Darci Debassige is an Anishinaabe kwe from M’Chigeeng First Nation who recently graduated from McMaster University in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, along with a minor in Indigenous Studies and a specialization in Mental Health. From 2023 to 2025, she served as Co-Chair of the McMaster Indigenous Health Movement, a student-led organization focused on education and advocacy around Indigenous health. In this role, she led conferences and workshops in collaboration with the Indigenous community at McMaster and beyond, fostering dialogue and learning around Indigenous health and wellbeing.

In 2024, Darci participated in the IndigiNerds summer research program through the McMaster Indigenous Research Institute, where she deepened her passion for Indigenous pedagogies and community-based research. In recognition of her contributions to campus life and community throughout her time at McMaster, she has received the President’s Award for Excellence in Student Leadership.

Darci is now a teacher candidate in the Community-Based Indigenous Teacher Education Program at Queen’s University, as a part of the 2025 cohort.

Artie Martin embodies a powerful blend of artistic innovation and cultural leadership. His Mohawk name, meaning “He Puts the Issues on the Floor,” reflects his commitment to confronting community challenges and elevating Indigenous voices through volunteer efforts, fundraising, and creative expression.

With a lifelong dedication to serving his community, Artie’s accomplishments include:

• Co-founding the award-winning Tru Rez Crew, a Six Nations hip-hop group that tours across North America, inspiring youth and promoting Indigenous culture through music.
• Creating and touring a thought-provoking yet hilarious theatrical production on Six Nations land claims, fostering awareness, dialogue, and understanding.
• Earning diplomas in Business Administration and Graphic Design, equipping him with skills to propel community-driven projects.
• Creating educational resources at Kawenniio/Gaweniyo School, supporting student success and community development.
• Founding Redwhip Design, providing innovative visual services to amplify Indigenous voices.
• Co-founding Redskin Magazine, the first Indigenous adult-oriented publication, which has organized major events across North America to elevate Indigenous stories and issues.
• Studying the Mohawk language at Onkwawenna Kentyohkwa, reaffirming his commitment to cultural revitalization.
• Serving on the Great Law of Peace Recital Committee for the Haudenosaunee Grand Council, preserving and promoting Indigenous governance and tradition.
• Participating as a paranormal investigator with SNIPE, blending cultural storytelling with community engagement through paranormal exploration.
• Co-founding SNIPE Tours in partnership with Chiefswood National Historic Site, combining tourism, education, and community outreach.
• Appearing with his SNIPE team on APTN’s Ghost Hunters of the Grand River, sharing Indigenous stories and mysteries with a national audience.
• As a loving husband and father of five, he balances personal life with his ongoing efforts to uplift and serve his community.

Artie Martin is a passionate advocate committed to cultural preservation, community development, and Indigenous empowerment. His leadership and vision continue to create opportunities for growth, dialogue, and positive change—making him an ideal partner for fundraising initiatives that seek to strengthen and sustain Indigenous communities.

Janet Gasperelli is a member Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Throughout her career as a social worker, she has worked in leadership roles across the social service and health sectors. Janet is currently the Chief Executive Officer with De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre.  Health and wellbeing of the Indigenous community continues to be her passion in all she does.

Sandra Ramelli is an accomplished strategist, human resources, and organizational development practitioner with experience in multiple sectors including health care, steel and education. For the past decade Sandra has held several senior roles in health care and has served as a trusted advisor and coach to many administrative and physician leaders. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, leadership and team development, quality improvement, human resources and in leading complex transformational change. As an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, Sandra supports the growth and development of physicians through the delivery of leadership development programs and coaching. In addition to her professional experience, Sandra is a Certified Health Executive, an ICF certified coach, a certified LEADS® coach and facilitator, and is certified in Kaplan-Norton Balanced Scorecard methodology, She holds a Master of Business Administration from York University Schulich School of Business, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University.

