Who We Are
Victim Services Toronto provides trauma-informed support and advocacy in the moment for any person in Toronto who has experienced crime or sudden tragedy. We also work to prevent violence through community engagement.
Executive Officers
Paul Khawaja
Board Chair
Paul Khawaja, Board Chair, is President of OnX Canada, and is driving the organization’s growth, strategy, and development for enterprise infrastructure solutions, managed services, and digital services. He is leading OnX through a focused transformation from traditional IT offerings to client-focused services and solutions. Prior to his current role, Paul served as Executive VP, and COO – Cloud and Managed Services, for OnX. Before joining OnX, Paul served as VP of Bell, and President of Xwave. He also held leadership positions in sales, operations, and business development at MITI Information Technology.
Jay Hutchison
Board Vice Chair
Jay Hutchison, Board Vice Chair, CPA and M.Acc, is EY’s Office Managing Partner – Greater Toronto Area and EY’s Canadian Chief Development Officer. Jay is an executive of EY Canada with 28+ years of experience providing professional services to clients operating in complex global environments. He has been a partner at EY for more than 20 years. During his tenure, Jay served as the Managing Partner – Markets, Canadian Tax Managing Partner, Calgary Market Leader, and Canadian Human Capital Leader.
Lorne Kalmar
Board Treasurer
Lorne Kalmar, Board Treasurer, CPA, CA is an Equity Research Analyst (Real Estate), Desjardins Capital Markets, covering the Canadian public real estate space. Prior to joining Desjardins, he spent seven years at TD Securities in Equity Research. He also spent four years as an auditor at EY where he earned his CPA, CA designation. Lorne received his Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University in 2011.
Lisa Street
Board Corporate Secretary
Lisa Street, Board Corporate Secretary, is a Human Resources Executive who has worked in the Retail, Tech and Pharmaceutical industries over the past 20 years. As a member of HR executive leadership teams, Lisa acts as a mentor to future leaders within organizations, volunteering her time to help coach and develop all levels of talent within the company.
Directors
Gerry McNeilly
Board Member
Gerry McNeilly, Board Member, is currently carrying on a Consulting and Mediation practice in ADR; Workplace Investigations and Reviews; Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. Prior to this, he was the Independent Police Review Director for Ontario for 11 years. He served as the Executive Director of Legal Aid Manitoba, and established A Woman’s Place in Winnipeg and the African Canadian Legal Clinic in Toronto. He also served as the Chair of the Human Rights Board of Inquiry. He is a lawyer called to the Bars of Ontario and Manitoba, and a mediator.
Pamela Schott
Board Member
Pamela Schott, Board Member, is an executive with over 25 years of senior leadership experience in Procurement, Operational Excellence, M&A, Strategy, and more. She spent 24 years at BMO Financial Group, where she developed a top-tier Procurement function, led billion-dollar acquisitions, and achieved significant cost savings. Since retiring from BMO in April 2024, she has focused on community involvement, serving on the Boards of Supply Ontario, Victim Services Toronto, and the Ivey Alumni Network Executive Board at Western University.
Barbra Miller
Board Member
Barbra Miller, Board Member, is a senior partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, a leading Canadian business law firm, practising in the firm’s Litigation and Workplace Law Groups. Barbra has more than 30 years of experience as an advocate and civil litigator, which includes appearances before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Abhay Raman
Board Member
Abhay Raman, Board Member, is the Sr. Vice President and Chief Security Officer at Sun Life, overseeing global cyber and physical security, crisis management, and technology risk management. Before Sun Life, he was an advisory partner at EY in Canada. Abhay serves on the board of the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX) and was a director at Secure Key. He is also an Executive-in-Residence at the TMU Cybersecurity Accelerator, an advisor to the 'Cyber Right Now' Campaign, and a member of the Canadian Forum for Digital Infrastructure Resilience.
Jennifer Ménard-Shand
Board Member
Jennifer Ménard-Shand, Board Member, is a First Nations Ojibwe and French-Canadian entrepreneur, and speaker. She began her career in 2006 with MLSE and later excelled in staffing at The Bagg Group, creating its first hospitality division, Bagg @ Your Service, in 2013 and purchasing it in 2018. As founder and CEO of Staff Shop, an award-winning diverse staffing firm based in Toronto, she serves hundreds of clients across North America and deploys thousands of employees.
Alex Krawczyk
Board Member
Alex Krawczyk, Board Member, is a registered nurse with over 10 years of experience in Toronto, currently working as a community health nurse supporting youth facing complex challenges. She is pursuing a Master of Public Health with a focus on Indigenous and Global Health and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Hons.) from York University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and receiving the Praxis Award for excellence in caring.
David Kincaid
Board Member
David Kincaid, Board Member, is a leading figure in North American brand management and the Founder and Managing Partner of Level5 Strategy, a top Canadian brand consultancy. Previously, he was CMO at Corus Entertainment, shaping the company's vision and positioning. Before that, he was Senior VP of Marketing and Strategic Planning at Labatt Breweries, driving successful brand expansions into the U.S., Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. He began his career in the 1980s at American Express and General Foods. He is also a published author, with his book "The Value of a Promise Consistently Kept™" and "The Brand Driven CEO.
