Board of Directors

CARL MARCOTTE, Chair

President and CEO, Canadian Commercial Corporation

Despite their own numerous daily challenges, many cancer survivors think about how to make their journey easy on others. Approaching a diagnosis with such altruistic behavior is a constant inspiration to Carl. Many of his friends have been diagnosed, and demonstrate impressive levels of courage and compassion in their journeys.

It was the diagnosis of his wife that led to a realization of how fractured the healthcare system is when it comes to cancer. Throughout this seven year battle with cancer, they found that as patients and caregivers, they were lost and confused with the information. After the passing of his wife, Carl was inspired to ”be the change you want to see” and decided to join the board of directors in 2016.

Working in international financing, Carl has developed a great perspective on fundraising, financing, and government structure. He considers himself lucky to have worked within the government and trained in governance in the non-profit sector.

With his background, he would like to bring his expertise on finance, raising capital and government regulations to help the Foundation become a more permanent part of the fabric of care and a force on a national stage that can guide other cities and provinces.

In his spare time, Carl joined the Canadian Forces Reserves as an Intelligence Officer where he served 6 years, and recently restored two World War 2 jeeps back to factory condition.

Cory P. Ready, Past Chair

Portfolio Manager, TTR & Associates – BMO Nesbitt Burns

Growing up with community-minded role models like his father, Dave Ready, and family friend Max Keeping, it’s no wonder Cory Ready has a penchant for giving to the community.

Seeing these two role models dedicating their lives to doing good in Ottawa, Cory was raised with the belief that giving to the community should be incumbent upon everyone, and this has always inspired him to look for ways to make a difference.

As a result of his own life being touched by cancer – his mother is a breast cancer survivor – Cory has been inspired to help families like his own. After hearing about the Cancer Foundation’s approach to cancer care – treating the whole person and not just the disease – Cory believed this innovative approach to survivorship was something he could whole-heartedly support, and so he joined the Cancer Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2011.

With a diverse background in strategy consulting and finance, Cory has spent much of his career in financial management and advising organizations on strategic direction. As the Cancer Foundation is an entrepreneurial organization, Cory’s skills are invaluable when evaluating and looking at new opportunities.

During his time on the Board of Directors, Cory hopes to help the Cancer Foundation achieve its entrepreneurial goals and to raise awareness about the services available in Eastern Ontario. He also hopes to ensure that survivorship care continues to be accessible to every person living with cancer in our community.

In his spare time, Cory enjoys travelling, playing tennis, skiing and spending time outdoors.

Candace A. Enman, Vice Chair

President, WelchGroup Consulting

Candace Enman was raised by parents who believed in the value of volunteering and always helping your neighbours. Originally from Prince Edward Island, they taught her the importance of giving back to the community – values Candace hopes to instill in her two sons.

Recognizing that cancer touches everyone in the community, Candace began helping out with the fundraising in 2013, and then joined our Finance Committee before becoming a Board Member.

Candace brings extensive experience in finance, management and business strategy to her role. She is presently the President of WelchGroup Consulting, a business advisory company that, among other things, helps businesses strategize for sustainable growth. She has her CPA, CA and CMC designations, and spent more than a decade in CFO type positions.

Candace’s impressive business credentials will be instrumental in supporting the Cancer Foundation to expand its services, while maintaining organizational and financial health. She appreciates how cancer patients and their family and friends can feel lost during and after treatment, and that the support the Foundation provides is essential. She loves most that the Foundation treats the whole person, not just the symptoms or disease.

In her spare time, Candace likes to spend time with her friends and family, swimming, snowboarding and watching her boys play soccer. She also enjoys volunteering with the Ottawa School Breakfast Program.

Julia Knox, Vice Chair

SVP and Chief Purchasing Officer, Softgoods and Hardgoods, Giant Tiger Stores Limited

Julia has a personal connection to the growing prevalence of cancer in society and its impact on young families. She’s seen family and friends in their thirties and forties – people who were otherwise healthy – receive an unexpected diagnosis of cancer.  As a mother of two young children, that hits close to home.

Since moving to Ottawa eight years ago, the Cancer Foundation was one of those organizations she continually came across and stood out for its contribution to cancer care and cure in the local community.  Growing up, she learned of the importance of giving back to others, especially families going through difficult times in situations beyond their control, so she joined as a board member.

Julia is currently a Senior Vice President at Giant Tiger Stores Limited, where she works to build consensus around transformational strategies for positive organizational change, focused on the customer.  She believes that Cancer Coaching is a truly visionary program, one that has immense potential to improve outcomes and reduce health care systems cost.  She hopes that her skills in strategy, planning, brand and marketing will be able to help the Foundation advance its strategy of expanding cancer coaching in the region.

In her free time, Julia likes to spend time with her husband and two young children, and enjoys cross-country skiing and trail running. Julia also volunteers as a ski coach for the children’s Chelsea Nordiq Jackrabbit cross-country ski program and is a founding activator in support of the SheEO organization.

nav aggarwal, DIRECTOR

Owner, A&A Pharmachem Inc.

DEE DAVIDSON, DIRECTOR

President, Complete Care Coordination

As a geriatric nurse, Dee Davidson has cared for many cancer patients at every stage – from the time they are diagnosed, right through to end-of-life – and has seen the suffering her clients and their families have endured throughout the cancer journey.

