MCIS AGM 2013

Larry has over 18 years of experience in the charitable sector and has extensive leadership and management experience in the youth and cultural sectors. Larry is currently the Director of Programs for a youth organization, Youth in Motion. As a consultant, Larry has developed programs for a number of non-profit organizations including, Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI), Canadian Broadcast Corporation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association, the Harbourfront Centre, both the provincial and federal governments and many more. Prior to that, Larry was part of the team that founded the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, an organization which supports mentors and recognizes young entrepreneurs. Larry holds a degree in Commerce with honours (Marketing and Finance) from Carleton University and has been an active volunteer with various charitable organizations. 

Jehan was born in Tanzania, studied in Kenya and spent over 12 years working in social services in London, England. She is the Executive Director of Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region for the past five years. Under her leadership the agency has grown from one   shelter in the region to two Shelters in the region and two satellite offices in Keswick and Markham. Jehan Chaudhry was a past co-chair of OAITH and a board member of MCIS. Jehan Chaudhry sits on several committees to forward the cause of Violence against women in the region and in Toronto. In 2011 Sandgate  took the lead for the York Region Centre for Community Safety (Community Hub project) in the Region and the project is up and running.

In 2007 Miss Chaudhry completed an intensive Film Production course from Ryerson University, fulfilling a long time ambition. Jehan is an independent documentary maker who concentrates on social & women’s issues; and has produced and directed several short documentaries. Jehan Chaudhry lives in York Region and is passionate about social issues in the region.  Her films: On Honour Crimes and a Survivor Story of breast cancer won awards at the Multi Media film Festival of York region, in 2010 and 2013.

Detective John Valerio is the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Coordinator for the Toronto Police Service. He is responsible for providing leadership, direction and guidance to TPS employees, community partners and clients of the Service in the area of family violence.

John is also responsible for developing and revising corporate policy and procedures to ensure an effective and appropriate response to victims of domestic violence and child abuse.  John has been a police officer for 25 yrs. and has spent the bulk of his career as a field investigator and in plain clothes operations.

Victim Services Toronto provides immediate crisis response, intervention, and prevention services which are responsive to the needs of individuals, families and communities affected by crime and sudden tragedies. Victim Services Toronto is a community based charity providing free and confidential assistance to victims of crime and sudden tragedy. This is the only NGO agency in Toronto providing immediate on- site crisis, trauma, safety and support services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Bobbie started her career at Victim Services Toronto in 1991, one year after the 24/7 Crisis Response Program expanded from 5 to 10 Crisis Counsellors. After a brief time as a Relief Crisis Counsellor, Bobbie became a full-time Crisis Counsellor. After 11 years of front line trauma response work, she was ready to pursue an administrative/ supervisory role within the agency. Bobbie was promoted to Volunteer Co-ordinator, but quickly became the Director of Programs. She brings a host of expertise to the agency.

Lisa  has a background in social work and has worked in Mental Health Services (a crisis counselor at Herizon House Women’s Shelter).  She has also worked with the Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada and she sits on the Board of Directors for that organization.

Lisa teaches Field Placement Preparation part time at Durham College in their Social Service Worker Program, I am a Faculty Advisor for students in Field Placement for the Social Service Worker program and I sit on the Advisory Board for Durham College.  Since 2009  she has worked at Luke’s Place Support & Resource Centre for Women & Children, in a a full time Legal Support Worker/Family Court Support Worker capacity since 2011.

Laura was born and raised in western Romania in a German-Romanian household. From all four of the siblings, however, she was the only one who is fascinated by languages and decided to study English and German language and literature. After a couple of years of teaching experience in Romania she was offered a position as an English teacher at a private school in Barcelona, Spain where she ended up living for over 10 years. When her daughter was born 6 years ago the family moved to Toronto. With no  intention of losing her Spanish proficiency while living in Canada Laura soon begun looking for opportunities to use her languages, and eventually decided to complete the training and get certified as a Spanish interpreter (so far, considered to be not only a good decision but also a very rewarding experience). Laura has been working with MCIS since January 2011 in various roles (interpreter, back-up interpretation services coordinator, back-up translation project coordinator).