VO is recruiting and deploying volunteers to respond to the volunteer needs specific to COVID-19 in Ottawa, Prescott-Russell, Lanark County and Renfrew County while ensuring proper screening and training protocals to safeguard the health of those volunteering and those they are assisting. Please see the intake portals for volunteers, for members, and for other agencies on our hompage. VO’s COVID 19 volunteer deployment program is supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund and the Ottawa Community Foundation.
Mante Molepo 
Teaches: Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism
Mante Molepo is an anti-racism consultant, an award-winning community leader, and speaker. She works with governments, non-profits and companies to address equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. She is a founding member and Director of Parents for Diversity, an organization committed to addressing discrimination in the education system, as well as a Director for Amnesty International Canada and the Parkdale Food Centre. In 2020, Mante was recognized as a Community Builder by the United Way and in 2018, she was recognized as one of Canada’s 100 Accomplished Black Women.
Heather Badenoch Teaches: Social Media for NPOs; Communications Planning for NPOs; Working with the Media; Crisis Communications
Heather Badenoch believes in the power of not-for-profits and the strength they have to effect change for people, animals and our environment. As the Chief Strategist at Village PR she provides communications planning and implementation, public relations, social media engagement, and training to not-for-profits across Canada.
Heather works strategically and creatively with her clients to accomplish their communication goals. In 2002, Heather left private sector communications to find meaningful work that aligned with her values. Feeling an instant connection to individuals relentlessly dedicated to change, she found her calling in the not-for-profit sector and has never looked back. In her career of supporting organizations across Canada for more than fifteen years, Heather has developed a deep appreciation and understanding of the players, pressures and meaningful work being done by the not-for-profit sector. In early 2018, Heather became a living liver donor for a stranger in Toronto; for a child whose identity she doesn’t know.
Teaches: Excel 101
Paula Coons is the Finance Officer at the Parent Resource Centre. Paula started her career in financial management in ‘99 and moved to the non-profit sector in ‘04 where she fell in love with her work and the difference she realized she could make in her community. Volunteer Ottawa has a special place in Paula's heart and life. While working at Volunteer Ottawa for 14 years, she managed many programs including Education, Youth, Corporate Volunteerism and Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement. She has developed and delivered multiple workshops with a focus on financial management, reporting and the use of technology to make work life easier. She lives just outside of the City, loves to spend time with her family and friends, and spends her summer vacation camping and enjoying the outdoors.
David Bird Teaches: Uncover Your Website's Secrets with Google Analytics; Google Advertising for NFPs
David Bird is a Marketing Consultant and owner of Birds Eye Marketing, which provides marketing services for a number of clients in the Ottawa area, particularly in Google AdWords and Analytics. His many qualifications include certifications in Google Adwords, Pay-Per-Click advertising, Google Analytics, and Web Metrics. In addition to these qualifications, David has over 20 years of experience in creating and implementing marketing programs. Based on this experience, he knows exactly how important it is to base all of your marketing decisions on measurable data. David's workshops can teach you how to take advantage of free Google Analytics and how to sign up for a free (for Canadian registered charities and non-profits) Google grant, allowing you to place up to $10,000 worth of advertising online, absolutely for free.
Annik Blanchard, CPA, CA Teaches: How to Prepare for your Annual Audit
Annik is a Partner in BDO Canada with over 18 years of professional experience providing assurance services to not-for-profit and public sector organizations.
She is actively involved in the community as a member of the Audit Committee for the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, an Audit and Finance Committee member for the Girl Guides of Canada and is a Board member for Embrun Watch. In addition, she volunteers through the CPA Canada financial literacy program for elementary and intermediate school students. Annik was named as a 2018 Forty Under 40 recipient (Ottawa).
Teaches: Fill your Social Media Toolbox and Effective Communications During the Pandemic
Darcy Boucher is founder and president of Bowda Creative Communications, an independent agency that provides Canadian businesses, organizations, and nonprofits with creative communications solutions. Established in 2013, they have since been providing their wide range of clients with social media, graphic design, communications and consulting services. Darcy is also the Marketing and Communications Manager at Humane Canada, and previously was a Communications Advisor with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). There, she managed their national online presence and advised senior leadership on social media best practices. Darcy is also a Public Affairs Officer in the Naval Reserves.
Darren Budd, CPA, CA, CIA, CISA, CRMA Teaches: Organizational Risk Management
Darren is a Senior Consultant and co-owner of Orbis Risk Consulting. He offers over 20 years of professional experience providing risk management, internal audit, IT audit, governance and process improvement services in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. An active member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, he is Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor, in addition to a Certifications in Information Systems Audit and Risk Management Assurance.
