Annual General Meeting 2023

ONTARIO-AT-LARGE

Cherilyn was born and raised on the farm in Olds, Alberta and has lived in Newmarket, Ontario with her husband and family for 27 years. She has three children and 4 grandchildren. Six years ago she retired from a long career in physiotherapy and has now embraced social justice causes. She is on the York Region Homelessness Community Advisory Board and is the secretary of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Region of KAIROS. Cherilyn is an active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Newmarket. On the board of Citizens for Public Justice, she is on the Finance, Development and Nomination Committees.

CANADA-AT-LARGE

Paul Berry is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has been teaching accounting and finance at the university level for over 35 years. He resided in Sackville, NB from 1982 to 1985 and from 1990 onward. He is a level 5 swimming official; officiated at competitions at the national, provincial and local club levels, and has served as the chair of the provincial officials committee for about a decade. His Not-for-profit board experience includes acting as a member of the boards for the Federation of New Brunswick Faculty Associations (FNBFA), Swim New Brunswick (SNB/NNB), and the CPA Atlantic School of Business. He has been active in his local faith community in a number of roles, and consistently as a lay reader for over 40 years.

ONTARIO-AT-LARGE

Daniel Cho is a pastor and past moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Following his undergraduate and theological studies in the USA, Daniel completed seminary at Knox College and studied psychology and family therapy at Wilfrid Laurier University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Daniel also did postgraduate work at the intersection of constitutional law, religion and democracy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, the University of London and Harvard University. Daniel has served on a community safety panel with the Toronto Police Sex Crimes Unit, and since 2002 been an advisor with the Correctional Service of Canada working closely with senior government officials on national policy, service provision and programming. He is a certified pastoral counsellor and certified mediator.

TORONTO

Keira joined CPJ’s Board to help spearhead transformative policy changes across Canada. She believes that CPJ’s mission is to respond to all socio-political, environmental, economic, cultural, and ethical challenges the most marginalized groups face. Kiera’s lived experiences as a Woman of Color (WOC) compelled her to fight for equity, diversity, and inclusion on behalf of those suffering from systemic and institutional barriers.

Keira is currently a Masters of Information student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a concentration in Critical Information Policy Studies. Her research project seeks to bridge the digital divide for socio-economically disenfranchised communities. As a previous CPJ Public Justice Intern in 2019, Keira was actively involved in advancing relations with First Nations communities and advocating for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). She hopes to continue supporting CPJ’s mission for a just, sustainable, and equitable Canada through her time as a Board member.

NORTH & EASTERN ONTARIO

Tenielle is a young, bright, and faithful Board member. She joined CPJ’s Board out of her belief in the importance of politically empowering marginalized communities, especially those belonging to racialized groups who often end up paying the price for government service failures and accessibility roadblocks. As a strategic thinker, Tenielle hopes to assist CPJ on its mission to highlight, deconstruct and advocate against the institutional barriers that hinder the progress of public justice in Canada.

Tenielle has completed a graduate degree focusing on the impact of structural adjustment programs on developing nations. Her academic and experiential skills enable her to constructively contribute to the personnel and policy committees on the Board. Her compassionate involvement with CPJ echoes the invitation in Micah 6, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

EASTERN CANADA

Cathy has a PhD in Sociology and has worked over 18 years in federal and provincial government (in economic development, public safety, industry, and communications). Cathy has also has 14 years experience as a sociology professor at 2 universities, and is currently the Research and Education Officer with the NB Nurses Union.

SOUTHERN ALBERTA

Tiffany Talen has a Bachelor of Science degree with a public health concentration and a Master of Social Work degree with a specialization in International and Community Development. She has worked and volunteered within the public health field in low-income communities in the US, as well as in inner-city and village settings in Uganda. She has done research and community engagement, particularly in the areas of poverty reduction and environmental justice. She is an active member of Calgary’s Social Workers for Social Justice and is currently on maternity leave from her social work position at Enviros Wilderness School where she supports and advocates for caregivers of youth with FASD. Tiffany serves on CPJ’s Program Advisory Committee.

BRITISH COLUMBIA / YUKON TERRITORY

Monica’s presence on the Board has been an invaluable addition. As an advocate for environmental justice for over ten years, Monica hopes to leverage her expansive knowledge and experiences to help CPJ fight political apathy, intolerance, and nationalism in Canada. Her interest in creation care and its social and economic implications has led her to become a negotiator, representing Canada in working with Indigenous governments on fisheries, species conservation, environmental stewardship, and oceans management partnership agreements.

Monica’s practical knowledge of public policy development in the federal public sector will contribute to the growth and effectiveness of CPJ’s political advocacy. Monica joined the Board with prior experience in leading a grassroots, citizen-led, and faith-based community activism group. She also offers a deep understanding of Canada’s West Coast perspective on climate justice. Her diverse experiences bring international and cross-cultural perspectives to climate care ministry and human rights advocacy across denominational lines.

CANADA-AT-LARGE

Ian brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge regarding Canada’s immigration system, and considerable passion for CPJ’s goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ian expressed interest in supporting CPJ’s advocacy on electoral reform, Indigenous issues, and Reconciliation, especially in Montreal where he’s based. He believes that CPJ’s mission is to encourage citizens across Canada to care for one another and for future generations, irrespective of individual differences.

Ian is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociology at McGill University with a special focus on immigrant integration and refugee sponsorship. Having previously worked for the federal government as an immigration officer and diplomat in England, Lebanon, and South Africa, Ian’s experience in management, administration, education, and public policy will enable the Board to continue steering CPJ’s evolution in a just direction. In his 30s, Ian is also bilingual (English & French) and as a gay man, he can offer unique perspectives on the socio-economic issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community in Canada.

CANADA-AT-LARGE

As a former refugee, Vincent brings a unique voice and perspective to CPJ’s work on advocacy for refugee and migrant rights. While completing a combined JD and BCL at McGill University, Vincent has been involved in a variety of non-profit and humanitarian work in Canada and Malawi. This includes working in refugee sponsorship with World University Services Canada, empowering Black students with McGill African Student Society and Mastercard Foundation, working with UNHCR and Jesuit Refugee Services at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi, and employment and work placements with the DESTA Black Youth Network and Open Doors Homeless Shelter in Montreal.