North York Seniors Centre (NYSC) Board of Directors follows a results-oriented model of governance to lead our organization into the future. The board membership reflects the diversity of our community and includes user-representation from clients, members and caregivers. Our dedicated board members volunteer their time and resources to help with NYSC’s mission to provide older adults with quality programs and services.
In 2010 the NYSC Board of Directors was nominated for the Maytree Diversity in Governance Award.
Peter Fuchs
Chair
Peter Fuchs joined the NYSC Board in January 2006. Peter has held many positions in his tenure on the Board, including Chairperson of the Board, Vice-Chairperson and the Chair of the Governance Committee. Currently, he is serving his second session as Chairperson of the Board and chair of the Executive Committee. Peter is a corporate affairs executive at one of the world’s largest mining companies, responsible for communications strategy and issue management. Peter has a keen interest in governance issues and expertise in issues management, and media and community relations. Peter has previously worked in Hong Kong and enjoys travel.
Personal Value Statement:
“I volunteer with the NYSC to help seniors live actively and independently for as long as possible. This is a reality I want to see happen for all seniors, including my own family and friends.”
Dr. Andy Kin On Wong
Vice-Chair
Dr. Andy Kin On Wong joined NYSC in October 2015, currently chairs the Governance Committee, is the Vice-chair and sits on the Executive Committee. He is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at U of T, and an Imaging Scientist at the Joint Department of Medical Imaging of the University Health Network. He has a particular interest in the aging Canadian population and in measuring trajectories of change in the muscle and bone systems as related to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. His research team is now using automated algorithms and artificial intelligence to quantify medical images. Dr. Wong is currently the director of a large population-based cohort study at 6 cities in Canada to link muscle and bone properties through imaging techniques to predict people’s risk for fractures and joint abnormalities. He has been successful in obtaining over $2.2M in research funding (Vanier, CIHR, non-profit organizations, American and European societies) to run his various studies. He applies his healthcare and leadership experiences to lead governance at NYSC. With his connections to the medical community, he also strives to bring fresh perspectives on healthy active aging and education for NYSC. In his free time, Dr. Wong enjoys playing tennis, cooking and hiking.
Personal Value Statement:
“I am passionate about translating medical knowledge into practice for seniors, particularly in terms of mobility and healthy active aging. There is no better way to create an impact in this area than to work firsthand to improve the quality of care among seniors in our community.”
Stephen Steele, B.Comm. MBA
Treasurer
Stephen Steele, B.Comm. MBA, brings to the North York Senior Centre over thirty years of Finance and Treasury experience with a major multinational automotive company. As the Director of Finance and Treasurer, he was responsible for all treasury, corporate finance, accounting and tax functions. Stephen has extensive Canadian and international Board experience as a director and chairperson of both business and not-for-profit boards. A veteran communicator, he has been featured in numerous articles on governance, employee communication issues, and global competitiveness. Stephen is presently on the Board of the Toronto Humane Society and its Treasurer. In his spare time, he is a volunteer tutor and teacher with Frontier College, working with new Canadians to improve their English skills and to help them to adapt to the culture of their new home in Canada. Stephen enjoys skiing, kayaking and sailing. Stephen hopes that his experience will assist the NYSC in the achievement of its Mission. Stephen joined the Board in 2013 and is the Chairperson of the Quality Audit Committee.
Personal Value Statement:
“I believe in the old adage, ‘In life, it is not what you get that matters, it is what you give. What a wonderful way it is to give through being involved as a volunteer Director with the NYSC, an organization that supports seniors, living in our community, in so many very positive ways.”
Dr. Caterina Valentino
Secretary
Caterina Valentino is an accomplished, capable, and strategic thinker. She brings to the NYSC’s board a wealth of leadership and management experience gained from holding senior leadership positions in the acute, long-term and in-home/community health care delivery sectors. She is passionate about the delivery of high-quality care to Ontarians. Caterina is a Fellow with the American College of Health Care Executives and a certified member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders. As a contract lecturer at two of Canada’s noteworthy academic institutions (Ryerson and Athabasca Universities), she shares her knowledge with leaders who want to continue to improve health care for all Canadians.
Personal Value Statement:
“No one needs to be alone. There is a world of community agencies and support systems ready to welcome you into their families.”