Brandon Marek
Board Member
Brandon Marek, Board Member, is the Managing Partner at Harlo Entertainment, North America’s leading entertainment and hospitality private equity firm. With over 15 years of experience, Brandon has ideated, designed and launched a variety of successful companies. Brandon specializes in creating brands that value luxury and invaluable experience, and has supported many organizations in building best-in-class experience programs.
Leadership
Carly Kalish
Chief Executive Officer
Carly is the recipient of the Toronto Police Services “Leading the Path Award,” Toronto Foundation’s “Vital People Grant,” and Attorney General’s “Victim Services Award” for her dedication to working with survivors of gender-based violence. Carly holds a Master of Social Work from the City University of New York. She attended the Non-profit Management Program at Harvard University.
Kiran Brar
Associate Executive Director
Joining Victim Services Toronto in 2009, Kiran now has over ten years of experience in the social services sector. She speaks five languages and holds a diploma in social work, a degree in Business Management, and specialized training in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and harm reduction. Kiran sits on various committees to implement an emergency response protocol.
Darlene Coppens
Crisis Response Program Director
Darlene graduated with her Child and Youth Diploma from George Brown College in 2000 and returned to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Worker with a minor in Family Support and Community Practices at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2009. Darlene's 24 years of unwavering commitment and passion to supporting clients in the sector include mental health, addiction, transitional age youth, seniors, residential, supportive housing and doing innovative work with Campus Mental Health. Darlene has shared the last 15 years leading teams and working in partnerships with post secondary schools, the City of Toronto, and TCH to address gaps in the system and build innovative strategies to support underserved community members experiencing mental health. Darlene's passion is to support people experiencing trauma and ensuring that they have their voices heard and receive services in a dignified way.
Julie Moore
Anti-Human Trafficking Program Director
Julie is a dedicated advocate with over 13 yrs experience working with survivors of human trafficking and exploitation. With extensive front line experience, she recognizes the importance of immediate and seamless supports being available for survivors to access. Julie has had the privilege of supporting many resilient and courageous individuals as they navigate their journey of healing. Julie works from a trauma informed strength based perspective to empower survivors to rebuild their lives. Julie is an active member on multiple community committees focusing on advocacy, collaboration and education to support individuals impacted by human trafficking.
Wendy Castanha
Director of Finance
Wendy has extensive experience in the Education, Healthcare, Government, and Social Services sectors. She holds an MBA, is a certified CPA and holds a degree in Accounting Science.
Fahim Muniri
Exit Route Program Director
Fahim Muniri, a first-generation Canadian from Scarborough, Ontario, brings extensive experience in crisis intervention and case management. He holds a diploma in Social Service Work from Humber College, a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Windsor. As Director of the Exit Route Program, Fahim leads a dedicated team supporting victims of crime and sudden tragedies. He has been instrumental as Co-Chair of the Mass Victimization Response Protocol, and has collaborated on key program evaluations to secure vital funding initiatives. With a strong foundation in social work and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-oppressive practices, Fahim ensures that survivors receive compassionate, personalized care. His dedication to survivor-focused approaches continues to drive his vision for the Exit Route Program, guiding it towards greater innovation and lasting community impact.
Lindsay Upton
Program Director, Enhanced Services
Lindsay joined Victim Services Toronto in 2007, and has extensive experience in crisis intervention, assisting clients navigate complex bureaucratic systems. Lindsay holds a degree in social work from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is an active volunteer and has served on numerous committees, public speaking engagements, and is dedicated to developing community partnerships and response protocols that challenge barriers experienced by vulnerable populations.
Jacqueline Thorsen
Manager of Students, Volunteers, and Compliance
Jacqueline uses her extensive experience in violence against women, addiction and mental health, child welfare and victim-facing work to support the communities that Victim Services Toronto serves. Jaqueline holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and she fills educator roles, fostering inclusive and safe learning environments. Jaqueline brings this work to over 100 volunteers at Victim Services Toronto, mentoring the next generation of social workers.
Jasminder Sekhon
Director of Community Engagement, EDI and Policy
Jasminder is a gender justice advocate through an intersectional feminist and trauma-informed lens. She is a graduate of the University of Oxford’s MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice and has a double degree in Political Science and Criminology from the University of Toronto. Jasminder has extensive experience working in the field of gendered violence prevention, including the areas of human trafficking, “honour”-based violence, sexual violence, and intimate partner violence. She has extensive experience leading and assisting research and policy analysis, through work experience at the Ministry of the Attorney General, Blue J Legal, and Community Legal Education Ontario, to name a few. Jasminder is also passionate about driving change through policy, and has worked as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, and Critic for Seniors and Long Term Care. Her lived experience as a South Asian woman who is a survivor of gender-based violence inspires her to work through an equitable and anti-oppressive framework in everything she does.
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Crisis response, intervention and prevention services for victims of crime and sudden tragedy in Toronto.
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Charitable Number: 89409 3467 RR 0001
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