Reach Canada Board of Directors
Honourary Chairperson:
The Honourable John D. Richard, Former Chief Justice, Federal Court of Appeal (ret'd)
The Honourable John D. Richard was born in Ottawa on July 30, 1934. He married Lillian Chartrand of Montreal on April 16, 1966. He graduated from the University of Ottawa, B.A. (Political Science) with Honours in 1955. He then attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and graduated with Honours and awarded the Gold Medal and the Chancellor Van Koughnet Scholarship. He was awarded a Rotary Foundation Fellowship and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1959. He graduated with honours from Louvain University in Belgium with a Licentiate in Political and Social Sciences in 1960.
He practiced law in Ottawa with Gowling & Henderson from 1960 to 1988 and with Lang Michener from July 1988 to August 1994. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1976.
He was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, and ex officio Member of the Federal Court of Canada, Appeal Division, on August 30, 1994. He was also appointed a Judge of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada on January 11, 1995.
He was later appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada on June 23, 1998. Then on November 4, 1999, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada. With a change in the law in 2003, he became the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal.
He had been involved in many charitable and philanthropic organizations over the years prior to his appointment to the judiciary. He retired on July 30, 2009 by reason of the mandatory age requirement. He was appointed Honourary Chairperson of Reach Canada on September 29, 2009.
Président honoraire:
L'honorable John D. Richard, Juge en chef de la Cour d'appel fédérale (à la retraite)
L'honorable John D. Richard est né à Ottawa le 30 juillet 1934. Il a épousé Lillian Chartrand, d'origine Montréalaise, le 16 avril 1966. En 1955, il obtient, avec mention, un diplôme en Sciences Politiques de l'Université d'Ottawa. Il entreprend alors des études en droit à Osgoode Hall a Toronto et gradue en 1959, avec mention, tout en se voyant décerné, à la fois, la médaille d'or et la bourse du Chancelier Van Koughnet. En 1959, il est aduis Haut Canada, et se voit octroyer une bourse de la Foundation Rotary. Un an plus tard, il obtient une licence en Sciences politiques et sociales de l'Université de Louvain en Belgique.
De retour au Canada, il pratique le droit avec la firme Gowling & Henderson entre 1960 et 1988 et en suite en avec la firme Lang Michener. Il est nommé Conseiller de la Reine en 1976.
Le 30 août 1994, il est nommé juge de la Cour Fédérale du Canada, division de première instance, et membre de plein droit de la division d'appel. Le 11 janvier 1995, il est aussi nommé juge de la Cour d'Appel Martiale du Canada.
Le 23 juin 1998 il est nommé Juge en chef associé de la Cour Fédérale du Canada, pour ensuite, moins d'un an et demi plus tard, se faire nommer Juge en chef de ce même tribunal. À la suite de révisions à la loi sur les Cours fédérales en 2003, il devient juge en chef de la Cour d'appel fédérale. On peut apercevoir la contribution et l'engagement de l'honorable John Richard dans maintes organisations communautaires et philanthropiques à travers les années qui ont précédées sa nomination de juge a carrière judiciaire s'est terminée le 30 juillet 2009, en raison on de l'âge obligatoire de la retraite. Le parcours de l'honorable John Richard se maintient aujourd'hui par sa nomination à la présidence honorique de Reach Canada et ce depuis le 29 septembre 2009.
President:
Chantelle Bowers
Chantelle Bowers has held various positions on the Reach Canada Board of Directors in the past 12 years, such as Vice-President and Education Chairperson. She is a lawyer with the federal government, and occupies the position of Executive Legal Counsel for the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal. She has a background in international law and believes strongly in the importance of human rights, in particular for persons with disabilities. She is married and has three children.
Vice-President:
Renette Sasouni
Renette Sasouni has been involved with Reach Canada for the past 13 years in a variety of roles including past vice chair, co-chair of the Reach 25th and the 30th Anniversary Galas. She is currently the co-chair of the Reach Lawyers Comedy Night. Her 13 year tenure as a senior executive with various global organizations brings a strong business acumen to the Reach organization.
Honourary Counsel:
Domenic Crolla
Domenic Crolla is Firm Managing Partner, Internal, based in Gowlings' Ottawa office. His practice emphasizes professional and product liability, health law, and information technology matters. He counsels clients in a litigious and non-litigious setting. Additionally, he has an active interest in the application of information technology to professional practice, particularly in relation to the practice of law and medicine.