As a newly appointed member of the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Community Foundation, Nazia is passionate about promoting equity and inclusion within our Hamilton community. With over a decade of experience in social services, community development and mental health counseling, she has dedicated her career to advocating for marginalized groups, specializing in providing trauma-informed, person-centered care to diverse populations, including children, youth, and older adults. Thought out her career, Nazia has actively contributed to creating inclusive policies and programs. With a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University and fluency in multiple languages, she is dedicated to advancing the foundation’s mission to drive positive change and improve the quality of life in Hamilton.

As founder of Mary J Williams Coaching & Consulting Inc, Mary works with leaders across the country as an executive leadership coach and thinking partner. Mary has more than three decades of experience and leadership in educational and not-for-profit advancement. As McMaster University’s past Vice-President, Advancement, Mary led an award winning team with a mandate that included communications and marketing, government and alumni relations and fundraising. At the University of Toronto, Mary supported more than 30 academic divisions in their activities to work towards the university’s $4 billion campaign fundraising goal. As an active volunteer in her communities, Mary has extensive governance experience and has served on a wide range of non-profit boards locally, provincially and nationally. She is a graduate of three universities and has completed the McMaster Chartered Directors program.

Kevin Tom is the Chief Investment Officer of Hamilton based FirstOntario Credit Union. He has over 25 years of experience within the financial services industry in British Columbia and Ontario. One of his current areas of responsibility includes the alternative investments portfolio, which is active in the affordable housing space, through policy advocacy, development and acquisitions.

Kevin is an advocate for social justice and equality. He is involved in organizations that seek to increase the affordable housing inventory in our communities and currently sits on the board of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion.

Jason is a born and raised Hamiltonian. An urban planner by profession, Jason led the City of Hamilton’s Planning and Economic Development Department from 2014 to 2024. Currently in private practice as an urban planner, Jason works across the country helping communities of all sizes tackle complex urban challenges. Prior to his career as an urban planner, Jason worked for several years in environmental advocacy, including with local groups such as the Bay Area Restoration Council and Bruce Trail Association. Jason lives in the heart of downtown Hamilton with his partner, where he frequently enjoys experiencing Hamilton’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Melissa Alzaeim brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to community engagement, equity, and strategic leadership to the Board of Directors of Hamilton Community Foundation. With a distinguished career spanning academia, non-profit organizations, the private sector, and international development, Melissa is dedicated to driving positive change and fostering inclusive communities.

Her international experience in research operations and grants management, including roles at McMaster University and Sheridan College, highlights her strategic oversight, financial stewardship, and governance expertise.

An immigrant to Canada with a multicultural background and fluency in multiple languages, Melissa’s engagement with diverse communities aligns with the Foundation’s values of equity and Reconciliation. Her skills in project management, strategic planning, financial management, and community engagement are essential for effective governance.

Committed to upholding integrity, ethical leadership, and accountability, Melissa is dedicated to advancing the Foundation’s goals and contributing to a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive Hamilton.

FINAL REPORTS for 2023-24 grants from the Edith H. Turner Foundation Fund are due DECEMBER 1, 2024. A link to the report form has been emailed to all grantees. If you did not receive this link, please contact Tami Henderson at 905.523.5600 x 241, or t.henderson@hamiltoncommunityfoundation.ca

We are no longer able to accept final reports via email.  Your final report MUST be submitted through the online portal.  To access this form, you will first need to log into your HCF online account through the portal. The final report form can be found under the ‘Requirements’ tab.

A troubleshooting guide can be found here.

Cheryl Jensen is the retired president of Algonquin College and also had a long career at Mohawk College, where she held the title of Vice President, Academic. Cheryl first joined Mohawk as a Chemical Engineering Technology professor in 1983 and served as Dean, Executive Dean, and Vice President of Engineering Technology, Apprenticeship and Corporate Training.

Cheryl has served on numerous boards related to education, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. She is known for her organizational and community leadership which has been recognized with numerous awards in Hamilton, Ottawa and nationally through the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.

Shylo Elmayan has over 15 years of experience working in Indigenous community relations. She is currently the Owner and Lead of Niibin Advisory Services, an Indigenous consulting firm specializing in policy development and community engagement.  She was recently the Director of Indigenous Student Services at McMaster University and was responsible for leading a department that supports all aspects of the student experience and success of McMaster’s Indigenous. She had worked previously at McMaster to develop and administer the university’s employment equity census.

