Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region Team

Devon Fernandes

Chairperson

Since the first day he started working alongside EAFWR to co-found the KW Library of Things in 2017, Devon has developed a strong appreciation for how community-based organizations can address complex social issues.

Devon completed his Master’s in Community Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University and now works as Definity Financial Corporation’s Sustainability Integration Manager where he catalyzes social and environmental initiatives. Devon has previously served on the Board of Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group and continues to find ways to build community.

Daisy Martin

Vice-Chair

Daisy joined EAFWR’s Board of Directors in 2018. She wanted to contribute to a community that has embraced her family by giving back to an organization she feels embodies the values she is passionate about – community, inclusion and dignity for all.

Daisy has her Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and has Project Management Professional accreditation.  She has been active in the community through various roles, including champion United Way within her workplace, Co-chair to the HopeSpring Dinner event, events Chair for the local PMP chapter and Global Women’s Alliance Professional Development Chair at work.

She and her family have been a part of the KW community since 1997 and are proud to call KW home.

Ryan Voisin

Secretary

Personally and professionally, Ryan is a strong and passionate community-builder who believes in celebrating every individual’s unique contributions and achievements. Committed to community-building, Ryan works every day to create safe and inclusive spaces for productive and transformational dialogue. With strong facilitation and strategic thinking as a foundation, Ryan uses humour, creativity, and insight to help individuals and groups move forward collaboratively.

Ryan supports a father who lost the ability to walk unaided over ten years ago, and a mother diagnosed with amnesia as a result of an acquired brain injury. Ryan believes that it is “one’s environment and not abilities that create a disability”.

Ryan is the Director of Overlap’s Innovation Programs, whose proficiencies include human-centered design competencies rooted in empathy, applying foresight/futures methodologies for long-term planning, transforming organizational culture and design, including executive coaching, group facilitation and mediation, IT, strategic advocacy planning and relationship management. Ryan has been contributing his strengths to the Board since June 2020.

Rodney Goetz

Treasurer

After being impressed with the work he saw as a member of the EAFWR Finance Committee for just one year, Rodney joined the Board of Directors in June 2023. Rodney brings a wealth of finance and accounting knowledge as well as years of previous board and governance experience with CGA – Ontario, Centre in the Square and Kitchener Wilmot Hydro. Rodney strongly believes in giving back to his community and was driven to volunteer with EAFWR after witnessing his daughter access our services for his grandson. Rodney is enjoying retirement from his position as founder and CEO of Goetz & Dunbar, Professional Corporation, CPA’s and looks forward to being involved in succession planning and learning more about the organization’s operations as a whole.

Adnan Ali

Director

Adnan joined the Board in 2021, with a desire to participate resulting from his experience with EAFWR and our collective mission and vision of community development and greater inclusion. As the African proverb goes, “it takes a village to raise a child” and Adnan believes that it is the ideational understanding of what constitutes a village (society) that is central and where everyone has to play a part based on her/his capabilities.

Adnan holds a Master’s degree in Global Governance and is currently a Data Analyst for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Adnan’s skills and experiences include governance, strategic planning, public policy, data analysis, advocacy and leadership. Adnan has also been part of developing survey methodologies and collecting primary data. In his professional career, Adnan learned that advocacy becomes that much more potent if you have the right data, and that having policies and strategies that build strong governance and advocacy models enhance stakeholder confidence.

Angela Riddell

Director

Prior to joining the Board in June 2023, Angela already had a relationship with EAFWR through supports provided for her daughter. EAFWR’s vision to live fully in a community where everyone belongs and is valued for their contributions, along with her qualification as a CPA, are what drew Angela into wanting to volunteer with EAFWR in a finance-related capacity. Angela is the Director of Business Services and Infrastructure at the Kitchener Public Library (KPL) and is a member of their Accessibility Plan Committee, which works to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility in all KPL locations. Angela wants to help create a world where people are seen as enabled, not disabled.

