At BBBST, we are grateful to be served by an outstanding and diverse Board of Directors, who are engaged and committed to helping young people across Toronto reach their full potential.
FOUNDER, MH3 COLLECTIVE
PRESIDENT, ROY FOSS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
VP, Operational Excellence Leadership Program – Transformation, Enablement and Customer Experience, TD Bank Group
EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED (RETIRED)
CHIEF STRATEGY & OPERATING OFFICER
VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS INSURANCE, NFP
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
MAPLE LEAF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PRINCIPAL TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY, LANTERN
BANKING EXECUTIVE
PAST CHAIR OF INTERNATIONAL BOARD AND MEMBERS ASSEMBLY, PLAN INTERNATIONAL INC.
Chief Commercial Officer at PLATFORM Insurance Management Inc.
Head of Asset Strategy, First Capital
PARTNER, MINTZ
PARTNER - STRATEGIES & TRANSACTIONS, EY
SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF GLOBAL FUNDS, EQUITIES
TPS SUPERINTENDENT – DISTRICT COMMANDER 11/12 DIVISION
Mark is a big believer in purpose, be that brand purpose or people being purposeful in everything that they do. Over 25 years ago, these fervent beliefs had Mark a creating consumer-experience marketing firm, The T1 Agency; a global marketing community, SponsorshipX; and, most recently, a remote learning, experience-based elementary school, Park Street.
Today, Mark advises a number of small businesses, including wonderMakr, Humanity Agency, and Crankworx. Mark has made it his mission to help build a future where entrepreneurs feel empowered to make positive change in the world.
Mark’s desire for positive change has also led him to create the Black Talent Initiative, a grassroots movement to increase opportunities for young Black Canadians in marketing and business. He is also passionate about his numerous volunteer roles with Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto, CAMH Foundation, International Institute for Sport Business & Leadership at the University of Guelph, the Toronto Jets Minor Football Association, and Ontario University Athletics BBRI Task Force on Racial Issues.
James is an entrepreneur, investor, and mobility futurist. He is the President of the Roy Foss Automotive Group and the Founder/CEO of Landline. James has spent most of his business life in the realm of cars and electric bikes. These days, he devotes much of his attention to the future of sustainable, personal mobility and how tech is transforming the ways people get around.
James started his first company at the age of 16. He’s been steeped in the business world ever since, having now accumulated over 20+ years of management experience. James balances long-term, mission-driven strategic thinking with a roll-up-the-sleeves, get-it-done ethos. His areas of expertise include direct-to-consumer eCommerce, digital/social marketing, change management, and high-performance teambuilding.
Aside from his business pursuits, James is also deeply passionate about youth mentorship and mental health. These passions guided him to the George Brown College Foundation, where he founded the Young Leaders Council. The board launched the annual Food Court Social gala and fundraised for educational programs and job-placement services supporting students with a history of addiction and mental illness. James currently serves as a member-at-large on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto.
James has an Honours Bachelor of Political Science from McGill University and a Master of Science in New Media Management from the London School of Economics.
Ricardo Stanford is currently, VP, Operational Excellence at TD Bank Group where he leads Operational Excellence with a focus on solidifying Operations as a competitive advantage for TD through focus on business growth, enabling cost savings, improving customer support and thoughtful implementation of controls, and managing risk.
Over the course of his career, Ricardo has been a connector and innovator who brings together business and operational strategies and ensures that all functions are aligned with and enable the re-imagination of the business. He builds deep and meaningful relationships across the firm and industry and has a proven track record of leading both strategic and operational teams. He has been recognized for developing dynamic teams and building transformational capabilities across both functions and lines of business. He has deep expertise in fostering and maintaining external partnerships to augment organizational capabilities and exceed business objectives. He is known for leading and accelerating efforts to increase diversity of talent and building inclusive cultures that encourage new approaches, diverse perspectives, and different thinking.
Outside of work, Ricardo is actively involved in the community and supports local and global charities such as Habitat for Humanity’s International Global Village Program and being a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto. He is a member of The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto Board of Directors, as well as a National Advisory Board member for the Salvation Army of Canada and Bermuda.
In his personal time, he has a deep passion for physical fitness and leads an active lifestyle, whether that be in the gym, on a bike or running; he enjoys watching European Football; and traveling the world.
Ricardo holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University and a Master’s of Business Administration from Athabasca University School of Business.
Dean McCann was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Canadian Tire Corporation in March 2012.
Prior to his current position, Dean was a member of senior management at Canadian Tire Financial Services (CTFS) and Canadian Tire Bank for twelve years, serving as President of CTFS and CEO of Canadian Tire Bank for three years. Dean has extensive experience in finance, achieving strong results during periods of global economic uncertainty.
