Chair
Eric Tripp
Eric Tripp is the retired President of BMO Capital Markets, following a career that began when he joined Burns Fry Limited in 1983. He is an Advisory Board Member of Connor Clark and Lunn Financial Group (CCL) and the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO). He is also a former director of the TMX Group. Eric was the Founder and Executive Sponsor of the BMO Capital Markets Diversity Council and he remains engaged in diversity issues through the Advisory Board of Women in Capital Markets. He and his family are active philanthropists and he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his community engagement. Eric is the former Chair of the Michael Garron Hospital. He joined the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation Board in 2016 and was appointed Chair in 2017.
Treasurer
Pauline Alimchandani
Pauline Alimchandani is Chief Financial Officer of Northland Power Inc., a publicly traded global renewable energy company. She has 15 years of professional experience, including her previous role as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dream Unlimited Corp (TSX: DRM). Earlier positions include: Vice President, Corporate Strategy at Dream and Vice President, Equity Research at BMO Capital Markets. Prior to these positions, Pauline worked in the Audit and Assurance and Consulting & Deals practices at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Pauline is a Chartered Accountant as well as a CFA Charterholder. She serves on the board of Dream Impact Trust (TSX: MPCT). She joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2016 and serves as Treasurer.
Secretary
George Tory
George Tory is an Associate at Gardiner Roberts LLP. He earned his J.D. from Western University and a BA from Dalhousie University. In addition to practising law, George is involved with several community organizations in Toronto. He serves on the Toronto Crime Stoppers Board of Directors and was previously on the Board of the Empire Club of Canada. He joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2015.
LeeAnn Acton
LeeAnn Acton is a senior communications, marketing and events professional with over 25 years of experience in financial services and management consulting. She is the Director of Communications for Alterna Savings and Credit Union and is part of the senior leadership team. Prior to joining Alterna, she was with KPMG where she was GTA Head of Communications, Community Impact, Inclusion and Diversity. Past corporate roles have included senior positions at the Ontario Securities Commission, Scotia McLeod, HSBC Securities and BMO Nesbitt Burns. A passionate community leader, and activist for cancer research, LeeAnn has been part of the Ride to Conquer Cancer Team, and volunteered with the Terry Fox Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society. As a three-time cancer survivor thanks to the care he received at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) for his 80th birthday, LeeAnn's Dad, Robert Acton asked guests in lieu of gifts to donate to MGH Oncology Department where they raised over $10,000 to care for patients being treated at our hospital. LeeAnn has also served as Chair of the Women in Capital Markets Annual Gala, and is past member of the WCM Steering Committee. A life-long Beacher, LeeAnn is a former Chairman of Community Centre 55 and past Vice-President of the Toronto Beaches Lions Club. LeeAnn joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2016 and is proud member of the foundation’s Joseph H. Harris Legacy Circle.
Wahid Amarshi
Wahid Amarshi is the Executive Vice President of Business Development for Victoria Village Group (VVG), which owns and operates private schools and childcare centres throughout Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. As a VVG Board member, Wahid is responsible for the company's growth through a diversified educational portfolio with areas of focus on real estate, business acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. With ‘Engaged Philanthropy’ at the core of the company’s Guiding Principles, Wahid is an advocate for social responsibility and integrity. He feels fortunate to have had opportunities to volunteer at both the local and global levels, where his leadership and passion were used to guide positive change. In addition to his commitments to the MGHF, he was honoured to have been part of establishing a self-sustaining Early Childhood Training Program along with the Early Child Development Centre for SOS Children’s Villages, Uganda. Wahid and his wife Sarah have two young children, Amelia and Zakai. He joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2017.
Caroline Bell-Ritchie
Caroline Bell-Ritchie is the Vice Chairman, Global Family Office Group for Global Wealth Management at Scotiabank. Previously, she was Vice President and Managing Director for Global Private Banking Relationship Management and International Trust at Jarislowsky Fraser (JFL). She has over 21 years of industry experience, including at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. She earned a BA from Princeton University and an MBA from the Columbia Business School. A believer in supporting her community, Caroline is the Co-Founder and Chairperson Emeritus of Project Sunshine Canada, a non-profit organization that provides free educational, recreational and social programs to children and families living with medical challenges. She sits on the Canadian Advisory Committee for 100 Women in Finance. Caroline joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2020.
