In the lead up to July 1st, we’re profiling five Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area city builders, past and present, who have not only made significant positive impact in our communities, but have challenged us to be better civic-minded, inclusive, and collaborative individuals. Today we take a brief look at Olivia Nuamah, current Pride Toronto […]
Everyone has a story to tell...
Stories help us to connect, to inspire, to understand. On this page, we share the stories of people in our network who have taught us, entertained us, been a champion for diverse civic leadership, and who have galvanized us to think differently. Be prepared to be inspired.
Why leadership matters
For over 10 years, we’ve brought together senior executives and rising leaders from all sectors to tackle big challenges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Region, let them tell you why leadership really matters, and what we can do when we open doors and minds for the young, emerging and under-represented leaders in our communities.
Leaders shape our cities, making them vibrant places to live, work, play and grow old. CivicAction’s leadership programs expose rising leaders to new networks and ideas and provide them with the skills to become the kind of collaborative leaders that cities need.
The Honourable Mitzie HunterELN Founding Member; MPP (Scarborough-Guildwood), Minister of Education, Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Civic leadership inspires everyone to take part and have pride in their communities, which inevitably leads to better impact.
Tinashe Mafukidze
After participating in the DiverseCity Fellows program, I now feel part of the city-building process in the GTHA. It has given me the experience and tools necessary to connect with and influence leaders in areas that I feel passionate about.
Brent Chamberlain2012 DiverseCity Fellow; Diversity and Inclusion Strategist, CIBC
Toronto has become a thriving global hub in part because of the leadership roles citizens are encouraged to play and the diversity of thought and action each leader brings to bear on civic matters.
Gillian Smith2009 CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow; Chief Marketing Officer, Toronto Region Board of Trade
Our communities are becoming increasingly diverse and complex. Great leaders can see the issues facing their communities from many sides and encourage people to work collaboratively on solutions that are in the best interest of the entire community.
Ron McKerliePresident, Mohawk College and Mohawk College Foundation
Spotlight on our Members
The Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) brings together diverse, energetic and motivated city-builders from across our region, each with a unique story to tell about where they came from, what they’re passionate about, and where they want to go next. Check back often – new profiles are added regularly.
Leadership Spotlight: John Christie Holland
In the lead up to July 1st, we’re profiling five Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area city builders, past and present, who have not only made significant positive impact in our communities, but have challenged us to be better civic-minded, inclusive, and collaborative individuals. Today we take a brief look at John Christie Holland, Hamilton, Ont., […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Jay Pariseau
This month, the ELN spotlight lands on Jay Pariseau–2015/16 DiverseCity Fellow and a Senior Diversity Recruitment Consultant at CIBC. Jay’s dedication to the Indigenous community has been a key part of his leadership journey–something that also influences his day job at CIBC where he led the design and launch of a national Indigenous mentorship program […]
Leadership in Focus: Elisha Muskat and Richard Wiltshire
Richard Wiltshire and Elisha Muskat, are the 2015-2017 Co-Chairs of our Emerging Leaders Network. Previously, at Ashoka Canada – an international association of leading social entrepreneurs who develop solutions to pressing social problems – Elisha has shared her expertise on stages, inside classrooms and in the pages of top publications. She is an established leader […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Nima Ranawana & Abhishek Sarathy
This month we are shining a spotlight on new ELN executive committee members Nima Ranawana and Abhishek Sarathy! Nima and Abhishek come to the ELN executive committee as communications leads and will be helping us find better and more effective ways to get our word out to the ELN. With a passionate (Scorpio) personality and […]
Values and Volunteering: Key Insights from Our Network
From someone who works to organize an event within their community, someone who sits on a board of an organization they’re passionate about, to those who bring lost cats to the animal shelter, volunteering comes in many different forms. Canada alone has over 12.7 million volunteers devoting their time to causes that directly impact the […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Harvey Lam
This month we are shining a spotlight on ELN member Harvey Lam – a management consultant at Accenture Strategy, and a former corporate lawyer. When he’s not navigating the corporate world, he uses his skills in the community. Most recently, he’s been responsible for Fundraising & Partnerships at The Rumie Initiative, an initiative that won the recent Google […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Hibaq Gelle
This month we are shining a spotlight on Hibaq Gelle– community connector, youth advocate and civic rockstar! Hibaq is currently Policy and Program Analyst at the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services, formerly lead Community Benefits work in Rexdale, is a former member of the Premiers Council on Youth Opportunities, the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy […]
IWD 2017: 24 Women in 24 Hours
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2017, CivicAction will be highlighting some of the incredible, dynamic, and diverse women who are shaping communities all across our city-region. Over the next 24 hours, we’re taking to Twitter to showcase 24 incredible women city-builders who are shaping the GTHA region with their passion. Follow #24inGTHA on Twitter and get to know these inspiring women. […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Zakaria Abdulle
