BFO Durham Region

The role of the Bereaved Families of Ontario-Durham Board of Directors is to ensure that this organization is responsibly managed and that its goals are met effectively and efficiently. These dedicated volunteer Board members are responsible for decision making, including strategic planning, finances, organizational operations, community relations and human resources. They also ensure that the programs and services reflect the mission and goals of the organization.

This Board is a managing Board who, together with the Director of Member Services and the Director of Public Affairs, and volunteers, assists in the operation of BFO-Durham. Board members are not required to be bereaved parents; previous experience is an asset.

Chair - Gary Goswell

Co Vice-Chair - Cheryl Cullis

Cheryl has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, and is partner/business manager of Speare Consulting Solutions Inc. She is married to Ron Speare and has three children, Shauna, Rachel and Leah. Cheryl came to BFO when her 11 year old daughter Leah died suddenly of unexplained causes in 2000. In 2002, Cheryl took facilitator training at BFO-Durham and has since facilitated groups and drop-ins, performed one-on-ones, assisted in the co-ordination of Family Support Nights and received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2005. She has been on the Board of BFO-Durham since 2002 and in 2010 served on the BFO Provincial Board. Cheryl has been involved with many non-profit organizations over the last 10 years. She treasures her volunteer work as a tribute to her daughter Leah ~ a shooting star whose bright light lit the night sky too briefly.

Co Vice-Chair - Louise O'Donnell

Louise currently works for a large medical company as an Associate Product Manager, is married and is the proud mother of 2 boys. Tragically her youngest son Kevin died in a traffic accident in 1999. Louise, together with her husband, found solace in BFO-Toronto in 1999, which then led them to BFO-Durham. She was drawn to the safety and compassion found at BFO and has been volunteering since 2001. She is a trained facilitator and has facilitated many drop-in support nights and 12 week closed groups, has provided one-on-one support to bereaved parents and most recently has trained other bereaved parents to become facilitators. Her initial volunteering began as chair of the Walk to Remember and she has been involved in many of the fundraisers held since. She has been Vice Chair on the BFO-Durham Board since 2003. She was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award in 2004 and the Susan E. Hendricks Volunteer of Distinction Award in 2008.

Board Member - Jane Carter

Jane joined the Board in January 2011 so that she could continue to "give back" to BFO-Durham, as without their continuous support and guidance, she would not be where she is today. She became a member of BFO in 2001 following the death of her 13 year old daughter Julie. Fifteen years prior to Julie's death she lost her son Paul, who was full term, at birth. Jane attended a mothers' group early in 2001. She has taken facilitator training and now facilitates groups both in infant loss and older children. She also manages drop-ins for both age groups. She has been the Chairperson of the Angel Tree Committee for many years and has helped organize two BFO spring dances. She was presented with both the Volunteer of the Year Award and the Susan E. Hendricks Volunteer of Distinction Award. Married and living in Pickering, she has two remaining children Michael, 25 and Jennifer, 22 and has been an ophthalmic assistant for 36 years. Through her training and experience with BFO, she is hoping she can now help the Board in the management of this wonderful organization.

Board Member - Margaret Fortune

Maggie has owned and operated a business as a Personal Organizer since 2000. Her daughter Annette Elizabeth passed away as a result of an auto accident in 1989 at the age of 20. Maggie attended a Couples’ Group through BFO-Toronto in 1990. She became a bereavement facilitator in the same year and facilitated at BFO-Toronto until her move to BFO-Durham in 2007 where she has been an active volunteer as a facilitator for drop-ins. Margaret can always be relied on to assist in any fundraising events and has served as a Board member since 2007.

Treasurer - Marian Rehr

BFO Durham was founded in 1983 and Marian was one of four founding mothers. She has been a Board member and Treasurer since. Marian facilitated many groups in the first 8 years. At present, she is more involved in the background of BFO Durham. She attends Board meetings and looks after the financial affairs such as the accounting and reporting to Revenue Canada. She looked after the Incorporation and obtaining of the Registered Charity status. Marian has recently retired from TD/Canada Trust and is working in the office part-time.

Board Member / Recording Secretary - Micheline Ball

For the past 25 years, Micheline has been involved in property appraising in the Durham Region and has recently semi-retired from the field. Married, with 2 sons and 3 granddaughters, 2 of them infants, keeps her busy but always smiling. Micheline is a bereaved aunt and has been a volunteer with BFO-Durham for the past 12 years. She has served as Recording Secretary for the Board since 2004 and has recently become a Board member. Her most recent projects are the new Web Site and the 2012 Newsletter. In 2011, Micheline was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award.