Scott Bere
Scott Bere is the former Managing Director and Global Head of Rates Trading and Market Finance at CIBC Capital Markets. He joined CIBC in 2009 and served as CIBC’s Chief Investment Officer until 2016. Previously, Scott was Managing Director and Head of Risk Treasury for Citibank New York and Country Treasurer for Citibank Canada. Before that, he held Macro Trading/Derivatives Trading and Treasury Management positions for international banks in Toronto, New York, London, Prague and Warsaw. He earned an HBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Scott is a member of CIBC’s Global Leadership Team and Global Markets Management Committee. He joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2019.
Quentin Broad
Quentin Broad is Managing Director of Capitalize For Kids, a community of financial services professionals that has raised over $8 million for kids' mental health programs. Previously, he worked at CIBC World Markets, National Bank Financial, Deutsche Bank Canada and Scotiabank. Quentin chaired CIBC’s Major Individual Giving and Capital Markets campaigns for United Way. He served on United Way Greater Toronto’s Major Individual Giving Campaign Cabinet from 2015 to 2018. He earned a BA in Social Science and an MBA from McMaster University, and is an Honorary Governor at McMaster University after serving as Governor from 2006-2018. Quentin joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2017.
Dave Casimiro
Dave Casimiro is the Managing Director, Canada at NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT. He has nearly 20 years of commercial real estate experience, with past 14 dedicated to healthcare real estate in Canada. Previously, Dave was a Sales Representative at the Cushman & Wakefield brokerage firm in Toronto. He earned an Honours BA in Geography from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from the joint program of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Schulich School of Business at York University. He is an active member of BOMA, NAIOP and ULI real estate associations. He joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2015 and also serves on the hospital’s Redevelopment Committee.
Adrianna Czornyj
Adrianna Czornyj is a Partner at Persistence Capital with over 15 years of experience in M&A, audit, consulting, valuation and private equity. Previously, she was a Partner in Deloitte’s M&A transaction services practice. Adrianna is a Director for RX Drug Mart, Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health, FunctionAbility, LMC Diabetes & Endocrinology, MedSpa Partners and Summit Veterinary Pharmacy. Adrianna began her career in audit at BDO Dunwoody LLP, and holds a HBBA in Business Administration & Accounting from Wilfrid Laurier University. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Chartered Business Valuator. She is the Co-Chair of Crohn’s & Colitis Canada and a Director at the Association for Corporate Growth. Adrianna is the past Chair of the Canadian Women in Private Equity and continues to serve on the executive committee. She joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2016 and is past Chair of the Foundation’s Finance & Audit Committee.
Dr. Linda Dvali
President, Medical Staff Association
Dr. Dvali is the President of the Medical Staff Association. She is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto and has completed a 10-year term as the Head of the Division of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Dvali has served as an Ex Officio member of the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation since 2022.
Stephen Giamos
Stephen Giamos has been the owner of GTS Services since 2007. The company's licensed specialists and technicians clean, repair and replace HVAC units to improve air quality in condo buildings across the Greater Toronto Area. Stephen’s family has been supporting Michael Garron Hospital since 1989 and his mother, Connie Stavro-Giamos, is a former Foundation Board member. The Stavro Emergency Department at Michael Garron Hospital is named in honour of the Steve and Sally Stavro Foundation’s generosity. Stephen joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2017.
Betty Hicks
Co-Chair, Volunteer Experience Council, Michael Garron Hospital
Betty Hicks grew up in East York and skated competitively with the East York Figure Skating Club. During her career with the East York Board of Education and Toronto District School Board, she was an elementary classroom teacher, physical/health education teacher, guidance counselor, school administrator and President of the East York Women Teachers’ Association. At retirement, Betty was made an Honorary member of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. She served four years as President of Volunteer Services, Michael Garron Hospital and is currently Co-Chair, Volunteer Experience Council, Michael Garron Hospital. She founded the Topham Park Women’s Softball League in 1986 and is Past President of Leaside Curling Club Day Women’s Leagues. She has volunteered with the Invictus Games, as an official timer for the Grand Slam of Curling and also for the Major League Baseball All Star game when Toronto was the host. She has served as an Ex Officio member of the Michael Garron Foundation Board since 2019.
Wolf Klassen
Interim President & CEO, Michael Garron Hospital
Wolf Klassen has been with Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) since 1995 and is the longest serving member of the hospital’s Executive Leadership Team. During his time at MGH, Wolf has worn many hats, from overseeing the hospital’s respiratory care program, surgery and mental health services to supporting strategic initiatives and serving as Executive Lead of MGH and East Toronto Health Partners’ (ETHP) COVID-19 vaccination program, which involved more than 350 staff and successfully delivered over 600,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to East Toronto residents.
