The Board of Directors of CAH consists of a maximum of nine (9) directors elected by the members of the Corporation at the Annual General Meeting. Board members may choose to become involved in one or more of the committees necessary for the good governance of CAH: Executive Management Evaluation Committee, Treasury and Audit Committee, CAH Member Relations Committee, Board of Directors Nominating Committee, Building Committee, Legal and Complaints Committee, and Governance Committee.
Vous parlez français et désirez vous joindre à un conseil d’administration francophone? Veuillez consulter notre page du CA en français.
News from the Board of Directors (as of June 26, 2024)
The Board met to elect a new team. And it is pleased to announce the new Honorary Members following the call for nominations from CAH voting members for the year 2023-24: Sylvie Lavoie and Denis Frawley (as the Past President he is automatically appointed Honorary Member of CAH).
The members of the Board of Directors for the year 2024-2025 are:
Marek Nesvadba
DIRECTOR/CHAIR
Marek Nesvadba, grew up in Montreal where he completed his college studies at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. After graduating from McGill University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations, Marek began a 22-year career in human resources with two large multinational organizations. He then became vice-president and general manager for a company working in the industrial distribution sector. Today, Marek is president of a consulting firm in Toronto.
He joined the CAH Board of Directors in October 2015 and filled the role of Secretary in 2017. He was Chair of the Appointments Committee and also a member of the Governance Committee. he returns in 2022-23 as a director.
Joyce Irvine
DIRECTOR/VICE-CHAIR
Raised in Burlington, Ontario, Joyce Irvine completed her undergraduate studies at McMaster University in Hamilton and her graduate studies at Harvard University in Boston. She holds a master’s degree in French literature and did doctoral work. Now retired, Joyce is a seasoned manager with extensive experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors at the federal, provincial and community levels. After serving as French language services coordinator in several provincial ministries and holding senior positions in community organizations, Joyce worked as a consultant specializing in French language services, official languages, project management and strategic planning. She continues to provide translation and revision services.
Over her career, Joyce has also been a member of several boards of directors (Réseau franco-santé du Sud de l’Ontario, Reflet Salvéo). Joyce has been a member of CAH since 2010 and a member of its board from 2010 to 2018; she served as board president from 2012 to 2014 and from 2015 to 2017 and sat on several committees. Following a one-year hiatus, she returned as the board secretary in 2019.
Geneviève Grenier
DIRECTOR/TRESORER
Originally from Quebec, Genevieve Grenier has lived in the Toronto area for almost 20 years. Genevieve is a member of the Ontario CPA Society and was awarded the title of Fellow by her association in 2014 for her commitment to her profession.
She holds a Master of Business Administration from the Royal Military College. She currently holds the position of Vice President of Membership Development at CPA Canada. Prior to joining CPA Canada, she held the position of Senior Director of Finance and Technology for Rona. For several years, she has been involved in the Francophone community in Ontario; she has represented the Region of Peel for the Francophone school board since 2014. Her community involvement has also led her to sit on various audit committees. She now considers herself a proud Franco-Ontarian and is happy to be able to raise her two daughters in an environment that embraces the Francophonie.
She joined the CAH Board of Directors in September 2021 as a Director.
Diane Saint-Pierre
DIRECTOR/SECRETARY
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and ally of the French language, Diane Saint-Pierre, on February 14, 2025. (To read our tribute in French, click here.)
A native of Rimouski, Quebec, Diane Saint-Pierre moved to Toronto in 1990 and quickly became involved in the Toronto community. From 1993 to 1999, she held the positions of secretary, treasurer and president of the Semaine francophone/Franco-Fête.
Diane has been president of the Club Richelieu Toronto since July 1, 2020. She also organized the Club’s 60th anniversary in 2016.
She joined CAH in 2005, when she was secretary of meetings. Diane served as Chair of the CAH Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2012. She also presided over the organization of the main fundraising event, the Gilles Barbeau Golf Tournament for CAH, from 2011 to 2017. She currently sits on the Place St. Laurent Tenant Committee and the Centre for Active Living Advisory Committee.
Edgard-Casimir Lalo-Sayo
DIRECTOR
Edgard Lalo-Sayo is passionate about education and science and technology, but what motivates him most of all is mutual aid and community solidarity. Edgard moved to Toronto about 10 years ago from Quebec City. He completed a bachelor’s degree at Laval University in multidisciplinary fields combining engineering physics (concentration in telecommunications) and entrepreneurship in SME management. He works as a trainer and resource person for Bell Canada’s fiber optic network management department for Ontario companies.
