Leadership

Chris is the President and founder of ESC, a corporate services company servicing more than 5,000 professional clients across Canada with due diligence and public record solutions for legal transactions, compliance, and risk management. Before joining ESC, Chris spearheaded corporate strategy, growth, and corporate development at Teranet Inc. As a founding member of Teranet’s original team, Chris helped bring about innovations in multiple areas of real estate public records, including mortgage risk management, property valuation, and legal corporate services. He led substantial growth for Teranet, with successful acquisitions in the area of real estate legal services and corporate services. Having lived all over the world as a son of a Canadian diplomat, prior to leading Corporate Development at Teranet, Chris founded Teranet’s international consulting division that successfully delivered Land Registry programs on behalf of the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and CIDA in the Middle East, Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.

A passionate idea-driven entrepreneur, Chris brings energy, enthusiasm, and in-depth experience in listening, learning, and conceiving of new products and services for businesses, regardless of the time zone. Married to Christina and a father of four (three children and a golden retriever), Chris has spent a decade on sports fields as a coach, and as a volunteer for his children’s activities. As his children grow up, he is turning his attention to growing things in fields at his farm in Creemore and to charitable causes that address his interest in sustainable food security.

Shae has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit and social services sectors, including 4 years at The Stop in the Community Services program. For Shae, working with people, is a way of life. She currently serves as the Member Services Coordinator for a student housing co-operative in Toronto. Shae is a past board member for the YWCA Toronto and of the West End Food Co-op, where she was able to merge her passion for both food and community development. It’s this same dedication to her community, and to contributing her energy and focus on helping to improve the lives of others, that brings Shae back to the table and back to The Stop as a board member, a partner, and a friend.

George is a seasoned investment professional with more than 20 years of financial services experience. George is currently a partner at Instar Asset Management, a leading infrastructure private equity firm based in Toronto. He has diverse experience working and managing within an entrepreneurial environment while implementing industry best practices and is keen to lend his resources and experience to The Stop. George has been involved with The Stop for the past few years and is a founding member of The Stop’s Finance Committee. He grew up near The Stop and has a strong affinity with the local community in which The Stop provides its services and programs. George studied at the University of Waterloo and is a Chartered Accountant. He is married with one son.

Stacy is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, where her practice focuses on investment funds, corporate finance, securities regulation, and public company transactions. She is actively involved in the women@blakes network, which was established to assist women lawyers in achieving business success. Stacy believes that good things come from time spent with others around the kitchen table and is working with her three young children to ensure they understand the importance of healthy food and nutrition for everyone.

Charles has been a volunteer with The Stop since he first moved to Toronto nearly a decade ago. Looking to find a sense of community Charles began volunteering every other Saturday at our year-round Farmers’ Market and most recently as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee. As the Manager of Corporate Development for Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality, Charles brings a wealth of strategic and analytical financial expertise to the Finance Committee and management team. Charles looks forward to joining the Board of Directors to ensure that The Stop continues to provide others with the same sense of community that it has given him.

Nuria is Executive Director of the Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada. She has done PR and communications for some of Canada’s top media, film, and charitable organizations. She was born in Argentina, and has studied in the United States, France, and Canada.

Sarah is one of Canada’s leading environmental lawyers, certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Environmental Law. She has extensive experience in all aspects of environmental law, including strategic advice on environmental and social impact assessments, environmental approvals, energy approvals, contaminated sites, environmental class actions, and aboriginal risk assessments. Sarah is Past Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association and the Chair of the National Environmental, Energy, and Resource Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association.

As a first-generation racialized Canadian who has experienced food insecurity firsthand, Sabina looks forward to bringing her voice and platform to further the mission of The Stop. As co-founder of the Vohra-Miller Foundation, Sabina works to make systemic, sustainable and meaningful changes to improve the health of the planet and its people. Throughout the Covid 19 pandemic, Sabina has used her background in pharmacology and toxicology to support health equity through the dissemination of vaccine information with groups across the city including the South Asian Health Network.

Alison Brennan is an esteemed human resources professional with over 30 years of experience in the Financial Services sector. Alison has worked for large and small organizations including Marsh Canada Limited, TAL Private Management, and Maritime Life, and her passion is coaching leaders to drive positive change and deliver excellent results

Alison holds a Certified Human Resources Leader Designation from the Human Resources Professionals Association, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree from Queen’s University. She was an elected member of St. Matthew Parent Council for 4 years, and serves as an active mentor to many human resource professionals.

As Principal and Wealth Advisor at Stonegate Private Counsel, Koel brings extensive experience in managing the financial affairs of business owners, professionals and other Canadian families. Koel holds an MBA from the Michael G. Degroote School of Business at McMaster University and an Honours degree in Commerce from Queen’s University. Most recently, Koel has been awarded the coveted Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI) designation, placing him in the top five percent of all financial advisors in Canada. Koel resides in Toronto’s Little Italy community. During his spare time, Koel is involved with The Family Enterprise Exchange, The Stop, and serves on the ROM’s Executive Board for its Royal Patrons’ Circle.

Most recently, Michael launched and led The Story Lab Canada—the content specialist agency within Dentsu Aegis Network. He presented the agency’s core offerings in branded content, and led the delivery of customized, cross-channel, content-driven marketing solutions for clients including P&G, Loblaw/Shoppers Drug Mart, Target, GM, and Diageo across multiple media channels (including television, digital, print, in-store, and OOH), with multiple media partners (such as Rogers, Bell, Shaw, Google/YouTube, AOL, MSN, TC Media, and others).

Prior to that, Michael led his own start-up, Thread Branded Inc., a boutique branded content studio that he launched in 2010 and was acquired by the agency in 2013. Michael’s move into content marketing was inspired by his vision to bring together his past experience from two sectors, strategically growing and running television production and distribution companies, combined with the development, sale, and management of major sponsorship marketing programs.

Steve Thuringer is a facilities specialist who has been the Executive Director of Upper Canada College for over 20 years. He is a resident of the St. Clair and Christie neighbourhood and lives around the corner from Wychwood Open Door with his family.