Prior joining McMaster, Shylo was a Senior Project Manager with the City of Hamilton and led the development of Hamilton’s first urban Indigenous strategy.  Shylo previously worked at Hydro One Networks progressing to Senior Manager, First Nations and Métis Relations. Other previous employment include policy advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and tenant rights advocate with Aboriginal Legal Services.

Shylo is Anishinaabe and lives in Caledonia. She is a member of the Long Lake #58 First Nation and her family’s traditional territory is located near Hornepayne, Ontario.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in First Nations Studies and Political Science from the University of British Columbia and Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Sandra Edrupt is retired from her role as General Manager Strategy & Business Planning at ArcelorMittal Dofasco and has worked in a variety of management roles in strategy, marketing, quality systems, communications and public affairs, corporate planning and sales.

Sandra is an involved member of the community with extensive governance and other volunteer senior leadership experience with numerous organizations in health care, education, the arts and philanthropy.  Recognition for Sandra’s leadership includes distinguished service awards from both the McMaster Alumni Association and McMaster Association of Part-Time Students.

Pranav Pandya is a financial executive with over 20 years of private market and impact investment experience. He is a Principal at Black Hills Advisory Group, providing investment advisory services to institutional investors. Prior to this role, Pranav was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at a Toronto-based private equity firm specializing in renewable energy, infrastructure, growth equity, and real estate. Pranav is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Haider Saeed is a family physician with the Hamilton Family Health Team and the Shelter Health Network. His broad scope of practice brings him in contact with a wide variety of patients, giving him a window into the challenges and stressors they face.

As a medical editor, Haider has a strong understanding of evidence-based medicine and using data to make decisions. He has a long-term interest in urban geography and advocates for people to live healthier lives within cities.

Elizabeth Gray (Mi’kmaw) was born in New Brunswick and has been an active member of the Hamilton Urban Indigenous Community for over 30 years. She brings over a decade of non-profit board experience to HCF, including serving as a director with Dundas Valley Non-Profit Housing, Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing and De dwa da dehs nye>s Hamilton Aboriginal Health Centre.

Elizabeth holds a BA (McMaster), Master of Social Work (Laurier), an Indigenous Educators Certificate in Indigegogy (Laurier) and a Certificate in Reconciliation, Conflict Prevention and the Promotion of more Inclusive Societies (McGill).

Elizabeth is currently the Indigenous Counsellor for Mohawk College and also volunteers as an advisor for Centre for Community Engaged Narrative Arts, Body Brave, a National Indigenous Advisory Committee for GBV in the Media and the Hamilton Indigenous Consultation Circle. Elizabeth has been named one of Laurier’s Inspiring Indigenous Alumni.

Charles’ governance experience spans five decades. He has chaired many organizations including Sons of Italy (Hamilton & National), Burlington Community Foundation, Villa Italia Retirement Complex, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Health Sciences, The Sicilian Cultural Society of Hamilton. Charles was a lawyer from 1985 to 2018 and was also a mediator and arbitrator in commercial law disputes and a construction law adjudicator until the end of 2023.

Charles has received several awards including Italian Canadian Citizen of the Year (2010), Festitalia Heritage Award (2015), CIBPA Professional Excellence Award (2018) and Sicilian Ambassador (2022).

Cam Beatty is an accounting and finance professional who is accustomed to advising businesses and not-for-profit organizations, and provides his input and support to HCF through this lens, and with a keen interest in the short- and long-term well-being of the Hamilton community.

Cam has been a Partner of Durward Jones Barkwell & Company LLP (DJB) since 2007 and is the current chair of its executive committee.  In this role, Cam helps to set and shape the firm’s strategic direction as well as serving clients in a variety of industries.

