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Samantha Brown, Director Samantha is a mother to three children, ages eight, sixteen, and eighteen. They have two cherished family pets; a Husky-Shepherd named Balto and a Siamese/Ragdoll cat named Tia Clair. Samantha has volunteered with many charities over the years. While recently working with a rescue agency that fosters dogs from up north Samantha and her husband fell in love with Balto and gave him his forever home. |
Professionally, Sam is a lawyer in Simcoe County, practicing in employment, family, wills and estates, and general civil litigation. She also teaches criminal justice at the college level.
Before becoming a lawyer, Sam spent fifteen years as a police officer, where she gained experience in front-line, community policing, and criminal investigations. Samantha is a firm believer in engaging with multiple stakeholders to develop industry best practices, having witnessed the benefits; this drew her to become a member of CFAS. Samantha is also an animal lover and recognizes the incredible bond between animals and people and their impact on the human spirit.
Before becoming a lawyer, Sam spent fifteen years as a police officer, where she gained experience in front-line, community policing, and criminal investigations. Samantha is a firm believer in engaging with multiple stakeholders to develop industry best practices, having witnessed the benefits; this drew her to become a member of CFAS. Samantha is also an animal lover and recognizes the incredible bond between animals and people and their impact on the human spirit.
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Dr. Stephanie Dimech, Director
Stephanie earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), focusing on leadership, policy, equity, and inclusion. She completed her Master of Education at OISE concurrently with the Graduate Collaborative Program in Women’s Studies and Gender Studies at the University of Toronto and has an undergraduate degree in Social Work from Ryerson University Before beginning her post-secondary career, Stephanie served as a Social Worker and then as a Police Constable with Halton Regional Police Service. Her social work experience focused on working with populations in disenfranchised communities with the Peel Region Health Department. Additionally, Stephanie worked with the Peel District School Board with at-risk students in an inner-city school and the Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel. |
As a Police Officer, Stephanie’s patrol responsibilities continued her equity and inclusion work for the Milton Detachment as the diversity support for other Officers being the liaison between the Detachment and Halton’s Women’s place, a housing and support system provided to women and children dealing with domestic violence.
Stephanie’s post-secondary career took off in 2004. After nine years as a faculty member, Stephanie took on an administrative role aligning her leadership and management expertise. As Dean, Human Services, and Community Safety at Georgian College, Orillia Campus, Stephanie oversees ongoing research related to service dogs. She, along with Sweet Charity, championed the Canine Ambassador Program (CAP). Stephanie is also a passionate certified volunteer handler at the college and in the community with her cherished dog Attie.
Working with Attie while learning about service dogs and the many challenges facing the emerging Animal-Assisted Services Sector are a few reasons why Stephanie joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Stephanie is looking forward to applying her expertise along with her passion for community revitalization to nurture safer and healthier communities across Canada.
Stephanie’s post-secondary career took off in 2004. After nine years as a faculty member, Stephanie took on an administrative role aligning her leadership and management expertise. As Dean, Human Services, and Community Safety at Georgian College, Orillia Campus, Stephanie oversees ongoing research related to service dogs. She, along with Sweet Charity, championed the Canine Ambassador Program (CAP). Stephanie is also a passionate certified volunteer handler at the college and in the community with her cherished dog Attie.
Working with Attie while learning about service dogs and the many challenges facing the emerging Animal-Assisted Services Sector are a few reasons why Stephanie joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Stephanie is looking forward to applying her expertise along with her passion for community revitalization to nurture safer and healthier communities across Canada.
Christina Locmelis, Director of Marketing and Communications
Christina's professional background within the public and private sectors along with her extensive communications design and implementation experience couldn't have been a better fit. Christina is skilled in content development and through the execution of several successful campaigns has acquired considerable knowledge of the best practice methods involved in creating and marketing content for a variety of audiences. Christina joined the Foundation with the goal of utilizing her professional expertise to benefit a cause that is very dear to her heart. Befittingly she is a devoted pet parent, avid animal lover, and strongly believes in the value of the bond between people and their pets. Giving of her time and talents is not limited to CFAS. Rather, she gives generously to other worthy charities such as the Ottawa Humane Society. This talented lady holds a Master of Arts degree with a Specialization in Organizational Communication, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Psychology from the University of Ottawa.
Rubina Sultan, Director
Rubina is a mother of three young children and the owner of three elderly dogs whom she rescued. Professionally, she has worked as a Chemist, science Educator, Property Manager, and as a Store Manager for an outreach mission. She devotes considerable time volunteering at her children’s' school and operating community based programs such as homework clubs. Up until five years ago, she was the co-owner of a not-for-profit Labrador and golden retriever dog rescue organization called Save-A-Lab. Rubina and her husband rescued over 50 labs and Golden’s over the years and successfully placed them in good, stable, and loving homes. Many of the dogs they rescued had been abused and required considerable rehabilitation. Rubina came on board with the Foundation because it allows her to combine her love of animals with her desire to make a difference in the lives of others.
Rubina is a mother of three young children and the owner of three elderly dogs whom she rescued. Professionally, she has worked as a Chemist, science Educator, Property Manager, and as a Store Manager for an outreach mission. She devotes considerable time volunteering at her children’s' school and operating community based programs such as homework clubs. Up until five years ago, she was the co-owner of a not-for-profit Labrador and golden retriever dog rescue organization called Save-A-Lab. Rubina and her husband rescued over 50 labs and Golden’s over the years and successfully placed them in good, stable, and loving homes. Many of the dogs they rescued had been abused and required considerable rehabilitation. Rubina came on board with the Foundation because it allows her to combine her love of animals with her desire to make a difference in the lives of others.
Joanne Moss, CEO
Joanne is the founder and CEO of the Foundation. She is a passionate servant leader and has been a devoted disability advocate for the past 30 years. Joanne also has expertise in humane education, with hands-on experience in the AAS field. Among her professional designations is a Bachelor Degree in Counselling and specializations in areas such as project and voluntary sector management, and advocacy.
Having served vulnerable populations for more than three decades within this evolving landscape Joanne has come to define the human-animal bond as love just for being and innovation as the result of fearing less and loving more.
Photo Credit: Winchester resident Joanne Moss, left, receives the Caring Canadian Award from Gov-Gen. David Johnston on Tuesday April 14, 2015 in Ottawa. MCpl Vincent Carbonneau/Submitted.
Joanne is the founder and CEO of the Foundation. She is a passionate servant leader and has been a devoted disability advocate for the past 30 years. Joanne also has expertise in humane education, with hands-on experience in the AAS field. Among her professional designations is a Bachelor Degree in Counselling and specializations in areas such as project and voluntary sector management, and advocacy.
Having served vulnerable populations for more than three decades within this evolving landscape Joanne has come to define the human-animal bond as love just for being and innovation as the result of fearing less and loving more.
Photo Credit: Winchester resident Joanne Moss, left, receives the Caring Canadian Award from Gov-Gen. David Johnston on Tuesday April 14, 2015 in Ottawa. MCpl Vincent Carbonneau/Submitted.
