Linda M. Dougherty has more than 16 years of experience in the investment banking, private equity and consulting industries. Linda is currently a Director within the Corporate Development group of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Prior to joining The Toronto-Dominion Bank in this role, she was a Partner with Birch Hill Equity Partners and a Managing Director with TD Capital. Linda has two young children.

Kristy Duncan - Kristy is a freelance consultant, focusing on strategy and research in electronic banking. In her career, she has been a leader in building new payment infrastructures across North America. Kristy founded WEMS (Women Engineers Mentoring Students), a mentoring program for women engineering students at the University of Toronto, for which she received an Arbor Award. She is an active mother of two daughters and is our President/Chair of the Board.

Denise Graham is a Registered Professional Planner who works for the City of Toronto. She has been a community planner since 1978 and enjoys helping people understand the land use planning process. Denise is interested in knitting and painting and has taken many courses through the Neighbourhood Centre to fuel her passions. Denise has been a member of Fairlawn Avenue United Church since the birth of her son in 1987.

Stuart W. LeMesurier is a partner with the Toronto law firm of McLean & Kerr. Stuart is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada, the International Council of Shopping Centres and the Toronto Downtown Business Toastmasters. We welcome him to our Board and look forward to benefiting from his sage advice and counsel. In addition to a busy practice, primarily involving commercial leasing matters, he is the father of three children.

Meredith MacKeigan brings her considerable enthusiasm and energy to the Board, leveraging her past and present expertise in marketing, product development and e-learning. She is currently a principal in an interactive, online communications company that creates integrated online marketing and one-to-one communication programs for Fortune 500 clients in key verticals such as packaged goods, retail, banking and pharmaceuticals. She's also the mother of two small children.

Theresa Stephen has spent more than 15 years in the investment management industry, focusing on marketing and strategy for retail and high-net-worth client segments.  She relocated to Toronto in 2004, after having lived and worked in New York City for ten years.  Theresa found that the Neighbourhood Centre was an invaluable resource for getting to know her new community and has enjoyed the pre-school programming for her two young sons.

Tanya van Biesen As co-lead of Spencer Stuart's Financial Services practice in Canada, Tanya brings her considerable retail and financial services expertise to the Board. In the early nineties she was a National Category Manager with Procter & Gamble Inc. and since then has researched, recruited and managed key search assignments. A Big Sister since 2001 and active mother, we are delighted to have Tanya on our Board.

Staff Bios
Incoming Executive Director Naomi Schafler joins the Centre as Executive Director in January 2010. A community person at heart, Naomi has a long and varied history of volunteer work. Naomi holds an Honours BA (Arts) from Queen’s University and a Certificate in Corporate Communications from Seneca College. She brings her banking, sales and marketing skills, special events planning experience and public relations vision to this position. She is thrilled and grateful to be a part of the FNC Team.

Program & Volunteer Coordinator, Ruth LeBar joined the Centre as a Welcome Desk volunteer in 1997. Within no time, her considerable skills in volunteer development and administration became evident. Her background in the non-profit sector includes work with St. John Ambulance as well as Co-coordinator of Health Promotion and Volunteer Recruitment for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Her warm, easy-going style is a great asset to the Centre. 

Treasurer Heather de la Rua has a private bookkeeping practice within the community. George Richardson will continue to support the Treasurer in her new role.