Nicole strongly believes in the mission and mandate of Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre because the Centre is community-focused and provides strong support and advocacy for quality, accessible and equitable healthcare and works from a holistic approach. Nicole is a lawyer currently employed at a federal sector Association specializing in labour relations. She holds a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University. While in law school, Nicole worked as a caseworker at Parkdale Community Legal Services in the Workers’ Rights division. Nicole also has experience working in a public sector union and private law firm. She is an advocate of diversity.

Email: boardchair@pqwchc.ca

Shahilaa is passionate about meaningfully engaging and working with folks to create sustainable and resilient communities. With a background in Nursing and Public Health, Shahilaa’s experience encompasses community programming, health education, case management, and research. Growing up and currently residing in a marginalized community, she personally witnessed how barriers to health are ingrained in colonial, economic, political, and social factors. She is motivated to help drive social justice initiatives in a way that serves all individuals through a culturally safe, intersectional, and community-responsive approach. She is interested in making a long-term contribution to Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre by helping the organization achieve the vision of “Inclusive Communities, Responsive Healthcare, Healthier Lives”.

Eric is a CPA, CMA who has over 30 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. He has previously worked for the YMCA of Greater Toronto and United for Literacy. Now self-employed in his own consulting business, Eric’s goal has always been to support people to feel more confident and comfortable in financial management. He is currently supporting organizations in Indigenous communities, the social service sector and grassroots organizations. In addition to his consulting business, he is also a Professor at Centennial College, where he specializes in teaching financial management for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). He has previously served on the Board of North York Community House and the Ontario Council for International Cooperation. Eric is passionate about serving communities, and in particular Parkdale, as this was his first home when he moved to the city.

As a local community member, Matthew values the important role PQWCHC plays in the delivery of essential healthcare services to those who need it, where they need it. A strong believer in equitable access to healthcare services, Matthew is committed to advocating for those that are at risk and face barriers accessing the healthcare services they require. Matthew is currently Associate, Vice-President, Redevelopment at Trillium Health Partners where he has oversight of the largest redevelopment projects in the organization’s history. Prior to joining Trillium, Matthew held numerous roles at St. Michael’s Hospital, and Hamilton Health Sciences. In these roles he worked closely with the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, Infrastructure Ontario, and hospital executive leadership while leading the planning and implementation of redevelopment projects.  Matthew holds a Master of Health Administration (MHSc) from the University of Toronto and Bachelor of Physical Health and Education (B.P.H.E.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Queen’s University.

Lana is on a mission to reduce health inequities, improve healthcare access, and make Canada the healthiest place to live, grow, work, and play. She is currently the Director of Digital Health Engagement at Manulife, furthering health care and digital strategy ambitions for the organization and its customers. Prior to Manulife, Lana led the Business to Institutions (“B2I”) segment at Maple (getmaple.ca), making health care more connected through virtual medicine. Lana also worked in management consulting at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and spent five rewarding years as a Senior Advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Health. Driven by a sense of civic responsibility, Lana has also pursued leadership initiatives in regional and international arenas. She was selected for the CivicAction DiverseCity fellowship and participated in the world’s largest global innovation lab (UNLEASH) in Singapore. In 2023, she was recognized by The Peak as an Emerging Leader (awarded to Canadians under-40 who are making a notable impact in their field). Lana completed her Master of Public Health graduate degree at Queen’s University and Honours Bachelor of Science Kinesiology degree (minor in Health, Aging and Society) at McMaster University.

A settler in Toronto, Rozita is a biologist with a diverse work portfolio that spans from population research down to the atomic interactions at the genetic levels. She is also trained and worked in the field of public health.

Rozita is a proud Parkdale resident with deep ties to the community. Her work and interests encompass macroscale (social, political, and environmental) as well as microscopic determinants of Human health. Trauma, oppression, immigration as well as the healing power of nature and human connections are the life experiences that have shaped her interests. She believes the interconnected web of existence and the ecosystem of a community life needs constant tending and attending to remain healthy. In the beautifully colorful Parkdale community, where many of her experiences are shared by most residents, she feels at home and compelled to make a difference.

Megan is an educator currently completing her Masters of Education in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Megan gained her undergraduate concurrent education degree at Queens University, where she served as the Head Manager of the Peer Support Center coordinating mental health services for undergraduate students. She spent three years teaching secondary school students in Myanmar and Vietnam, experience that has grounded her understanding of intersectional identities and struggles. She is passionate about the process and complexities involved in decolonizing institutions, particularly in education or healthcare. Having spent the majority of her life living in Parkdale, she cares deeply about this community and all those who call it home.

Leigh is passionate about promoting access and equity in health care, particularly as it relates to mental health and addiction. As a corporate lawyer in downtown Toronto since 2003, Leigh realized it is important to live a balanced life, so staying connected with the community and advocating for people who may not be able to advocate for themselves is of the utmost importance.  Leigh recently completed the academic requirements for a post-degree certificate in Mental Health and Addictions at Humber College and is looking forward to completing the program with an in-person placement soon. Leigh has also completed the meditation course at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies and has a great appreciation for the benefits of mindfulness and meditation as a daily practice.

For over 5 years, Dana has been serving as the Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) Local Vice-President of the Society of United Professionals (Society). She represents 10,000+ Society members as a member of the Executive Board of Directors and almost 450 lawyers and articling students as the highest-ranking elected representative for the LAO Local. She has been a staff lawyer with LAO since 2010, representing some of Ontario’s most vulnerable persons. Over the years, Dana’s work has had a particular focus on representing people whose mental health is suffering, who suffer from addiction(s) and/or who face socio-economic barriers in life. For many years, she was a proud member of the Downtown Toronto Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee. This committee engages in joint cross-sectoral planning, coordination, collaboration and integration of service for individuals with mental health and addictions issues who are involved or at significant risk of being involved with the criminal justice system. She is passionate about being a member of the Parkdale Queen West Community Heath Centre Executive Board of Directors and to contributing to its mission, vision and values.