He is listed as a leading practitioner by Lexpert and listed in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory. Called to the Ontario Bar in 1987, he is an advocate before all levels of courts and administrative tribunals. He has appeared in a number of complex matters in both a trial and appellate capacity.
Mr. Crolla is a frequent author and lecturer. He is the Editor of Telehealth Law (LexisNexis Butterworths), was Regional Director of Osgoode Hall Law School's LL.M in E-Business and teaches in Osgoode's LL.M in Health Law programme. He participated in the drafting of a proposed convention on Telehealth as part of the work of the Sub Committee of Law and Medicine, General Practice Section, International Bar Association (1998 - 1999). He is a member of a number of professional societies, including the International Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, Advocates Society and the County of Carleton Law Association where he has served as Trustee, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and President. He is the past Chair of the Medicine and the Law Committee of the Division of Legal Practice, International Bar Association and a past Director of the Advocates' Society and Bar-Ex Communications.
Treasurer:
Greg MacLeod B.Acc., C.A.
Greg MacLeod is a Chartered Accountant in public practice in Ottawa. He has a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Brock University and received his Chartered Accountant designation in 1999. His experience includes providing assurance and compliance engagements, corporate and personal tax preparation and planning and business advisory services to a diverse client base including numerous not-for-profit entities and charities.
Honourary Officers:
Ernest Tannis
Ernest Tannis practiced for ten years with the law firm Karam, Tannis, Greenspon. He later worked with the law offices of Blaney, Stappels & McMurtry before acting as the Executive Director for the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (CICR). He then worked as a Mediator with the ADR Centre before joining Barrick Poulsen LLP in 2004.
Ernest is co-founder of Reach Canada and has been Honourary Counsel for dozens of charitable and non-governmental organizations. His areas of practice as a solicitor include: Family Law, Business Law, Corporate Law, Charities Law and Civil Litigation.
He also offers his services to the public as a Mediator. He has vast experience with all types of mediations, arbitrations and various other kinds of alternative dispute resolutions. He is the author of "Alternative Dispute Resolution That Works", published by Captus Press in 1989. He is on the approved list of Court-Connected Mediators in the City of Ottawa. He received the designation of Chartered Mediator (C. Med.) from the ADR Institute of Canada in 1996.
Rod Carpenter
Lawrence Greenspon
Lawrence Greenspon is a human rights lawyer with the law firm Greenspon, Brown in Ottawa. He is a graduate of Ottawa University Law School and a member of its Honour Society. He is a certified specialist in criminal and civil litigation. He is the Past President of the Defence Counsel of Ottawa, past Chair of Reach Canada, The Snowsuit Fund, The Multicultural Centre of Ottawa and Child & Youth Friendly Ottawa. He is the current Chair of the United Way Community Services Cabinet and the National Chair of the Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation. He also continues to work with many charitable organizations including the Snowsuit Fund, Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa, Motorcycle Ride for Dad, CAYFO, Caribbean Promise (community youth centers) ACCESO (projects in Latin America), Human Development Foundation (Thailand), and Bempong (schools in Africa). He is a CAYFO Champion and has received the Golden Apple Award from the Ottawa Food Bank. In 2008 he received the Community Builder of the Year Award.
Michael Sousa
Michael Sousa has been involved with Reach Canada for the past ten years in a variety of roles including the Run for Reach Committee, Education Chair, President and Vice-President. He received his B.A. Honour degree from Queens University and his law degree from the University of Windsor. He has had a keen interest in disability issues since law school and has been active in the community in this area via Reach Canada and in the workplace as former Chair of the Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities at the Department of Justice Canada.
Board of Directors:
John Beedell
John was born in Wellington, New Zealand. He moved to England and British Guiana in South America before moving to Canada. Attended Queen's University in Kingston and studied engineering until he decided he didn't want to become an engineer. He then moved to Sudbury and worked for Inco and that is where he got into canoe racing. With canoe racing he went on to the 1958 World Championships in Prague and competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. In 1961 he decided to finish his education at Carleton University in Ottawa and he became a teacher. He taught at Ashbury College until 1988 until he had a building accident. He has volunteered with Reach Canada, The Canadian Ski Marathon and Ashbury College library.
David Hollingsworth
David Hollingsworth is a personal injury lawyer practising in Ottawa since 1999. He is a proud member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers' Association, the Advocate's Society, the County of Carleton Law Association, and the Law Society of Upper Canada. He has been a volunteer lawyer with Reach Canada for over 10 years and has been on the Education Committee for 2 years. He was honoured to recently be made a member of the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Education Committee.
