Be part of the movement to make learning opportunities possible for all adults in Ontario by joining the OLC’s Board of Directors. Made up of 12 members, OLC Directors are committed, energetic and willing to share their experience and expertise in shaping the future of the OLC and literacy in Ontario.
Being a Director will give you a chance to meet and work with people from across the province. You will be able to grow professionally and contribute meaningfully to adult literacy and related issues in Ontario. Working with the values and goals of the OLC, you will help guide its direction and maintain its standard of excellence. The OLC will train and support you in carrying out your board work, and we will provide you with educational opportunities at face-to-face meetings.
Get Involved
Nominations for the Board of Directors is now closed
The Board of Directors provides leadership in the development and implementation of the Vision and Mission (Ends) of the Ontario Literacy Coalition.
The Board aids the organization in addressing strategic planning, program evaluation, secession planning fiscal oversight and risk management, public relations, marketing, communications, advocacy, operations, project management and membership.
Nominations for the Board of Directors is now closed
The Board of Directors provides leadership in the development and implementation of the Vision and Mission (Ends) of the Ontario Literacy Coalition.
The Board aids the organization in addressing strategic planning, program evaluation, secession planning fiscal oversight and risk management, public relations, marketing, communications, advocacy, operations, project management and membership.
The Board seeks directors who believe in the organization's vision. It aims to include members from the public and from the adult literacy education field whose skills and expertise can support the work of the board.
To learn more about this opportunity:
Board Profiles
The OLC Board of Directors is made up of directors nominated from the OLC membership. Currently, these directors are:
The OLC Board of Directors is made up of directors nominated from the OLC membership. Currently, these directors are:
Trudy Lothian - President and Chair
Having worked in adult literacy education for over 15 years as a program and project coordinator, instructor, evaluator, researcher, assessor, and materials developer, Trudy understands the literacy field in Ontario. She has a Masters Degree in Applied Language Studies and is a recipient of both the Canada Post Educators Award for Ontario and the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation Award. Trudy currently works at St. Nicholas Adult High School as Intake and Assessment Officer for the adult high school and for LBS.
Maria Moriarty - Vice-President
Maria Moriarty, M.A., is the Information Resources Officer at AlphaPlus Centre. Involved in adult literacy in Ontario since 1992, Maria has a particular interest in fostering and supporting adult literacy practitioner research and research in practice. In addition to her work at AlphPlus, Maria is an Ontario representative on the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) National Literacy Working Group.
Carol-Anne Fournier – Secretary
Carole-Anne has been the Executive Director of the Literacy Network Northeast since June, 2008. She has an extensive background in the mental health sector as a public educator and event coordinator. Passionate about the rights of women and children to live in a violence-free society, Carole-Anne has been actively involved in the women’s movement for over twenty years. She has a B.A. in sociology and a diploma in social services.
Anthony White – Governance Officer
Anthony is an insurance broker and owner of Aurora/York Travel Insurance Inc. He is presently Chair of the Literacy Council of York/Simcoe and has been a board member for six (6) years. Professionally, he works extensively with not-for-profit organizations, and brings a business perspective to the OLC Board of Directors. He and his family currently reside on rural property outside Cobourg.
Patricia Ashie
Patricia’s story is one of growth, strength, courage, achievement, adventure, freedom and love. She is a full time volunteer in the community of literacy at local, provincial, national and international levels and believes the key to the development of society is equal opportunity education. She believes it is an essential foundation for learning through life, and must be valued as a human right.
Judith Bond
Judith Bond has been a Workplace Educator since 1990 and has had her own consulting firm since 2000. She is currently teaching at Sheridan College and working as curriculum developer for the Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT) project with Colleges Ontario. Judith has a particular interest in supporting learning that enhances success in searching for and keeping a job.
Lise Hansen
Lise Hansen is a Marketing Executive with TELESCOPE. Through her work with the OLC, she learned about the magnitude of the need for literacy tools for those struggling with being employable in this new, modern society. She has a strong desire to help get the tools out there and offer a business perspective to the OLC board.
Deb Hotchkiss
Deb Hotchkiss has been the Managing Director of Partners in Employment, a not for profit, employment support organization, for 15 years. Deb’s education is in Social Services, Volunteer Management and Not for Profit Management. She has joined the Ontario Literacy Coalition, Board of Directors to enhance the link between literacy and employment services.
Lynne Lalonde
Lynne Lalonde is presently retired from the federal public service. For the last twenty years she worked for the National Literacy Secretariat in a variety of different roles including Acting Director and Manager of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Funding Stream.
Prior to joining the National Literacy Secretariat Lynne worked in a Canada Employment Centre as a Special Program Consultant working with clients with Special Needs and acting as a liaison with the community. Lynne has a Masters Degree in Education/Counselling.
Anne Ramsey
Anne Ramsey has worked in the adult literacy field since 1989 starting as a tutor and program coordinator in community-based literacy. Joining Project READ in 1994, Anne has worked on provincial and national literacy projects and initiatives. Anne holds Certificates in Adult and Continuing Education from University of Victoria, Voluntary Sector Management from University of Guelph and Volunteer Management from Conestoga College.
Jim Page
Jim Page headed the National Literacy Secretariat from 1994 to 1998. Now retired, he writes about how literacy affects Aboriginal peoples, those with disabilities, families, seniors and the economy, among other subjects. He serves on five boards of directors and is an Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University.
Michael Shaughnessy
Michael Shaughnessy is a learner on the OLC Board and also sits on the Program Read Board of Directors, his local community-based program in Sault Ste. Marie. Michael serves on a number of committees for both Program Read and the OLC. He is in the process of starting up a Learner Association of Ontario along with others, who formerly sat on the Adult Learners Network of Ontario. Michael serves as co-chair of the new association.
OLC AGMs
The OLC is a membership organization, which grants each member of the organization voting power at the Annual General Meeting. Each year, members are sent an AGM Notice, Board Candidate Profiles, a Proxy Form and any By-Law Changes, which may be voted upon that year. At each AGM, the OLC also presents its Annual Report. Information on the most current AGM and access to the most recent Annual Reports can be found below.
