The Board of Directors, on behalf of the membership and general community, governs the WOCRC through continually improved leadership with respect to values and vision. In addition, the Board of Directors establishes and records policies for the direction and good management of the WOCRC.
Board of Directors 2023-2024
- Chair: Chris Booth
- Vice Chair: Kyle Gordon
- Vice Chair: Kirsta MacIsaac
- Executive Director: Leigh Couture
- Past Chair: Mike Brown
Directors
- Mandeep Singh Basra
- Parmod Chhabra
- Claudia Etwyse
- Roger Farley
- Divya Jhunjhunwala
- Melissa Teri Parsons
- Jan Skora
- David Patrick Lee Snelling
- Brandon Vale
- Marianne Wilkinson
Chris Booth, Chair (Finance)
Chris Booth is an experienced leader in Business Banking with a demonstrated history of over 38 years in the financial services industry, leading diverse teams in varied geographic markets. Experienced in technology banking, real estate financing, diversified industries financing and in the servicing and advising of not-for-profit and public sector organizations. Throughout his career he has been active in project management, strategic planning, risk management and business development.
Chris is committed to the communities he has worked in acting as a brand ambassador, community fundraiser and a board member for several local charities.
Chris is a graduate of the Carleton University Sprott School of Business with an Honours B.Commerce.
Kyle Gordon, Vice Chair
Kyle Gordon completed his Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Master of Science in Health Sciences (Human Kinetics) at the University of Ottawa. He currently works as a Research Specialist with the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services.
Kyle was born and raised in Ottawa and has been actively volunteering in different roles in his community for many years, including mental health support and coaching minor hockey. Kyle is intent on contributing to a healthy community for all residents and is particularly passionate about addressing the needs of rural residents in Western Ottawa. Kyle now lives in Richmond with his wife, daughter, and twin boys.
Kirsta MacIsaac, Vice Chair
Kirsta MacIsaac has 30 years experience in healthcare with the Canadian Armed Forces. Having worked in the healthcare sector across the country and internationally, she brings diverse experience in working with both urban and rural communities. Kirsta holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of British Columbia, a Masters of Business Administration from Athabasca University, as well as post-grad studies in executive healthcare management and in program development. She’s commanded regional Canadian Forces Health Services Centres in Alberta, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Currently, Kirsta holds a senior portfolio with the Canadian Forces Health Services Headquarters.
Kirsta’s volunteer experience includes work with vulnerable youth, directorship on a community health board as well as directorship to a military community resource centre.
Kanata has become home and has served as the home base to Kirsta, her husband and her two children over the recent years of their military service.
Leigh Couture, Executive Director
Leigh Couture brings knowledge and experience from several senior level social service roles in Ottawa, including as the Director of Community Health Services at Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre and as the Joint Associate Executive Director at Youturn Youth Support Services and Roberts/Smart Centre.
She is a fantastic fit, having a proven track record of advocating for health, mental health, children and youth, seniors and employment services. Leigh has a strong commitment to community and equity as exemplified in her past work, volunteerism, certifications, education and affiliations. To this position, Leigh brings direct knowledge of community development and reducing access barriers for marginalized residents in low income and social housing neighbourhoods. Her insight into the local issues and relationships with many key funders, partners and residents will be an asset for WOCRC.
Mike Brown, Past Chair
Mike Brown is the Director of Finance with the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA).
Mike is committed to the community. When he isn’t volunteering in his children’s various sports and activities, he is involved with several community organizations. Currently, he is the Chair of Stonewick Heights, a non-profit housing complex in Kanata.
Mike holds an advanced diploma in Business Administration with a Major in Accounting from Algonquin College. Currently Mike is enrolled in the Nonprofit Management program through the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Mandeep Singh Basra, Director
Mandeep Basra is a highly experienced Real Estate Broker who lives in Stittsville, and has immense volunteer experience throughout the community.
Mandeep is currently the Vice President for India Canada Association working with the Ottawa residents from various ethnic groups. In addition, Mandeep volunteers for the "Langar for Hunger" organization and helps coordinate blood donation drives while collaborating with Canadian Blood Services. He has coordinated several food drives and clothing drive initiatives as well. Also, Mandeep received the "Ontario Volunteer Service Award 2021" in recognition of his volunteer work for the last 5 years.
Parmod Chhabra, Director
In 2019 Parmod retired from the provincial government, after working with the Ministry of Community and Social Services for 32 years. During his career, Parmod was involved with social services programs, policy development and implementation for underrepresented populations and youth. He holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Finance and has extensive experience in working with the public, lawyers, media, all levels of government, First Nations agencies, community agencies, advocacy groups and financial organizations.
Over the past 30+ years, Parmod has worked with several Community Boards and organizations and managed government-funded projects in the fields of mental health, children and youth programs and services to our seniors. Parmod has received several Ontario Volunteer Service Awards for his years of leadership and community service.
Parmod is a committed leader in the community and recently started the Care & Share Ottawa group to help members of the Ottawa community connect and share information and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a grandfather to three young children who keep him very busy in his spare time.
Claudia Etwyse, Director
Claudia Etwyse is a Director of Commercial Debt at Akili Group Ltd., an Ottawa-based commercial investment firm.
Prior to her current position, Claudia was a Director of Real Estate Debt at Canada ICI, where she sourced and executed real estate debt and equity investments. Claudia is passionate about addressing the needs of individuals in her community and improving access to resources for marginalized individuals living in community housing. She is currently a member of the not-for-profit organization Women in Capital Markets and is well-known for her commitment to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the industry.
