As with other organizations, our board of directors is legally responsible for the integrity and development of its activities. The board acts in the public interest to ensure that the charter and regulatory requirements are met. The board is made up of public-spirited individuals (many of them long-serving) who, in addition to their work and family commitments, want to be of service to their community. Our board members represent a variety of professions and occupations.

Richard Boxer, Chair

Richard Boxer is President of Buckingham Capital, a Canadian merchant bank involved in equity and debt financings since 1992. His governance experience includes serving as director of a number of TSX Venture Exchange-listed companies and not-for-profit organizations such as the Toronto Public Library, the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Canadian Paraplegic Association. He is a chartered accountant.

Mike Edwards

Mike Edwards is Chairman and CEO of FieldWorker Products Ltd. He has held senior executive positions within RBC Financial Group, Richardson Greenshields, Gardiner Watson/Dean Witter and McLeod Young Weir, and recently as President and CEO of RT Investment Management Holdings. He also served as Chairman of the Toronto Stock Exchange, was a member of the Dey Commission on Corporate Governance, member of the Executive Committee of the Investment Dealers Association, and Chairman of the Joint Industry Committee on Pension Reform. Currently, he is a director of Epcor Preferred Equity Inc., Energy Split Corp and Energy Split Corp II. He also served on the boards of the Children’s Aid Society Foundation, the Banff Centre, and the Stratford Festival Foundation and now chairs Invest in Kids.

Marilyn Emery

Since 2007 Marilyn Emery has been president and CEO of Women’s College Hospital – one of Canada’s pre-eminent health-care institutions.  Prior to joining Women’s College, Emery was CEO of the Central East Local Health Integration Network (2005 – 2007).  She served as President and CEO at St. Joseph’s Health Centre (1997-2003) and at Markham Stouffville Hospital (1989 – 1997), which was the first hospital to receive the National Quality Institute Canada Award of Excellence.  Emery was a member of the first group of women named Canada’s Top 100 Women and holds a Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Western Ontario. 

Eileen Fitzpatrick

Eileen Fitzpatrick is President and CEO of our funeral company, The Simple Alternative. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Harold & Grace Baker Centre, and is a member of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, the Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals, the Cremation Association of North America, the Funeral Service Association of Canada and the International Federation of Thanatologists.