Following seven intense years, ending as the lead economic policy advisor to Canada’s governing party, Tyler still firmly believes that public policy is about making life better for people. Helping oversee Canada’s economic response to COVID-19, Tyler witnessed first-hand how solid non-partisan policy saved jobs, businesses, and lives during one of the most critical times in Canadian history. Tyler is intent on bringing the same strong policy acumen to supporting clients across Canada and creating superior policy-based solutions. First enticed into political life in late 2015, Tyler was recruited from a think tank to advise Canada’s Prime Minister on domestic economic policy. Tyler then spent the next seven years in government because he knew there was no other job where he could impact so many people in so many positive ways in such a short period of time. Over those years, Tyler helped deliver six federal budgets and architected two winning federal campaign platforms.

Along with his partner role at Meredith Boesskenkool, Tyler is also Senior Fellow at University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and Senior Fellow at the Maytree Foundation. When not busy shaping policy, Tyler loves to experience the world and all it has to offer with his life partner Chris, and their chocolate lab Cole.

Elder Claudette Commanda is an Algonquin Anishinabe from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation located in the province of Quebec. An alumni of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Common Law and Faculty of Arts, Claudette has dedicated the last 35 years promoting First Nations people, history, culture and rights in various capacities as a University of Ottawa student, professor, member and chair of the Aboriginal education council; and via public speaking events.

She is a professor for the University of Ottawa’s Institute of Women’s Studies; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Law; and the Aboriginal Studies Program, teaching courses on First Nations Women; Native Education; First Nations People and History; Indigenous Traditions; and Decolonization. In addition, she is the Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres, a national organization which protects and promotes First Nations culture, languages and traditional knowledge. She is inducted into the Common Law Honour Society; served two terms on the Board of Governors for the First Nations University of Canada; and three terms on the Kitigan Zibi band council.

In 2017, Claudette is the first First Nation appointed Elder in Residence for the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa; and the first person of a First Nation heritage to be appointed to the Board of Governors for the University of Ottawa. She is the Special Advisor on Reconciliation, for the Dean, Faculty of Law.  Claudette is a proud mother of four and a grandmother to ten beautiful grandchildren. In March 2020, Claudette received the 2020 INDSPIRE Award for Culture, Heritage and Spirituality. In November 2022, she was appointed Chancellor for the University of Ottawa. She is the first Indigenous person to be appointed Chancellor of the University.

Heather Aldersey, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) at Queen’s University, School of Rehabilitation Therapy. In partnership with people with disabilities, families, and the organizations that work with them, she researches various support structures around the world to enable community inclusion of persons with disabilities and their families. Notably, she is currently completing two SSHRC-Funded studies that explore how to find a balance of formal and natural supports for families (inclusive of the persons with disabilities) in Canada and in six other countries around the world.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Walsh, PhD, MPH, MBA, brings over 30 years of influential leadership in substance use health, public health, and chronic disease prevention to OASIS. As a seasoned leader, he has guided organizations through complex challenges, advocating for evidence-based practices and innovative solutions. With a strong track record of building collaborative networks and fostering organizational excellence, Dr. Walsh continues to drive positive change within the developmental services sector as the CEO of OASIS, all while drawing from his rich background in public health and non-governmental organizational leadership. His visionary approach and commitment to mission-driven impact underpin his efforts to advance OASIS by fostering strength, viability, and accountability in the developmental services sector in Ontario.

Amanda MacKenzie joined March of Dimes Canada in August 2020 with a varied background in advocacy, public affairs and government and stakeholder relations. At March of Dimes Canada, Amanda has led the development of a full-service public affairs and advocacy program, raising March of Dimes Canada’s profile as both and with federal, provincial/territorial and municipal governments and stakeholders, with a focus on advocating with and for Canadians with disabilities on income security and independence at home and community. Amanda’s professional experience is coupled by a deep personal connection to March of Dimes Canada’s mission, as she was legal guardian for her little brother, Graham, who lived with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Prior to joining March of Dimes Canada, Amanda built and led grassroots advocacy and multifaceted public affairs programs at the Ontario Dental Association and The Arthritis Society. Amanda began her career in Ontario provincial politics as a policy advisor to then-Minister of Natural Resources, followed by working on the development of supports for small- and medium-size enterprises, Ontario trades workers, and municipal recovery in the office of Premier Dalton McGuinty. Amanda is a Toronto native whose son, Grant, is a carpenter-apprentice living in Calgary. Amanda, her partner and two bonus young teens live in central Toronto, accompanied by their boisterous dogs, Sprocket and Pippa.

Tyler Downey was raised in the Jane and Finch area of Toronto. Tyler has been surrounded by care workers his entire life and comes from a family of healthcare workers—two of his aunts were registered practical nurses in long-term care and another aunt is currently a homecare PSW. Tyler began his work with SEIU Healthcare Canada in 2006 as an organizer and has helped thousands of workers fight for their right to join a union. Tyler has deep commitment to member education and activist development. He currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU Healthcare, as well as Chair of My65Plus, a retirement savings plan for modest income Canadians.

Loriane is a committed professional who has devoted her career to the community sector, drawing on her skills in community involvement, project management and organizational management. However, her commitment is not limited solely to her professional career.

As the mother of a child with special needs, she has personally experienced the challenges of being a caregiver. This personal experience fuels her passion for community involvement and her determination to work in an environment where she can put the interests of caregivers and the community organizations that support them at the heart of her actions.

Currently Executive Director of Proche aidance Québec, she is turning her vision into reality by combining her professional skills with her personal experience. Her ability to create partnerships and mobilize resources has had a major impact on the community, contributing significantly to the realization of Proche aidance Québec’s mission.

Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E. was appointed as Chief Commissioner and CEO of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in March 2015, a position she held until the end of November 2022, marking a new phase in a career defined by community involvement. Native of Mont-Joli, QC, she obtained her Bachelor of Law from the Université de Sherbrooke in 1988, and founded her own law firm located in Cowansville, QC in 1993 which she headed until 2015. She has more than 30 years of experience in the practice of law as well as solid experience on boards, committees, governance and organizational change in both the private and public sectors.

Ms. Landry’s desire to contribute to the well-being of her community has guided her towards many leadership positions, including President of the Centre de santé et de services sociaux La Pommeraie and President of the local Chamber of Commerce. She has worked to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of her community, in particular by providing support to the United Way of Haute-Yamaska, as well as Au Diapason, a regional centre for palliative care. Ms. Landry has also presided over the administrative body of the pediatric centre “Main dans la main,” inspired by the works of Dr. Gilles Julien.

In 2005, the newspaper La Voix de l’Est presented Ms. Landry with the “Voix de l’Excellence” award, and in 2008 she received the Leadership award from the Association québécoise d’établissements de santé et de services sociaux. In 2009 she was named an Emeritus Lawyer (Ad. E.) by the Barreau du Québec. In October 2015, she was awarded the Bedford Bar Merit and in recognition of her long-standing social involvement, the City of Cowansville made her its ambassador by presenting her with the keys to the city. That same year, she was also named Personality of the Year by the community of Brome-Missisquoi. In addition to her active law practice for more than 33 years, Ms. Landry has held numerous positions of distinction, including bâtonnière of the Barreau de Bedford, member of the Barreau du Québec general council, and first Independent chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal in Federal Prison Institutions for the Quebec Region.

In addition, Ms. Landry has served as a member of both the Inquiry Committee for the Canadian Judicial Council, and the Review Committee of the Ordre des dentistes du Québec on recommendation by the Office des professions du Québec. From 1991 to 2001, Ms. Landry was a member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

In recognition of her outstanding work, community outreach and engagement, Ms. Landry was awarded the distinction Avocat émérite from the Quebec Bar, in 2009. In September 2015 she received the Merit Award from the Barreau de Bedford for her leadership, her exceptional contribution to the community, her leadership in advocating for the recognition of regional institutions, as well as her career in defending public justice. In 2019, the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW Canada) presented her with a mention of recognition and ProBono Students Canada, Section-Sherbrooke created a permanent award “Prix Marie-Claude Landry pour l’accès à la justice” which is presented each year to the team that has distinguished themselves by their commitment.

Always mindful to place people at the heart of her actions, Ms. Landry is a passionate, committed, strategic and open leader who leads by example. She promotes an organizational culture in which respect, anti-racism, accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of her actions and in which people are valued and empowered.

Linda Kislowicz’ s career in Jewish communal service spans over 4 decades of active professional service.

She has served in a variety of leadership positions including CEO of Jewish Federation of Canada – UIA, executive director of the YM-YWHA of Montreal and the executive director of Jewish Family Services of the Baron de Hirsch Institute of Montreal. As such, Linda has extensive experience and expertise in leading nonprofit organizations and is familiar with the context in which they function.

Linda is a change agent and has been instrumental in initiating and leading numerous changes and improvements in the various organizations that she has served. She is dedicated to improving the opportunities and capacities of individuals, groups, organizations and communities, and to enabling them to grow and achieve their potential.  Her areas of expertise are broad and include human services, Jewish identity and Israel engagement and leadership and community development.

Linda has been an active member of several boards of directors including Family Services of Canada, the Association of Jewish Family and Child Agencies now known as the Network of Jewish Human Services, Montreal Federation CJA, the Bronfman Jewish Education Council, the Jewish Agency for Israel, CIJA, the Reconstructionist synagogue of Montreal, Reena, DANI. CHAT and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. She is currently involved with many of these to this day.

Linda currently works as an independent consultant. Her consulting practice focuses on executive coaching, board governance and facilitation, and strategic planning. She works locally, nationally and internationally and is able to serve in English, French and Hebrew.

Linda is the author of many presentations and publications and is the recipient of many awards including the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal.  Linda is married to Joe, and is a proud mother of Barry, Kally, Howie and Naomi, and grandmother of Matan, Yair, Aviad, Shefa and Gabriel.

Elizabeth Kwan is a senior researcher for the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), Canada’s largest central labour body that speaks on issues of national importance for three million unionized workers across the country. As the CLC policy lead on health, immigration, and migration, she is very active in parliamentary and government engagements for labour. Elizabeth champions justice and equity in immigration and health, working with the intersectionality of inequalities and social-economic factors including racism and hate, low-income, gender, ableism, immigrant status, and food (in)security.

She brings considerable knowledge and experience working on permanent and temporary immigration issues affecting migrant workers and caregivers, undocumented workers, newcomers, and refugees. Last fall, she was invited as an expert witness to present before the Senate Standing Committee studying Canada’s Temporary and Migrant Labour Force. In 2023, she had the opportunity to present on migrant workers to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery. Elizabeth is very engaged in the current issues of health care and the care economy including health human resources, health funding, universal public pharmacare, long-term care, homecare, and mental health. Currently, she is actively engaged in key CLC care-based campaigns: Forward Together, Universal Public Pharmacare and the Care Campaign.

She represents the CLC on three SSHRC research projects: Policy and practice in return to work after work injury; Gender Migration Carework; and Liberating Migrant Labour? International Mobility Programs in Settler Colonial Contexts.