Board of Directors

PRESIDENT | Kevin Perkins

Kevin Perkins is the Founding Executive Director of CAP AIDS. His interest in creating CAP AIDS goes back to his days as a Senior Program Manager for a Canadian charity that implements integrated community development programs in Africa.

While serving as program manager, Kevin witnessed the terrible unfolding of the AIDS pandemic. Kevin left CPAR in 1997 in order to work on local economic development initiatives in his own community of Riverdale, Toronto . Yet, the terrible reality of the AIDS crisis in Africa was never far from his mind, and Kevin felt that he had to devote his time, energy, skills and knowledge to doing his small part to help. The illness and death of several friends from AIDS - in Canada and Africa - heightened Kevin's desire to dedicate himself to fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Kevin brought together a group of his friends and colleagues, and together they decided to establish CAP AIDS. On December 1, 2002 , the first meeting of the founding group launched this new NGO. Kevin left his job at Riverdale in January 2004, and became the founding Executive Director of CAP AIDS on a part-time basis. In the spring of 2006, Kevin became the Executive Director of the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network, and adopted a new role at CAP AIDS Ð President of the Board and Chair of the Program Committee.

CO-PRESIDENT | Christopher Friesen
Chris has been working in the field of refugee and immigrant settlement both in Canada and abroad for over two decades. His work began as a student in the mid 1980's when he led a successful referendum at the University of British Columbia that created a permanent scholarship program for student refugees. Chris spent three years in Kenya coordinating an educational trust focused on student refugees from Northern and Eastern Africa.

Currently, Chris is the Director of Settlement Services for Immigrant Services Society of BC. A frequent speaker in Canada and abroad on issues related to the settlement and integration of newcomers, Chris was awarded the TOESL International Advocacy Award in 2000. Chris co-authored the Simon-Fraser University report titled "A System in Crisis" - the first comprehensive overview of the current state of immigrant settlement and language programs in Canada. A founding member of CAP AIDS, Chris has served as President since February 2003.

 

Additional skills/experiences that they bring to CAP AIDS: 

Chris has been working in the field of refugee and immigrant services since 1986, when he was the chair of the local WUSC Committee at UBC and the organizer of a BC referendum that created a post-secondary bursary program for student refugees in Canada .  Since then, he spent three years in Kenya coordinating an educational trust focused on student refuges from the region of northern Africa .  He is the co-author of the Simon-Frazer University report called “A System in Crisis” – the first ever comprehensive overview of the current state of immigrant settlement programs in Canada.  He is the father of two young children, and past President of the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House.

Interest in CAP AIDS:

"My concern about AIDS goes back to my time working in Africa , when I saw first-hand the devastating impact of AIDS on the continent.  CAP AIDS has ignited my passion to get involved in a grassroots movement to raise awareness and generate support for African partners that are on the front lines in this pandemic.”

TREASURER | Brian Hoeniger

 

SECRETARY | Kate Jongbloed

Kate is an internet-crazed, note-scribbling, multi-tasking world changer. She believes in justice, technology, innovation, and people. With a degree in International Development Studies recently under her belt, plus a year internship in Ethiopia with Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief and CAP AIDS, she finds herself in a world of print, web and research for global health and international development. She blogs for the Because I am a Girl campaign and at UnpackingDevelopment.com, and is the web coordinator for Fife House Foundation's HealthyHousing.ca. Kate has been involved with CAP AIDS as an intern and volunteer since 2006, and as a board member since 2008.

 

DIRECTOR | Emily Chartrand
Emily joined the CAPAIDS board in 2009. She graduated from Dalhousie's International Development program, but grew up in Montreal . She visited Malawi in 2002 on a field studies course, where she had a chance to speak to those most affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic in rural Zomba. She has since worked in volunteer coordination with charities, in community economic development, in a community food security project and in Public Engagement and international development.

 

Since 2007, Emily has been working on the Uniterra program in Public Engagement with university and college student groups of World University Service of Canada, focusing on training opportunities, sharing of best practices, effective communication and campaign development. Included in this programming is the Bike for AIDS program, where student fundraise for bikes and bike-ambulances for community based organizations in rural Malawi who assist those affected by the virus and do prevention work.

 

Emily enjoys food, the outdoors and the company of friends, family and her two dogs.  