Assad is an award-winning senior leadership professional with over two decades of experience in the architectural, engineering and construction industry.  After more than a decade of working in private sector, Assad has held senior positions with the Niagara Parks Commission, Town of Lincoln, Hamilton Public Library and Conservation Halton.  As a leader in sustainable projects, Assad loves to create innovative, inclusive, and inspiring places and spaces.  As an HCF director, Assad draws from his individual area of expertise in strategic and capital planning to provide sound lived advice.

Amy Montour is a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River community and brings Two-Eyed Seeing to her role, incorporating her knowledge as an Indigenous person and Western-trained physician to Hamilton Community Foundation’s work.

Amy is currently co-lead for the Division of Indigenous Medicine in the Brant Community Healthcare System and a palliative care physician servicing Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and Haldimand County. Her work focuses on improving the experience of Indigenous people accessing health systems and includes advocacy, education, clinical practice and system innovation.

Sarah has been involved with the Hamilton Community Foundation since 2007. She has a long track record of community service and is passionate about giving back and has provided volunteer leadership to a number of local charities, service clubs and philanthropic organizations.

Sarah brings to her role extensive experience as lead Portfolio Manager, Senior Wealth Advisor and head of The Murphy Investment Group at CIBC Wood Gundy. With over 20 years of experience, Sarah values educating and empowering her clients, which include individuals, multi-generational families, charities and large institutions. Sarah was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Wealth Advisors: Best in Province by The Globe and Mail and Shook Research.

Financial highlights

Donations to the Foundation are invested for the long term in public markets and in alternative investments. Investment income is then allocated annually to support granting, community leadership and operations. The summary and charts presented here provide both a financial snapshot and a history of recent activity that underlies the grants and community leadership activities represented in this annual report, made possible by remarkable donors.

Donations

Donations to the Foundation are from individuals, corporations and other charities. Donors may contribute to named endowment or flowthrough funds, to the Board-directed Community Fund, or to HCF’s community leadership projects.

The $35.1 million in donations this year is the second highest total in HCF’s history. Annual donations are influenced by the timing of the realization of donations in wills and significant one-time donations like the $27.7 million in donations of property and private equity. As illustrated in Chart 1, annual donations have ranged between $3.2 and $35.1 million over the past eight years. The five-year rolling average of donations ranges from $5.0 million to $13.3 million over the past eight years.

The five-year rolling average number of donations is 1,787 with 2019-20 at 1,853. The number of donations fluctuates based on “in memoriam” donations and the number and nature of events sponsored by donors to raise money for their funds.

Chart 1

Grants and community leadership

Grants are made annually from both endowed and flowthrough funds. Because flowthrough fund balances are distributed in a shorter time period, granting from these funds can materially influence HCF’s total annual amount granted.

As illustrated in Chart 2, grants and community leadership project spending over the past eight years has ranged from $4.7 million to this year’s historic high of $11.5 million. Granting from endowment funds was reduced in 2013 as a result of the decline in investment returns in 2012 which a) lowered the asset base used for the granting calculation (currently four percent of the fund balances), and b) resulted in less income available to grant. Flowthrough granting and expenditures on community leadership projects has ranged from 22 to 56 percent of total granting in any given year and is dependent on the timing and nature of flowthrough and project activity. At 893, the number of grants for this year is 37 percent higher than the eight-year average.

Chart 2

Investments

Investments traded in active markets are reported at fair market value. Investments not actively traded are recorded at their cost less any impairment of their value.

To support our strategy of aligning our assets with our mission and to provide a more diverse and robust portfolio, HCF has committed to investing in alternative asset classes including loans to charities and not-for-profits, private debt, real estate, infrastructure and private equity. These alternatives are consistent with the Foundation’s long-term investment horizon and liquidity requirements. Since these investments are not actively traded, they are valued at cost in the investments. These alternatives total $25.8 million.

HCF invests according to policy guidelines established by the Board of Directors. Two committees of the Board oversee investments to ensure compliance with the policy:

• Public market portfolios are managed by two professional investment firms and are overseen by the Finance and Investment Committee. This committee reviews the investment managers’ reports quarterly to assess each manager’s performance and formally evaluates their performance semi-annually.
• Impact investments are overseen by the Impact Investment Committee, with due diligence and other support from professional consultants.

