Fieldnotes
Reflections on current issues for charities and philantropists
We must learn from the WE Charity controversy
Co-authored with The Honourable Senator Ratna Omidvar and previously published on iPolitics.ca on September 14, 2020 'This controversy risks betraying the trust of young Canadians who were inspired by WE to empower children from around the world. It also affects the many charities that work...
Untangling the corporate web: Charity conglomerates and the WE Charity scandal
Previously published on Imagine Canada 360 on September 2, 2020 Two worlds collide - Complex corporate structures in the charitable sector The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Power Corporation of Canada is never without questions about the complexity of its corporate structure. Brookfield Asset...
What does strategic planning mean in a pandemic?
The Greek root of the word crisis is 'to sift,' as in, to shake out the excesses and leave only what's important. That's what crises do.1 The scale of the impact of the pandemic on charities and nonprofits is unprecedented. Imagine Canada in its Sector Monitor Report reveals the magnitude of...
Our long-term care system needs major surgery
It’s not elective! Few of us have been left untouched by the tragedy of unnecessary COVID-19 related deaths in long-term care settings which have touched Ontario and Québec especially hard in the past weeks. This tragedy was preventable. Canadians who have or have had a loved one in a long-term...
A new beginning as a strategic advisor to charities and philanthropists: my website goes public today
It’s spring. A time of rebirth and of growth. It’s also time to launch my own consultancy providing advice to charities and philanthropists with a focus on governance, strategy and impact. In this unprecedented crisis, organizations which have the capacity to lead will thrive and grow in new...
Grateful to be Canadian
I count my blessings. Maybe more so now that we live in uncertain times. Gratitude fuels my ability to be resilient when it matters most. And, I am especially grateful to be Canadian amid this pandemic because: We have a public healthcare system which is available to everyone and this matters a...
