Board

As a community leader, in addition to his role as Chair of CFKA, Rob currently serves on the board of the Queen’s Family Health Team Advisory Board, and volunteers with Compassionate Kingston and the residential hospice fundraising cabinet. He’s a former chair of the Imagine Kingston Roundtable. In his spare time he studies Mandarin.

Once her studies were completed, Gayle was fortunate to obtain a position with the Ontario regional office of Health Promotion, Health Canada in Toronto, ending her time there as Regional Director. The focus of the work was to provide grants for community and academic health promotion projects, projects related to national smoking, alcohol and drug strategies as well as HIV/AIDS education. Much of her work was centred in the area of health promotion for older adults, including leading a national strategy group.

After moving to Kingston in 1989 with her family, Gayle began working with the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Her work there focused on planning, project management and organizational effectiveness. At the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, her most recent position was as Senior Program/Policy Consultant in the area of primary care reform, new methods of payment for family physicians and the implementation of Family Health Teams. The goal of this work was to increase access to family physicians and other health care professionals working in teams to better serve patients.

Since retiring in 2012, Gayle has undertaken a diverse range of volunteer work in the arts, health care and social services including serving as Secretary on the Board of The Kingston Prize Association: Canada’s National Portrait competition.

Gayle has been an active volunteer with the Community Foundation since 2013, when she joined the Community Grants Committee. From there she joined the Board and assumed a variety of leadership positions including Chair of the Grants Committee, Vice-President, and then President/Chair of the Board from 2019-2021.  

In addition to her current role as past Chair, she helped to establish and is currently Co-Chair of the Foundation’s new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Council.

He is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario, a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Public Health & Preventive Medicine, an honorary member of the Canadian Paediatric Society, an Honorary Life Member of the Canadian Public Health Association, and a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.  He is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University.

Ian has served on a number of provincial, national and international committees on communicable diseases and immunisation.  Amongst others, he is the past chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunisation (NACI) and was a member for over 14 years.  He is a member of the World Health Organisation’s Immunisation Practices Advisory Committee and is the liaison member to its Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety.  In Kingston, he is delighted to be a member of the board of the Community Foundation of Kingston & Area and vice-chair of the board of the Museum of Health Care.

Currently, Jonathan is the Treasurer for the Community Foundation for Kingston and Area and also serves on the Board of Directors for the KPMG Foundation, a national charitable foundation for the Partners of KPMG. Previously, Jonathan has served over 7-years as the Treasurer for the Kingston and Area Branch of St. John Ambulance.

Mr. Wright is a graduate of McGill University (B. Eng – Electrical). He was awarded an Athlone Fellowship and attended the Imperial College of Science and Technology at the University of London (M.Sc. in Control Systems). He was elected to the status of Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario in March 2003 in recognition of his service to the profession of Management Consulting and was authorized to use the designation Fellow Certified Management Consultant (FCMC). Through his working career (and more recently, during retirement), Mr. Wright has contributed to several volunteer organizations. These include:

• Community Foundation for Kingston & Area: Project Manager, Vital Signs® report from 2014 through 2018;
• The Kingston Prize, Canada’s Portrait Prize: providing business expertise for planning and finance to the Board;
• Canadian Association of Management Consultants: Chair, Eastern Ontario Chapter;
• Kingston Technology Council: founding Board member and subsequently Chair;
• Thyroid Foundation of Canada: founding Board member (1980) and subsequently Chair.

He has built two boats from kits using the “stich and glue technique” – a kayak and a rowing boat.

Household renovations, whacking garden weeds and the challenges of a MGB also consume his leisure time.

Chris has been active in volunteering over the years with Kingston Blue Marlins, Kingston Ice Wolves, Kingston Area Minor Hockey Association, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Kingston chapter of Advocis, a professional association for financial advisors.

Chris is married to Dr. Jenn Carpenter, and they have two children, Sidonie and Adam.

Cara Chesney is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Partner with MNP in Kingston. She first qualified for her accounting designation in 2005, while working for a large international firm in Toronto. As a small business advisor, she works with a wide range of local businesses and individuals, providing tax and assurance related services. An integral part of her work involves gaining in-depth understanding of all aspects of her clients’ operations, their industries, and the environment in which they operate so she can tailor advice and solutions to meet their unique needs.

Cara holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Honours) from Queen’s University and is passionate about contributing to the profession. She is an adjunct professor at the Smith School of Business and an instructor and content reviewer with CPA Ontario and CPA Canada.