As an endowment builder, HCF’s policy focuses on long-term investing and is supported by reserve accounts that are currently at their policy maximum.

The investment policy sets out a total portfolio target asset mix, as well as a range around these targets. The public market investment managers have mandates within this targeted asset mix and use their discretion to invest the portfolios within this range. Chart 3 reflects the current and target asset mix. Note: $25 million of private equity relates to a fund established by a donor and is not part of the asset mix or the consolidated portfolio results.

Chart 3

Public markets

Two long-term portfolios are invested in the public markets with Jarislowsky Fraser, and Connor, Clark & Lunn. Chart 4 compares those portfolios against benchmarks as follows:

• Returns for each year against the annual investment policy benchmark for that year
• Seven-year annualized return against the seven-year annualized investment policy benchmark
• Both return rates against the targeted investment policy long-term return range

Benchmarks reflect the performance of each market index based on HCF’s specific target asset mix. Comparing actual results to the benchmark measures the value added by investment managers compared to the average market performance. HCF’s investment policy target is a long-term investment return in the 6.5 to 7.5 percent range.

Chart 4

The effect of the global pandemic has materially affected investment returns, resulting in a -8.4 percent public market return for the year.  The seven-year annualized return at 6.8 percent is within the targeted investment policy range and is 1.2 percent higher than the 5.6 percent benchmark. As noted in the financial highlights, the current 10-year annualized return of 7.0 percent is in the target range and is higher than the benchmark by 1.2 percent.

Impact investments

Impact investments enable donations to endowed funds to drive positive change beyond granting, because they represent investments of capital that deliver financial returns coupled with positive social and/or environmental outcomes. In addition, these investments provide a pool uncorrelated to the public markets which, in turn, buffers the portfolio from the volatility currently experienced.

More than 15 percent of our long-term assets are in impact investments. Chart 5 illustrates HCF’s impact investing progress over the past five years, with $25 million currently placed or outstanding and another $15 million committed. This brings the total commitment to $40 million, up from $34 million last year. Impact investments cover areas including affordable housing, arts, environment and sustainable development.

Chart 5

Locally

Local loans since inception total $9.7 million with $7.1 million outstanding at year end.  Chart 6 shows the impact areas our loans have supported. Since the loan program’s 2012 inception, $2.6 million in loan principal has been repaid and recycled as new loans.  In addition, the interest from these loans supports HCF granting.

Chart 6

Investment Readiness Program (IRP)

IRP is a Government of Canada program being delivered nationally by partners including Community Foundations of Canada. As the first phase in the government’s long-term investment in social finance, the IRP’s goal is to make social-purpose organizations “investment ready” so they can make a difference in new and innovative ways through their participation in the social finance market. HCF has partnered with community foundations in London and Niagara, and the McMaster Innovation Park to manage the program regionally on behalf of Community Foundations of Canada.  The first request for proposals for funding in January created enormous interest nationally and garnered 65 submissions to our regional partnership.  Approved funding is expected to be released in June 2020.  As an additional benefit, the IRP brought a growing number of potential opportunities for local loans to HCF’s attention.

Nationally/Globally

These investments include private equity, private debt and real estate investments. Many of these investments are long term in nature, are maintained at cost and do not have a regular income stream.  As these investments are maintained at cost, their results include interest income and realized gains, but not unrealized gains. Results for these investments are closely monitored and are reported when realized. Chart 7 identifies the investment areas, with $18.0 million placed and a total commitment of $33 million across 21 investments.

Chart 7

Total investment returns

Operations

Operating expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 total $2.5 million and were 2.5 percent higher than last year. Staffing costs related to the Foundation’s 22 employees represent 70 percent of HCF operating costs.

In addition to breaking out cost by type, operating costs are allocated to each of the Foundation’s operating areas: grants administration, community and philanthropic leadership, community relations and knowledge dissemination, development activities, and administration and governance. Examples of community and philanthropic leadership include convening around the city’s critical issues and fostering the growth of philanthropy by sharing staff time and knowledge to support other charities. Charts 8 and 9 illustrate these costs by operating area and by expense type.