Claudia holds a BA in Economics from the University of Ottawa and completed her certification in Real Estate Development from MIT.
Roger Farley, Director
Roger Farley is currently Executive in Residence at the University of Ottawa's Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, and the university’s Professional Development Institute. He has over thirty-five years of experience working for the federal government, including the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People, the Canadian Sport Policy, the Official Languages Support Programs at Canadian Heritage, and as Executive Director of the Official Language Community Development Bureau at Health Canada.
Roger has always been very involved as a volunteer in his community. In 2011, he received the Public Service Award of Excellence from the Clerk of the Privy Council for Service to Canadians. He is on the Board of the Maison de la francophonie d’Ottawa, a community organization whose mission is to offer services in French to the 28,000 Francophones living in the west of the city of Ottawa.
Divya Jhunjhunwala, Director
Divya Jhunjhunwala is a Sales Lead at Microsoft who has been in the IT industry for 15 years. She is originally from India and moved to Canada in 2018. She has always had a desire to give back to society, which led her to work for Microsoft in serving the Public Safety and Justice Accounts. However, her urge to give back did not stop there.
Divya Jhunjhunwala founded Aadyaa Foundations, a non-profit organization focused on helping youth and women with male allies. The foundation runs several programs aimed at empowering and supporting these groups. Through Aadyaa Foundations, she hopes to make a positive impact on society.
In addition to Aadyaa Foundations, Divya Jhunjhunwala also founded ResPanache Events Inc., an events company. She is passionate about organizing various events and has been doing so since she was 13 years old. Her events include Indian weddings, get-togethers, festivals, concerts, and networking events. Through ResPanache Events Inc., she hopes to continue her passion for organizing events while also making a difference in the community.
Overall, Divya Jhunjhunwala is a dedicated individual who is passionate about giving back to society. Her work in the IT industry, as well as her non-profit and events companies, demonstrate her commitment to making a positive impact in the world.
Melissa Teri Parsons, Director
Melissa Parsons has been a community and social services volunteer in Ottawa and Eastern Canada for over 25 years.
She has prior experience serving as a Director on two not-for-profit Boards; one local feminist grassroots organization and another community housing initiative based out of Montréal, Quebec.
Melissa is pursuing her Executive Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa to enhance her current leadership skills and further diversify her management capabilities.
She is passionate about supporting climate action and sustainability and advocating for people that have been systematically underrecognized and undervalued such as women, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, neurodivergent persons, Indigenous, Black, and other racialized people. Melissa has supported diversity, inclusion and equitable labour practices serving on professional committees during her employment with KPMG and Payments Canada.
As a former client of the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, she is deeply invested in supporting the programs and services at the WOCRC, leveraging her professional background in audit, governance, risk and compliance.
Jan Skora, Director
Jan Skora has close to 50 years experience as a senior executive in the federal public service as well as a strategic regulatory and government-relations advisor to Canadian and US wireless/satellite telecom companies.
He has experience as President of his 329-unit condominium Board of Directors and in cooperation with similarly minded volunteers, is organizing a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) involving other condo buildings in the area in which he lives.
He has been an active volunteer with Meals on Wheels in Ottawa as well as west Ottawa for over a year.
Jan holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Degree from Carleton University.
David Patrick Lee Snelling, Director
David Patrick Lee is a highly experienced Civil Litigator with extensive experience in Law Office Management. David
was born and raised in Kanata and has been involved in the community since childhood. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Philosophy at the University of Western Ontario and studied Law at the University of British Columbia.
David has been actively involved in the Kanata community as a member of the board of the Kanata North BIA, the Director of Operations for Kanata Soccer and being a member of the Kanata North Recreation Center Steering Committee.
Brandon Vale, Director
Brandon Vale is currently a Juris Doctor (JD) Candidate at the University of Ottawa, where he is actively interested in corporate law, health law, and corporate governance.
A graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration program at Wilfrid Laurier University, Brandon is an active community member with experience serving on several not-for-profit boards, including the Wilfrid Laurier University Board of Governors.
Adding to his governance experience, Brandon has professional work experience in both the private and public sectors, including working for the Ontario Public Service, the federal government, and a large public accounting firm.
Marianne Wilkinson, Director
Marianne Wilkinson (née Berton) was born in Ottawa and raised in Ottawa and Calgary. She has a degree in Honours Geography from Trinity College, University of Toronto, and a Masters in Management Studies from McGill.
Marianne won her first municipal election as a Councillor in March Township in 1969, and became the first Mayor of the new City of Kanata in 1978. She has spent 29 years in public office and was one of the first residents of Kanata, having been involved in its growth and development for 50 years as both an elected official and a volunteer. She has helped found or run multiple community organizations, including the Kanata Food Cupboard, the Community Resource Centre, the Blue Heron Co-op, and local and national Boards for the Canadian Federation of University Women and the National Council of Women. She has been a mentor for those interested in municipal affairs as well as running workshops and seminars, and communicates frequently with residents of Kanata North.
Marianne’s awards include the Y Woman of Distinction award for Lifetime Achievement in 2005, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal, the women in the air force medal, and the Ottawa Council on Aging’s Celebrating Seniors Award. She has been married to her husband Bob for 56 years and has 3 grown children and 4 granddaughters.