Christopher Dell

Director

Christopher joined the Board in June 2023 because of a desire to contribute back to the organization that has helped his family after a child was diagnosed with autism. Now that his children are older, Christopher is excited to have the opportunity to impact people’s lives in a meaningful way. Christopher has his Master of Business Administration from McMaster University and a bachelor degree in Financial Economics. Christopher has worked in product management in Waterloo at a number of different tech companies. He is looking forward to learning from peers on the Board and growing in his new role.

Elizabeth Houston

Director

Elizabeth has been a police officer since 1999 and currently holds the role of Superintendent of the Professional Development and Organizational Culture Division within the Waterloo Regional Police Service. Elizabeth is passionate about respect, inclusion and belonging and became a director with EAFWR in June 2022. Within WRPS, Elizabeth’s work focuses on professionalism and building strong organizational culture which values and prioritizes respect, trust and resiliency, all while remaining accountable to the Community. Elizabeth has volunteered with many organizations, including the United Way and Ontario Special Olympics.

Malika Ismaili

Director

Malika joined the Board in June 2022 with a passion to volunteer and give back to the community. As a parent of a child with a disability, Malika has first-hand experience, understanding something of the journey many of our families are on. She has been involved with EAFWR for several years. Malika works part time as an occasional supply teacher and is currently working towards enhancing her teaching career. She brings with her prior Board experience, and has volunteered with many organizations, including KidsAbility and Muslim Social Services in Waterloo Region.

Marisa Tabong

Director

Marisa joined the Board in June 2022, but has volunteered with EAFWR since 2021 as a member of the Human Resources Committee. Marisa is a Digital Transformation Director at Manulife, and her expertise includes risk management, project planning/execution, and leadership. Marisa joined EAFWR because the values and vision truly resonate with her, and her strong team/leadership skills can make an impact. She believes community belonging is important and is passionate about helping others.

Melissa Quarrie

Director

Melissa joined the Board in 2021 with enthusiasm and experience in advocacy, fundraising, policy development, and risk management. Melissa has a daughter with a developmental disability and seeks to break down the barriers throughout all aspects of society that have impacted her family and others’ ability to fully belong and participate in the community. A former educator and a current member of Waterloo Regional Police Service, Melissa sees communication, education, and collaboration as essential pieces to building an inclusive and healthy community.

Sigrid Janus

Director

Sigrid joined the Board in 2021, after having lived several years in Brazil with her family. While abroad, she became engaged in advocating for families with children living with disabilities following the lead of her daughter’s diagnosis. She later was elected a parents’ representative with the Board of the Public Institution that her daughter was attending.

Upon returning to the region, she was introduced to EAFWR and identified immediately with its people, values, and ideals. Sigrid profoundly believes that we all have something to contribute to building a welcoming and strong community. Advocating with different communities and families to ensure that we are all able to recognize ourselves in our community is a very important step in this process.

Al Mills

ext. 222
allan.mills@eafwr.on.ca
Executive Director

Ron Trajano

ext. 225
ron.trajano@eafwr.on.ca
Director of Services

Courtney Horowitz

ext. 220
courtney.horowitz@eafwr.on.ca
Director of Operations

Kevin Guay

ext. 240
kevin.guay@eafwr.on.ca
Director of Human Resources

Erin Ackersviller

ext. 223
erin.ackersviller@eafwr.on.ca
Executive Assistant

Bea Binka

ext. 287
bea.binka@eafwr.on.ca
Program Specialist

Chris Brown

ext. 239
chris.brown@eafwr.on.ca
Financial Specialist

Maria Gligor

ext. 210
maria.gligor@eafwr.on.ca
Financial Coordinator

Monika Sud

ext. 212
monika.sud@eafwr.on.ca
Finance Assistant

Twila Gingerich

ext. 214
twila.gingerich@eafwr.on.ca
ISP and Resource Assistant

Christina Koenig

ext. 0
reception@eafwr.on.ca
Community Ambassador

Ken Lemon

ext. 231
ken.lemon@eafwr.on.ca
IT Manager

Katy Boose

ext. 209
katy.boose@eafwr.on.ca
Community Engagement & Communications Specialist

Kerry Cressman

ext. 291
kerry.cressman@eafwr.on.ca
Community Engagement and Event Specialist

Avishka Juta

ext. 209
avishka.juta@eafwr.on.ca
Community Engagement & Communications Specialist