Charts 8 and 9

The Foundation’s annual development expenses are not necessarily attributable to the donations received in that year. The nature of donations to the Foundation can result in costs preceding the receipt of the donation by several years (for example, donations through wills). As a result, consistent with the community foundation sector, operating costs are evaluated by a ratio of total operating expenses to average total assets. Ratios fall within a range depending on the size and stage of the community foundation’s development.

Management considers the ratio of 1.26 percent (1.25 percent in 2019), as illustrated in Chart 10, to be within an acceptable range for a foundation of HCF’s size, stage and level of community leadership, compared against benchmarks established in the community foundation sector. We continue to monitor both the actual results and the benchmarks on an ongoing basis.

Chart 10

Total assets

Hamilton Community Foundation’s total assets of $201 million at March 31, 2020 include balances of HCF funds and funds held on behalf of others at $1.7 million.

HCF fund balances

Hamilton Community Foundation’s fund balances, illustrated in Chart 11, represent accumulated donations plus the net investment earnings on these donations, minus granting and operating costs. Funds include both endowed and flowthrough funds. Endowed funds are held permanently and grant from investment earnings. Flowthrough funds are fully distributed as grants over a pre-determined term.

Chart 11

The fund balances have grown 55 percent to $198 million at the year ended March 31, 2020 from $128 million in 2013. Donations of $35.1 million included $4.4 million in flowthrough donations that were largely distributed as grants in the year and, as a result, do not remain in the fund balances at year end. This results in a modest total funds balance growth of 4.8 per cent for the year. The number of funds has grown 19 percent to 377 from 318 in 2013.

Pandemic response

In mid-March, HCF’s Board established its Pandemic Response Fund with an initial $2 million commitment, underpinned by a strategy that would enable:

• Flexibility to meet changing and uncertain conditions
• Transparency and accountability to our stakeholders
• Ongoing communication with agencies, other funders and government to determine and respond to emerging needs

Immediate emergency granting focused on Hamiltonians most affected by the pandemic, including people experiencing homelessness and lacking food security, those who are immuno-compromised, isolated seniors, newcomers and Indigenous people. Before the end of March, proactive grants totalling $305,000 were made to 16 Hamilton organizations to help address these immediate needs.

This work formed the starting point for the three ongoing streams of the fund:

Meeting basic needs (Short-term)
Providing basic needs related to food security, shelter, hygiene.

Stabilization (Short- to medium-term)
Supporting charities to deliver frontline, critical services to vulnerable populations affected by quarantine, closures, shortages, access to services, loss of income, or other economic factors. This stream aims to maintain or expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible, and help close gaps where services are not covered by government relief funding.

Recovery and rebuilding (Medium- to long-term)
Recognizing that the recovery from this crisis will extend far into the foreseeable future, this stream will enable the Foundation’s continued flexibility and responsiveness to Hamilton’s evolving needs, with the goal of strengthening its long-term resilience.

Ongoing leadership

Beyond our direct support through the Pandemic Response Fund, we are shaping our existing leadership priorities to the city’s new and emerging realities in multiple ways, including:

Education
Increasing the likelihood that young Hamiltonians will participate in university, college or the trades is a critical community investment that can have a positive impact on people, neighbourhoods and our city.  HCF supports education in numerous ways, through our ABACUS initiative and beyond.

HCF is supporting its ABACUS grantees and other education organizations in Hamilton to best serve their communities through the pandemic.  We surveyed our 23 ABACUS grantees to understand how they are responding to COVID-19, physical distancing measures and online schooling. Based on their responses HCF has been working with them to:

• Redirect a portion of their ABACUS funds, where appropriate, to respond to imminent and pressing needs due to COVID-19
• Use the remainder of their 2019-20 funds to move their current ABACUS program online
• Retain the remainder of their 2019-20 funds until in-person programming can resume

We continue to listen and learn from our grantees to be flexible in supporting middle-school-aged youth and their broader community.