This month, we also introduce you to Zakaria Hassan Abdulle– Member of the Premiers’ Council for Youth Opportunities, community connector and an advocate for youth across our region. Learn more about his leadership accomplishments, what he believes an inclusive GTHA looks like, and how reading helps him continue to grow as a leader! Full name… […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Idil Burale
This month, we also introduce you to Idil Burale, Community Strategy Lead for the Service Systems Transformation branch in the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and former Senior Associate at MaRS Solutions Lab. Learn more about her leadership accomplishments, what she feels are pressing issues in our region, and what she believes an […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Alicia Rose
This month, we also introduce you to Alicia Rose– Manager of Corporate Citizenship at TD and DiverseCity Fellows Alumni. Learn more about her leadership accomplishments, what she feels are pressing issues in our region, and what she believes an inclusive GTHA looks like! I was born in …Toronto And I currently live in …Roncesvalles […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Rudayna Bahubeshi
This month, we also introduce you to Rudayna Bahubeshi– Communications manager at Inspirit Foundation and former DiverseCity Fellow! Learn more about her leadership accomplishments, what she feels are pressing issues in our region, and why she loves her city so much! I was born and raised in…..Ottawa. And I currently live in …Toronto- I moved here […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Adaoma Patterson
This month, we also introduce you to Adaoma Chinyere Patterson – President of the Jamaican Canadian Association, Manager of Poverty Reduction Initiatives at the Region of Peel, and DiverseCity Fellow Alumnus. Learn more about her leadership accomplishments, what he feels are pressing issues in our region, and why inclusive leadership matters. I was born in … […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Christopher Matthews
This month, we introduce you to Christopher Matthews– Business Project Manager at RBC Wealth Management.Learn more about his leadership journey, what he feels are pressing issues in our region, and why inclusive leadership matters. I was born in…Toronto, Ontario, Canada And I currently live in….Toronto and I love living here because the city is very […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Lana Majid
For our first spotlight of 2017, we introduce you to Lana Majid- current ELN Executive Committee Member and Senior Public Health Advisor at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Keep reading to learn more about her leadership journey, her simple (yet vital) advice on community engagement and her three favourite things! 1. What motivated you to join […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Eva Wong Scanlan & Andrew Graham
This month, we introduce you to two ELN rock-stars, Eva Wong Scanlan and Andrew Graham. Learn more about their leadership journey, how the ELN supported their journey and about their exciting organization, Borrowell! 1. What motivated you to join the ELN and/or apply to the DiverseCity Fellows Program? Eva: The ELN was highly recommended to me […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Letecia Rose
This month, we introduce you to Letecia Rose: 2014-2015 CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow, Public Engagement Manager for Plan International Canada, and an avid community advocate. Learn more about Letecia’s Leadership journey, what she feels every leader should possess, and who she’d love to have dinner with… Q: What motivated you to join the ELN and/or apply […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Anowa (Irene) Quarcoo
This month we introduce you to Anowa (Irene) Quarcoo, 2015-2016 CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow, former ELNstudio Committee member, active community builder, and Senior Manager of Transformation at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. Learn why Irene applied to be a DiverseCity Fellow and how it shaped her leadership journey. Q: What motivated you to join the ELN […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Imanzi Kayitare
This month we introduce you to Imanzi Kayitare, current ELN Executive Committee Member, active community builder, and Senior Advisor at Employment and Social Development Canada. Below Imanzi shares his thoughts on leadership and why he got engaged with the ELN. Q: What motivated you to join the ELN and/or apply to the DiverseCity Fellows Program? I joined […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Eleni Han
For our August Spotlight, we introduce you to Eleni Han. An ELNshowcase winner for the NU project and long-time ELN member. Read about how Eleni got involved with the ELN, why she believes diverse leadership is so important, and more about her leadership journey. Q: What motivated you to join the ELN and/or apply to the DiverseCity Fellows Program? I was […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Todd Minerson
This month we introduce you to DiverseCity Fellow Alumnus Todd Minerson, a proud ELN Member and currently the CEO at Parker P. Consulting. We asked Todd to share his leadership journey & insights below! Q: What motivated you to join the ELN and/or apply to the DiverseCity Fellows Program? I was a part of the very first DiverseCity Fellows cohort. […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Saad Minhas
Meet Saad Minhas, former ELN Executive Committee Member and currently the Manager of Global Professional Services for Telus. We asked Saad to share his leadership journey & insights below! Q: What motivated you to join the ELN and/or apply to the DiverseCity Fellows Program? After spending a few years in the UK, I returned to Toronto to […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Helen Tewolde
Helen Tewolde is currently the Manager of Program and Partnership Development at George Brown College, a 2011 DiverseCity Fellow and a proud ELNer. We asked Helen to share her leadership journey & insights below! Q: What motivated you to join the ELN and/or apply to the DiverseCity Fellows Program? I joined the DiverseCity Fellows and […]