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In Appreciation of United for Literacy’s Board Members

Oct. 03 2024

United for Literacy benefits from the expertise of two boards of directors. The United for Literacy Board provides oversight to the work of the organization. The United for Literacy Foundation Board manages and stewards endowment funds and other gifts donated for the ongoing support of our literacy programs
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We would like to take this opportunity thank the board members who have recently completed their terms and welcome the newest people to join us. 

L. Neil Gower KC, Hañwakañ Blaikie Whitecloud, Suzanne Anton and Rayan Rafay, thank you for your dedication to the cause of literacy and all you have done for United for Literacy. 

We welcome Julia Deans, Ed Gullberg, and Meron Tecle to the United for Literacy Board and Matthew Latimer and Elizabeth Loach to the Foundation Board. We look forward to benefitting from your guidance, wisdom, and creativity. 

FOUNDATION - NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Matthew Latimer – ON

Matthew Latimer is Executive Director at the Federation of Independent Dealers, leveraging 18 years of industry experience. At the Federation, Matthew drives strategic initiatives, organizes industry events, and champions member firms' interests, focusing on navigating regulatory changes, aligning diverse interests, and mitigating cost impacts for securities and mutual fund dealerships and their advisors, as well as fostering growth. His career spans various aspects of the financial industry. Matthew holds a degree in Illustration from OCAD University, supplemented by specialized courses in finance-related fields. Beyond his professional role, Matthew dedicates time raising funds for canine rescues and shelters.

Elizabeth Loach – ON

Elizabeth Loach is Head of Private Markets for the CIBC Pension Plan. She has significant experience and knowledge in private markets investing and providing strategic investment advice from a 30-year career in private markets and M&A at firms including HOOPP, TD Securities, and Lancaster Financial. At CIBC Pension Plan she is responsible for developing and executing the private market investment strategy and portfolio construction. The role includes diligence, executing and monitoring private market investments in infrastructure, real estate, private equity, and private credit in order to create long-term value for the pensioners. Elizabeth is a member of the board of directors of E-L Financial Corp Ltd and serves on the Audit Committee. She graduated from Queen’s University with an Hons. B.A. in economics and holds a MBA from The Rotman School of Management at The University of Toronto.

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ORGANIZATION - NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Julia Deans – ON

An entrepreneurial leader and experienced executive with a strong Canadian and international track record of developing ideas, teams and organizations across business, non-profit and government domains.

After practicing law with Torys LLP in Toronto and Hong Kong and creating a successful business in Singapore, Julia led CivicAction, Futurpreneur Canada and the task force that developed Ontario’s first-ever immigration strategy and was founding CEO of the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation.

Julia serves as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and is on the boards of Investeco and the Canada Post Community Foundation. She has served on the George Brown College board and the Goodman School of Business and Sidewalk Toronto Advisory Councils. She’s been named one of WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, a YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction and a Woman of Influence Canadian Diversity Champion, and received the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy Progressive Leadership Award and the Goodman School of Business Distinguished Leader Award in 2018. She holds degrees from Queen's University, Columbia University, and Osgoode Hall Law School and her ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Ed Gullberg – AB/NWT

Ed maintains a general practice with an emphasis on corporate commercial securities and municipal law. He has worked with a number of clients in corporate reorganizations, restructurings, sales, and purchases of businesses. His experience extends to real estate transactions (commercial and residential), incorporations, foreclosures, municipal issues and acquisitions. 

Ed’s clients are from many sectors of the northern business community including developers, municipalities, small businesses, and individuals. He has acted for a variety of banks and private lenders in placing and enforcing security. 

Clients benefit from Ed’s substantial courtroom experience. A skilled litigator, he has represented corporate and individual clients at all levels of court in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

A valued resource for municipal councils, Ed regularly provides advice and training concerning governance and general business issues for several municipalities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Given his broad knowledge base, Ed is often called upon to relay general advice for many practice areas. He takes a creative approach to handling legal issues and explains complicated legal concepts in a straightforward manner. Clients know they can rely on his practical, relevant advice to effectively address their concerns. 

An active member of the Yellowknife community, Ed is a Yellowknife Co-op board member, a member of the Condo Board, and the Former Regional Director of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Meron Tecle – ON

Meron is a talented strategy and operations professional with over 10 years of experience in operations and consulting in the finance and technology sectors. As a Principal, Total Fund Management at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Meron has the specific responsibility of monitoring the governance and engaging with companies that represent OTPP’s public market portfolio. He was previously a Senior Strategy Consultant with Deloitte Canada, helping to guide clients through the stages of the full M&A lifecycle. He was also a member of their Centre for Climate Change practice. Before Deloitte, Meron was the Executive Vice President of Operations for Meridiem, a Clean Tech start-up and portfolio company of the boutique strategy consulting firm co-founded by himself and business school colleague. Meron holds a Bachelor of Commerce (w.Hons), as well as an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. In his community, Meron is a mentor and tutor with Pathways to Education and has experience as a guest lecturer with the OnBoard Program at the Rotman School of Management, a fellowship program that matches talented upper-year MBA candidates with non-profit boards and charities.


As we welcome our new board members and celebrate the contributions of those who have completed their terms, we invite you to get involved in shaping the future of literacy in Canada.

Consider making a donation, volunteering your time, or sharing our mission with your network. Together, we can continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of learners across the country.

Donate Today | Volunteer With Us

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