Board of Directors

Peter Matteson

September 2024, Chair

Peter joined the board in March 2024 and brings 50 years of accounting and nonprofit board experience.

Originally from Toronto, Peter moved to Orangeville in order to be closer to his son and his family. Peter is very proud of his soon to be 13-year-old grandson and enjoys the opportunity to watch him grow.

Peter managed the market intelligence function for a national and international seniors’ housing operator.  In the capacity of Vice President, Asset Management he managed the capital investment for a portfolio of sixty residential retirement and long-term care properties located in Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and the Northern United States.  Responsibilities included development of business plans for all properties and presentation to the Investment Committee and Board of Directors for proposed capital investments.  The position was also responsible for the annual property valuation process by third party appraisal firms and presentation to the management team of PSP Investment Board.
 

Retired now, he continues to volunteer as a member of the development committee for Nisbet Lodge, a nonprofit long term care centre in Toronto and as a new member of the board of directors of Community Living Dufferin.

His knowledge and experience in both accounting and serving on nonprofit boards will greatly benefit Community Living Dufferin.

Peter shares his home with his beloved senior schnauzer Mo.

Aisha Lone

April 2021, Governance Committee

Aisha currently works as a Senior Enterprise Workforce Analyst with the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) and holds a background in Human Resources (HR) from the University of Toronto (UofT).

From a young age, Aisha’s persistent community involvement has allowed her to reach leadership roles within various non-profit organizations. She holds a record of impactful leadership roles and has made a positive impact on her community; through a strong commitment to developing inclusivity and equity within marginalized members of society.

Aisha is serving as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Army Cadet League of Canada (ACLC) where she engages in recruitment and training of volunteers. Aisha continuously strives to create a meaningful relationship with her community through the use of her knowledge and experiences. She uses leadership qualities to inspire others to create a safe space hence is looking forward to supporting those with intellectual disabilities at Community Living Dufferin (CLD). When not in the office, Aisha loves spending quality time with family and friends.

Will Dandie

April 2022, Governance Committee Chair

Will is an Articling Student at McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto. He completed his Juris Doctor degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2022. Will also holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McGill University.

While at Osgoode, Will worked as a research assistant for the Indigenous Environmental Justice Project, sat on Osgoode’s Admissions Committee, and participated in two national moot competitions. He interned at a law and tech NGO located in Myanmar. Prior to law school, Will worked as a Legislative Assistant for a Member of Provincial Parliament at Queen’s Park. Will is committed to investing in the growth of communities. In particular, Will has used his training and knowledge to collaborate and assist vulnerable communities. During his academic and professional work, he provided support to trans individuals in attaining governmental identification services and contributed to the work of various Indigenous organizations and causes.

Will joined the Board in 2022.

He will bring his passion for community activism and strong sense of service to the position. He is inspired by the existing work of Community Living Dufferin and will contribute to the further success of the organization. Outside of work, Will enjoys reading biographies and fantasy, cooking, and travelling. 

Sarah Jefferies

March 2024, Board Member

Sarah has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD) in Toronto and a master’s level diploma in art therapy from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. She is a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) and art therapist and currently provides individual and group therapy to children, youth and families at Dufferin Child and Family Services and Art as Therapy.

She works with children and families in many different capacities and this journey led her to the field of art therapy when she discovered that there could be more to therapy than just having to talk. At Art as Therapy Sarah began by providing support in facilitating workshops and then moved into the full-time role of Client Care Coordinator. She is passionate about helping children and youth connect to themselves through art and supporting them to grow and flourish.

Sarah pulls from many different modalities and is keenly interested in creating a non-judgmental space for her clients to help them navigate what is showing up for them.Sarah truly believes that everyone has and knows from within them what they need, but sometimes in the chaos of the busy world, school, work and managing day to day life this gets hidden. She works with her clients to rediscover their innate strengths and powers.

Sarah is looking forward to joining the CLD board and sharing her skills with her fellow directors.

Adam Thompson

September 2023, Self Advocate Board Member
Adam has been a supported member of Community Living Dufferin for over 20 years.

Born and raised in Orangeville he has been very involved in the community and one can see proof of that as everyone knows his name.

Adam plays hockey with the Orangeville Wolves, is a member of the Creative Partners on Stage Players, and during COVID created his own clothing brand Adams Wear. Selling a line of custom-made t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies, with an inspirational message he was featured on a Toronto news station bringing his positive attitude during a difficult time to the viewers.

This is Adam’s second turn as a self-advocate on the board and he is very proud of his involvement and contribution by bringing the voices of his peers to the board members.

In his spare time, Adam loves to knit and has gifted and sold blankets and scarves to friends and family. He is also an avid photographer and loves to dance and sing.

Adam always has a smile and is always willing to lend a helping hand to everyone he meets.

Edwin Alvarado

September 2024, Board Member

Edwin works as Digital Support Consultant within the North York area. Previously, he worked in medical clinics in Brampton since 2005, where he has managed operations and played a pivotal role in transforming a single clinic into a network of 5 sites. This network offers the community a range of services, including walk-in care, family practices, and various multidisciplinary specialties such as pediatrics, allergy and immunology, endocrinology, women’s health, and obstetrics. Edwin has experience in both for-profit and non-profit clinics, where he implemented significant workflow improvements.

He also teaches part-time at George Brown College and Conestoga College in the Health Services Department, focusing on technology and mathematics. Edwin holds an Honours B.Sc. in Chemistry from York University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Health Administration (MHA) with a specialization in Health Information and Information Management from the University of Regina.

Edwin is a strong advocate for equitable access to healthcare and is dedicated to breaking down barriers within the system. Through his work with Community Living Dufferin, he aims to champion inclusivity and provide insights to empower individuals. By fostering a population health perspective, he seeks to ensure that all community members receive the support and resources they deserve.

Ken Huntley

September 2024, Board Member

I have lived in the Orangeville area for the past 27 years. My family is very fortunate to have the supports and services of Community Living Dufferin within our community.

I am a firm believer in giving back and contributing to the community that I live and prosper in. I have been involved in and volunteered for numerous community organizations including CLD, Special Olympics, Theatre Orangeville, Orangeville Food Bank, Museum of Dufferin as well as the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival. I am grateful for the time spent and lessons learned through supporting these organizations.

As a parent of a Special Needs person I understand the importance of advocacy. I want to ensure that Community Living Dufferin continues to maintain the ability to provide appropriate supports for individuals and their families in a sustainable manner and be a strong voice for many years to come

Chris Gerrits 

Board Member

Picture and Bio to come soon!

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