Our People

Meet Our Executive Director

Jai brings over 15 years of transformative leadership to this role, having held senior positions at the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), Durham Children’s Aid Society (DCAS), the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and George Brown College. His academic contributions as a former adjunct professor highlight his commitment to education and mentorship.

Jai’s career is a testament to his dedication to uplifting youth involved in the criminal justice system, empowering historically marginalized families, and inspiring hope within all communities. He has collaborated with institutions to champion the rights of immigrants, refugees, racialized youth, and individuals facing precarious immigration, work, and housing conditions across Ontario.

Celebrating One of Our Own

My name is Dede, and I have had the privilege of working with DFCC (now Northstar) since August 2023 as a Child and Youth Worker within the Collaborative Day Treatment Program. Throughout my time at DFCC (now Northstar), I have gained valuable skills and insights that have significantly contributed to both my personal and professional growth. This experience has allowed me to recognize my potential, and as a result, I made the decision to further my education with the goal of attending Teachers College.

I am pleased to share that I have received early acceptance to Trent University, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Our Board of Directors

Jonathan Kahane

Chair

Jonathan spent nearly a decade as a zookeeper, animal handler, and educator before pursuing higher education at Ontario Tech University…

Belinda Gruber

Vice Chair

Belinda is a social worker with experience in child protection, adoption, and healthcare. She has spent over 6 years at Lakeridge Health…

Richard Williams

Secretary Treasurer

Richard is a seasoned finance professional with broad experience in commercial restructuring, management consulting and project…

Christopher J. Squire, CPA, CA

Chris is an accomplished healthcare leader with over 15 years’ experience in financial and corporate services leadership…

Dwight Townsend

Dwight is a consultative leader with a successful track record in managing health care strategies and stakeholder engagements across primary…

Kay Mehrizi

As an intersectional feminist and social justice advocate with a background in clinical and behavioural psychology and over fifteen….

Kelly Spear

Kelly graduated from Queens University with an LLB in 1987 and was called to the Bar in 1990. She obtained her LLM in Family Law from…

Usma Qureshi

Usma is a public policy professional with 10 (+) years of experience in research, political analysis and program development…

Get Involved

Invitation to work with us or donate