Frank McNally
Frank E. McNally is a litigation lawyer with the firm Forbes Singer Smith Shouldice specializing in personal injury law. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 2004 after receiving his LL.B. from University of Ottawa. He has appeared before various levels of courts and tribunals including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, Financial Service Commission of Ontario and Canadian Pension Plan Review Tribunal. In addition to Reach, he is also an enthusiastic volunteer for other community organizations, the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (National Capital Region) where he serves as President.
John Power
As District Vice President of TD Canada Trust, John's primary responsibility is the leadership and development of business in the south end of Ottawa, Prescott, Brockville, Smiths Falls and Perth markets through 18 store front locations. Each offers a broad array of financial services and products to TD Canada Trust customer's promoting a comfortable and positive banking experience. Over a 30 year career with TD, he has held senior positions in a variety of areas including retail delivery, Retail Sales & Service, Financial Planning and retail integration. He is alumni to York University - Toronto in 1977 and also holds a Certified Financial Planner and Personal Financial Planning designations as well as Canadian Bankers Association. He is active in the Ottawa community in fundraising for CHEO, United Way and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as well as a past member of the Easter Seals Ontario. He is married to his wife Cathy and they have a son and a daughter.
Stacey Santaguida
Stacey Nininger Santaguida was appointed to the Reach Board of Directors in June 2009. She has been involved with Reach for many years providing meals and sponsorships for the Run for Reach and donating the gourmet meal from Vittoria Trattoria for the Reach Auction Gala. She is pleased to assist in fundraising for such a great organization and was very successful in doing so for Big Sister Pasta Persuasion annual gala as their Chair of Fundraising for three years. Her goal is to help raise awareness and the monies necessary to assist persons with disabilities. She is married and has three children.
Dr. Ron Seatter
Dr. Seatter is a psychologist with a long-term interest in serving people with disabilities. In particular, he specializes in "invisible injuries"; helping individuals cope with chronic illness, pain, return-to-work, trauma, brain injuries, depression, and anxiety. He conducts independent medical/legal assessments, treatment planning, and educational seminars for private individuals, companies, and community groups including: WSIB, Motor Vehicle Insurance Companies, Law Firms, Vocational Rehabilitation Firms, Government Agencies, Long-term Disability Insurance Companies, and Police Services.
David Smith C.M.
In 2009, David Smith was presented with the Order of Ontario in recognition for his philanthropic work and commitment to his community. In 1995 he received the Order of Canada. He has been an active member of Reach Canada's Board of Directors since 1996 and his enthusiasm and dedication to improving the lives of others has been a tremendous asset to the organization. In Ottawa, alone, his commitment to the various causes and fundraising have resulted in the establishment of the David Smith Youth Centre, dedicated to the treatment rehabilitation of young people between the ages of 13 and 18 struggling with drug and alcohol dependence. He also is responsible for the creation of the successful Ottawa Technical Learning Centre, and its "Learn To Earn" training program. Over 900 students are enrolled in this innovative program, taking courses not offered in regular programs elsewhere in the city. He also founded or co-founded many charitable organizations in that have the mandate of making a positive impact on people and their communities both here in Canada and abroad.
Debra Szirtes
Debra is vice president of West-Way Taxi and Founder and President of Priority Patient Transfer Service. She was recognized by The Greater Nepean Chamber of Commerce as both Businesswoman of the Year in 1998 and for Innovation in 2OO5. As a director of Reach Canada, she is able to engage in her passion for increasing access and improving services for the disabled. She is also an active member for the Reach Auction Committee.
Executive Director:
Paula Agulnik
Paula has recently celebrated her 25th anniversary as the Executive Director of Reach Canada. She has brought her background in social services to Reach along with a lifetime commitment to a variety of voluntary organizations throughout her past forty years in Ottawa and prior to that in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she was born and raised. She is a Trustee on the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Public Library. As well, she is a member of the TOV (Tikkun Olam Volunteers) committee for social justice at her synagogue, Agudath Israel Congregation and on the Shalom Bayit Committee ~anti-violence against women in the community. She was nominated for the Women of Distinction Award at the YMCA-YWCA and was an Ambassador during their tenth anniversary celebrations. She is a graduate of the Leadership Ottawa and represents Reach Canada on community committees including Crime Prevention Ottawa.
