in the Insolvency and Restructuring Group of Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. He is a member of the board of INSOL International, a member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, Editor in Chief of Globalinsolvency.com, the former Vice President – International and member of the Executive Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute, and is a past Chair of the Insolvency Section of The Ontario Bar Association.

Steven has been personally committed to the Kids Help Phone/Foundation since the idea of a national helpline for the children of Canada was born. Since 1988, he has acted as the Foundation’s legal counsel. As well, Steven is Secretary to the Board of Directors of Kids Help Phone and Secretary of Kids Help Foundation.

Why Steven volunteers for Kids Help Phone:

"It is up to each one of us to contribute to charitable activities in any way we can. We must be passionate about this. I deeply believe in our cause. Kids Help Phone makes a significant, positive difference every day in the life of Canadian children and teenagers. I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be involved in Kids Help Phone since its formation, and it has been the most meaningful and profound charitable activity that I have had the pleasure to undertake. It has been a combined effort of many like-minded charitable, caring people and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their hard work, effort, and support."

" It is hard to imagine what would have happened in the lives of the hundreds of thousands of youth that have accessed our services if we were not there for them. Thank you to all of our volunteers, staff and supporters for being there!"

Carolyn McGill

Member at Large

Carolyn McGill-Davidson is President and Chief Executive Officer of CNW Group (Canada NewsWire), Canada’s leader in news and information distribution services for professional communicators. She joined CNW in 1999 and held a variety of senior management positions prior to assuming the leadership role in 2008.

Carolyn has more than 20 years of experience in product management and marketing within the financial services industry. Her career includes progressively more senior roles at Bank of Montreal, Canada Trust, and Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange.

Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McGill University in Montreal, where she was raised, and a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Carolyn lives in mid-town Toronto with her husband Scott Davidson and their gracefully aging cat Chelsea. She enjoys good books, good food, running (needed to offset the good food) and time with family.

Why Carolyn volunteers for Kids Help Phone:

"I remember the launch of Kids Help Phone from my days at Bank of Montreal. From day one it was clear to me that Kids Help Phone was meeting a critical need among children and I’ve been committed to this cause ever since. Scott and I connect with children through our family and friends. These children are happy and well adjusted with caring and involved parents. Through my early involvement with Kids Help Phone I realized that not all children are as fortunate. Many find themselves all alone dealing with circumstances that are overwhelming. The unconditional support provided by Kids Help Phone can be a lifeline for these children."

Harriet Reisman

Member at Large

Hatty is an experienced corporate lawyer, and owner and founder of Reisman Law Offices. She was previously General Counsel to two sector leading public companies, and was a founding member of the Toronto Office of Heenan Blaikie. Ms Reisman also has senior experience with the public sector and was the Chief Operating Officer of Easter Seals (Ontario).

Hatty obtained her L.L.B from Osgoode Hall Law School, and prior to that studied politics and economics at University College, University of Toronto. She is the past Chair of the Board of Directors of Senior People’s Resources in North Toronto (SPRINT), and is currently on the SPRINT Honorary Board. She was also a Director of Junior Achievement of Central Ontario, and was the Chair of their Governance Committee and a member of its Executive Committee.

Hatty has also served on numerous private company boards, including two terms (maximum permitted by the City of Toronto) on the Board of Enwave Energy Corporation, a public private partnership between OMERS and the City of Toronto, where she was also Chair of the Health and Safety Committee, an a member of the Audit Committee and the Human Resources and Governance Committee. Hatty has also been a director and corporate secretary to numerous specialty television channels, including Life Network (now SLICE), Home and Garden Television, YTV, The Documentary Channel and Country Canada. She has also served on the Boards of The Factory Theater and Deer Park Extended Program (DPEP).

Hatty lives in Toronto with her husband Douglas Barrett and their two children Aaron and Kate, with frequent visits from the older children Trish and Julia. When she isn’t working, she enjoys running, skiing, reading and hanging out with her kids and their friends.

Dr. Shaheen Shariff, Ph.D.

Clinical Advisory Committee

Dr. Shaheen Shariff, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrated Studies, Faculty of Education, McGill University (Montreal) and an international expert on the legal issues that have emerged in relation to uses of digital media by youth, including cyberbullying, free expression, privacy, libel and criminal harassment.

Dr. Shariff has authored four books and published numerous peer reviewed research papers and guidelines for school administrators, teachers, and parents regarding the extent of their legal responsibilities to address cyberbullying, and currently seeks to enhance legal literacy for children, educators, and parents. As Principal Investigator on several collaborative national and international projects studying the phenomenon of cyberbullying, Dr. Shariff has presented her work internationally and delivered keynote addresses around the world. She recently launched definetheline.ca, a resource website on cyberbullying and digital citizenship for parents, educators, policy-makers, and youth.

Dr. Shariff joins Kids Help Phone’s Board of Directors, serving as a member of the Board’s Clinical Advisory Committee.

Why Dr. Shariff volunteers for Kids Help Phone:
“Children are growing up increasingly immersed in digital media. Although most communicate responsibly, cyberbullying and related forms of peer online abuse subject some youth to harassment, exclusion and isolation. The impact can be devastating. Research suggests that kids do not always turn to parents or teachers for help, or report victimization. Kids Help Phone provides a safe place for children to turn anonymously to help them through the trauma of on and offline peer abuse. I am delighted to join this respected organization with which I share a common goal of promoting child safety and community supports.”