Our Board of Directors

In keeping with the philosophy of a community-driven organization, the by-laws of the OICC require that a majority of directors on the Board be parents of children enrolled in programs offered by the OICC, and a majority be Inuit.  These measures ensure that all OICC programming is relevant to the community it serves.  As such, our staff and Board of Directors are abreast of issues that Inuit families face in an urban setting.

The OICC’s By-Laws, adopted by the members October 20, 2011.

Download the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre, Annual Report 2011-12
Inuktitut
English

2011-2012 Board of Directors

Maatalii Okalik-Syed – President

Maatalii Okalik-Syed is originally from Pangnirtung, Nunavut and has resided in the Ottawa area for seventeen years. She is currently a student at Carleton University pursuing her honours degree in Human Rights and Political Science with a minor in Aboriginal studies. An active member in the Inuit community, Maatalii has worked with Inuit youth for the past six years, has given numerous presentations for conferences and other academic gatherings, and participates in many community initiatives. At the municipal level, she assisted in the creation of the Equity and Inclusion Lens for the city of Ottawa to ensure that the City’s policy creation and monitoring reflects Inuit’s values, needs, and voices. Guiding her decisions and actions by Inuit Societal Values based on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, traditional Inuit knowledge, Maatalii dedicates her education and community work to identify gaps and solutions to community and social betterment for Inuit in Ottawa and across Canada.

Natalie Lloyd — Vice-President

I am an Urban Inuk and my family comes from Labrador. My family ties are mainly in Goose Bay, North West River, and Nain. I spent many summers as a child and teenager home with family. I was born and raised outside of Montreal and have always been proud of my family heritage and stories. I am also the proud mother of a beautiful 4 year old daughter who amazes me daily. In my career I have worked servicing the Aboriginal community for many years and have spent the last 6 working here in Ottawa for another Aboriginal organization. I also come with a lot of Board experience and an excitement to be a part of a growing organization. Working at the OICC allows me to reconnect to my culture and learn more about it at the same time.

Connie Johnson — Secretary, Chair of Personnel

Connie was born in Nova Scotia and moved to Ontario as a teenager where she completed high school and graduated from a private business college in Kingston. After living in many parts of Canada and Europe as a military wife, Connie settled in Ottawa in 1974. Connie is a mother of three children and grandmother to three. She is raising her Inuk granddaughter who attends the Youth Program at OICC. In 2003 Connie retired from the regular work force after many years spent in Administration and Human Resources for a high tech company. Shortly after that she started volunteering at the Inuit Head Start where her granddaughter attended. When the Parent Council of the Head Start incorporated in 2005, Connie volunteered her services as a Board member.

Sandra Koch — Treasurer

Sandra Koch was born and raised in Ottawa to Lebanese and German immigrant parents. After obtaining a B. Sc. in Biology at the University of Guelph and her Teaching Certificate at Ottawa University, she began working as an elementary school teacher. She enjoyed many years of teaching a variety of classes and programs including junior/intermediate grade homerooms, Special Education, English as a Second Language and Guidance. She has also spent much time travelling and teaching overseas. In 2003, Sandra and her husband Marc adopted their Inuit son, Matthew. Their connection to the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre began soon after as Matthew and his brother Anthony attended a number of programs and events at the OICC. Sandra is honoured to be a part of this vibrant organization and loving community which has welcomed her family with open arms.

Carla Turner

Carla Turner and her husband have four children, two of which attended the Head Start Program and now are going to the after school program that HS provides. Now, Carla’s son is attending Head Start. She is thrilled to be on the Board of Directors and to help out in any way she can. As a parent, HS means alot to her family and to their hearts. She is very happy to be aboard, and is grateful for this opportunity!

Heather Campbell

Heather Campbell is originally from Rigolet, Nunatsiavut and has been living in Ottawa since 1997. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Memorial University of Newfoundland and completed the Cultural Industries Training Program with the Inuit Art Foundation. Heather worked at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development as a curatorial assistant and at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami as the language and culture project coordinator. She is also an artist and illustrator has been involved in the Inuit and arts communities through a number of volunteer boards including Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Gallery 101, National Indigenous Literacy Council, and the Aboriginal Arts, Heritage & Culture Sub-Committee of the City of Ottawa. Heather has a 17 month old daughter whom she hopes will be in the Timiralaat program very soon.

