Pride Toronto Board of Directors 2011-12

Francisco Alvarez

Co-Chair

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Francisco Alvarez is an experienced arts and communications leader with a strong history of volunteer work in Toronto's LGBT community.

Currently, he is Managing Director of the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum and has also served as the ROM's Director of Communications for nine years.
Holding an MBA degree from York University, Francisco has senior management experience in the non-profit, government and private sectors.

He was one of the co-founders of Inside Out, Toronto's Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, where he remained for ten years. He has also served as co-chair of Dancers for Life, a major annual fundraiser for the AIDS Committee of Toronto and has proudly served on several other Boards.

Francisco has been a Board member since February 2009, serving as Co-Chair of the Board since September 2010.

Luka Amona

Co-Chair

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A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) Luka studied Human Resources Management at the London Metropolitan University and is currently pursuing his MBA. He has 15 years private, not-for-profit and public sector experience acquired from working in a variety of roles in Europe, Africa and North America. Luka brings along broad and diverse skills, knowledge and abilities that includes: community outreach & engagement, advocacy, human resources management, strategic planning, change management, governance and financial management. Raised in England his experience and knowledge are particularly valuable to the organization as it looks to elevate its community engagement and accelerate its preparations for World Pride in 2014.

Luka has been active with Pride Toronto starting in 2009 and since joining the Board, he has taken a very active role in participating and leading a number of Board Committees including Co-Chairing the CAP Implementation Committee which is the committee charged with providing strategic advice and guidance to the Pride Board on the implementation of the recommendations of Community Advisory Panel report (CAP).

An ardent soccer enthusiast, Luka’s time outside of Pride is spent supporting Arsenal FC, running two small businesses, reading and travelling.

Daniel Knox

Treasurer

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Daniel has served the non-profit sector for more than seven years, with experience in a range of areas including business administration and analysis, special event logistics, sponsorship development, marketing/communications, research, and major gifts.
His current role is in Leadership Giving at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of   Ontario (HSFO), where he is responsible for working with individuals who   can make significant investments in HSFO's mission.  Prior to  joining  the team at HSFO, Daniel had the privilege of working on  exciting  capital campaigns at local hospitals, and has also raised  funds for a  national literacy organization.

A career fundraiser,  Daniel has completed the Fundraising Management program at Ryerson  University, and  is a proud member of the Association of Fundraising  Professionals. When not immersed in the non-profit world, he enjoys spending time with  friends, walking his new dog along the waterfront,  and *trying* to stay  fit.

Sean Hillier

Secretary

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Sean has been involved with Pride Toronto for numerous years, most recently as Coordinator for the Public Safety Committee. Sean is completing his PhD in Policy Studies at Ryerson University, his research focuses on both First Nations and Trans People and the impact policy has on healthcare issues affecting them. Sean is also a Director of the Board for Our Place Community of Hope, a mental health drop-in centre located in midtown Toronto. 
 
Sean has focused a great deal of his attention on governance and community outreach. As someone who identifies as a youth, he has worked alongside high school students to strongly advocate for GSA’s, in addition to LGBT educational outreach programs in numerous low income communities throughout the city. Sean also worked with First Nations Communities through his research (MA 10’ in Critical Disability Studies) and has forged many relationships with two-spirited and LGBT members, he hopes to bring these relationships to the discussion table in Prides ongoing efforts to improve outreach and participation within the festival.

Evan Dean

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Evan received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University in 2000. Since graduating, Evan has worked for the Ontario Government in the Literacy & Basic Skills Program of the Ministry of Training, Colleges, & Universities, the Indicator Development &  Reporting Unit of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and currently works for the Ministry of the Attorney General ensuring that funding is available for programs that assist the victims of crime.

Evan has worked with a number of non-profit community programs. He is the co-chair for Trinity Square Café, which gives meaningful work and life skills development assistance to adults who are living with mental illness by providing welcoming space where participants assist in the running of lunch time cafe. Evan is also the Vice-President for Our Place Community of Hope, which assists people with mental illness in building skills for independent living and accessing other services and supports. Through its social recreation programs, Our Place provides a safe, stable environment for its members to meet, connect, and build relationships.

Prior to joining the Pride Toronto Board, Evan was a coordinator for Pride, overseeing the Free Zone in 2009 and Dis/Ability Resources in 2010.