Dean joined Canadian Tire Corporation in 1996 and has held a number of progressively senior roles, including Corporate Controller, Canadian Tire Corporation. During his 20-year career with the Company, Dean has led a number of projects including leading the establishment of Canadian Tire Bank and driving the success of Canadian Tire MasterCard with over five million accounts issued.
His accomplishments include the establishment of a shareholder value creation program for Canadian Tire, an enhanced dividend policy, share repurchase program and the establishment of CT REIT. Under Dean’s leadership, Financial Services became an integral component of the Canadian Tire strategy. As head of the Financial Services business, Dean created new opportunities for the growth of the credit card business and developed new programs to support the core retail business, such as in-store financing and home services.
Dean is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of the McMaster Chartered Director program. An active member of the Niagara community, he has held senior positions with the Boards of Niagara College (Vice Chair), YMCA Niagara (Chair of the Audit Committee), and the Ridley College Audit Committee. In 2015, Dean was named Canada’s CFO of the Year™ by Financial Executives International Canada, PwC and Robert Half. The award is presented annually and recognizes the quality, insight, direction and leadership of Canada’s senior financial executives. In 2016, Dean earned the prestigious FCPA designation from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, the profession’s highest distinction in recognition of significant career achievements and contributions to the community.
Anique Asher was appointed Chief Strategy and Operating Officer at Scotiabank in July 2024. In this role, she has responsibility for the global enterprise-wide functions that are critical to the Bank’s strategy execution, including Data and Analytics, Enterprise Strategy, Global Marketing, Global Operations, and Global Corporate Affairs.
Anique joined the Bank in 2018 as Senior Vice President, Planning, Analysis & Optimization, and was later appointed to Executive Vice President, Finance and Strategy in 2020, with responsibility for enterprise strategy, financial planning and forecasting, strategic project prioritization and delivery, capital management and finance support for the Corporate Functions. Before joining Scotiabank, Anique held roles of progressive seniority at multinational financial firms in Financial Planning and Analysis as well as Investor Relations.
Anique is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds an Honours undergraduate degree and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.
Anique lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.
Michael Boynton serves on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto (BBBST), bringing a deep commitment to community development. His involvement with BBBST began in 2010 when he became a Big Brother to a ‘Little’, a relationship that profoundly shaped both of their lives. Over nearly a decade, he experienced firsthand how consistent
support, encouragement, and guidance can positively influence a young person’s future. This experience continues to shape his leadership approach and dedication to creating opportunities for youth.
In addition to his role as a Big Brother, Michael has held several leadership positions within BBBST, including Co-Chair and Membership Chair of the Young Leaders Committee and Insurance Ambassador for The Bowl for Kids’ Sake Fundraiser, and Big Night Out Committee Member. and was also honored with the James Marshall Award for Big of the Year in 2013.
Beyond his work with BBBST, Michael is the Vice President of Business Insurance at NFP, specializing in strategic partnerships with businesses offering risk advisory, and working closely with organizations to mitigate exposures, enhance resilience, and drive sustainable growth. His expertise spans strategic planning, sales leadership, and business development, all of which he brings to his work with the Board of BBBST.
An advocate for mentorship and leadership development, Michael ‘s leadership philosophy – Live Big, Give Big – is reflected in his personal and professional life, where he prioritizes community engagement, philanthropy, and family.
Nick Eaves is the Chief Operating Officer, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Eaves joined MLSE in September 2016 and is responsible for overseeing the Operations, Capital Projects and Development function at all MLSE venues. Eaves also has oversight of MLSE’s LIVE division that brings hundreds of world-class music and entertainment events to its venues each year.
A veteran in the sports and entertainment industry, Eaves came to MLSE from Woodbine Entertainment Group where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2010 to 2015 after holding numerous senior positions over a 20 year period. Eaves led the transformation of the organization’s business model to drive operational performance across all lines of the business including live event, broadcasting, technology, hospitality and retail operations.
Eaves is a member of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto, Woodbine Entertainment Group and Tourism Toronto where he also serves as Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee and is a member of the Governance Committee. Eaves is an active community member and volunteers his time with the Out of the Cold Program, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter, Youth Without Shelter and United Way Toronto. Eaves holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Western University.
Philippe Gryc is a seasoned business leader and global citizen who brings a multicultural lens to leadership and mentorship. Having lived on four continents and being fluent in four languages, he values inclusive communication and the power of meaningful cross-cultural connections.
As Principal Technology Strategist at Lantern, a North American leading Microsoft consulting practice focused on AI and digital innovation, Philippe thrives on cross-functional collaboration and solving complex problems. His career spans leadership roles in global consulting, enterprise, and entrepreneurship, always with a focus on measurable outcomes.