Lisa Stanley

ext. 268
lisa.stanley@eafwr.on.ca
Impact and Development Specialist

Nasra Abdulle

ext. 263
nasra.abdulle@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Daniel Allen

ext. 232
daniel.allen@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Kristen Atkinson

SIL Coordinator

Trena Barnes

ext. 216
trena.barnes@eafwr.on.ca
Community Participation Supports and Resource Coordinator

Sanjay Bhaskar

ext. 351
sanjay.bhaskar@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Jessica Cave

ext. 237
jessica.cave@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Tanya Feeney

ext. 218
tanya.feeney@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Rebecca Fowlie

ext. 246
rebecca.fowlie@eafwr.on.ca
Program Coordinator

Katie Hagedorn

ext. 248
katie.hagedorn@eafwr.on.ca
FamilyHome & Supported Independent Living Team Lead

Zahra Jama

ext. 219
zahra.jama@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Alyssa Marshall

ext. 270
alyssa.marshall@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Kelly McMillan

ext. 230
kelly.mcmillan@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Danielle Paquette

ext. 245
danielle.paquette@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Alexis Pite

ext. 264
alexis.pite@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Samara Riek

ext. 227
samara.riek@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Carol Ruddick

SIL Coordinator

Amal Shire

ext. 242
amal.shire@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Alexis Smith

ext. 211
alexis.smith@eafwr.on.ca
FamilyHome Coordinator

Tara Smith-Mior

ext. 250
tara.smith-mior@eafwr.on.ca
Creating Community Circles Coordinator

Christine Strong

ext. 244
christine.strong@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Neha Mariam Sunil

ext. 241
mariam.sunil@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Tharangi Uthayakumar

ext. 217
tharangi.uthayakumar@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Mikaela Vander Loo

ext. 299
mikaela.vanderloo@eafwr.on.ca
Support Coordinator

Michelle Boismier

ext. 249
michelle.boismier@eafwr.on.ca
Program Manager, FamilyHome

Denise Dietrich-Lelievre

ext. 228
denise.dietrich-lelievre@eafwr.on.ca
Program Manager, Special Services at Home & Intake

Kimberly Little

ext. 234
kimberly.little@eafwr.on.ca
Program Manager, Medically Fragile, Technologically Dependent (MFTD) & Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS)

Ben Sauder

ext. 290
ben.sauder@eafwr.on.ca
Manager, Community Programs

Kim Sproul

ext. 247
kim.sproul@eafwr.on.ca
Program Manager, Community Development

Jill Swanton

ext. 301
jill.swanton@eafwr.on.ca
Program Manager, Passport

Cheryl Fuller

ext. 238
cheryl.fuller@eafwr.on.ca
Training & Organizational Development Coordinator

Terral McBay

ext. 235
terral.mcbay@eafwr.on.ca
Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator

Noor Othman

ext. 221
noor.othman@eafwr.on.ca
Human Resources Projects Specialist

Michelle Scala

ext. 253
michelle.scala@eafwr.on.ca
Recruitment and Volunteer Coordinator

Desiree Hinsperger

ext. 309
desiree.hinsperger@eafwr.on.ca
Community Participation Services Manager

Julie Mainland

ext. 302
julie.mainland@eafwr.on.ca
Community Facilitator

Chantelle Mann

ext. 303
chantelle.mann@eafwr.on.ca
Community Participation Services Team Lead

Jayme Pembleton

ext. 307
jayme.pembleton@eafwr.on.ca
Community Facilitator

Kate Short

ext. 306
kate.short@eafwr.on.ca
Community Participation Services Facilitator

Gryphon Sibbald

ext. 314
gryphon.sibbald@eafwr.on.ca
Community Facilitator

Haela Von Hatten-Baer

ext. 308
haela.vonhatten-baer@eafwr.on.ca
Community Facilitator

Beth Weisberg

ext. 317
beth.weisberg@eafwr.on.ca
Community Facilitator