The United Way E-Newsletter

Lawrence Greenspon, Chair, Community Services Cabinet
Lawyer, Greenspon, Brown & Associates

Lawrence Greenspon is a human rights lawyer with the law firm Greenspon, Brown in Ottawa. A graduate of Ottawa University Law School, he is a certified specialist in criminal and civil litigation. He is past president of the Defence Counsel of Ottawa and past chair of the Resource Education Advocacy Committee for the Handicapped, Snowsuit Fund, Multicultural Centre of Ottawa, and Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa; national chair of the Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation; and continues to work with many charitable organizations. Lawrence received the Golden Apple Award from the Ottawa Food Bank and the Community Builder of the Year Award in 2008.           

The Very Reverend Shane Parker, Vice-Chair, Community Services Cabinet
Dean of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa
Rector of Christ Church Cathedral

Shane was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Irish immigrants and has lived in Ottawa since 1969. A long-time supporter of United Way, he joined the board of directors in 2003. "Charitable work is integral to being part of a community. We all share a common ground and contribute to the common good," he says. While volunteering at United Way is a positive experience overall, two things stand out for Shane: volunteers are treated in a collegial and professional manner, and the organization focuses on impact. "Using research and evidence to determine where the needs are in the community, and working together to achieve the greatest impact, makes volunteering both effective and worthwhile." Shane is a past chair of the Strengthening Individuals and Families in Times of Need and Crisis Impact Council.

Michael Allen
President & CEO, United Way Ottawa

Michael was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and after 22 years in this community he now calls Ottawa 'home.' Following a career that saw Michael practising law and then working on Parliament Hill, he was drawn to United Way by the opportunity to help others in his adopted community. For Michael, what really sealed the deal was the ice storm, which took place during his first year at United Way: “At a time when the community really had to pull together, United Way didn’t seem to have a role in helping during that disaster. I wanted it to be thought of as a place where the community could turn to in these different times of need." Michael is a committed soccer dad and has fundraised for his children’s hockey teams. For Michael, working at United Way is a constant source of inspiration. “Our volunteers are here helping out in their spare time and our staff is extremely committed and motivated. They share a common goal of helping others in their community.”

Gerry A. Barker
Vice President, Human Resources, Algonquin College

Gerry A. Barker was appointed the vice president of human resources at Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology in May 2008. Prior to his appointment, he was executive dean of the Faculty of Health, Public Safety and Community Studies, dean of the Police and Public Safety Institute and enjoyed a 20-year career with the Nepean Police Service and then the amalgamated Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service. Gerry has been active in the hockey community for the past five years as a hockey advisor with Octagon and before that for 25 years with the Larry Kelly Sports Management Group. He holds a BA degree from Carleton University with a concentration in Law, is married and he and his wife, Janet, have two wonderful sons, Bradley and Sean. 

Diane Bilodeau
Vice President, Community Services, United Way Ottawa

Diane has more than 20 years' experience in senior roles in the Caisses Populaires and Credit Union systems. Most recently, she assumed leadership of Francofonds, a community foundation dedicated to promoting the development of Manitoba's French-speaking community by supporting a wide range of community and culturally-based francophone projects and organizations. Under her leadership, Francofonds increased its donation support, its presence in the community, and its engagement of new donors and partnerships.

Jeffrey Dale, Chair, Community Investment Committee
President and CEO (retired)
Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI)

An Ottawa native, Jeffrey has been involved with United Way Ottawa since his university days. His role with OCRI and his place on the Community Services Cabinet have increased the depth of his involvement in and understanding of the impact the organization makes in the community. “My parents taught me that volunteering and making a difference in my community are important. They were right. By volunteering, I have always received more than I have been able to contribute, and I hope that through my example, I am a role model for my children.” Jeff plans to continue his relationship with United Way as both a volunteer and a donor. He says, “My favourite part of being a United Way volunteer is seeing the results of our work and being involved in helping to create something that benefits everyone in our community.”

Richard Dicerni
Deputy Minister, Industry Canada

Richard Dicerni was appointed Deputy Minister of Industry Canada in May 2006. Born and raised in Montreal, he graduated from College Sainte Marie in 1969 with a BA and pursued graduate studies at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard where he earned a Master's in Public Administration in 1981. Richard was a special advisor to a federal cabinet minister in 1969, and in the 1970s and 1980s held executive positions in the federal public service, including senior assistant deputy minister at Health and Welfare and deputy secretary to the Cabinet. He joined the Ontario government as deputy minister of Environment and Energy, was deputy minister, Education, Post Secondary Education and Training, and then was appointed president and CEO of the Canadian Newspaper Association. He became senior vice president and then acting president and CEO at Ontario Power Generation.

Jim Durrell
President, Capital Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ltd.

