OPTIONS BYTOWN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Communications and Corporate Support Officer
Job Titles:
- Manager of Homelessness Prevention
Now retired, Annie Carruthers was a career public servant who joined the Canadian Federal Government as a policy analyst in 1993. She worked in four different ministries, focusing on areas related to cultural policy, violence against women, anti-racism, and Indigenous relations. Annie has also previously served on the boards of non-profits in the Canadian book sector, and volunteered in community radio and as a crisis intervention counsellor for victims of sexual assault.
She joined the Options Bytown Board of Directors in 2017, driven by her belief that a safe home and a welcoming community are fundamental building blocks to the health, healing, and wellbeing of individuals. In addition to being passionate about the eradication of homelessness, Annie is interested in issues related to food security, including nutrition, community gardening, reduction of waste, and the sharing of food as a way to reduce hunger and build community.
Benedict is a more recent arrival to Canada, having worked for several years as a lawyer in Britain. He is called to the bars of Ontario and England. He has been involved in charities and non-profits for some years, acting as a long-standing volunteer advocate and later board member of a pro bono legal charity in London, as the Editor-in-Chief of an academic journal, and more recently as a Director of Abbeyfield Canada, a seniors housing charity.
Dean has over a decade of experience in healthcare working in a variety of acute care hospitals across Ontario and the USA. He is trained as an Occupational Therapist working with multiple interdisciplinary teams to provide high-quality service and improved outcomes. Over the past four years, Dean has taken his expertise and experience to the community side of healthcare working at The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County, where he helped to improve the services and support available to people impacted by dementia. Dean loves making a ruckus, is always in the search for good explanations. He believes that problems are inevitable and that problems are solvable.
Dean holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology from Acadia University; MSc. in Occupational Therapy from Queens University and an MBA from the University of Liverpool.
Job Titles:
- Officer With the Ontario Provincial Police
After graduating from Western University in 1994, Heather became a police officer with the Ontario Provincial Police and in 1999 joined the Ottawa Police Service. She has worked in various positions including Patrol, Community Policing, Human Resources, the Partner Assault Unit, Professional Standards, Youth and Training.
Heather is dedicated to improving things for all members in her police service including equity, diversity and inclusion. She is also dedicated to the community and recognizes the importance of public trust and confidence and giving back when and where she can. Heather lives a very active lifestyle and fitness is a large factor in her life. She has been on the board of directors for Options Bytown since 2017.
Job Titles:
- Certified Financial Planner
Jason is a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner and Chartered Investment Manager® working as an Associate Investment Advisor with Alterna Savings.
Having worked for over 13 years in the financial services industry, Jason has developed expertise in the areas of relationship management, financial planning and strategic planning. Jason is a graduate of the University of Ottawa (Summa Cum Laude) holding a degree in Social Sciences with a minor in economics.
Jason enjoys volunteering his time for causes that promote the economic support and development of individuals with a particular interest in education and financial literacy. Jason's personal passion is fitness, priding himself on being a functional fitness athlete.
Mayor Jim Watson presents Options Bytown with a plaque to recognize our 30th anniversary
Job Titles:
- Manager of Housing Supports
Lauren has been volunteering with social welfare organizations in Ottawa since 2012. Most recently, she joins the Options Bytown board from Multifaith Housing Initiative where she contributed to the work of the Communications and Finance Committees for many years.
Lauren brings a strong background in the non-profit housing sector and extensive volunteer experience supporting organizations serving vulnerable populations. A collaborator at heart, she is eager to contribute to and advance the strategic goals of Options Bytown.
Lauren is fluently bilingual and holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and an MBA from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton. She works in regulatory compliance and enforcement for the federal government, loves to travel, and is always planning her next backpacking adventure!
Liz Wigfull has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years with a special interest in social justice and health equity. She holds a Master's in Conflict Studies from Saint Paul University and her career has spanned teaching secondary school to international volunteering to mental health policy, adult education and knowledge mobilization. Liz is currently the Manager of Program Development of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Canada and Opening Minds at the Mental Health Commission of Canada where she has worked alongside colleagues for almost a decade seeking mental health equity for all Canadians, including people experiencing homelessness and precarious housing. Liz joined the Options Bytown Board of Directors in 2020.
Job Titles:
- Interim Manager of Community and Partnership Development
After nearly 40 years working as a professional in social and supportive housing in the UK and Ottawa, Margaret is now retired, while maintaining an ongoing interest in the sector.
Former GM of Ottawa Community Housing and Executive Director of Ottawa Salus, former President of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, as well as a former Board Member of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, and of Daybreak Housing, Margaret brings a breadth and
depth of experience to Options Bytown. She was also directly involved in the multi-agency planning group that created Options Bytown in the 1980's.
Margaret was educated in the UK and holds a degree in Politics and Philosophy from Oxford. She joined the Board in June 2014.
Job Titles:
- Board Member With Daybreak
- Director of Facilities Management With CCOC
Norm has worked in the built environment profession for over 30 years. He is a Chartered Surveyor (Appraisal and Real Estate Management), a Chartered Building Engineer and has associate membership with the Institution of Civil Engineers and is a Member of The American Society of Civil Engineers.
Norm is currently Director of Facilities Management with CCOC housing in Ottawa and was previously Director of Asset and Property Management with London Middlesex Housing.
Norm is currently a Board Member with Daybreak housing and acts as an Advisor/Mentor to Housing Start-ups through Community Futures & Regional Enterprise Programs. Previously, he was a board member of Victoria Park Community Homes in Hamilton. Norm was a founding member of the board of the Cochrane Centre in St John's, where he helped to establish a new supportive housing and outreach charity.
He has additionally served on diverse charitable and non profit boards in the fields of social advocacy, environmental stewardship and heritage preservation. Norm's experience also includes Asset and Property Management in the commercial and government sectors, property development, project management and infrastructure renewal.