Cara lives in Kingston with her husband, their two daughters and their 14 year old Goldendoodle. As a family they love going to the lake for swimming, fishing, and kayaking. Cara has also served as both the Treasurer and Chair of Kingston Interval House (2014 – 2022) and the Treasurer of the Kingston Blue Marlins (2021-Present).

On her own Cara enjoys running (albeit slowly) and has completed three Dopey Challenges at Disney World.

Peter has held volunteer board/cabinet positions with the Business Improvement Association of Belleville (1995-1998), United Way of Quinte (1996-2004), United Way of Peterborough (2005-2007), Providence Care Corporation (2011-2014) and was an inaugural member of the Investment Advisor Advisory committee to senior management of BMO Nesbitt Burns (2014-2015).

Peter is married to Marisa and they have two children, Julia and Ethan who attend Regiopolis Notre Dame high school. Julia will be attending Queens next year.

Kris Millan is retired after a 30-year career at KFL&A Public Health. Her roles at KFL&A Public Health included Director of Family Health, Manager of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Central Resources, and Public Health Nutritionist. As Director of Family Health, Kris was responsible for a team of approximately 60 people, delivering a wide variety of programs and services for children and families. Her leadership activities external to KFL&A Public Health included Co-Chair of the KFL&A Children and Youth Services Planning Committee and Co-Chair of the KFL&A Special Needs Steering Committee. While in her role as Manager of CQI and Central Resources, Kris led the strategic planning process and the development of the Code of Ethics. She also worked with the Board of Health on policy development and Board self-assessment.

It is in her role as Director of Family Health that Kris developed an interest in, and a passion for preventing and mitigating the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and fostering community resilience. She became Co-Chair of the KFL&A ACEs and Resilience Coalition and has remained in that role in a volunteer capacity. In 2021, she and her colleague, Dr. Meredith MacKenzie, received a Paul Harris Award from the Kingston Rotary Club related to this work.

Kris holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Guelph and a Master of Health Science degree from the University of Toronto.

She was a senior executive with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in various roles and founding CEO with the Ontario Family Health Network. Donna retired as Executive Director with the Health Council of Canada.

Donna’s most recent volunteer experience includes the following – Vice Chair Ontario 211 (current), Past Chair South East Local Health Integration Network (SE LHIN) and former Board member of Kingston General Hospital. She also is a member of the Health Policy Forum, out of the School of Policy Studies and Queen’s University.

Donna’s family is from Kingston. She has a strong commitment to the welfare of residents in the Kingston community.

Roger is an authentic, visionary and experienced business leader who helps organizations to improve, grow or transform. His areas of expertise include strategy development and execution, operational effectiveness, risk management, organizational governance, program management and change leadership. He is currently a Senior Strategic Advisor for Prompta Consulting Group, a Toronto-based change management consulting and executive coaching advisory firm specializing in business and cultural transformations. Most recently, he is also a successful entrepreneur, creating Inside Out Homescaping in 2018, which has quickly become a leading provider of home staging, redesign and renovations for homes and gardens in Kingston and area.

Since moving to Kingston in 2008, he has fallen in love with this incredible community and is keen to find new ways to give back. As a volunteer in Kingston’s not-for-profit sector, Roger brings a balance between “the head” (business skills and expertise) and “the heart” (social conscience and compassion). He’s been involved with CFKA since 2018, as a member of the Governance Committee, the Advisory Council on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and now the Board of Directors.

Alison Young was born and raised in downtown Kingston. Growing up she was an active participant in sports, particularly basketball, and grew up on the courts of the Knights of Columbus Basketball League and Regiopolis Notre Dame. Her love of sports transitioned into the completion of an Advanced Diploma in Fitness and Lifestyle Management from George Brown College followed by a Bachelors of Applied Science in Kinesiology from the University of Guelph.

Upon completion of her undergraduate education in the Toronto area, Alison returned home to Kingston and completed a Masters of Public Health at Queen’s University and received a Graduate Diploma in Business from the Smith School of Business. The combination of public health and business education has led Alison to forging a path in healthcare administration where she applies her skills in project management, leadership, and communication.

When Alison is not working, she can be found spending time with her husband Morgan and daughter Penelope, exercising, taking in a site or sound of Kingston, or kicking up her heels at a favourite spot downtown.

Michael Bell is a retired art history professor and art museum director. Michael has been at one time or another Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Public Archives of Canada; Director of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (Queen’s University); Visual Arts Officer, Ontario Arts Council; Assistant Director (Public Programs) and Acting Director, National Gallery of Canada; Director and CEO, McMichael Canadian Art Collection; and Founding Director (Associate Professor), Carleton University Art Gallery. In 1973 his book, Painters in a New Land, was recognized with the Governor-General’s Literary Award for Non-fiction.