Edgard also holds a master’s degree in education. As a researcher, he is a member of the Observatoire du numérique en éducation (ONE) and is currently a doctoral student in the doctoral program in educational technology at Université Laval.
Edgard joined the CAH as a member in December 2021 and became a member of the Board of Directors in October 2022. He also sits on the Member Relations Committee and the Nominating Committee.
Denis Frawley
DIRECTOR
Denis Frawley was a member of the CAH Board of Directors from 2013 to 2020, and joined in 2021 to begin a new term. He is also a member of the Legal and Complaints Committee. He is now chair of the board.
Denis is an associate practicing corporate, commercial and securities law at Ormston List Frawley LLP, a firm he co-founded in 2006.
From this firm, Denis advises clients operating in the mining and exploration sector mining and exploration (in Canada and elsewhere in the world), high technology and other sectors likely to attract innovative business people. A native of Sudbury, he completed his B.A. in Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa in 1996, and his law studies at McGill University in 1996 (B.A. in Common Law and Civil Law). He was admitted to the Ontario Bar (1998) and the New York Bar (1997). After living in New York for several years, where he became a partner in an international law firm, he moved to Toronto in 2005. He is active on several committees of the Canadian Bar Association. With his spouse, Denis has two children.
Safia Fakim
DIRECTOR
Safia Fakim grew up in Toronto and completed her Bachelor of Life Sciences/Biomedical Sciences (BSc) at Queen’s, her Master of Public Health (MPH) at Western and completed her internship at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Safia also has her Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate.
Safia joined the Ontario Public Service in March 2021 and is currently working in the Ministry of Francophone Affairs.
In 2016, she worked as a summer student at CAH. Afterwards, she gained experience at several health service providers and then worked at Entity 4 for French Health Services Planning. Safia joined the CAH Board of Directors in September 2021 as a Director.
Raisa Pesel
DIRECTOR
Raisa Pesel is a Toronto-based P.Eng engineer specializing in telecommunications. She works for Fujitsu as a wireless sales engineer, providing technical advice and expertise to customers. Previously, she spent 7.5 years working for Bell Canada, where she held several positions in the Networks Department. Raisa began her STEM education in Romania, at the Polytechnic University of Timisoara.
She then obtained a Master’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Limoges in France, as well as an M.A.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Canada. Raisa mentors and coaches young people, and devotes her time to Engineers of Tomorrow (where she chairs the GTA North region), Camp Engies, LeanIn Toronto and Fujitsu Women Innovative Network (where she chairs the Canadian STEM Group).
She is a strong advocate for women in STEM, enjoys sharing her experiences as a woman in engineering and traditionally male-dominated industries, and strives to inspire young girls to choose a technical education and future career, ideally in engineering.
Raisa joined the CAH Board of Directors in September 2023.
Vanessa Cangé
DIRECTOR
Vanessa Cangé joined the board of directors at CAH as of May 2024.
Growing up in a Francophone community in Ontario, she is acutely aware of the challenges associated with full integration in the province. Volunteering on the Board at Centre d’accueil Héritage provides her with a unique opportunity to help seniors thrive in French in Ontario.
Throughout her career, she has held strategic planning and project management roles in both the financial industry and healthcare sector. Currently, as an Ontario Public Servant, she is dedicated to improving the lives of Ontarians.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and Communication from the University of Ottawa. Additionally, she has completed a Certificate in Business French and Translation at Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as a Certificate in Project Management from The University of Toronto.
In her leisure time, she enjoys reading and hiking with her three daughters.
News from the Board of Directors (as of September 16, 2022)
On September 15, 2022, the first ever Board of Directors COCKTAIL was held. At the 2022 AGM, some members had mentioned they would like to have the opportunity to get to know the directors. The Board of Directors decided to offer a cocktail to meet CAH members and employees. The Board took the opportunity to congratulate the CAH team on the excellent work they have done, which has earned CAH the recent Accreditation Canada with Honours award!
The event was a great success and will become a CAH tradition and a privilege of the voting members of the corporation. Here is the photo gallery taken at the September 15, 2022 cocktail party.