A father of two and a mentor to many, Philippe has seen how transformative mentorship and strong role models can be. His volunteer work and coaching reflect a lifelong commitment to empowering others.
Passionate about wellness, communication, and community, Philippe proudly supports BBBS Toronto’s mission to ignite the potential in every child.
Kathryn is an experienced banking executive with a track record of building resilient, growth-oriented financial services businesses. Her expertise spans commercialization, product management, risk management, finance planning and analysis, treasury management, and governance.
Kathryn is deeply committed to helping women and children reach their full potential, as well as in promoting inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Redwood, a safe haven for women and children fleeing abuse, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto, an organization that empowers youth through mentorship. Kathryn also co-led TD Securities’ 2SLGBTQ+ employee resource group and was a member of the Inclusion and Diversity Leadership Council from 2019 – 2023.
Kathryn lives with her husband and two kids in Toronto. She has a passion for travel and exploring new places with friends and family, learning about ancient civilizations (as an avid podcast listener), and enjoying great books at the family cottage. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, CA).
Josh has practiced law in Toronto for 40 years. Josh regarded his career in law, as with all aspects of his life, as an opportunity to solve problems and create change. He founded his own firm and for the last half of his career practiced within a national law firm. His expertise has been as an advocate and specialist in the area of governance both within the public and private sectors.
Josh has had an active volunteer life, always focused on his belief that children and youth are the foundation of the future. He has supported numerous not-for-profit organizations including serving on the board of the Integra Foundation, Plan Canada and Plan International Inc. Significantly, Josh served as Chair of Plan International Inc, a membership organization of 21 national organizations, delivering humanitarian and development programs to children and youth in 57 countries throughout the world. During the time of his leadership, the organization underwent a transformation of its global operating “purpose”. Josh oversaw changes in both the organization’s governance and operating structures with particular emphasis on creating greater stakeholder voice and diversity within both the governance and management.
In September 2023, Kelly joined PLATFORM Insurance Management Inc. as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). In this newly created role Kelly will drive the company’s commercial strategy and business development activities. Collaborating with Canada’s leading corporations and their executives, she and her team are focused on identifying and capitalizing on new market opportunities, enhancing client relationships, and ensuring PLATFORM’S service offerings are continually aligned with the evolving needs of our high-profile clientele. Her responsibilities encompass strategic planning, market analysis, and leading a dynamic sales and marketing team. By fostering a culture of innovation and excellence, she will continue to propel the firm towards sustained growth and industry leadership.
Prior to her role as CCO at PLATFORM Insurance Management Inc., Kelly served as Growth Leader, Strategy and Execution for Canada’s largest region at Aon, where she supported clients and colleagues in the areas of Risk, Health and Wealth with a focus on emerging and evolving risks. Since she joined Aon in 2004 as a member of the Professional Service Group, she served in a variety of sales leadership, business development and client advisory capacities.
Kelly is a regular public speaker at client conferences and other professional events. She is also actively involved in mentoring programs, both internal and external to Aon, with her most recent mentoring engagement in support of the Risk Management Association (RMA Toronto), where she partnered in mentorship with senior leaders from Canada’s two largest banks.
Kelly’s expertise includes professional indemnity placements, relationship management, risk advisory, sales leadership, client discovery, and strategic partnerships.
Kelly is the co-chair of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto Fundraising Committee, a role that she has held since 2017. She is also a member of the Women’s Executive Network Member (2014 to present), MacKay CEO Forums (2018-2020) and served as an ‘Innovator’ for the Hospital for Sick Children from 2017-2019.
An experienced real estate senior executive with a demonstrated history of delivering exceptional financial performance and driving strategic growth. Broad corporate experience across portfolio strategy, asset management, real estate valuation, and analytics with approximately 20 years of experience with public and private institutions. Highly skilled in leading diverse teams and implementing innovative investment strategies. Currently, leads the Asset Strategy team at First Capital REIT, which has responsibilities for asset strategy, portfolio optimization, valuations and joint venture management.
In June 2023, Katy Pitch was announced as Partner at Mintz – a valued addition at the firm’s newly opened Toronto office. A skilled tax partner, Katy uses her wealth of expertise and decades of experience to advise clients across a wide variety of industries, utilizing her deep problem-solving capabilities to analyze complex tax issues and provide practical, tailored business advice.
Prior to her start Mintz, Katy held the role of partner and head of Tax Practice at Wildeboer Dellelce, where she focused on all areas of domestic and cross-border corporate income tax law (both public and private), including mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions and reorganizations, banking transactions, the taxation of mining companies, investment and hedge funds, private equity and executive compensation.