Susan Gapka

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Susan Gapka transitioned on September 28, 1999 to fulfil her lifelong dream of living as a woman while working as a George Brown College student placement at Toronto City Hall.  Susan quickly became a trans activist joining the Board of Egale Canada, and helped develop their trans portfolio.  In December 2004 Susan was recognised for her work empowering transsexual and transgender communities when the City of Toronto awarded her the Pride Award.

In 2001, Susan Gapka helped found the Rainbow Health Network (RHN).  Ms. Gapka also founded and is Chair of the Trans Lobby Group, a former committee of RHN, which was formed to advocate for public funding of Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS).  The Lobby Group was recently recognised as Pride Toronto's 2011 Honoured Dyke Group.

Ms. Gapka graduated with Honours from the Community Worker Programme at George Brown in Spring 2000. Since then Susan has been studying Public Policy and Administration at York University and graduated June 2009 with a degree in Political Science.
Susan received several awards while at York including; the Ellen Baar Award for Public Policy twice, and the Ross McMillan Award for student leadership three times, and the 2005 Deborah Hobson Award for Student Leadership from the Vice President Students’ Office.  The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health recognised Susan’s leadership when she received the 1999 Courage to Come Back Award.

On October 27, 2011 Susan Gapka was elected to Pride Toronto's Board of Directors. She is the first out trans person elected to its Board.

Roy Mitchell

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How it all comes together has always been a mystery to me.  And it happens.  Not the day to day things, they're a breeze; but the fact that queer/trans folk can somehow work together and make something as potentially magical as Pride happen.  I always have "those moments" at Pride no matter how critical I can be.  I know that I'll have at least one moment when I think to myself "WOW, THAT'S QUEER!" and I'm sold.

I am the Executive Director of Trinity Square Video, an artist-run centre dedicated to the creation and exhibition of video art.  I have the pleasure to know and work with some of the best shit-disturbers and creative folk.

I live in a wonderful neighbourhood and am the co-founder of the Junction Pink Triangle Pride BBQ and The Junction Triangle Honey Badgers Gay Club.  As an active member of the Edith Avenue Citizens' Coalition, I was proud to present Mayor Rob Ford with the Edith Avenue Citizens' Coalition 2011 Unity Award given to him for bringing Toronto together like never before.

I am a community organizer.  And to be serious, while I am confident that my experience as a leader in arts community as an administrator and video maker will be put to good use, I am drawn to be on the board at Pride Toronto to make "those moments" happen.  They are transformative and needed by so many of us.  Hope to see you at Pride.

Chad Simon

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Chad is delighted to be able to work for the queer community and intends to make a positive difference for Pride Toronto. Chad's volunteer experience goes back to the 90's when he first started as a volunteer for the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Festival.

After moving to Toronto, Chad became involved in the Ontario Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce where he sat on the Board of Directors from 2004-2005.  He also sat on the Board of Directors for his condo corporation from 2002-2006. Chad was also involved with Fashion Cares for 2 years.

Chad has extensive experience in production and promotion. For the past 12 years he has been involved in production and promotion for Unity (now called Prism), the largest series of queer dance events at Pride. Chad also owns his own promotions company, from which he produced a number of events for the queer community in the early 2000's. Chad's strengths are communications, budgeting and strategic planning.

For seven years, Chad has been involved with project management in a variety real estate companies, at one point managing several new condominium sites throughout the city with revenues of over $150 million. He currently works at Ryerson University in logistics and support.

Mark Smith

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Elected to his 3rd term to the Pride Board, Mark Smith is an Event Planner, Strategic Communicator, Logistics Manager, Community Advocate, Free-speech Activist, and Personal Chef.

Former Music Industry executive, he now dedicates 60% of his day to community and NFP work and has been active helping raise over $40m for education and outreach. Mark was a producer and the director of the 3 Kumbaya Concerts for People Living With AIDs, Canada's first large scale national awareness concert.

He is a tireless Pride supporter and in the 4 years since last on the Board he has been a key participant in The Pride Coalition for Free Speech and facilitated the founding of Proud of Toronto campaign to save Prides funding at City Hall.  

His understanding of international events and marketing, are a required asset as we rebuild and develop a lasting legacy for the community, post World Pride 2014. Mark lead the Pride Toronto Team to jerusalem for World Pride in 2006