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Vita Centre

Support, education and counselling for vulnerable parents in Peel.

  • About Vita Centre
    • A Legacy of Care
    • Meet the Team
    • Community Partners
    • Board Members
    • Financials
    • Contact Us
  • Programs Spotlight
    • Counselling
    • Growing as Parents
    • Make the Connection
    • Nobody’s Perfect
    • Supper Connection
    • Parent Resources
    • Care Closet
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Partner with Vita Centre
  • Every story matters
DONATE
  • About Vita Centre
    • A Legacy of Care
    • Meet the Team
    • Community Partners
    • Board Members
    • Financials
    • Contact Us
  • Programs Spotlight
    • Counselling
    • Growing as Parents
    • Make the Connection
    • Nobody’s Perfect
    • Supper Connection
    • Parent Resources
    • Care Closet
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Partner with Vita Centre
  • Every story matters

Board Members

Board of Directors

Christina Boyle – Board Chair

Christina has served on the Board of Vita Centre from 2008 to 2015 and was Chair and President from 2009 to 2014. She returned to the Board of Vita Centre in 2017 to Chair the Governance Committee, and from 2018 onwards Christina has served as President and Board Chair. She continues to have an active interest in all aspects of the work of Vita Centre, and brings with her many years of experience and understanding of the fiduciary responsibilities that must be met by a member of a Board of Directors, with a particular interest in risk management and privacy based on her many years of work experience. She has served her profession and her community through a number of volunteer board and committee positions, including a term as president of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA), two terms as a Director of OPA, a term as a director of the Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada, and is a current board member of Health Claims for Auto Insurance Processing, and has completed a six-year term as a member of the Governance Committee of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association. Christina is also the Past President of the Catholic Women’s League at St. Joseph Streetsville.  

Jackie Pappas – Treasurer/Secretary

Jackie has worked in the child care profession for over 39 years with over 30+ years as a Child Care Director in the diverse community of Scarborough. She supports and guides families with children between the ages of 0 and 12 years.  She is knowledgeable in Human Resources, Financing, Budgeting, Child Development, Program Development and Board operations.  Jackie has been instrumental in growing the not-for-profit business from a capacity of 40 children to 187 children. Jackie currently volunteers with St. Francis of Assisi parish on the Social Committee, as a lector and is assisting the parish at Wenleigh Nursing Home.

Marina Vadivelu – Director

Marina currently works at Scotiabank as a Senior Manager. She has held various management roles in Investment and Wealth Management with a focus on leading projects within operations of the back/middle office. Marina’s passion to help others is demonstrated by her active role as youth coordinator at her local church, volunteering with Hope4Child Relief Mission Inc. (a CRA-registered Canadian charity focused on supporting war-affected families in Sri Lanka) and being part of the Diversity and Inclusion committee at work. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from University of Toronto.

Calvin Rodgers – Director

Calvin is the current VP of Tax at Volaris Group, which is an operating group under Constellation Software. He is a Certified Public Accountant (‘CPA’) with over 30 years of public accounting and industry experience. Besides his work career, he has been involved with a number of organizations including the past President of the Lisgar Residents Association and the Treasurer of the Canorient Christian Association. Calvin is actively involved with St. John of the Cross Parish where he is currently Chair of the Finance Committee and an active usher at the 10 am mass.

Saras Jayakumar – Director

Saras has over 15 years of experience in Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Resources and Ethical Standards covering Manufacturing and supply chain industries.  She began her career in Asia, working with suppliers of major global apparel brands, before joining Wal-Mart as part of their Social Compliance team to manage their ES auditing process. Her last work assignment before Arche Advisors was in Singapore with Bolloré Logistics, where she was responsible for overseeing compliance reviews, corporate governance, and anti-corruption due diligence process across Asia Pacific region. Saras is certified in TAPA, EHS Auditing processes.  She holds a master’s degree in Sociology and a post-graduation in Global Business Management. She has been part of various CSR initiatives during her work and is happy to share her time and experience with Vita Center in furthering its mission in helping the community.

Stephanie Holdsworth – Director

Stephanie is a seasoned corporate lawyer with nearly 20 years of leadership in legal operations and strategy serving high growth private enterprises in-house and externally. Currently, she is serving as Corporate Secretary and Chief Legal Officer for The Fertility Partners, where she works to balance risk mitigation with the agility needed in service delivery. Stephanie is passionate about families and is an adamant believer that no child in Canada should ever go without the necessities for their care. Stephanie spent two years volunteering at Community Legal Aid and while in private practice, provided pro bono legal services to a group home serving teenagers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Economics, from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor.

Paul Peca – Director

Paul has serviced the GTA and Hamilton real estate markets since 2018 as a full-time realtor. Paul currently serves on the Board of Directors of Vita Centre, a position he was entrusted to since March of 2023. He currently volunteers at Viva Retirement Community and has done so since 2019. He has vast experience in industries that require him to serve, both for and not for profit, including personal training and supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. Shortly after becoming licensed as a realtor 6 years ago, Paul invented a marketing idea known as the rooftop drone performance, which has made him one of the leaders of real estate marketing in the GTA. He obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto (Philosophy & Psychology). Paul’s interests include health & wellness, supporting his friends’ business ventures through business development, and real estate service, especially first-time home buyers, investors, and young families residing in the GTA and Hamilton.

Helen Szumigaj – Director

Helen attained Senior Sales Executive roles within the Food Industry. She was responsible for sales organizations both within Canada and the United States achieving significant sales and profit targets. Concurrently, Helen was appointed to the Board of Governors for Seneca College and volunteered within the business community promoting Women in Business. Following a successful sales career, Helen’s expertise was sought by Seneca College appointing her as a Professor within the School of Hospitality and Tourism as well as the Global Business Management Program. She continues to develop courses for both programs. Helen’s passion is building long term relationships, collaboration within teams, developing growth opportunities and elevating individuals to aspire to higher goals.

Kavitha Kandiah – Director

Kavitha is the current VP of Tax at Volaris Group, which is an operating group under Constellation Software.  He is a Certified Public Accountant (‘CPA’) with over 30 years of public accounting and industry experience.  Besides his work career, he has been involved with a number of organizations including the past President of the Lisgar Residents Association and the Treasurer of the Canorient Christian Association. Calvin is actively involved with St. John of the Cross Parish where he is currently Chair of the Finance Committee and an active usher at the 10 am mass.

Become a Board Member

Do you want to make a difference and can commit? Then we need you!

We are currently seeking Board and Committee volunteers from diverse backgrounds to participate and share their knowledge and experience and help Vita Centre realize its potential for good. To learn more about our Board of Directors or any open positions, please click here.

Time Commitment:

4 – 8 hrs. per month; generally meetings are in the evening

Other Requirements:

  • 2-3 years of previous Volunteer Board experience in the Non Profit Social Services sector
  • Committed to the work, mission and strategic goals of the organization
  • Regularly attend board meetings and important meetings/special events
  • Participate actively in committee work
  • Lead by example
  • Advocate on behalf of the organization
  • Represent the organization, as requested

Please click here for a more detailed Board Member Job Description

Please send resumes to:

Tanya Pereira – Executive Director
email: t.pereira@vitacentre.org 
call: 905-502-7933 ext. 226

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Vita Centre

info@vitacentre.org
+1.905-502-7933
5659 McAdam Rd Unit C2
Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1N9
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