Terrance Carter Teaches: Legal Check-Up
Terrance S. Carter, B.A., LL.B, TEP, Trade-mark Agent – Managing Partner of Carters, Mr. Carter practices in the area of charity and not-for-profit law, and is counsel to Fasken on charitable matters. Mr. Carter is a co-author of Corporate and Practice Manual for Charitable and Not-for-Profit Corporations (Thomson Reuters), a co-editor of Charities Legislation and Commentary (LexisNexis, 2019), and co-author of Branding and Copyright for Charities and Non-Profit Organizations (2019 LexisNexis). He is recognized as a leading expert by Lexpert, The Best Lawyers in Canada and Chambers and Partners. Mr. Carter is a member of CRA Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector, and is a Past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association and Ontario Bar Association Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Sections. He is editor of www.charitylaw.ca, www.churchlaw.ca and www.antiterrorismlaw.ca
Geneviève Chouinard, CPA Teaches: How to Prepare for your Annual Audit
Geneviève is a Manager with BDO Canada. She has a background in both Human Kinetics and Commerce, with almost 5 years of experience in Accounting and Assurance with various types of not-for-profit organizations and small and medium sized companies. Her not-for-profit experience includes national and local associations, charitable organizations, health organizations, foundations, pension plans, professional associations and childcare organizations.
Marie Eveline Teaches: Diversifying Revenue in Non-Profits: A Primer for Senior Executives and Board Members
Marie Eveline is Executive Director of Volunteer Ottawa. She has served in this role since 2015. She has over thirty years experience in the not-for-profit sector having worked nationally, provincially and locally. Prior to joining Volunteer Ottawa, Marie served as Executive Director with the Printing Industries Sector Council and the Canadian School Boards Association. In addition to a Master’s degree, Marie has certification in association management and strategic planning.
Marie has led Volunteer Ottawa through a three year change process with approval of a new strategic plan; a focus on revenue diversification; development of business cases for our key program areas; and, organizational re-alignment and governance streamlining. Through this process VO has managed to more than double its program revenues while staying true to our mission.
Marie believes that real change happens at the community level through the efforts of volunteers committed to making a difference. It is only through engagement and commitment by a Board willing to take managed risks will not for profit organizations survive and thrive in the current climate of dwindling resources and expanded demands.
Teaches: How to Read Financial Statements
John Gilhooly has over 30 years of experience as a senior manager in a financial and risk management and accounting context; currently, he is a senior manager at BDO Canada. He is qualified as a Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor, in addition to a Certification in Risk Management Assurance and a Master’s of Business Administration.
Teaches: Volunteer Recruitment and Adapting to Virtual Volunteering
Adam is a passionate not for profit leader with a heart for advocacy and community building. Adam currently is the Director of Volunteer Engagement with Christie Lake Kids, a non-profit which serves economically disadvantaged children and youth in Ottawa by providing recreation and skill-building programs. In this role, he has successfully doubled the organization’s base number of volunteers, developing hundreds of short- and long-term volunteer members. He is serving as the Vice-Chair of OAVR (Ottawa Administrators of Volunteer Resources), January 2021-2023, has written for www.Engagejournal.org, for the CCVA, Volunteer Ottawa and is the volunteer management consultant at Beyond the Bake Sale (www.btbs.ca), a platform for not-for-profit innovation. Adam lives in Ottawa with his wife and three amazing and rapidly growing children.
Aasif Khakoo Teaches: Business Continuity Planning and Scenario Planning
Aasif is an influential executive with over 20 years of leadership experience across the healthcare continuum including primary care, long term care, mental health and addictions, acute care, and community support – and having engaged with Ontario’s healthcare system as a patient, caregiver and advocate. He has content expertise, cultural awareness, and the stakeholder knowledge to design and help deliver value while working closely with the all levels of the organization. Aasif’s first interaction in leading business continuity planning was during the Y2K period, where Aasif was responsible for Y2K organizational contingency planning at Toronto East General Hospital. Since then, his executive level roles have required various business continuity plans at strategic and operational levels. He is currently the Principle Consultant and Director for IMPACT Healthcare Consulting Inc. Aasif is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Healthcare Executive (CHE) and he holds a Masters in Health Administration.
Sam Laprade Teaches: Case for Support; Engaging your Board in Fundraising; Engaging Donors
Sam Laprade loves to connect people! As a professional fundraiser Sam works closely with generous donors to impact some of the most vulnerable people in her community.
Over a 28-year period Sam has raised money for important charities in her community such as: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, the Ottawa Humane Society and the Ottawa Mission Foundation. In 2009, Sam started as Director, Gryphon Fundraising (www.gryphonfundraising.com). Ms. Laprade shares the importance of donor database analytics with fundraising professionals worldwide. In addition to her work with Gryphon Fundraising, in October 2017, Sam launched her full-time consultancy to assist non-profits with fundraising strategy, stewardship, board relations, coaching and audits.