 

Interest in CAP AIDS:

"Emily firmly believes in the responsibility of Canadians to respond to the HIV and AIDS crisis in Africa . She also believes that there are many benefits to Canadians in volunteering with an organization like Cap AIDS that respectfully engages populations who are affected. I respect the leadership and the management of Cap AIDS, and believe that I can bring ideas and energy to the existing momentum of modest but successful organization."

 

DIRECTOR | Gizaw Shibru

Gizaw Shibru has been managing community-based development programs in Africa since 1988. After completing his Masters degree in Civil Engineering, he was employed by CPAR in Ethiopia as the site manager for a large scale food aid and primary health care program in the Showa District. His incredible gifts as a manager were quickly recognized, and it was not long before he was appointed Program Director for all of CPAR's activities in Ethiopia.

 

In 1993, he was asked to relocate to Uganda to spearhead the development of CPAR's work in the Northern Districts of Apac, Gulu, and Lira. He has been able to lead highly effective community development initiatives involving primary health care, water and sanitation, agroforestry, rural infrastructure development, peacebuilding, and telecommunications initiatives. In 2000, Gizaw became CPAR's Regional Director for all activities in Africa . In addition to the demands of this position, Gizaw has been working as the volunteer Director of Programs for CAP AIDS, identifying African partners.

DIRECTOR | Rainos Mutamba

Rainos Mutamba is a Toronto-based community organizer and social activist from Zimbabwe. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Toronto. Rainos focuses mainly on HIV+AIDS, supporting the work of organizations in Africa that are working with rural communities as they respond to HIV+AIDS. He has been involved with CAP AIDS in various capacities since 2003 as a volunteer event organizer, public speaker and fundraiser. He has also worked as an HIV+AIDS outreach coordinator in Toronto, supporting individuals that are marginalized.

Rainos believes strongly that it is through respectful grassroots-led collaborations that we can respond effectively to HIV+AIDS and other issues that negatively impact individual and community wellbeing. To this end Rainos has also organized forums, conferences, resource sharing gatherings, fundraising campaigns in Peterborough and Toronto that addressed issues around the role of grassroots organizing to fundraising for Bikes for outreach workers in various parts of Africa.

DIRECTOR | Therese Edwards

Therese has 10 over years of marketing experience, having worked at Telus (formerly Clearnet), and now as Brand Director for Bell Canada. Therese is passionate about travel in general, and Africa specifically. She has spent time as a volunteer with Women in Progress in Ghana helping women learn how to set up businesses and market their products. She helped to organize the inaugural walk for Aids in Montreal – Ça Marche. 

 

DIRECTOR | Manzur Malik

Manzur is currently a Research Officer with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Prior to him joining OPSEU, Manzur has been involved within the fields of academia, development, and the labour movement in various capacities.

After the completion of his Masters degree from the University of Dhaka, Manzur joined the Solidarity Centre – the international branch of AFL-CIO – in Bangladesh, as a Campaigns Coordinator. There, he worked to improve the labour relations in the garment sector. His Masters thesis then, in socio-cultural anthropology, focused on the issues of microcredit and development. During that period he was an intern with Grameen Bank, which almost a decade later won the Noble Peace Prize for its pioneering role.

Later, while pursuing graduate studies at York University, and working as a Teaching Assistant there, Manzur became increasingly involved with his union. He was elected as a Vice-President, and subsequently as the Chair of his Local – CUPE 3903. Manzur was also a union organizer with UNITE HERE, and worked on a number of projects across Ontario, providing expertise in research, campaigns, and Ontario Labour Relations Board votes.

 

DIRECTOR | Aarti Kumaria

DIRECTOR | Elyse Martin

DIRECTOR | Sarah Pugh

Sarah began volunteering with CAP AIDS' Vancouver  chapter in 2006, before joining the national Board of Directors in September 2008.  She has a long history of travel, study and HIV+AIDS-related research and work in sub-Saharan Africa.  After completing a Masters degree in International Development from Dalhousie University in 2006, Sarah worked for several years in project management and communications for a provincial health care network in British Columbia . 

 

Sarah is currently a PhD candidate in International Development Studies and Political Science at the University of Guelph.

 

 

Reason for being involved with CAP AIDS:

“CAP AIDS is an organization with a true grassroots spirit and a heart of gold. I'm always proud to be associated with the meaningful work of CAP AIDS, and the inspirational, driven and committed people, both in Canada and Africa , who make this organization so successful.”

 

DIRECTOR | Dr Fred Opio

 

DIRECTOR | Kamlyn Ng-See-Quan