We are Camp Quality

Clara resides near Thunder Bay, ON, and contributes her non-profit knowledge in many volunteer leadership roles including the Trans Canada Trail, cross border tourism, economic development, and community fundraising. Having served on the Camp Quality board for 13 years and at the camp level for 4 more, Clara is ready to wind down her active involvement, however, she will continue to advise on the importance of creating a Camp Quality family at all levels of the organization through fun and meaningful activities for kids with cancer, their families and the volunteers who help them.

Lilian is a Chartered Accountant and joined the Board of Directors in March 2016 and in 2022 was asked to join the Council of Advisors. She is a Senior Manager with Deloitte LLP in Toronto, and works extensively in the not-for-profit space in the areas of accounting, internal controls, process improvements, and governance. Lilian is deeply committed to Camp Quality's mission, and believes in the healing power of laughter and friendship, both of which camp life brings.

Sylvia has been involved with Camp Quality since 1989 when she first visited the Southern Ontario Camp with Trumpets, a cuddly mascot that delighted the campers. From that day totally smitten and committed to the philosophy of Camp Quality to bring fun and laughter to kids living with cancer. Sylvia joined the Board of Directors in 1998 and brings expertise in facilities management, customer service, purchasing and contracting, safety, and food services management to the board. She is a graduate of Le Cordon Blue, Paris, and passionate about food and wine. After her broad corporate career, she enjoys using her food and wine knowledge at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery in the sunny Okanagan, where she does educational tours, and wine tasting for guests from all around the world. She operates a catering business at Wine & Thyme Cooking School in Kelowna, BC.

Rob has over 40 years of experience in the Canadian Banking industry and a history of tying strategy and governance protocols to the “customer” in order to look beyond the status quo, and build teamwork. Rob currently works in Data Governance for BMO Financial Group. His interest in Camp Quality Canada stems from years of camping through his involvement in Scouting both as a member and a Leader where he saw the benefits (to both mind and body) that camping brings to young people first-hand. Rob is excited to be part of the Camp Quality team and pursue the philosophy that “together, we can do anything, be anything and achieve everything.” Rob is co-chair of the Governance and Succession Committee.

Anna is a licensed lawyer who was the head of the City of Toronto Legal Services Division from 2002 until her retirement in 2016. In this position, she was responsible for all legal advice provided to City Council and staff. She was also responsible for the management of over 300 staff including over 120 lawyers. Anna’s retirement is filled with travel, golf, long walks, and getting together with friends. She is pleased to have joined the Board in May 2018 and is excited to be a member of the Camp Quality team.

Don is a founding director of Camp Quality Canada. He served as President of Camp Quality for six years, and he continues to serve on the Council of Advisors. During his tenure as President, Camp Quality hired our first Executive Director, started our camp in Alberta, and celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Southern Ontario camp. Don retired after practicing as a lawyer for almost 35 years. He is married and has two daughters. He and his wife have two residences; they spend the summer and fall in Sidney, B.C. and the winter and spring in Saint Maarten in the Caribbean. Don’s other charitable activities include serving as a director for Community Bible Study Canada and Chosen People Ministries Canada. He and his wife serve together as facilitators of a Christian marriage program called Love After Marriage.

John is a Principal in Woodington Partners Cost Management consulting firm. He joined the Board of Directors in 1998 with the initial objective of helping out for a couple of years as a way to give to give back. As his passion for CQ grew, he has remained closely involved with the organization for over 20 years, previously as a Board Member, Vice-president, Chair of the Nominating Committee, and also as member of the HR & Compensation, Governance & Succession, and Fundraising/Marketing committees. He enjoys golf, curling, travelling the world with his wife Amanda (mostly on cruises), and spending time with his growing family and two pets Callie and Rosey.

Isabelle joined the Board of Directors in 2010 after being involved with Camp Quality in Ottawa for several years. Isabelle has been a Pediatric Interlink Community Nurse for the past 5 years, and coordinates care for children and teens, and their families through the childhood cancer experience. She has worked extensively in the field as research nurse, educator, and clinical nurse for about 20 years in Canada, the U.S. and abroad. She hopes to assist in the continued expansion of Camp Quality programs and contribute to the ongoing positive impact they have on the childhood cancer population. In 2016, Isabelle moved from the Board to the Council of Advisors.

Mandy Thomson enjoyed a rich career as an education administrator, partnership coordinator, and curriculum and evaluation specialist for the North York Board of Education. On retirement, after updating her credentials in nonprofit management, she attempts to balance her life between doing board and hands-on nonprofit volunteering, enjoying the leisure and culture that Toronto offers, as well as wilderness canoeing and hiking, and travelling. For many years when younger, she was a keen camper, counsellor, and waterfront director and is so pleased to be involved in camping again through Camp Quality.

Danielle is a Paediatric Haematologist/Oncologist in Toronto. She has been involved with Camp Quality since 2004 when she co-founded Camp Quality Manitoba (CQMB). Through her experiences with Camp Quality, her passion for childhood cancer was nurtured, which led her to pursue her medical career. Danielle was an active member of the CQMB Camp Organizing Committee (COC) for thirteen years and remains involved in an advisory role. In addition, she was a member of the inaugural COC of Camp Quality New Heights. Over the years she has been a strong advocate for Camp Quality and childhood cancer in general. She enjoys travelling, spin classes, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her husband David and their family.

Gary joined the Camp Quality Board in January 2015 and brings to the organization more than 30 years of leadership experience in the energy industry both in eastern and western Canada. His work experience includes industry association board governance, public affairs, government relations, Aboriginal, community, and stakeholder relations, as well as advocacy on energy policy and related climate change issues. In his current role, Gary is responsible for leading the commercial development of natural gas-related infrastructure in the west for what is now North America’s premier energy infrastructure company. Along with his fellow board members, Gary shares the simple vision of providing uplifting experiences for kids with cancer. Originally from Ontario and a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Gary is now a long-time resident of Calgary, Alberta, and brings a western Canadian perspective to our growing national organization.

Darin Thompson joined the Camp Quality Canada Board in May 2019. Darin is a Senior Vice President with Connor, Clark & Lunn in the Toronto office. Darin lives with his family in Toronto and spends much of his time traveling across Canada. He sits on the CQC Finance & Investment Committee. Previous to Camp Quality, Darin held volunteer leadership positions with other non-profits such as the Collingwood G&M Hospital Foundation, Devil’s Glen Country Club, and The Thornhill Club. Darin has over 20 years of experience in the investment management industry, both from a private client and institutional perspective. Prior to joining the CC&L Private Capital team, Darin was an executive with a major Canadian wealth management firm, directly responsible for the delivery of their proprietary investment solutions. Since 1998 he has held the CFA designation and is a member of the CFA Institute.

Fred Glady BA (dist.), LL.B., LL.M. is a business executive and lawyer with 25 years’ experience helping businesses, large and small, set and achieve strategic objectives. Early in his career, Fred provided legal services to technology businesses during the dot-com era. Fred then spent over 18 years at a world-leading provider of news and information-based tools to professionals, going on to lead three commercial divisions and marketing in Canada. Today, Fred is a trusted legal and business advisor and principal of GladyLaw. A childhood camper, and now a parent of two former campers, Fred knows the magic of summer camps for kids. Fred is committed to Camp Quality’s cause and is honoured and thrilled to be  a member of the board.