Janice Lai joined the NYSC Board in 2017 and sits on the Quality Audit Committee. Janice graduated from the Ivey School of Business with a degree in Business Administration. She is currently an Associate in Mezzanine Finance at Royal Bank of Canada, providing junior capital to Canadian and U.S.-based mid-market companies across a wide range of industries. She began her career in the assurance practise at Grant Thornton LLP and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. Janice grew up in North York and enjoys travelling, yoga, and photography.
Personal Value Statement:
“It is an honour for me to volunteer with NYSC, as it is important to give back to the older generations who have contributed so much to our society, as well as the community I grew up and currently reside in.”
Janice Lai
Director
James Mayer (Jamie) joined the NYSC Board in 2015. James graduated with highest honours from Ryerson University with a Bachelor in Health Administration and the University of Toronto with a Masters in Health Administration. He is currently working at the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation focusing on accelerating solutions to improve the health of older adults and seniors with dementia. James has an interest in corporate governance and quality audit.
Personal Value Statement:
“By volunteering on the Board I help ensure that there are programs and places for seniors to go to remain vital, healthy and connected to their community; there is no greater feeling than that.”
James Mayer (Jamie)
Director
Olivia Ng, BScPh, RPh, PharmD, CHE, MHSc, joined the Board in 2021 and sits on the Governance Committee. Olivia is the pharmacy inventory operations leader at University Health Network (UHN) and an adjunct lecturer at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. She is currently the President for the Ontario Branch of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) and received the CSHP National New Hospital Pharmacy Practitioner Award.
Personal Value Statement:
“Having been raised in North York, I am passionate to contribute back to my community and as a clinician in the hospital sector, I am keen to improve the health and independence of seniors living at home.”
Olivia Ng
Director
Rishma Nathoo MBA, M.Ed, CSR-P, joined the Board in 2021 and sits on the Quality Audit Committee An inclusive humanist driven by the ‘ah-ha’ moments, Rishma is a senior global leader recognized for building bridges that allow organizations to transform, leveraging the best of its people and technology to drive innovation and social impact.
Her focuses is on ‘unlocking the potential’ as organizations and talent globally continuously reinvent themselves in this period of transformational change and digital disruption. Equally, she is passionate about ‘realizing the potential’ that exists when organizations seize the opportunity to leverage its strengths and value-add in creating a more socially equitable and inclusive society.
Rishma is a life-long learner that has recently reconnected with her interest to cook. She enjoys being surrounded by nature, travelling, the arts, and experiencing different cultures.
Personal Value Statement:
“I believe we are here to serve and in that service, we not only get an opportunity to give back, we get glimpse of who we are and who we want to be. I see being part of NYSC as an opportunity to support those who helped carve out the path we walk on today. It’s an expression of gratitude.”
Rishma Nathoo
Director
Leonard Rudner joined the Board in 2018 and presently sits on the Governance Committee. Len joined Leaderlinx Beyond Executive Search as Senior Vice President Canada in May 2005. After 35 plus years of exemplary packaging and graphic arts service, Leonard has achieved the reputation as the “Go-To Guy“ in the pressure-sensitive label community. Numerous leaders of the Canadian packaging and graphic arts community recognize Leonard as an industry authority. Leonard was an excellent spokesman for the Canadian packaging community and has served as a director of the PAC – Packaging Association Of Canada, for 15 years. He has served two terms as Chairman, of the Ontario Chapter.
From 2012 to 2016 his company, Label Link Consulting Services, helped Packaging Companies build their business with the addition of profitable business in Canada and the US, and helped The Packaging Association of Canada increase their membership. Len retired in 2016. Len currently is an active participant and volunteer at NYSC’s Active Living Centre.
Personal Value Statement:
“Volunteering at the NYSC gives me an opportunity to give back to the community after a successful career in the Canadian Packaging Industry. I’ve joined an environment where care, compassion and dedication by staff and volunteers to a membership community of multi-cultural, multi-language members is a way of life. I’m very proud to volunteer in this organization.”
Leonard Rudner
Director
Candace Thomson
Executive Director
Candace Thomson is the executive director of North York Seniors Centre. Candace has devoted her almost 30-year career to working in the community sector with charitable organizations dedicated to providing services to seniors. Candace has an education background in gerontology, community recreation and non-profit management from York University, Sheridan and Humber Colleges.
Candace is an advocate of philanthropy and volunteerism. She is the chair for OASSIS (a non-profit employee group benefit plan). She also sits on the steering committee for the Central LHIN (Local Health Integration Network) Community Support Services Network.