Neighbourhoods
The Foundation’s longstanding commitment to neighbourhoods has focused in recent years on small grants that promote health equity and leadership development. Over the last year, HCF conducted a pilot on new ways of delivery that would expand the reach of its grants. We also conducted a community scan to understand better, what residents would like to learn more about to support their community work. While both these projects are temporarily paused, the research will help to inform how the Foundation continues to support healthy, inclusive neighbourhoods in a post-pandemic reality.

Engaging, learning from and working with Indigenous communities
In October 2019, HCF’s Board of Directors made a commitment to strengthen the Foundation’s relationship with Indigenous communities as part of its work towards truth and reconciliation. We recognize that the Foundation’s history and current operations are connected to Canada’s colonial history and current context. To be partners, the Foundation must start, at all levels of our organization, by working alongside Indigenous communities and organizations to explore how we grant, invest and convene across our community.

HCF has strong relationships with several local Indigenous organizations and leaders, and supports multiple Indigenous-led initiatives through granting and impact investing. HCF is now working to build our response both to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and to the unique needs of this community, especially as a result of COVID-19.

Community leadership projects
These projects include HCF’s own community leadership activity, as well as projects where we act as an intermediary to assemble funding for multi-organizational community initiatives. The projects may span multiple years, and are funded by new donations as well as by Board-directed funds. Current year funders are AbleLiving Services Inc., City of Hamilton, Community Foundations of Canada, The Fairmount Foundation, Green Shield Canada, Hamilton Family Health Team, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, McMaster University, Saint Elizabeth Health Care, St. Joseph’s Health System, Thrive Group.

Leadership project costs include research, community consultation, meeting costs, education and communication materials. Spending for 2019-20 is:

Advisors

Auditors
BDO Canada LLP

Bankers & Custodian
Bank of Montreal and BMO Private Banking

Solicitors
Gowling WLG

Investment Managers
Connor, Clark and Lunn Private Capital Ltd.
Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd.

Link to PDF

Community Fund: Unrestricted fund

This fund is used to address the highest charitable priorities in the community.

Board advisory committees

Hamilton Community Foundation’s work is supported by both standing committees of the Board of Directors and board advisory committees. Membership of the board advisory committees includes both board members and a wide range of community volunteers whose expertise we rely on and appreciate.  Standing committees of the board include: Governance & Board Effectiveness, Finance & Investment, and the Impact Investment Committee.

Audit Committee

• Cameron J. Beatty, CPA, CA, Chair
• Steve Borsellino, CPA, CMA, CIRP, LIT
• Dr. Bill Evans
• Tom Sawyer, CPA, CA
• Kathy Watts

Chaney-Ensign Bursary Fund

• Sandra Stephenson, Chair
• Dr. Maroussia Ahmed
• Terry Costello*
• Assad Hoosein
• Myrna Kelly
  *retired from committee March 2020

Community Fund

• Laura Cattari
• Dr. Juliet Daniel
• Sandra Edrupt
• Shelly Hill
• David Hoy
• Milé Komlen
• Teresa Smith

Community Health, Education and Research Fund

• Dr. Bill Evans, Chair
• Paul Armstrong
• Dr. Jane Aronson
• Marion Emo
• Dr. Gianni Parise
• Dr. Jenny Ploeg
• Dr. Leila Ryan

Edith H. Turner Foundation Fund

• Renate Davidson, Chair
• Dorothy Bartalos
• Timothy Bullock
• Karen Burson
• Sondra Cornett*
• Terry Horne, Honourary Member
  *retired from committee November 2019

Finance & Investment Committee

• Sarah Murphy, B.Eng, CIM, Chair
• Dr. Justin Cooper
• Sandra Edrupt
• Dr. Bill Evans, Vice-Chair
• Dr. Maroussia Ahmed
• Kathy Watts
• Gwyn Williams