Carl Dobbin – ex-officio

Carl has dedicated over 25 in education. He has taught in Alberta, Quebec and Ontario. He is currently Vice-Principal at Canterbury High School. He has always been an active community member wherever he resided. Since coming to Ottawa twelve years ago he remains active in service to the community. He has been a Kiwanian with the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa-Vanier and past president, he is currently chair of the youth committee for the ‘National Capital Crime Stoppers’ and a community volunteer with many local organizations.
Carl has worked in Education since he graduated from Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec, in 1982. He grew up in a small remote fishing village on the Lower North Shore of Québec. Like most of the youth from the Lower North Shore Regions he left his native village in 1972, at the age of thirteen to further his education in Lennoxville, Quebec. He completed his high school at Alexander Galt, graduated from Champlain College and then Bishop’s University with a B.A. in History, a Post-Graduate Degree in Education and a Master’s of Education in Educational Administration. He has been employed with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board since arriving in Ottawa in 1999. He presently resides in Gatineau, Quebec with his wife Odette and his daughter Julie. He shares with them his enthusiasm for travel, culture and the outdoors.
As school administrator, he is fortunate to be able to serve the students and the Ottawa community in various volunteer capacities. He attests that Canterbury’s High School students are doing outstanding things, and their achievements are a testament to the fact that his school district and community value education highly and understand the worth of providing opportunities for our young people. He feels that it is an honor and privilege to serve as vice-principal at Canterbury High School, participate as a volunteer in the Ottawa community and share his leadership with the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre as an honorary member of the Board of Directors. He looks forward to all of the challenges and successes to come.

Staff Sgt. John Medeiros – ex-officio

John Medeiros joined the Ottawa Police Service in 1988 and has worked in a variety of operations and community based programs. He has sat on several Committees including: Youth Justice Committee, The Regional Safe Schools Committee, CAAST, Community Assisting Aboriginal Sex Trade Workers, Aboriginal Working Committee of the City of Ottawa, Community Council on Ethno-Cultural Equity, COMPAC, (Community and Police Action Committee), The Liaison Committee of the Ottawa Police Service, Crime Prevention Ottawa Street Gang Committee.
Staff Sgt. Medeiros is a court recognized expert on street gangs and the composition of youth gangs as well as Ottawa gangs and a subject matter expert on Diversity and Race Relations. In 2011 S/Sgt. Medeiros was awarded a Gold Medal for Excellence by the Human Rights and Race Relations Centre of Toronto for his role in an Ottawa Police Service Soccer Mentoring Program. Staff Sgt. Medeiros has two sons, and enjoys soccer and golf. He plays soccer and coached soccer and was the former Club Captain of the Greyhawk Golf and Country Club.

Pietro Borracci – ex-officio

Pietro Borracci is the Senior Manager of Sales and Customer Experience for Ontario North & East at TD Canada Trust. His experience and knowledge includes 18 years of business development, coaching, sales management and effectiveness, change management and people leadership in the Canadian financial services industry developed through various roles within retail banking. In his current role, he is very fortunate to lead a dynamic, enthusiastic and energetic Sales and Customer Experience team for the Ontario North and East (ONE) region. In collaboration with all of our partners, our focus is to support ONE`s 126 branches in delivering legendary customer experience, driving great campaigns, product and marketing support, community involvement, and reward and recognition. He started with the bank 18 years ago and had the opportunity to work in various roles throughout his career in different regions. Pietro has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University. On the personal side, he is married and the proud father of two active boys. He loves to watch movies and TV shows like Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory. He plays a mean game of foosball (for those who would like a challenge!), he occasionally plays racquetball and enjoys playing cards. Finally, as all Italians, he loves a good cappuccino…and “I enjoy making them as well!!!” Sounds like an invitation, right?