Dee joined the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2013. A grandmother of thirteen, she aspires to give back in whatever way she can so that a cure for cancer will be found during their lifetime.

In addition to being driven by her concern for her grandchildren’s wellbeing, Dee is also continually inspired by many remarkable people around the world. One recent inspiration is Diana Nyad who, at the age of 64, was the first person confirmed to swim from Cuba to Florida. After seeing someone her own age accomplish such an incredible feat, Dee continues to be inspired to help in any way she can thanks to Nyad’s mantra – “Find a way”.

With forty years of experience in nursing, Dee brings an invaluable understanding of cancer from the patient’s perspective to the Board of Directors. As a business owner, Dee also recognizes the need for an extra layer of personalized health care through services like Cancer Coaching.

During her time on the Cancer Foundation Board of Directors, Dee hopes to increase awareness about Cancer Coaching, so that every oncologist and oncology nurse knows about this important service available to everyone affected by cancer in our community.

In her spare time, Dee loves to read and spend time with her family.

ROBERT (BOB) DOUCET, DIRECTOR

Retired, IT and Information Management

Every two hours, someone in our community hears the words “You have cancer.” As someone who personally received that diagnosis several years ago, Bob Doucet was inspired to join the Cancer Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2013 as a way of giving back and ensuring that local fundraising would continue to support local cancer initiatives.

In addition to life-saving cancer research and clinical trials being conducted in Eastern Ontario and the care provided at local hospitals, Bob also believes in the power of Cancer Coaching – a health and social care service developed by the Cancer Foundation. Available to anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer and at any time (before, during, and after treatment or at end of life), Bob is an advocate for Cancer Coaching: that it should be an essential service provided as  part of the standard of care for all those affected by cancer.

Having spent a successful career spanning finance, strategy, operations management and information technology, Bob is uniquely able to provide guidance to the Board of Directors in the areas of strategy development, technology, and operations management processes. During his time on the Board, Bob hopes to help guide the future direction of the Cancer Foundation, striking a balance between fundraising and providing Cancer Coaching to local families.

In his spare time, Bob is active in Ottawa’s music scene, playing lead guitar in two local rock bands as well as producing and providing backing vocals for local musicians. He also enjoys golfing, skiing and travelling.

Kevin Fitzgerald, DIRECTOR

Retired, Past President and CEO of MDS Aero Support Corporation

In 2010, Kevin was diagnosed with cancer. While the treatment he received in Ottawa was top-notch, he experienced wide gaps in support before and after his treatment.

Around this time, Kevin serendipitously met the Cancer Foundation’s CEO, Linda Eagen, through a business association, and learned about the value of cancer coaching. In 2018, he decided to volunteer as a member of our board as a way to give back.

A founder and CEO of an international aerospace company, Kevin brings exceptional skills in the areas of organizational development and the management of people and finances to the Foundation. His goal is to assist the team in establishing a sustainable model of financing and integrating its unique approach into the publicly funded health care system.

He believes that cancer coaching should be part and parcel of the health care system – an approach that not only improves the health outcomes for patients, but also decreases the likelihood of survivors re-entering the health care system with post-cancer mental and physical health problems, saving the system money.

Inspired by those who take risks and accomplish things that have never been done before, Kevin is proud to be part of the Foundation, its leadership team and its one-of-a-kind approach to cancer care.

In his free time, Kevin enjoys his riverside property located just outside of Ottawa, spending time gardening, landscaping, swimming and boating.

KeELAN GREEN, DIRECTOR

Partner, Prospectus Associates

Since the age of five, Keelan Green’s son Peyton has been raising money for the Cancer Foundation through the Lemonade Standemonium. Top fundraiser four years in a row, Peyton has now raised a total of $16,000 for the Foundation. Not bad for a nine year old.

Peyton’s father Keelan is no slouch either. In 2008, he was selected as one of Ottawa’s “Top 40 Under 50” by the Ottawa Business Journal. A Partner at Prospectus Public Affairs since 2012, he brings more than 20 years of experience in public affairs to the board.

Keelan has also served as President of the Ottawa-Gatineau chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society for five years, and volunteered with the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom, the Salvation Army Ottawa Advisory Board, the Max Keeping Foundation, the Acadia University Alumni Association as well as several sports organizations. He is a big believer in volunteerism, giving back to the community and fundraising for important causes.

A strong supporter of innovative and non-traditional health care programs like the Foundation’s Cancer Coaching program, he wants to see the model grow in the region, then within the province and, finally, across  Canada. He believes that by providing people with the guidance they need on how to navigate the system while helping them manage their own health care in a way that suits them best is a great recipe for delivering positive health outcomes.

In his free time, Keelan enjoys golfing at the Rivermead Golf Club, playing recreational ice hockey, skiing and tennis.

Heidi Hauver, DIRECTOR

Vice President, Human Resources, Invest Ottawa

Elaine Larsen, DIRECTOR

Senior Consultant (Regulated Health Industries), Global Public Affairs

Suzanne Pellerin, DIRECTOR

Associate, LaBarge Weinstein LLP