Hamilton Spectator Summer Camp Fund

• Diana Frate

Impact Investment Committee

• Sarah Murphy, B.Eng, CIM, Chair
• Sandra Edrupt, Vice-Chair
• Paul Gibel, FCPA, FCA (Advisor)
• Assad Hoosein
• Pranav Pandya, CPA, CA
• Mario Paron, CPA, CA, CPA (Illinois)*
• Brooke Eady
• Bill Young Jr. (Advisor)
• Marita Zaffiro, BScPhm, MBA
  *resigned from committee December 2019

McCallum, McBride Fund Advisory Committee

• John McCallum, Chair
• Kevin Beattie
• Carole Capling
• Linda Hughes
• Debbie-Ann Rashford

Nomination Committee

• Teresa Smith, HCF Past-Chair/Committee Chair
• Mayor Fred Eisenberger, City of Hamilton
• Mark Giavedoni, President, Hamilton Law Association
• Police Chief Eric Girt, Hamilton Police Service
• Pat Mandy, member-at-large
• James McAskill, Chair, United Way Halton & Hamilton
• Bob Savage, Board Chair, Hamilton Community Foundation
• Carmela Trombetta, Chair, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
• Dr. Gary Warner, member-at-large

Ontario Endowment for Children & Youth in Recreation

• Tyler Cowie, Chair
• Don Curry
• Elizabeth Duvall
• Rikki Frith
• Linda Godin
• Melissa Ricci

as at March 31, 2020

Terry Cooke
President & CEO

Jill Anderson
Director, Philanthropic Services

Annette Aquin, CPA, CA
Executive Vice-President, Finance & Operations

Sharon Charters
Manager, Grants

Grace Diffey, APR, FCPRS
Vice-President, Community Relations

Allan Enriquez
Administrator, Philanthropic Services

Sarah Glen
Manager, Community Initiatives

Matt Goodman
Vice-President, Grants & Community Initiatives

Lisa Habisreutinger
Philanthropic Services Officer

Morag Halsey
Receptionist/Foundation Support Assistant

Tami Henderson
Administrative Assistant, Grants

Jake How
Accountant

Melissa Klaver
Corporate Secretary/Executive Assistant, President & CEO

Angel Li
Senior Accountant

Shylah MacIntyre
Senior Philanthropic Services Officer

Sheree Meredith
Advisor, Philanthropic Services

Michael Parente
Communications Specialist

Jen Pearson
ABACUS Project Manager

Katherine Roy
Scholarship and Bursary Project Lead

Lorraine Valmadrid
Learning & Evaluation Lead

Tracy Varcoe
Administrative Assistant/Webmaster, Community Relations

Yulena Wan, CPA, CA
Manager, Corporate Services

Yvonne Yeoh
Executive Assistant, Finance & Operations

Board of Directors

Bob Savage
VP, Manufacturing, ArcelorMittal Dofasco (retired)
Board Chair

Teresa Smith
President, Hamilton General Hospital (retired)
Past Chair

Dr. Maroussia Ahmed
Professor Emeritus, Dept. of French, McMaster University

Laura Cattari
Advocate, Community Engagement and Media

Dr. Juliet Daniel
Professor, Department of Biology, McMaster University

Brooke Eady, CHRP
President, Broadcast Services International

Sandra Edrupt
General Manager, Strategy & Business Planning, ArcelorMittal Dofasco (retired)

Dr. Bill Evans
Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Oncology, McMaster University
President, Oncosynthesis Consulting Inc.

Assad Hoosein
Manager of Facilities, Hamilton Public Library

Milé Komlen
Managing Director, Ethical Associates Inc.

Sarah Murphy, B.Eng, CIM
Investment Advisor/Portfolio Manager, CIBC Wood Gundy

Mario Paron, CPA, CA, CPA (Illinois)*
Canadian Managing Partner, KPMG Enterprise
*resigned from the Board December 2019

Kathy Watts
Vice-President Finance & CFO, Hamilton Health Sciences (retired)

Marita Zaffiro, BScPhm, MBA
President & CEO, Marchese Health Care

Terry Cooke
President & CEO
Secretary of the Board

Grants by recipient organization

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