Sam is an engaging speaker who receives high ratings. Her speaking engagements include: AFP International Conference, the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, the Association of Donor Relations Professionals and AFP Congress (Canada). Sam is the creator and radio host of “An Hour to Give” on 1310 News, Ottawa. This show highlights non-profit organizations in Ottawa, Canada.
Kathy Magee Teaches: Discipline and Dismissal, Volunteer Screening, Event Management
Kathy Magee was the Volunteer Specialist with the Department of Recreation, Cultural, and Facility Services for the City of Ottawa for 17 years. A graduate of Vanier College, she worked for a number of years as a Recreation Therapist prior to specializing in Volunteer Management. Kathy was the past Chair of the Advisory Board for the Event Management Program at Algonquin College, where continues as a mentor. she has also served on the boards of Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC) as Vice President. Provincial Association of Volunteer Resources Ontario (PAVRO) as Conference chair, and Ottawa Administrators of Volunteer Resources (OAVR) as President. She is currently a part-time professor at Algonquin College, where she teaches HR and Volunteer Management in the Event Management Program.
Tais McNeillTeaches: Write Successful Grant Proposals
Tais McNeill is the Associate, Grants and Community Knowledge at the Ottawa Community Foundation, where he is responsible for guiding applicants through the Foundation’s application process, and for supporting the work of the Foundation’s Grants Committee.
In addition to working with the OCF’s Grants Committee, Tais has sat on review committees for United Way Ottawa and the Community Development Framework over seven years of working in Ottawa’s non-profit sector.
A native of Chelsea, Quebec, Tais holds a B.A. in International Development Studies from McGill University.
Teaches: Project Management 101
NPO PM Training.org is a local non-profit which exists to improve the capacity of local charities and NPOs to deliver on their mandates by managing their initiatives more effectively.
The NPO PM Training.org's leaders are:
Paul Astell is a certified Project Management Professional who has been working as a Project Manager in high-tech for over 12 years. Paul specializes in advanced R&D projects which are unique and have different requirements - not unlike the projects in the non-profit sector. Currently Paul is working at the Communications Research Centre.
Cliff Thornton is a certified Project Management Professional who has been in the high-tech industry for over 22 years. Cliff has worked in various inspiring roles over his 18 years at Cognos / IBM and now as an independent consultant. His roles have included: Customer Support, Software QA/QC, Release Management, Program Coordinator / Operations Management notably covering all areas (hardware, software, procurement, legal, process document, etc.) of deploying an entire lab to handle 300 users, Agile Methodology implementation and has helped organize and provide numerous NPO PM training workshops.
Lola Dubé-Quibell Teaches: Creating a Volunteer Handbook
Lola has over 30 years of industry experience which includes a long association with Volunteer Ottawa and many of Volunteer Ottawa’s members and related associations. She is currently Ottawa Public Health’s Coordinator of Volunteer Resources; a role she has held for the past 17 years. Earlier in her career, Lola spent over a decade in sales and marketing at Canada Post. She has been a past Co-Chair of the Ontario Public Health Volunteer Resources Management Network (VRMN) and the Ottawa Administrators of Volunteer Resources (OAVR), as well as a Board Director at Centre Soleil and the Civic Institute of Professional Personnel. Lola has a Masters from Laurentian University and obtained a Certificate in Volunteer Administration from Algonquin College.
Christian Robillard Teaches: How to Write a Compelling Sponsorship Proposal
Beginning his way handing out donation letters for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, Christian has gone on to help organizations, large and small, raise millions of dollars for the causes they care about. Christian specializes in the cause sponsorship space – having designed corporate sponsorship strategies for large and small organizations, in addition to leveraging corporate sponsorship funding for personal projects.
With the Carleton University Students’ Association, Christian designed and implemented strategies that raised the association over $130,000 in multi-year sponsorship deals. As a consultant with The Sponsorship Collective, Christian designed strategies and tactics that have helped organizations big and small raise millions more. As a community volunteer, Christian has helped to raise over a million dollars in donations for varying causes, with a quarter of that coming from sponsorship.
Christian is a graduate of the master’s in philanthropy program at Carleton University, a recipient of the Sovereign’s Medal for volunteers; the Board of Governors Award for Outstanding Community Achievement and the OC150 Award, and is the co-founder and host of “Beyond the Bake Sale” an organization dedicated to helping people and organizations raise more time, talent and treasure for the cause they care about. He is also a frequent speaker on fundraising, sponsorship, and young professional engagement.