In her taxation of executive compensation practice, Katy is involved in all aspects of the design and implementation of tax efficient executive compensation plans for public and private companies including equity and non-equity based incentive compensation arrangements.
Katy also frequently advises companies and investment funds on the taxation issues surrounding the digital economy initiatives, including FinTech and Blockchain. She is a regular speaker and writer on the taxation of cryptocurrency.
Katy is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Canadian Bar Association and the International Fiscal Association. She is currently an editor of Thomson Reuters’ Taxation of Executive Compensation and Retirement Journal. Katy is also a member of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto.
In 2018, Katy spoke at the Canadian Technology Law Association (CAN-TECH) conference on the topic of Avoiding Cross-Border Pitfalls for Technology Companies.
Katy received the Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 Award in 2018.
In 2022, Katy was selected to play for Maccabi Canada’s Softball team in the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Annie is a Partner in EY’s Strategy & Transactions practice. She leads the Deal Technology practice nationally in Canada. Annie has more than sixteen years’ professional experience and her focus is IT Due Diligence (buy & sell side) and IT integration and carve-out planning and execution. Annie supports PE, Pension and Corporate clients with their transaction needs. Annie has supported clients across many sectors and geographies.
Annie’s work involves supporting clients with their transition strategy and execution, including Operating Model, Day 1 Readiness, Synergies, Post Close Execution, TSA and exit management etc.
Harj Shoan is based in Toronto and is responsible for leading Ontario Teachers’ private equity fund investing practice globally, representing +40 GP relationships and ~$15Bn in AUM. Prior to leading the Global Funds team, Harj was responsible for leading Private Capital’s Portfolio Management practice, with a focus on value creation planning, talent management, and board effectiveness across the global direct investment portfolio. Prior to leading the Portfolio Management team, Harj was a core member of the Consumer & Retail direct investing team in Private Capital and was responsible for leading the team’s largest investments.
Harj joined Ontario Teachers in 2014 and has over two decades of private equity, investment banking and corporate finance experience. He previously worked at Imperial Capital, Morgan Stanley Private Equity (U.K.), Shoppers Drug Mart, and BMO Nesbitt Burns.
Harj currently sits on the boards of Arterra Wines, Traeger Grills, and Koru. He holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and is also a CFA charter holder.
Kelly Skinner is a Superintendent with the Toronto Police Service and is in her 25th year of policing. She was recently appointed as the District Commander of 11 and 12 Division, was Unit Commander for both 22 and 23 Division and a Duty Senior Officer for the Toronto Police Operations Centre.
With a wealth of Uniform Policing experience including in the Jane Finch Community, Kelly has developed an extensive background in various forms of investigations as she moved through Major Squads, such as Intelligence Services and Organized Crime Enforcement.
In the role of Executive Officer to the Staff Superintendent of Detective Operations and later, the Deputy Chief of Specialized Operations Command, Kelly assisted with operations and performance for the Command.
A member of the Police and Community Engagement Review (PACER) 2.0 committee, Kelly co-chaired the Know Your Rights sub-committee, which developed the Service’s first “Know Your Rights” video and campaign. Kelly is also a long-time member the Association of Black Law Enforcers (A.B.L.E) where she was a former Executive Board Member, and an A.B.L.E. 1996 Scholarship Award Recipient.
Lovelyn Toyo serves as the Head, Network Solutions Group at RBC Capital Markets, a role she has held for the past 2 years. She was born and raised in Nigeria, where she began her career in Capital Markets. Spanning over a decade, she worked in several roles in front office, sales, asset and liability management and undertook some transformational projects. She moved to Canada in November 2018, and joined RBC Capital Markets in September 2019 through the VersaFi (formerly Women in Capital Markets) Return to Bay Street Program (RTBS) as a 2019 Award Recipient.
She is currently a Vice President in the Enterprise Initiatives Group, Macro Products at RBC Capital Markets, where she leads a team focused on reimagining the strategy and execution of (high value) Foreign Exchange sales across RBC’s retail network. Lovelyn holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey Business School, Western University, Ontario and a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Lagos.
Lovelyn leverages her learnings on governance, structure, finance and risk management to give back to organizations that are focused on helping the most vulnerable in society.
In addition to her role, Lovelyn is actively involved with several initiatives for equity-seeking groups at RBC. She is the co-founder and co-lead of Mosaic-Beacon, the first Black employee group at RBC Capital Markets, whose main objective is to birth and develop initiatives and programs that accelerate the inclusion and representation of Black professionals across RBC CM. She is a VersaFi (formerly Women in Capital Markets) Return to Bay Street alumnae and mentor to other returners and students. Lovelyn also volunteers as an RBC ‘Ladies who Lunch’ mentor; a program that provides support and mentorship to high school students.