In August 2022, Wolf was appointed President and CEO, Interim at MGH. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing a $500-million redevelopment project, including ensuring the safe and efficient transition of staff and patients to the hospital’s new Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre. As President and CEO, Interim, Wolf also plays a leading role in the development of MGH’s 2022-25 Strategic Plan and is an executive member of ETHP, one of the province’s first Ontario Health Teams (OHT).
Wolf has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Master of Health Science in Health Administration from the University of Toronto. He is a certified health executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders and has completed the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management executive program in understanding the new world of healthcare. Wolf is also an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.
Dr. Sheila LaredoDr. Sheila Laredo is Chief of Staff at Michael Garron Hospital. She received her MD from the University of Toronto in 1991, and specialized in endocrinology and metabolism. She holds a PhD in clinical epidemiology. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Her clinical interest is in women's reproductive health and the role of insulin resistance and obesity on reproductive health outcomes. She is an enthusiastic teacher, has mentored many trainees, physicians and leaders, and has been the recipient of several research and teaching awards. She has used her background to advocate for effective evidence-based interventions for children and adults with developmental disabilities on a provincial and national level. She advocates and participates in the creation of public policy that provides appropriate evidence-based services and support. She is teaching medical trainees about public health policy advocacy and has supervised social justice initiatives annually with these students. She created and chaired a multi-hospital committee that developed a domestic violence training manual that has been used province-wide in Ontario. At Women’s College Hospital, as a clinical lead, she implemented Lean process change initiatives that improved clinical documentation, improved effectiveness and reduced wait times. She was Chief of Staff from 2013-2019, focusing on physician engagement and improvement, and quality initiatives that improve patient safety and care. She was responsible for a refresh of the hospital medical By-Laws. She worked for two years at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario, leading the Medical Advisory and Quality Management teams. In this role she successfully designed and implemented a province-wide hospital quality improvement partnership program, which is now being used at Michael Garron Hospital to support physician wellness. Using a strengths-based and collaborative approach, Dr. Laredo has undertaken change management in several of her roles, including co-leading leadership teams to improve cross-departmental collaboration, enabling her teams at CPSO, and as Chair of the Board at Kids Brain Health Network, a national Network of Centres of Excellence, promoting a focus on evidence-based impact. Dr. Laredo joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2022.
Lovisa McCallum
Chair, Michael Garron Hospital Board
Lovisa McCallum is a Managing Director at BMO Capital Markets. She runs the Balance Sheet Solutions Group overseeing capital and liquidity management in Global Markets. Previous experience includes Corporate Treasury and Structured Product Trading. Over 30 years, Lovisa has specialized in building and managing new initiatives and financial products with complex risk and technology requirements.
Lovisa has served on the Michael Garron Hospital board since 2016. She is current board chair and past chair of the finance committee. Additional not-for-profit board experience dedicated to the Canadian Health sector includes serving on the board of Sherbourne Health Center and Cystic Fibrosis Canada. As a passionate public speaker, advocate and media spokesperson, Lovisa was awarded a National Leadership award by Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Urban Hero in Toronto, Diversity Champion by Woman of Influence and the Woman in Capital Markets Leadership Award. Lovisa has a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University, holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Lovisa has served as an Ex Officio member of the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation since 2022.
Michael McGhee
Michael McGhee has worked for TD Bank for more than 30 years and has been the Senior Vice President & Division Head of TD Auto Finance Canada since 2013. As a strong advocate for diversity and community initiatives. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto and is a certified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Michael is passionate about giving back to the communities in which he lives. He joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2014.
Sean McKinnon
Sean McKinnon is the Head of Business Development for Novacap, a leading Canadian Private Equity firm. Prior to joining Novacap, he was a Vice President and Co-Head of the M&A Practice at BFL Canada. Sean also worked as lawyer in the Business Law Group at a global law firm, where his practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and securities law. He then transitioned to the insurance industry where he worked for a large global insurer. Sean earned a BA (Hons) from Queen’s University, his LL.L and J.D. from the University of Ottawa Law School. He was called to the bar in Ontario and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. Sean is very active in the Canadian Private Equity and M&A community and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board for the Association for Corporate Growth (Toronto) and as member of the CVCA Awards Committee. He joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2022.
Mitze Mourinho
President, Michael Garron Hospital Foundation
Mitze Mourinho, FAHP, is President of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation. An accomplished fundraising executive with close to 25 years of healthcare fundraising experience, Mitze is a strategic leader with a strong record of success in building long-term relationships with donors and volunteers. Mitze is passionate about healthcare fundraising. In 2013, she earned the designation of Fellow from the Association of Healthcare Professionals, which recognizes dedication, continual advancement and demonstrated commitment to ethical standards of professional practice in healthcare resource development. At the time, Mitze was one of only 20 Canadians to hold this professional designation. She has served as an Ex Officio member of the Michael Garron Foundation Board since 2015.