Esther Shainblum, B.A., LL.B., LL.M., CRM Teaches: Legal Check-Up
Esther Shainblum, B.A., LL.B., LL.M., CRM – Ms. Shainblum practices at Carters Professional Corporation in the areas of charity and not for profit law, privacy law and health law. From 2005 to 2017 Ms. Shainblum was General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer for Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, a national, not-for-profit, charitable home and community care organization. Before joining VON Canada, Ms. Shainblum was the Senior Policy Advisor to the Ontario Minister of Health. Earlier in her career, Ms Shainblum practiced health law and corporate/commercial law at McMillan Binch and spent a number of years working in policy development at Queen’s Park.
Tim Simboli, PhD Teaches: Self-Care: Wellness and Mental Health Supports for Staff, Volunteers and Clients
Tim has spent over 40 years working in mental health and social services in the Ottawa community. He is currently the Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association - Ottawa Branch, a position he has held since 2011. Prior to his present position Tim spent 17 years as the Executive Director of Family Services à la famille Ottawa, following a five year tenure as the Director of Operations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ottawa, and 10 years as the Senior Clinical Supervisor at the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa. His earliest work was with young offenders and in child protection. Tim holds a Doctorate in Psychology from Carleton University and his academic training focused on clinical research and program evaluation. He has a strong belief in client services and is a proponent of evidenced-based decision making, social innovation, and cross-sectoral collaboration, and is intimately familiar with the voluntary sector locally, provincially and nationally. Tim considers himself a lifelong resident of Ottawa, and is a father of two and grandfather to five.
Teaches: Fostering Effective Staff-Volunteer Relations
Nikkie Snagg is the membership and volunteer coordinator at the Good Companions Seniors Centre. Trained as a Community Service Worker, Nikkie has 6 years of experience in Ottawa’s social sector, working with volunteers and clients in need.
Cédric St-AmourTeaches: Orientation and Training
Cédric St-Amour is the volunteer coordinator for Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation, which manages three museums in the Ottawa area: Science and Technology Museum, Agriculture and Food Museum, and Aviation and Space Museum.
Benjamin M Schlussel Teaches: Board Governance
Mr. Schlussel has an international reputation as a thought leader and a highly sought after consultant and facilitator. He is the founder and Principal Consultant of BMS Associates, a management consulting, education and training enterprise.
Now retired, he continues to stay active and share his knowledge and experience by volunteering for several not for profit organizations in the Ottawa. They include the Diabetes Association of Canada, the Ottawa Chapter of APICS and Volunteer Ottawa.
Ben is a consummate professional with extensive experience in manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain management. He has worked with clients the fields of electronics, precision machining, heavy metal fabrication, machine tools, aerospace/defense, transportation equipment, auto parts, food products, pharmaceuticals and not for profit service industries.
Mr. Schlussel is proud to have received the Toyota Best Idea Award presented at the SAPICS conference in Durban, South Africa.
Ben has conducted hundreds of workshops internationally, for APICS, the American Management Association (AMA) and a variety of businesses, educational institutions, and professional organizations. He is the author of the AMA’s course on Supply Chain Management
Jason Solomon Teaches: Board Governance
Jason is an IT project manager with Statistics Canada and enjoys collaborating with start-ups and innovation across all domains. In the past 25 years Jason has worked and volunteered with not-for-profits, startups, academic institutions, public sector and spent 11 years in the military as an Infanteer. Jason has previous experience in governance with both private sector and not-for-profit board directorships.
Jason received his Honours Bachelor of Commerce with a specialty in Management Information Systems from Lakehead University in 1999, Masters of Business Administration degree from Telfer (2013), and Masters of Project Management certification from Sprott (2010) and holds PMP & ITIL foundation designations.
Teaches: Board Governance
Claudia, the corporate secretary on the Volunteer Ottawa Board of Directors, is an occupational therapist in private practice in Ottawa. She has diverse governance experience with not-for-profit organizations as a senior executive as well as through volunteer roles with a number of community agencies. In addition to joining the VO Board in 2014, Claudia currently serves as the project lead for several initiatives of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Claudia holds a Master’s of Science degree in Epidemiology and Doctorate in Rehabilitation Science from Queen’s University. She teaches in the Masters of Rehabilitation Science Program with the University of British Columbia and holds appointments as a Clinical Assistant Professor with both McMaster University and the University of British Columbia.
Osamu Wakabayashi Teaches: Introductory WordPress for Non-Profits
The Designer and Speaker at Zen Ideas, Osamu Wakabayashi has over 15 years of experience as a marketing and communication manager in both private and public sectors. In addition to his design talent and passion for creating graphic design, enriching brand development, Osamu focuses his expertise in delivering seminars/workshops to the business community and assisting them in developing WordPress websites, presentation and marketing strategies.
