Leadership Team

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Board of Directors

Broad Reach Canada

Our Board of Directors provides vision and direction for the organization. They liaise with youth serving agencies, develop relationships with our sponsorship partners and oversee staff and program performance.

Each board member brings their individual qualities to the organization and contributes a minimum of 40 hours active volunteer time each year. Being connected in this way enhances their ability to directly represent the needs of the Broad Reach youth audience.

Broad Reach is always seeking candidates to the Board Directors, standing and ad hoc committees. The Board meets monthly downtown Toronto. Directors are required to actively participate on Board Committees, at events and to support Broad Reach fundraising initiatives. Running a charity is a serious and demanding responsibility.

Interested candidates with relevant experience, values and appropriate level of professional and personal commitment are invited and encouraged to contact us – we will do our best to ensure that you have a rewarding and impactful experience.

Matthew Gip, CPA, CFA

Treasurer and Officer
Financial business partner at Dream Unlimited Corp.

Joan Tollerton

Director, Stakeholder Relations, Program

ESL Tutor, Teacher, Accredited Sailor

Antoinette Mak

Director

Simon de Groot

Director

Rekha Verma

Director

Emily Sale

Director

Staff

Marguerite Pyron

CEO

Chasity Hewitt Brown

GTHA Program Coordinator

Sarah Coons

Executive Administrative Assistant

Devon Cornelisse

Senior Project Manager, Resilient Sail Training Communities

Leah Shifferaw

Youth Programs Outreach Manager

Honourary Directors

Paul Henderson

A former president of the International Sailing Federation, he has the record of having competed in all the Canadian Olympic Sailing Trials from 1948 to 1984. Henderson has represented Canada at three Olympic Games: 1964 Enochima in the Flying Dutchman, 1968 Acapulco in the Finn and at the 1972 Schilksee as coach. He also qualified for the 1980 Olympics at Tallinn in the Star .

Diane Reid

The fourth Canadian, the first Canadian Woman, and one of only 6 internationals to gain entry into the 2013 Mini Transat race.Diane is Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster Ocean Commercially Endorsed to skipper yachts up to 24 metres, a full General Operator Certificate and a Restricted Operator Aeronautical Licence, as well as all the other tickets you can imagine. Diane is also a fully certified Sail Canada Cruising and Racing Instructor at all levels and was the first Canadian woman to be appointed as skipper in the world’s longest ocean race and is hoping to emulate the success of her compatriot Eric Holden, winner of the Clipper 2013-14 Race.

Damian Foxall

Born in Ireland and lives in Quebec. He has competed in ten round-the-world races which include four 1st place wins. He was subsequently described as a national hero and Ireland's top international sailor.In 2011 Damian won the Volvo Ocean race with Team Groupama.Other round-the-world events include 6 Volvo ocean races, and a World Record circumnavigation in early 2004 with Steve Fossett on the G-Class catamaran Cheyenne. He was named Sailor of the Month by Afloat Magazine in March 2004.
Charles Duncan Waterman

Charles Duncan Waterman

Global Real Estate Advisor, Engel & Volkers

Chair of the Board and Officer
Director, Sailing Community Relations

Provides leadership on Broad Reach relations with the GTHA yacht clubs and sailing organizations.

  • Coordinate, maintain and report on GTHA yacht clubs outreach campaign
  • Encourages clubs and their members to support BRF financially, as volunteers, through in-kind donations, bursaries for youth in their sailing schools, and any other relevant means possible
  • Present to the clubs, council of commodores, Sail Canada, Boat Show and Ontario Sailing
  • Host sailing community meetings as required
  • Maintain a constant, broad awareness of current and developing organizational and community needs issues that could impact BRF
  • Develop effective working relationships by liaising with other directors, staff and volunteers