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Our Leadership.

Meet the Variety Ontario team. Community leaders and experts who guide our way forward.

  • Charlie Johnstone

    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario

    As President and CEO, Charlie leads our mission to give all children living with disabilities in Ontario a chance to achieve their personal bests. He believes in the power of sport to inspire children to dream beyond what they once thought was possible. Once they know what they can achieve, nothing is beyond reach.

    A highly experienced and respected leader in sports marketing, Charlie most recently served as President and CEO of two of Canada’s most unique events: The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the Honda Indy Toronto. In these roles, he successfully developed strategic and financial initiatives that stabilized the organizations and facilitated their continued long-term growth.

    Charlie’s skill set includes securing over $50 million in corporate sponsorship support, more than $25 million in government funding, and generating nearly $10 million for various children’s charities across the Greater Toronto Area.

    A graduate of the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, Charlie focused his studies on the intersection of sports marketing, business, health, and recreation.

    For more information about Charlie, you can read the full announcement on our website: Welcome Charlie Johnstone.

Senior Leadership

  • Anita Billing

    CPA, CGA

    Chief Financial Officer

  • Archie Allison

    Director

    Access and Awareness

  • Katie Watkins

    Director

    Programs

Our Board of Directors

As a local, community-driven registered charity our 100% volunteer-based board guides major Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario decisions, approves programing and spending, and provides continuous guidance and support.

  • Jordan Assaraf

    Board Chair

    Barrister & Solicitor Gluckstein Personal Injury Lawyers

  • Charles Taerk

    Vice Chair

    President & CEO, Faircourt Asset Management Inc.

  • John Willson

    Audit & Finance Committee

    Former President and CEO Variety Village

  • Jeff Armstrong

    Development & Special Events Chair

    Senior Vice President, MCAP Service Corporation

  • David Safer

    Special Events Committee

    Innovation Fellow, Accenture Strategy Consulting

  • Mary Jo Vradis

    Broker, Meta Realty Inc.

  • Alex Bowles

    Business Development, Trading at NEO Exchange

  • Shahriar Syedshahin

    Audit & Finance Committee

    Director of Development at REIT GTA

  • Mark Palmer

    Fundraising & Events Committee

    Director, Partnership Development, Toronto Blue Jays

  • Michelle Way

    Audit and Finance Committee

    Vice President of Business Banking Distribution, CIBC

  • Neil Claydon

    Fundraising Committee

    Senior Director, Business Operations at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

  • Graeme Switzer

    Marketing Committee

    VP, Marketing and Operations, Brand Driven Media Inc.

  • Elayne Miles

    Governance Committee

    Senior Vice-President of Business Operations, Rakuten Kobo Inc.

  • Kate Dobrucki

    Marketing Committee

    SVP of Communication, Dentsu Canada

  • Al D’Addesse

    Finance & Governance Committee

    VP of Sales Canada, Weber-Stephen Products

  • Karin Ots

    Governance Committee

    SVP of Regulatory and Government Relations at Aviva Canada

  • Alexandra Hyland

    Governance Committee

    Global Head of Capabilities & Culture at Kraft Heinz

  • Dr. Gerard T. Arbour

    Fundraising & Events Committee

    Owner at Bluffs Chiropractic

  • David Brown

    Finance & Audit Committee

    Owner at Fearless Meat

With the help of everyday people like you we’ve supported over

800,000

children with disabilities
and their families for over 70 years.

Here are 3 ways you can help today.

There’s a direct link between your support and a child’s development. After all, you can come by and see the impact in person.

Offer your time, skill set, and attention to kids who need you.

Volunteer

Giving $35 can change a child’s life.

Donate

Parent advocates and community leaders have the power to make change.

Speak up