Susan Rimmer
Susan Rimmer is CIBC’s Managing Director & Head, Global Corporate Banking. Previously, she was Managing Director & Global Head of CIBC’s Debt Capital Markets business. She joined CIBC following a 15-year career in global capital markets and investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Susan serves as a member of the CIBC Capital Markets Executive Committee. She earned an Honors BA from Queen’s University and an MBA from INSEAD (Fontainebleau, France). In 2018, she was recognized as one of Canada’s top 100 Women by WXN. Susan chairs the Greenwood College School Foundation board and served as Co-Chair of the annual CIBC United Way Campaign 2017-2019. She joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2020.
Jacqueline Ryan
Jacquie Ryan is Chief Executive Officer at the Canadian Olympic Foundation. She joined the Canadian Olympic Committee in 2019 after seven years at Scotiabank and 12 years prior to that at RBC. An avid athlete, Jacquie was recognized by Hockey News in 2019 as the top woman (#57) on the Top 100 People of Power and Influence in Hockey. She was also named one of the Most Influential Women in Hockey by the Toronto Star in 2018, one of the top 25 Most Influential People in Canadian Sport by Yahoo! Sports in 2015 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Paralympic Committee. She is also a CSIA Level III Ski Instructor and CFSA Level I Coach. Jacquie earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Sport Marketing from George Brown College and a BA from the University of Western Ontario. She joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2015.
Dr. Rajiv Singal
Dr. Rajiv Singal received his medical degree in 1990 from the University of Toronto. He did his postgraduate surgical training in Toronto, obtaining his board certification in Urology with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1995. A fellowship from Western University in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Shock Wave Lithotripsy and Kidney Stone disease was completed in 1996. He joined the surgical staff at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) in 1996 and currently serves as the Surgeon-in-Chief and Co-Medical Director of Surgery Services. He has been instrumental in stewarding a number of significant donations to MGH. He was Head of the Division of Urology from July 2001 until October 2012 and founded the Surgical Robotics Program (jointly run by MGH and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre) in 2012 which he continues to lead. Dr. Singal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. He supervises the Clinical Endourology Fellowship program at MGH under the umbrella of the University of Toronto and also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees. He works on Cancer Care Ontario initiatives related to prostate cancer care. Clinical areas of interest include the surgical management of kidney stones, kidney, bladder and prostate cancer as well robotic surgery and prostate disease. Since 2016, Dr. Singal has worked overseas in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica and China to explore opportunities to build urologic and surgical capacity in the developing world. He is the Urology lead for the Global Surgery initiative at the University of Toronto. He has previously served on the board of Dignitas International, and joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2013.
Niranjan Vivekanandan
Niranjan Vivekanandan is currently Senior Vice President, Loyalty & Merchant Solutions within Personal & Commercial Banking at RBC Royal Bank. In this role, he leads Canada’s largest proprietary loyalty program focused on rewarding consumer and business clients’ engagement and loyalty through offers, experiential rewards and linked loyalty partnerships enabled through digital currency. Prior to this appointment, as VP, Term Investments & Savings, he led the overall P&L for the retail term investments and savings business in Canada. This included setting the strategic direction, product development, distribution strategy and pricing and yield management. Niranjan was also Head of RBC Healthcare, the integrated healthcare business for RBC providing holistic banking and beyond banking solutions for the healthcare sector. He has held numerous executive and senior leadership roles at RBC over 25 years with experience in product, strategy and distribution including, roles as Vice President, Strategy Commercial Banking, Vice President, Sales Strategy & Effectiveness for Canada and Regional Vice President within retail banking in Toronto. Niranjan was previously Vice Chair of the MS Society of Canada (Ontario) Board. He is also currently a Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and a Director of Ontario Global 100. He joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2012.
Courtney Wilson
Courtney Wilson is a Partner at Stikeman Elliott and is a member of the firm's Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, Mining and Securities Groups. She earned her J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School and a B.Comm degree from the University of Toronto. She joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2019.
Dr. Catherine Yu
Dr. Catherine Yu is a family physician and Medical Director of Health Access Thorncliffe Park (HATP), and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. An emergency physician for more than 10 years, she now advocates passionately for her family practice patients. She received the 2019 Ontario College of Family Physicians Award of Excellence for her leadership in supporting vulnerable populations. Dr. Yu is Chair of the Board of Directors for the East Toronto Family Practice Network, a network of family physicians with a mission to create equitable access to inter-professional care for all family practices. She joined the Board of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in 2021.