Helen Brenner
Director – Elected in 2021

A long-time resident of Pickering, Helen is a retired RN/MBA and senior health care executive.  Throughout her career Helen focused on introducing new and innovative strategies to improve quality of care and the overall health care experience for patients and caregivers. In particular she is proud of being one of the first to lead the introduction of genuine patient engagement through the use of experience-based co-design.

Helen brings with her strategic, operational, business and financial expertise, past board experience, and extensive experience working/partnering with a broad range of stakeholders including senior health officials, board members, patients, caregivers, volunteers and community stakeholders to name a few.

Helen is a passionate gardener who has great respect for nature and as such advocates to protect our local wetlands, watersheds, natural heritage systems and agricultural land.

Jennifer Cree
Director – Elected in 2007

Jennifer is long-time resident of Ajax. She worked in a community based agency for 18 years and now works with her husband as the bookkeeper of their magazine company. Jennifer finds time to volunteer at her church and in the community. Jennifer has been actively involved on the committee for the Community Care Durham Walk for Mental Health and has held numerous positions on the board. Jennifer enjoys scrap booking, crafts, and gardening. She and her husband have three children.

Lorrie Hagen
Director – Elected in 2021

Lorrie and her husband, Adam have raised their family (daughter, son, and dog) in Whitby and have enjoyed seeing it grow over the last 20 years. Ms. Hagen is the Executive Director of The Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre (serving all of Durham) since 2017, where she provides hands-on leadership to the clinical, administrative, and fundraising teams. She is currently co-leading their first-ever capital campaign, since doors opened in 1989, to patients living with type 1 diabetes. Her professional experiences include 20 years in acute healthcare as both a clinician (Registered Dietitian), Nursing Manager and Senior Manager for the Transplant and Medical Specialties units at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. In 2013, Lorrie completed a master’s degree in Health Administration (MHSc) from the University of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

Lorrie has enjoyed volunteering her time with a variety of projects and places over the years but is particularly excited to be bringing her energy and unique skill mix to the CCD Board.  She is passionate about the intersection of community care and health care as it relates to the positive impact and outcomes for our people and their families.

Jean-Claude Legault
Director – Elected in 2022

Jean-Claude is a retired Whitby resident who used to work with Property Management and Business Development. He has experience with Bell Canada, Bell Canada International (Saudi Arabia), SNC Lavalin, and JCE Consultant Quality Management.  

He has previously served as the Past Chairman of Northern Ontario Canadian Paraplegic Association, the Past President of Community Living Oshawa Clarington and the Past Chairman of the Ontario Knights of Columbus Substance Abuse Poster Contest.  

He learned of CCD by being a Meals on Wheels volunteer and providing music to the Adult Day Program. CCD’s objective of supporting people in whatever their individual needs, is what attracted his interest with the CCD Board of Directors.  

Jean-Claude and his wife, Elaine, enjoy activities with their family of 4 children and 5 grandchildren. He provides volunteer music therapy wherever he is needed particularly to the clients of Community Living Oshawa-Clarington. He is also responsible for the musical liturgy of the Saturday mass of Paroisse Assomption de Notre Dame. He is a part-time driver for the Seniors Activity Centre (CAH) and holds various executive positions with the Knights of Columbus. Jean-Claude and his wife are also the Ontario representatives of the French Cursillo mouvement (religious retreats).

Fayrial Leung
Director – Elected in 2022

Fayrial resides in Whitby with her husband, their two children and their puppy. Her career in the healthcare sector has evolved through the years—starting as a Kinesiologist, then moving into senior leadership roles, and to her current role contributing to innovation excellence. She leverages her experience with operations, technology, and strategic planning to help inspire continuous improvement and achieve better outcomes and experience for the people involved. She has also recently completed a Master’s Degree in Health Administration (Community Care). 

Fayrial also serves on the Board of Directors for Durham Children’s Aid Society as they shift their efforts toward prevention and supportive services through child welfare re-design. She is also a co-founder and Program Director for the Pickering Challenger baseball league serving children and youth with physical and/or cognitive challenges.   

Fayrial is excited to share her skill set and experience to help support CCD in their important and impactful work, especially with a lens on the intersection of health and social services to provide integrated and holistic solutions that contribute to improving population health in Durham. 

May Lewars
Director — Elected in 2020

May, a Whitby resident, is a communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in the broadcasting and communications industry. She has expertise in strategic communication planning and implementation, media relations, issues and crisis management and executive-level communication support and counsel. Following a career as a broadcast journalist for several local media outlets, Lewars managed communications for large GTA school boards.

Lisa McCoy
Director – Elected in 2020

Lisa, a long-time resident of Durham Region, began her career in the charitable sector nearly 30 years ago. Throughout that time, she has held various senior leadership positions with several prominent, nationwide organizations. Over the years, she has provided strategic oversight to fundraising, event operations, government relations, volunteer engagement, programs and services.

Margaret Osborne
Director – Elected in 2022

Margaret has enjoyed living in Pickering for two decades.  Her career includes senior private and public sector management roles in marketing, operations and information technology. She is currently a college professor teaching innovation and entrepreneurship.  

Her governance experience includes roles as an appointed professional member at the College of Opticians of Ontario and as an elected director for the Canadian Internet Registration Authority.  The opportunity to contribute this experience in her own neighbourhood inspired her to become involved with Community Care Durham.  

Margaret is an avid sea kayaker who enjoys travelling for international expeditions as much as exploring Durham Region’s abundant lakes and rivers. 

Katelyn Ostropolec
Director – Elected in 2020

Katelyn is a former Community Care Durham Friendly Visitor and a member in good standing of the Bar of Ontario. She is an experienced litigator, having worked as legal counsel in child welfare law for approximately five years. She graduated with distinction from the University of Windsor and the University of Ottawa.

Alina Popa
Director – Elected in 2021

Alina is a CPA charter holder and currently a director at BMO Capital Markets. She has previous experience in financial accounting, taxation and governance working for some of the largest investment firms.

Alina is a dedicated mentor to junior females on the trading floor and is passionate about helping new immigrants reach their full professional potential.

Malvina Ram
Director – Elected in 2022

Malvina is a long-time resident of Pickering and a retired Banker.  She has raised her three children in the Durham Region with her late husband.  

Malvina brings extensive capabilities in handling operational management, strategic planning, people development and financial knowledge resulting with her 39 years of tenure working in banking. 

Malvina has had the opportunity of holding key positions in various non-profit and volunteer organizations and has knowledge of working with various stakeholders, organizing events and policy management. She has a deep passion for community welfare through innovative ideas.  In her downtime, Malvina enjoys cooking, gardening, crafts and serving those in need in her community. 

Matt Snyder
Director – Elected in 2021

Matt is a resident of Newcastle along with his life partner, two children and three dogs.

He is a seasoned Health Care and Human Resources Executive, having worked with Government, Hospitals, and Community Health organizations over the past 20+ years.  He holds a Masters in Leadership from the University of Guelph, in addition to advanced certifications in Leadership and Health Care Delivery from Rotman and Harvard respectively.

In his spare time Matt enjoys coaching and playing sports, reading, and all things out-of-doors.