SCIO Board of Directors

Experience + Expertise

As a Canadian charity, Spinal Cord Injury Ontario is governed by a Board of Directors composed of dedicated volunteers who provide strategic direction within a culture of collegiality and continuous improvement. A number of our Board members have personal experience with spinal cord injury or other disabilities, bringing even deeper insights into our strategy and services. Their shared sense of purpose, positive outlook and commitment to improvement keeps our Board members active and engaged. If you haven’t met them yet, you are bound to see them at events around the province.

Nish Bandara

Nish Bandara

Nish Bandara is an IT professional with over 26 years of industry experience spanning across multiple commercial banks, software development firms and consultancy firms. At present Nish is functioning as the Vice President of Delivery and Solutions Architecture for a leading software firm and manages teams across multiple North American locations.

Nish holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS from National University of Ireland, a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from BCS and a master’s degree in Technology and Engineering Management from University of Waterloo. He further holds the PMP designation along with multiple Advanced Diplomas.

Having been through a life altering experience with his cervical spine, Nish is passionate about helping others with similar needs and creating a support network for people with spinal injuries to thrive as contributing members of the society.

Ron Duffy

Ron Duffy

Ron Duffy is a machinist by trade and worked in Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, and B.C.. Ron owned a service station at the time of his accident in April 1986 and has a SCI C4-C5 incomplete.

After his accident, he worked in the bush as a haul supervisor building roads, coordinating hauls, etc. and worked as service manager at a car dealership.

He is the Past VP & Manager of a local hockey organization handling budgets, planning tournaments, scheduling transportation etc.

Ron presently volunteers at the Hogarth Riverview Manor Retirement Home helping out at bingos, playing crib and socializing. He also volunteers at St. Joe’s Rehab Hospital visiting with patients, mentoring new patients and trying to setup regular monthly get togethers with local SCI clients. He is also working to establish a chapter for Tetra Society.

dana francoz

Dana Francoz, Chair

Dana Francoz has had a long career in media representing some of North America’s most iconic brands to Canadian advertisers and marketers, across every media platform – print, digital, broadcast, radio and Out of Home. Throughout her career, Dana has also been an active volunteer and board member.

Most recently, Dana was an active member of the board of the Clarendon Foundation, seeing its eventual integration into PACE, which serves people with disabilities, allowing them to live independently.

Dana grew up with an amazing mother who, although she was in a wheelchair, gave her a real-life example of just how much can be accomplished, no matter what your physical limitations. Her mother, Marjorie Francoz, has been a peer supporter of SCI Ontario for close to 40 years.

Eleanor Evans

Eleanor Evans, Secretary-Treasurer

Eleanor Evans has over 25 years work experience in leadership roles across the Financial Services industry, specializing in Operations, Information Security, Strategic Planning, Process Improvement, and Project Governance.

As Vice-President Operations of a large financial services firm on Bay Street, she has led teams through various electronic transformation initiatives and spearheaded the implementation of Robotics Process Automation (RPA) and its Governance model.

Eleanor has a BA, LLB and MBA and has sat on a number of industry committees. In 2020, Eleanor suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was compromised from the neck down. She has first hand experience with what the SCIO has to offer and feels passionate about giving back to the organization.

Omar Ha-Redeye

Omar Ha-Redeye

Omar Ha-Redeye is a lawyer who practices civil litigation, employment and human rights law, technology, and health law. He holds a JD from Western, and an LLM in Health Law from Osgoode Hall. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he worked in clinical healthcare, and maintains his American designation in nuclear medicine technology.
Omar joined the Board in 2018 and served on the SCIO Young Professionals Board prior to that since 2015. He is a member of the Advocacy Committee and is actively involved in SCIO’s government relations and legislative strategies.
sarah hicks

Sarah Hicks

Sarah Hicks is a communications professional with more than 25 years’ experience. For the last fifteen years she has worked with non-profit corporations to strengthen their communications and stakeholder engagement capacity and to guide strategic planning – including the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation.

Sarah started her career in public relations with pharmaceutical clients in Toronto, the U.S. and U.K., and then joined GlaxoSmithKline Canada. Sarah speaks English, French and German and has a BA in Social and Political History from Victoria College, University of Toronto, and a Public Relations Post Graduate Certificate from Humber College.

Sarah is deeply committed to good governance and community service and is proud to serve Spinal Cord Injury Ontario (SCIO) as Chair of the Board of Directors. She has also served as SCIO’s Vice-Chair, and Chair of both the Governance and Nominating and the Marketing and Fundraising Committees.

barbara ibbitson

Barbara Ibbitson

Barbara Ibbitson is currently a Partner and the Clinical Director of Wright Rehab, a company that, for 18 years, has been providing Social Work and Rehabilitation Therapy to individuals, couples and families adjusting to the aftermath of a traumatic event or injury.

Prior to merging with Wright Rehab, Barbara owned and operated Barbara Ibbitson and Associates. Barbara is an active member of The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Barbara has a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree from the University of Western Ontario and received her Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. Barbara has a history of volunteer experience in many community programs and embraces opportunities to give back and be part of something that makes an impact. Barbara has lived with the effects of permanent spinal cord damage for the past 15 years. Her personal lived experience, in addition to her training and clinical background assist her in fostering resiliency and self-compassion in those she works with.

Christine Lelacheur

After Christine’s husband suffered a spinal cord injury from a traumatic fall in 2019, their family got involved with SCIO both receiving and giving support. Christine joined the SCIO Board of Directors in 2021.