Jim Durrell is best known for the significant contribution that he made as Ottawa's mayor from 1985 until retiring from public life in 1991. Since leaving public office, Jim has been active in the private sector as a successful business executive. Today, he is president and owner of Capital Dodge Chrysler Jeep and has had a long involvement with Ottawa sports franchises, having served as the first president of the Ottawa Senators NHL organization, president for the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders, a governor of the Canada Sports Hall of Fame and president of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. Jim has extensive governance experience, having served on the board of directors of the Business Development Bank of Canada and as chair of the Ottawa International Airport's board of directors. He volunteers for many charities and organizations in Ottawa, such as The Ottawa Hospital, United Way's Campaign Cabinet, Salvation Army and Kiwanis Club of Ottawa. In October 2006, he was appointed chairman of the Ottawa Convention Centre. Jim resides in Ottawa with his wife, 'Sam', has two children, Melissa and Michael, and two grandchildren, Kennedy and Marcus.

John Jarvis
General Manager and Chief Experience Officer, The Westin Ottawa

A native of Vancouver, with 25 years of experience with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, John Jarvis has led The Westin Ottawa team since September 1998. Before establishing himself in Ottawa and embracing the challenge of directing the largest hotel in the capital, John worked in several Canadian cities - all with the Westin brand. As an active member of the Ottawa community, John is past president of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association and chair of the Christmas Cheer Foundation, a member of the Ottawa Food Bank board of directors, and a long-standing member of the Board of Ottawa Tourism. He has served on many committees and advisory groups in the community and is passionate about making a difference to the city's quality of life. One of his most honoured recognitions was being named one of the United Way's Community Builders in 2006. Outside of work, John is very involved with his family, which includes three dogs, and is an avid golfer and skier. 

Max Keeping
Vice-President (retired)
News & Public Affairs, CTV Ottawa

A native of Grand Bank, Newfoundland, and a working journalist for 51 years, Max Keeping is recently retired as vice-president of News at CTV Ottawa and anchor of its flagship 6 p.m. news program. As CTV's Ottawa News beacon in the community, Max made more than 200 personal appearances annually on behalf of charities, service groups, neighbourhoods and schools. He is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, and has received the Ontario Medal of Good Citizenship, a 2003 Gemini, United Way's 2004 Community Builder of the Year award and dozens of other awards. A new wing of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario is named in Max's honour. Max is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame and was awarded an honourary doctorate by the University of Ottawa. He has helped to raise more than $100 million for charities during his 36 years at CTV Ottawa. Among a host of charities, he is honorary chair of the Ottawa Senators Foundation, Children's Wish Foundation - Ottawa and Alterna Do It For Dad Prostate Cancer Walk/Run, founder of the Max Keeping Foundation and special ambassador for CHEO.

Erin Kelly
Executive Director, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce

Erin Kelly is executive director of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, the largest business-to-business networking and advocacy group in the city. Before this, she ran the Information and Communication (ICT) technology group for Bell Canada's small and medium business division, where she worked in the mergers and acquisitions group and was part of the team that launched high-speed Internet in Canada. Erin began her career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a journalist and new media producer, launching the country's first broadcast news streaming website, CBC Newsworld Online. Following its successful launch, she joined Newbridge Networks' affiliate Televitesse Systems, a high-tech company based in Kanata. Erin holds an MBA from the Université du Québec in Montréal and is a candidate for CMA designation for 2010. In 2009 she received Ottawa's Top 40 Under 40 Award.

Catherine Lane, Past Chair
Community Volunteer

Originally from Alberta, Catherine has lived across Canada. “I grew up with United Way,” she says. “It was part of my mother’s volunteer work, so it reall has been a part of my life." Catherine is a retired senior federal public servant who has worked in Western and Central Canada. She is a graduate of Queens' University, has been a volunteer with United Way for a number of years, and is the past chair of the Community Services Cabinet. Other volunteer activities include: docent (volunteer guide) at the National Gallery of Canada; member of the board of the Volunteer Circe of the National Gallery of Canada, and president of the Horseshoe and Crotch Lakes Property Owners' Association. Previous volunteer roles include program chair of the Canadian Friends of the Hermitage and an elected member of Queens' University Council.

Sean McKenny
President, Ottawa & District Labour Council

Alex Munter
Executive Director, Youth Services Bureau

Alex Munter has been executive director of the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) since 2007, which delivers services to youth aged 12 to 20. YSB offers a wide range of supports - from emergency shelters to mental health crisis support, from employment programs to custody facilities for those in conflict with the law, from drop-in centres to permanent housing, from school programs to individual/family counselling. Before joining YSB, Alex was a successful entrepreneur, city councillor, journalist and university instructor. His career as a business owner began when he was 14 years old, starting his own weekly newspaper the Kanata Kourier, turning it into one of Canada's most successful community newspapers. Alex was first elected as a city councillor at age 23 and was re-elected three times, serving from 1991 to 2003. After leaving municipal politics, Alex joined the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Social Sciences as a visiting professor of Urban Studies and Communications and was a local media commentator and columnist. He also led Canadians For Equal Marriage, a national coalition that successfully campaigned for marriage equality.

