John D. (Jack) Baskerville

Office Held: Director

Start Date: September 1996

Company Name: Retired-Vice President, Real Estate, McDonald's Restaurants Canada

Jack was introduced to Adventure Place when his granddaughter was enrolled in the centre's Day Treatment program. He has been a Director and spokesperson since 1996, securing support from McDonald's to purchase the first classroom computers and other corporate donations. After graduating from St. Paul's College high school in 1944, Jack spent two years in the Canadian Army. He was demobilized shortly after V.J. Day and went to work for the B.C. Forest Service. He worked in food retail for Overwaitea Foods Ltd for six years, ending up as a Store Manager. He joined B-A Oil Co. as a salesman in 1957 and worked his way up through several positions, ending up as Consumer Marketing Manager for Western Canada after B-A became Gulf Oil. Jack resigned in 1974 to go with McDonald's Restaurants in the Real Estate Dept. as Director of R.E. In 1981 he became Assistant Vice President and Vice President in 1984. Jack retired in 1996 and became a consultant to McDonald's, setting up the Real Estate and Construction departments in Russia. A big 'blow-out' was held for Jack's 70th birthday in Russia and he decided it was a good time to say goodbye.

Moez Bawania

Office Held: Director

Start Date: October 2010

Company Name: Deloitte & Touche

Moez is a financial advisory professional with diverse educational and work experiences. He was born in Dubai, UAE, studied at a boarding school on a hilltop in India and attended elementary and high schools in Toronto. Moez graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration in 2006 and subsequently became a Chartered Accountant in Canada. Moez currently works at Deloitte & Touche LLP where he delivers forensic, investigative, and anti-money laundering services and performs operational and financial reviews for companies facing distress situations. He has been part of project teams in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean serving financial service providers, non-profit organizations, and international conglomerates. Moez and his wife Nazish now live in North York after returning in early 2010 from a seven month stay in Egypt where they supported grassroots anti-poverty initiatives. Moez was introduced to Adventure Place through Altruvest's BoardMatch program.

G. Paolo Berard

Office Held: Director and Vice President Board of Directors

Start Date: November 2007

Company Name: Direct Energy Marketing Limited

Paolo was born and raised in Toronto where he attended French-language elementary and high schools. He graduated from Queen's University in 1994 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Studies. He attended law school at the University of Ottawa and graduated summa cum laude in 1997. Upon graduation he articled with the law firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and was called to the Bar of the Province of Ontario in 1999. After spending a year in their Toronto office, Paolo moved to Osler's offices in New York City where he spent the next three years. He was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York in 2002. Paolo joined the firm of Goodmans LLP in July of 2007 where he carried on his practice as a corporate and securities lawyer until March of 2010 when he joined Direct Energy as Principal Legal Counsel. He is married to Lorella Berard, an attorney with Chartis Insurance, and they live in Etobicoke with their two sons. Paolo was introduced to Adventure Place through Altruvest's BoardMatch program.

Rochelle Direnfeld

Office Held: Director and Vice President Board of Directors

Start Date: December 1993

Company Name: Ministry of the Attorney General, Criminal Law Policy Branch

Rochelle was born and raised in Toronto where she attended Bishop Strachan School. In 1985 she graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours BA in English. She attended Osgoode Hall Law School graduating with a LLB in 1988 and was called to the Bar of the province of Ontario in 1990. Rochelle joined the Newmarket Crown Attorneys Office in 1990 as an Assistant Crown Attorney transferring to the Etobicoke Crown Attorney's Office in 2001, where she has prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases. In 2004 Rochelle was appointed lead youth justice crown for Etobicoke/North York and in 2007 was seconded to the Criminal Law Policy Branch where she practises as youth justice counsel for the Ministry of the Attorney General. Rochelle has written and lectured extensively on youth justice and is an editor of the Annotated Youth Criminal Justice Act Service. Rochelle is married to Howard Steiman, an orthodontist practising in Ajax and they are the proud parents of three children Jeffrey, Sammy and Sydney. Jeffrey Steiman is a former student of Adventure Place's Day Treatment Program.

Monica Goyal

Office Held: Director

Start Date: December 2009

Company Name: Founder and CEO, My Legal Briefcase

Monica Goyal is a lawyer and professional engineer. She has a law degree from the University of Toronto, Masters in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. Monica has extensive industry experience as an electrical engineer. She was employed in the United States and Canada in research and development with several major telecommunications and semiconductor companies. After the completion of her law degree, she worked with a top Canadian IP firm. Currently, she is the co-founder of We Are Plain & Simple Inc., providing innovative legal and financial solutions. Monica's career and academic achievements are complemented by her extra-curricular involvements. She is active on various boards, including Adventure Place, and Griffin Centre. She also volunteers with Pro Bono Law Canada. She also enjoys biking, hiking, traveling and watching movies.

