Our Board
DON IVESON (CO-CHAIR)
Former Mayor of Edmonton, Alberta
Don served as Edmonton’s 35th Mayor from 2013 to 2021. Since retiring from City Hall, Don continues to live in Edmonton. He is ramping up a new venture called Civic Good, a public policy advisory practice working on climate, housing, regional governance and civic innovation projects with like-minded clients. He also works part-time with Co-Operators as Executive Advisor, Climate Investment and Community Resiliency, advising their CEO and senior leadership. Don has also accepted an appointment as a School of Cities Canadian Urban Leader at the University of Toronto.
As Mayor, Don’s political leadership extended to the national stage, serving as Chair of Canada’s Big City Mayors for five years during an unprecedented rise in the prominence of cities in the national political landscape, as well as responding to the COVID crisis which hit municipalities especially hard. His advocacy helped to shape the National Housing Strategy and influence the Federal Government to commit to ending chronic homelessness nationwide — goals that cannot be achieved without robust partnerships with cities. He also served as an Honourary Witness to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and implemented the first trauma-informed all-staff Indigenous awareness and reconciliation training program at a major Canadian city.
Kristen Desjarlais-deKlerk (Co-chair)
Kristen is an Assistant Professor in Sociology the Department of L’Nu Political and Social Sciences at Cape Breton University. She has a PhD from the University of Calgary, and her research has focused on the experiences of formerly homeless individuals as they move into housing. Alongside her academic experience, she’s worked and volunteered in shelters, and provided research insights to multiple Calgary-based homeless service organizations.
Jasmine Beriault
Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Public Service Commission, Government of Saskatchewan
Jasmine is a Human Resources professional with over seventeen years of progressive experience having worked for both the federal and provincial governments, as well as the private and not-for-profit sector. Jasmine is Cree and a member of Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan. She holds a master’s degree in human resources management and is a strong proponent of lifelong learning and continues to grow her knowledge and skills. Outside of her professional career, she volunteers with organizations to support healthy communities and is committed to engaging pathways within the community and workplace that support individual wellbeing.
BRYANY DENNING M.Sc., MSW
Bryany (Bree) Denning, M.Sc., MSW, has been involved in addressing homelessness in Yellowknife since joining the Board of Directors of the Yellowknife Women’s Society in 2008. She served as Executive Director from 2016-2020, and in that role had the opportunity to help create the first Housing First program in the Northwest Territories, as well as introducing Street Outreach services and a residential managed alcohol program.
Chloe Halpenny
Residing on unceded, unsurrendered Algonquin Anishinaabe territory, Chloe Halpenny (she/her) is a mission-driven researcher, advocate, and activist. As a Research Associate with the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation, she is engaged in research and evaluation in pursuit of more just outcomes for equity-deserving groups, including women, youth, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. Outside of work, Chloe serves on the Board of Directors of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa and as Co-Chair/Co-Founder of the Basic Income Canada Youth Network. Chloe holds an MPhil in Multi-disciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Social Policy & Development from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor of Public Affairs & Policy Management from Carleton University.
Jay R. Hira
Jay R. Hira brings extensive leadership experience in governance, strategic planning, and community engagement to the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. He currently serves as Chair of the Non-Profit Housing Corporation for March of Dimes Canada and continues to sit on the organization’s Board of Directors, where he previously served as Chair. Holding both an MBA and MA from the State University of New York at Binghamton, Jay has also completed the Institute of Corporate Directors and Rotman School of Management’s Not-for-Profit Governance Essentials Program, and the DiverseCity onBoard program through Toronto Metropolitan University’s Chang School of Continuing Education. Before retiring in 2021, Jay spent 25 years with Royal Bank of Canada in progressively senior roles following his early career with the Easter Seal Society in both the U.S. and Canada. He has a longstanding record of community service, including serving as Treasurer for the Canadian Aboriginal Minority Supplier Council and Vice President of Strategy for Ascend Canada.
Alana Jones
Alana Jones is a collaborative Professional, Director and Author with over 25 years of experience and success in talent acquisition, change management, community outreach, and recruitment across higher education and non-profit organizations. She has a strong ability to nurture and foster productive teams through coaching and mentorship during transitions and can also provide leadership, supervise and monitor performance. Along with her executive career, Alana is currently serving as a member of the Aangen Board of Directors and sits on the Executive Voting Committee. Additionally, Alana has served as a Board Member of the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention and was the Former Board Secretary for Applegrove Community Complex, where she provided support to child and youth programs run by the complex and the organization of fundraising activities. She has an extensive background within the homelessness sector in areas of risk management, client relations, succession planning, and leadership. She is currently an Instructor at the University of Toronto, where she facilitates the Community Engagement and Housing and Homelessness course in conjunction with excepts based on her published book, Behind the Frontline. Her role involves monitoring students’ progress in the program and connecting students to mental health support. Additionally, she is connecting students to community placements and forging new partnerships. Currently, Ms. Jones is the founder of Border Place INC., where she leads the transformation of a personal care rooming house to supportive housing for vulnerable populations in Toronto. Alana earned a York University Master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Urban Change from York University. She also completed a Social Service & Community Worker Diploma from George Brown College. Her hard work and perseverance led her to earn a Certificate in leadership, business planning and entrepreneurship from York University and a Certificate in Counselling and Psychology from the National Institute of Higher Learning.