She is an organizational leadership consultant and coach who has worked with hundreds of professionals and leaders from a variety of industries. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and MBA from Queen’s University. She is presently completing a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) and working towards a Registered Psychotherapist designation to help those struggling with mental health issues. Christine lives in Toronto with her husband and two children, loves travelling, and attending concerts.
Taylor Lindsay-Noel

Taylor Lindsay-Noel

Taylor sustained a spinal cord injury after a gymnastics accident at the age of 14. Over the past 13 years, she has thrived and learned to adapt even with her new body and circumstances. She is passionate about helping improve the lives of all people living with an SCI.
Taylor is a successful entrepreneur as the founder and owner of Cup of Té Luxurious Loose Leaf Teas, is a team player, empathetic and dedicated to positive change. As a Black Canadian living with an SCI, she brings a unique perspective to the SCIO Board of Directors.
joanne macdonald

Joanne MacDonald

Joanne MacDonald started in the news business 38 years ago, first in radio, then transitioning to television as a story producer with Canada AM in 1983, then on to field producing for CTV National News in 1989. From there, Joanne headed to Ottawa, where she became the Bureau Manager then Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief for CTV News. She continued to ascend the ranks, ultimately to the role of Senior Vice- President, CTV News where she oversaw day-to-day operations and strategic vision for CP24 and CTV News Toronto.

Joanne has helped shape some of Canada’s best journalists. Her leadership, news sense, and commitment to the highest news standards have contributed greatly to cementing CTV News as the powerhouse it is today. She actively contributes to the professional development of young journalists and is on the Advisory Council for her alma mater at the Ryerson School of Journalism.
emily mcintyre

Emily McIntyre

Currently, Emily is the Lead Researcher, Business Solutions Department for the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW). She holds an MA in Critical Disability Studies from York University. She has sat on a variety of committees including the Standards Council of Canada’s Accessible Tourism Working Group and was the Co-chair of the Volunteer Engagement Logistics Team for PrideHouseTO.
She has been a member of the SCIO Young Professionals Board for the past four years and played a significant role in the logistics and fundraising of the annual Comedy Night event.
Alex McKinnon

Alex McKinnon, Vice-Chair

Alex McKinnon, CEBS is the Research Director for the United Steelworkers Union – Canadian National Office. He has been on staff with the Union for over 30+ years. In 1991, he became the first rank and file member to go into the Unions National Office Research Department and in 2013 became the first rank and file member to be promoted to the Research Director.

Mr. McKinnon serves as a pension trustee on the multi-employer Steelworkers Pension Plan, as well as Chair of the Canadian Energy and Related Industries Pension Plan (CERi). and is the Vice-Chair and past Chair and Vice-Chair of the University of Toronto Pension Plan; President of MEBCO and serves on several committees of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. He also serves as a Trustee of the new JSPP – the University Pension Plan (UPP). Alex is a graduate of Sir Wilfred Laurier University with a Bachelors’ in Economics, as well as holding the CEBS designation and a variety of certifications in pension fund governance. He also volunteers as a spinal cord peer support and in 2018 was awarded the Peer Support Volunteer of the Year.
Danielle Russell

Danielle Russell

Danielle S. Russell, CAE is a Not-for-Profit Industry Leader and Consultant and over the past 15+ years she has served a range of Charities and Associations in various staff roles, including serving as the Executive Director and COO of the Air Cadet League of Canada, Ontario from 2019-2021.
Danielle started her career as an Advisor to the then Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. She holds a degree in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University and expects to complete her Chartered Director Designation in 2023. Danielle is a College Professor, and Professional Speaker, and in 2023 published her first book based on her widely read weekly newsletter. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society of Association Executives, and in 2021 she was appointed by Markham City Council to the Race Relations Committee.
Karen Vigmond

Karen Vigmond

Karen is a personal injury lawyer practicing in Barrie, Ontario, where she was born and raised. She was called to the bar in 2013. Karen represents clients across Ontario and over the years has represented and advocated for numerous individuals who have suffered a spinal cord injury.

She has become very familiar with the life-altering effect of an SCI. She understands there are barriers for people living with a disability such as accessibility, lack of equipment and continuity of care that can prevent people having the best quality of life.

Karen has participated in SCIO events since she was a teenager and has been a volunteer with SCIO since 2015 when she became the Co-Chair of the newly created Young Professionals Board. In that role, she was and has been instrumental in the development and increasing success of the annual Comedy Night event.

eugene wai

Eugene Wai

Dr. Wai obtained his medical degree and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Toronto. During this time, he obtained a Masters of Science in Community Health (Clinical Epidemiology) and then went on to complete 2 additional fellowships in spinal surgery. Currently. Dr. Wai is the Head of the University of Ottawa Combined Adult Spinal Surgery program with over 20 years of experience as a spinal surgeon.
Along with front line clinical experience with spinal cord injured patients, Dr. Wai recently led the implementation of evidence based national standards and practices into the Hospital’s Acute Spinal Cord Injury Program. Dr. Wai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, with a cross appointment in the School Epidemiology and Public Health and has authored over 100 publications related to patient centered outcomes assessment, advanced analytics, and critical evaluation of evidence. He is a member of the Ottawa Hospital Research Ethics Board. Most recently, Dr. Wai served as an expert panelist for Provincial Evidenced Based Initiatives including Quality Based Programming and Health Quality Ontario.
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