Axel W. Noriega

Office Held: Director, President & Chairman of Board of Directors

Start Date: April 2006

Company Name: Scotiabank

Axel Noriega is a banking professional and a professional engineer with degrees in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1997 and MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2005. Upon graduation from UW, Axel managed a variety of capital infrastructure projects for Toronto Hydro and Toronto Port Authority. After the completion of his MBA, he changed paths moving to banking at Scotiabank, where he has had the opportunity to acquire a variety of experiences, including:  leading the commercial deposits group, managing the Bank's real estate purchasing department, developing retail sales strategies, working with customers to provide commercial banking solutions, developing and implementing business strategies and plans, and managing a variety of financial & operational initiatives . He has been active in the community for many years through various boards, including Earl Haig Community Child Centre, Homeplace, Harbour Parade of Lights, and various student organizations, UW Federation of Students and  WLU MBAA. Axel enjoys an active family life, and has started to do triathlons every summer for which he trains all year long. He is an avid reader and is known for his camping and golfing escapades. Axel was introduced to Adventure Place through Altruvest's BoardMatch program.

 

Walter Wagnleithner

Office Held: Director

Start Date: June 2009

Company Name: Photowatt Ontario Inc.

Walter Wagnleithner was born in Hamilton and raised in the Niagara Peninsula area. He graduated with an Honours B.A. from the University of Waterloo in 1993, an LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario in 1997, and an M.B.A. from Wildrid Laurier University in 2003, and was called to the Bar in Ontario in February 1999. After nearly five years in private practice in the areas of securities and corporate/commercial law, Walter moved his practice in-house in September 2003. Prior to becoming Legal Cousel for Photowatt Ontario Inc., a company involved in the solar enery industry, in March 2011, he had in-house roles with Nortel Networks, Magna Entertainment Corp., and Tim Hortons Inc. Walter, his wife, and their two sons reside in Mississauga and are avid skiers. Walter was introduced to Adventure Place by a fellow director.

Kathryn Wise

Office Held: Director

Start Date: January 2011

Company Name: Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre

Kathryn was born in Burlington, Ontario, and raised in the Greater Toronto area. She graduated with an Honours B.S. from the University of Waterloo, a BHSc (Occupational Therapy) from McMaster University, and an MHSc (Health Administration) from the University of Toronto. Kathryn began her career at Hamilton Health Sciences and then spent eight years practising at ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development. She began her role at Toronto Central CCAC in 2009 and is very passionate about improving the quality of home care services. Kathryn is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University and adjunct faculty at the University of Toronto. She still maintains a small private OT practice. Kathryn resides in Toronto and enjoys biking, fitness, cooking, and travel in her spare time.

Phil Willis

Office Held: Director and Treasurer

Start Date: May 1989

Company Name: IBM Canada; Kinnock Associates Inc.

Phil was born and raised in Victoria, B.C. He graduated Engineering at UBC where he was in Varsity Rugby. He worked for IBM Canada for 30 years in engineering, marketing, and management positions in Canada and Australia (National Sales Manager). Phil moved to Kinnock Associates where he spent the next six years in contract management (President CERTICOM, President Connect.IT). Phil married his high school sweetheart, Nancy. They have 4 boys. Phil has coached boys hockey, soccer, and served on the Group Committee, Boy Scouts. Phil's hobbies include golf, travel, and reading.

René Zanin

Office Held: Director and Secretary

Start Date: November 2007

Company Name: Toshiba of Canada Limited

Rene was born and raised in Toronto. Rene has a B.A. from the University of Toronto and graduated from the University of Western Ontario's law school in 1997. Rene was called to the bar of Ontario in 1999 and worked at a large multinational law firm until 2002. Rene then joined the in-house legal department of the Independent Order of Foresters, a fraternal benefit society providing insurance and other financial products to its members in the US, UK, and Canada. In July 2008, Rene accepted a position as General Counsel for Toshiba of Canada Limited, the Canadian subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Toshiba Corporation, where he continues his in-house legal practice. Rene is married with three children, twin girls and a son, and resides in Leaside. Rene enjoys skiing, coaching his daughters' soccer team, and traveling with the family. Rene was introduced to Adventure Place through Board Match.