Since coming to Kingston in the early 1970s, Michael has maintained a residence in the region almost continuously even though his work took him elsewhere. He now lives in Kingston.

During the late 1980s Michael served on the Board of the National Museums of Canada and the National Gallery of Canada. Locally, Michael served on the Board of the Cataraqui Conservation Foundation in numerous capacities. He joined the Board of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area in 2011 and retired from the Board as Past President in June 2019.

Michael operates an amateur radio station with the call signs VE3NOO and VA3MBT.

Previous board of directors’ involvement in Toronto, Ottawa and Kingston include: Queen’s Family Health Team Advisory Committee; Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health Board of Directors; Past President of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area; Carleton University, Elmwood School, Canadian Clubs of Toronto and Ottawa (and President of the Ottawa Club), Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs, Advisory Board of the Ottawa Heart Institute, Rideau Club, Five Lakes Club, Kingston Symphony Association, Kingston General Hospital (Chair, Planning and Research Development Committees and member Governance Committee), Founding Vice-Chair of the South East Local Health Integration Network (and Chair of Governance Committee, Co-Chair Collaborative Governance Development Team); Community for Excellence in Health Governance.

In 2012 Florence received the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medal for community engagement and in 2013 the Ontario Medical Association Community Service Award for her contribution to the health and welfare of the population of Kingston.

During his career, Greg has been involved with writing and editing KPMG tax publications that focused on current tax matters and potential tax planning strategies for clients. He has been involved in preparing and presenting a variety of firm training courses encompassing a wide range of personal, corporate, charity and not-for profit income tax issues.

Greg is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and the Canadian Tax Foundation.

While at Queen’s, Eveline was founding president of the University Staff Association and a member of the first two Principal’s Committees on the Status of Women. She was on the selection committee for the first Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, an organizer for the 1985 Courage to Dream Conference (which planted the seed for the creation of the community foundation) and a board member of The Ban Righ Foundation for Continuing Education for Women.

Among past community activities, Eveline includes past president of The Kingston Arthritis Society, Medic Alert Chair for Kingston Life Underwriters, and member of the Grand Theatre Summer Festival Advisory Committee for several years. Eveline was the last president of The Martello Tower Society, and led the reorganization into The Community Foundation of Greater Kingston.

She is an Honorary Life Member of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area.

Virginia views the Foundation as a resource for future generations of Kingstonians. Planning for the future and working with other established charities is a very satisfying way to know your community. You are laying the ground work for continued good things happening. An established Community Foundation can be the safety net in good times and bad.

Virginia has worked with the Resource Development Committee and is an Honorary Life Member of the Board of Directors.

Brian is experienced in will and trust planning; incapacity planning; blended family planning; advising executors, beneficiaries and trustees in connection with the administration of estates; advising parties on contentious estates and estate litigation matters; and advising business owners on business succession planning.

Brian regularly advises high net worth individuals, professionals and private company owners on an array of complex estate planning issues to help clients achieve various goals, including tax minimization, creditor protection, support of disabled beneficiaries and family law planning. Brian’s previous experience as a business law lawyer acting on the sale of family businesses means that Brian is experienced in the complex issues relating to business succession planning, farm succession planning and ongoing wealth transfer.

In the context of his estate planning work, he uses many techniques to meet the particular needs and objectives of his clients and to minimize tax consequences. Approaches include multiple wills, testamentary and inter vivos trusts, life estates and rights of survivorship, marriage or co-habitation contracts, powers of attorney for property and for personal care, and charitable donations. Brian regularly liaises and works with tax and other financial professionals where such involvement is merited. He also routinely advises individuals with fiduciary duties (e.g. executors, trustees, guardians and attorneys) on the administration of estates, trusts and powers of attorney for property and for personal care, offering direction and assistance on the nature and scope of those duties. He also assists fiduciaries with the passing of their accounts.

Brian is a co-author of the book Drafting Wills in Canada: A Lawyer’s Practical Guide, 2nd Edition (LexisNexis, 2016) and regularly presents on estates and trusts topics in the community.

Brian was raised in the Kingston region and returned to the area to practice following his call to the bar.

Trust, honesty and hard work are values that Marc embraces passionately in his professional life. He is particularly proud of the relationship he has built with his clientele which is primarily established on providing superior and timely advice.

Within the community, Marc currently sits on the Board of Directors for Providence Care Hospital and is also the Portfolio Manager for the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area. Over the years, he has also been involved in several other local charities either in a governance capacity or as benefactor.