Board of Directors

Freda Hannah is the longest-serving member of our current board. She guided the organization for many years as president and her extensive knowledge and experience as an advocate for people navigating the long-term care system is a most valuable asset. Freda was the driving force behind the Family Councils' Project. She was a registered nurse, and before retiring she was assistant executive director at the Toronto Association for Community Living.

Lois Dent, our past president, has been a board member for over 10 years. She has a graduate degree in social work and worked in the mental health field and as a community geriatric social worker before retiring. She has a long-standing interest in advocacy and seniors' issues.

Phyllis Hymmen, our current president, had a varied career in education where she was a teacher, counsellor, counsellor educator, and research consultant. During her first two roles in education, she earned a doctorate in counselling psychology. When she retired, Phyllis was an education officer in the Ministry of Education where she had policy responsibilities for teacher education programs and teacher certification. She has been a family council member and chair of the Nisbet Lodge Family Council, and chaired the Toronto Regional Family Councils Network. Currently, Phyllis chairs the Family Councils Program Advisory Committee.

Gerda Kaegi, our vice-president, is adjunct professor at Ryerson University in the Department of Politics, School of Public Administration, and coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Studies in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management Program. She has a long history of volunteer activities, including co-chair of the Ontario Elder Health Coalition, board member of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, past-president of Canadian Pensioners Concerned, National and Ontario Divisions.

Charmay Crane has a graduate degree in clinical psychology and has provided individual and group psychotherapy to outpatients. She has management experience as department head and also sat on the bioethics committee for a hospital. Char is part of our advocacy committee and heads our volunteer committee.

Julie Fiorini brings 10 years of traditional and internet marketing techniques to the board. She is a past senior associate manager of internet fundraising with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Sheila Elston is a recently retired registered nurse with a diploma in management from the University of Ottawa. Her career spanned over 39 years in long-term care with 35 spent in a management capacity where she played a major role in applying a resident-centered care philosophy. She was instrumental in several community activities, working with community colleges and fundraising for the United Way and local hospitals.

Kathy Pearsall brings 20 years of journalism experience to the board. She has been writing for, and producing, the Concerned Friends newsletter since 1998. In 2005 she created our website which she updates regularly. She also brings eight years of experience as a regular caregiver in two Ontario long-term care homes.

Jackie Porter is a certified financial planner who has been serving families and business in the Greater Toronto Area for the past 14 years. She specializes in retirement and estate planning, as well as educating her community on issues surrounding eldercare.

Board of Directors