Jo-Anne Poirier
CEO, Ottawa Community Housing Corporation

Jo-Anne Poirier is the CEO of the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, and from 2003 to 2008 was vice-president of resource development and CEO of the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign at United Way Ottawa. From 2000 to 2003, she was first vice-president of business development for MBNA Canada Bank; from 1993 to 2000, deputy city manager of corporate services with the City of Gloucester; and prior to 1993, worked in the private sector and regional government.  Jo-Anne's community involvement includes special advisor with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Ottawa Chapter, and serving on the board of directors for the Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la capitale nationale. She has served as a senior volunteer on the United Way Ottawa Campaign Cabinet and is a member of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network's board of directors and on the board of directors of Crime Prevention Ottawa.

Meena Roberts
Management Consultant

Meena Roberts is an experienced management consultant in Ottaw,a specializing in strategic planning, policy analysis, delivery frameworks and evaluations for government clients.  She holds a Master's in Social Policy from Harvard University and a Master's in Education from the University of British Columbia. Meena started her career in Washington, DC, where she evaluated education and training programs funded by the U.S. government, in particular, Head Start programs for inner-city children, mentoring programs for at-risk youth and business-education partnerships. Meena also worked for the Harvard Institute for International Development on addressing barriers to education faced by women and children in less developed countries. She has been an active volunteer in the Ottawa community for the last 15 years, donating her time and skills to numerous committees that serve our community.

Danielle Robinson
President, Sens Foundation

Danielle Robinson began her employment with the Ottawa Senators Foundation as director of corporate and community relations in March 2006 and two years later was appointed to the role of president. Since with the Sens Foundation, she has created and executed strategic plans focused on corporate sponsorship, event fundraising, donor cultivation and public relations. Her career experience includes work with United Way Ottawa, Volunteer Canada and Sun Life Financial. Danielle's education includes study at York University, Boston College and Fanshawe College. She holds a post-graduate certificate in corporate community involvement and an honours BA in sociology and mass communications. She is a recipient of an EXCEL award and the Ottawa chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized her corporate community relations work with the Outstanding Philanthropic National Corporation Award. She balances a life of career and family, with a husband and a son, and never forgets the importance of philanthropy, humanism and the significance of community.

Bhagwant Sandhu
Director General, Strategic Program Initiatives
Transport Canada

Prior to his current job as a director general with the federal government, Bhagwant Sandhu worked for the provincial governments of British Columbia and Ontario in the areas of aboriginal issues, economic development and social policy. He has been active in community issues and volunteerism from a young age, as an advocate on issues such as homelessness and disabilities, to serving on the boards of several non-profit associations, including a long-standing involvement with United Way Ottawa.

Ryan Steeves
Law Student, University of Ottawa

Ryan is currently studying law at the University of Ottawa, where he has also served as an assistant coach with the Men's varsity hockey team for the past three seasons. Between 2000 and 2007, he received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and then played professional hockey within the Colorado Avalanche system. As a native of Ottawa, Ryan has enjoyed volunteering his time supporting local charity organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa, Operation Go Home, Boys and Girls Club, and Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa. Ryan volunteers at United Way because he enjoys being surrounded by others dedicated to making Ottawa a better city. Ryan believes that "you always get more out of volunteering than you give" — and hopes that his involvement will inspire others in the same way.

Arnie Vered
President, Arnon Corporation

Upon graduating from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Arnie Vered joined the Vered family businesses, where he is president of Arnon Corporation, a full service real estate development company, and president of Ron Engineering and Construction (Eastern) Ltd., a construction manager/general contractor company. Arnie has been involved in the commercial, industrial, residential and retail real estate industry, general contracting, construction management and property management for more than 30 years. Arnie has served as chairman of CHEO's Promise Capital Campaign, a $19 million fundraising campaign, and has served on CHEO's board as a member and treasurer. He sat on the Ashbury College board of governors and currently sits on its property and building committee; is a member of the Carleton University board of governors and building program committee, as well as the Telus Ottawa Community Board; and has held senior positions in the Ottawa Jewish community. These include chair of the UJA Campaign, and president of Hillel Academy, Jewish Federation of Ottawa and the Ottawa Jewish Community Property Management Board. He currently chairs the Soloway Jewish Community Centre. 

George Weber
President & CEO, The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group

Jeff Westeinde
Chief Executive Officer, Quantum Murray LP

Jeff Westeinde is the CEO of Quantum Murray LP, Canada's largest environmental decommissioning contractor. He co-founded the Quantum Environmental Group, a national full-service environmental remediation and hazardous waste materials management company, in 1992 and championed a merger with Murray Demolition, Canada's largest demolition contractor in 2007 to form Quantum Murray LP. Quantum Murray has been recognized as one of Canada's fastest-growing companies and one of the top 50 employers in Canada. Jeff has been distinguished as entrepreneur of the year by Ernst and Young, named one of Canada's Top 40 under 40 by the Globe and Mail, won the Young Alumni Award from the University of Western Ontario, and is active on numerous charitable, civic and industry initiatives.