Nominees to Board of Directors
CWDO's 2009 AGM 

MARLENE F. - Hamilton

Expertise:  Communications; Conducting Courses/Seminars;
Fundraising; Marketing; Membership Development; Strategic Planning; Conflict Resolution, Mediation, Conciliation

Interests:  Aging with a disability; Accessibility; Education; Housing; ODSP/Income Security; Transportation

Background:  For more than 25 years, Marlene has been a Community and Social Development Consultant specializing in Human Rights and anti-Racism issues, an Educator/Public Speaker on Self and Group Motivation and Empowerment, Past Vice-Chairperson of the City of Hamilton's Advisory Committee for Persons with Disability, former Co-Chairperson (with former Mayor Bob Morrow for 13 years) of the Mayor's Committee Against Racism and Discrimination, member of the Government of Ontario Cabinet Roundtable on antiracism representing the Southwestern region, Founder of Hamilton Cultural and Ethnic Mosaic Association, Founder of KUUMBA (Creativity) Enterprises. Co-Founder of Rev. John C. Holland Awards of Excellence. Marlene believes every person should be treated with equality with no exception. She wants to know she is accepted, not merely tolerated.

WILLIAM GOURSKY - Region of Peel - GTA

Expertise:  Communications; Conducting Courses/Seminars; Fundraising; Marketing; Membership Development; Strategic Planning

Interests:  Arts and Culture; Accessibility; Housing

Background:  William has had a long and varied career working with community committees and organizations both as participant and as chair. He has been advocating for the full community participation of all residents regardless of what type of disability they may have. He has currently been involved in developing along with Region of Peel staff, Universal Accessibility Standards for all future affordable housing that the Region will be building. In addition, he is involved in promoting Spinal Cord Injury with his working on the committee of Rick Hansen's Wheels in Motion event in Brampton. In his role as Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee of the Region of Peel, William is involved in assisting in the setting up of staff training programs regarding the Provincial Standards as they are being approved. William is also a member of the Community Investment Cabinet for the United Way of Peel.

As a board member he would like to see the CWDO continue in its strong advocacy role and would be able to use his lengthy experience as the Executive Director of the Etobicoke Social Planning to assist.

William was awarded the Canada 185 medal as well as the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal for his work in the community.

SARA JARVIS – Ottawa

Expertise:  Communications; Conducting Courses/Seminars; Fundraising; Marketing; Membership Development; Strategic Planning; Database Management

Interests: Arts and Culture; Accessibility; Employment; ODSP/Income Security; Transportation

Background:  Sara has a very eclectic background and has worn several different hats in her professional career, which was mostly in the non-profit sector. Since establishing her business as a full-time Glass Artist, she has used every skill she learned throughout her career and has learned new ones to support her new role of creative entrepreneur and arts advocate.  As a personable person, Jarvis has excellent communication skills and she embraces most situations with a sense of confidence. She is passionate about making things better for people with disabilities and is keenly aware of the stresses in life coupled with negative public perception that intertwines the daily struggle of persons with disabilities contending with ODSP.

SOUSAN ZARIBAF - Toronto

Expertise:  Conducting Courses/Seminars; Fundraising; Membership Development; Strategic Planning

Interests: Aging with a disability; Arts and Culture; Attendant services; Accessibility; Employment; Housing; Recreation

Background:   As a college student, Sousan formed a Union for Students with Disabilities, organized meetings with administrators and teachers to discuss accessibility on campus, and secured improved services for students with disabilities in the classroom. She served on the Board of Directors of Aldebrain Attendant Care Services of Toronto as Secretary, promoting accessible housing for many years. Sousan participated in successful negotiations with the Ontario Ministry of Housing to secure approval for funding to start construction of an apartment building which integrated wheelchair accessible units with support services in a public community setting. She met with Ruth Grier, then Minister of Health, to advocate the great need for social housing in Toronto.

Since commencing employment at TD Canada Trust, Sousan has been an active participant in the Bank's advocacy and employment diversity programs, recently serving on a panel organized by TD to speak to 50
employers from all industries, explaining the tangible advantages in hiring more persons with disabilities.