RoBb Johannes
Robb Johannes was Executive Director of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), who spearheaded the opening of North America’s first supervised injection facility and worked on successful Supreme Court challenges affirming harm reduction practices, the safety of marginalized women in sex work, and the right of individuals without fixed addresses to vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections. He coordinated Justice Studies at the Native Education Centre (NEC), Canada’s longest-running Indigenous post-secondary institution, and taught in the School of Criminology and Department of Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University, where he earned his Master’s Degree. For eight years, he coordinated the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), a restorative justice initiative in federal prisons. He currently works in program development with Fred Victor in Toronto, co-chairs the St. James Town Service Providers’ Network (SJTSPN), sits on the advisory council for the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), and is an Adjunct Professor at York University’s School of Social Work and the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Sometimes referred to as “Toronto Bono” (as he for over ten years has been lead vocalist of the acclaimed rock band Paint and new musical projects in development), Robb works with Bono’s ONE campaign on women’s rights and ending extreme poverty internationally.
Bisi Omojola MBA, CHRL
Country HR Business Partner, Citibank (Citigroup)
Bisi Omojola is a Human Resources Professional with over 20 years cross-functional experience. She has been serving in this capacity for several years within the financial services industry, implementing the Human Resources strategy, while managing the delivery of HR services – recruitment, talent management, performance management, total rewards, learning and development, as well as policies. Her previous roles were in International Trade Operations, Transaction Services, Sales and Marketing. She is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) with the Human Resources Professional Association, holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Management from Cranfield University and a Bachelor of Engineering degree with honours.
Doug Pawson
Executive Director, End Homelessness St. John’s
Doug is the Executive Director of End Homelessness St. John’s, a system planning entity leading the development and implementation of the St. John’s Community Plan to End Homelessness. A systems-based thinker with an entrepreneurial appetite for social change, Doug is committed to serving the most vulnerable neighbours in our community.
Prior to joining End Homelessness St. John’s, Doug spent over 12 years in Ottawa where he led innovative and nationally recognized social enterprises and social finance programs through significant periods of growth.
He holds an MBA in Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University, a MPhil in Policy Studies from the University of New Brunswick and a BA in Political Studies and English from Bishop’s University.
Tim Richter (Ex-Officio)
President & CEO, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
Tim Richter is the Founder, President & CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH). The CAEH leads a national movement of individuals, organizations and communities working together to end homelessness in Canada.
Under his leadership, the CAEH has: helped shape federal, provincial and local homelessness action and policy including the implementation of Housing First; hosted four highly successful National Conferences on Ending Homelessness; co-authored three State of Homelessness in Canada reports in 2013, 2014 and 2016; launched Funders Together to End Homelessness Canada as an affiliate network of Funders Together to End Homelessness from the United States; launched a national Training and Technical Assistance program as a mission based, non-profit training and technical assistance program to provide on the ground training and support to communities and front line workers working to end homelessness; launched the 20,000 Homes Campaign – a national movement of communities working together to house 20,000 of Canada’s most vulnerable homeless people; and, supported the creation of the Institute of Global Homelessness
Prior to joining the CAEH, Tim was President & CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation charged with leading the implementation of Calgary’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness – the first plan of its kind in Canada.
In the first four years of Calgary’s 10 Year Plan more than 4,000 homeless men, women and children were housed, 3,582 units of affordable housing were funded, and homelessness went down for the first time in 20 years of counting.
Tim received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History as well as a Bachelor of Applied Communications. He lives in Calgary, Alberta with his wife and three children.
ASHISH SHAH
Ashish Shah is currently a Senior Manager at KPMG LLP with over ten years of progressive experience spanning risk consulting, management consulting, strategy, and audit. Ashish has worked in both strategic enablement and client-service roles, where he served clients across industries ranging from financial services, law & construction, to non-profits, higher education & start-ups.
Ashish is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Project Management Professional (PMP), is certified in strategy execution from Harvard University’s Online Business School, holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt in process improvement, and is a Bachelor of Business Administration graduate from the Schulich School of Business.
As a passionate advocate for the community, Ashish current serves as the AVP Strategy for Ascend Canada, an organization that promotes ethnic diversity across corporate Canada. Ashish is also the former Board Director & Treasurer for Scarborough Arts, an organization dedicated to delivering innovative programs and services that enhance the cultural life of Scarborough, Ontario. Ashish has also served as a volunteer with organizations like WoodGreen, TRIEC and CICS where he provided one-on-one career mentorship to newcomers to Canada from countries that include the Ukraine, Moldova, Syria, India and China.
Samuel Watts
Sam is the CEO of Welcome Hall Mission, an organization founded in 1892. It is dedicated to providing shelter, food and love to Montrealers in need. The Mission has an annual budget of approximately 30 million dollars, more than 150 full time employees and over 400 volunteers.
The Mission is dedicated to eradicating chronic homelessness and hunger in Montreal. It operates emergency and supported housing services. It has a mental health treatment unit affiliated with McGill and the Psychiatry Department of the Jewish General Hospital. It also operates a free Dental Clinic, managed in a partnership with McGill University’s Faculty of Dentistry. The youth services team manages an innovative program called “Coeur a Soeur” that provides practical support to young mothers and their children.
Sam is the author of “Good Work Done Better”, a book that proposes ideas for how community-based non-profit organizations can improve their impact. He has also authored numerous articles that have appeared in local and national publications.
Jason Whitford
Jason Whitford is currently the President and CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg which was established in 2015 through a community mandate to be the backbone organization in our community to implement the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Winnipeg.
Formerly, Jason served as the executive director of Shawenim Abinoooji Inc. SAI offers support services, specialized foster care placements for children and youth with complex needs, and on-reserve foster care placement services throughout the Southeast First Nations to keep children close to home.
During his tenure as program manager at Eagle Urban Transition Centre, Jason co-authored “Examining the Urban Aboriginal Policy Gap: Impacts on Service Delivery for Mobile Aboriginal Peoples in Winnipeg, Canada.”
Jason is a graduate of the Business Administration program at Red River College and the Human Resource and Management program at the University of Winnipeg.