About the Board of Directors

Members of the Ottawa Safety Council’s Board of Directors are motorcycle enthusiasts, parents, avid cyclists, and professionals who come to us with diverse skills and backgrounds. They value the shared integrity of road use and bring with them expertise in marketing, strategy, finance, and law. If you’re passionate about road safety and safe communities, and want to help the Ottawa Safety Council support their strategic goals, keep reading to find out how you can join our board.

Meet our Board of Directors

William Skorupinski

CHAIR

Automotive Services Division, CAA


William joined the Ottawa Safety Council to share his expertise of road safety that he has gathered not only within Ottawa but throughout North America and Europe. The CAA and the Ottawa Safety Council have very similar interests: safety while enjoying the roads no matter how you travel, be it on foot, bicycle, or motorized vehicle. William uses Ottawa’s road network for travel within the community, running, and as a novice cyclist. “Living on the edge of the urban boundary allows me to appreciate the safety challenges in both an urban and a rural environment.”

Cathy Anderson

SR. VICE CHAIR

Client Executive, NTT Data – managing growth and delivery for Ottawa customers


Logging over 5000 km per year cycling, Cathy’s preferred method of transpiration is her road bike. In the summer, she also rides a gravel bike on gravel roads in rural Ottawa and a fat bike in the winter. She is a runner and participates in most local running events. Cathy has extensive education and 25 years of experience helping organizations modernize technologies, transform service delivery, and in strategic growth for both private and not-for-profit organizations. “As one of the injured parties in the "Kanata 5" cycling accident in 2009, my interest in safe transportation is very personal.”

Motorcycle Safety Reminders for Experienced Riders

Jennifer Hyatt

TREASURER


Jennifer has many professional titles including Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, and mediator. Over the course of her career as a Forensic Accountant, Jennifer has worked with thousands of people involved in motor vehicle accidents which makes her passionate about making our roads safer for everyone.

Conal Slobodin

SECRETARY

Government Relations Professional


Conal uses Ottawa's roads as both a pedestrian (who loves and prefers walking) and a motorist. His background is in government advocacy, partnerships, and strategy, which helps OSC build its relationships with the city and its stakeholders.Without safe roads, we struggle to enjoy what our community has to offer sustainably."

Greg Kostiuk

VICE CHAIR

Systems Engineer, Canadian Defence Sector


What started as a passion for contributing to motorcyclists' road safety and giving back from his own experience taking the MTP course in 1986 has now broadened to embrace many aspects of road safety in Ottawa through his continued involvement as a Director. Besides encouraging road safety and awareness to new riders as a Director and OSC Volunteer MTP motorcycle instructor for over five years, Greg also enjoys riding his vintage 1985 BMW motorcycle and relaxing walks with his dog.

Erin Peruska

DIRECTOR

Environment Health and Safety Manager in Technology Sector


With her safety and risk management experience, Erin understands the extreme importance of road safety programs and resources. As an avid road user, she is often driving her kids to sports and activities or walking around her neighbourhood with her dog. “I love that I can see our work in action through the crossing guard program.”

Mark Donnison

DIRECTOR

Senior Executive – Not for profit


Mark is a strategic leader with extensive experience navigating ambitious change agendas. He’s recognized as a builder of high-performing, diverse teams capable of adjusting to today’s work environment. He brings a broad perspective from both the private and not-for-profit sectors. 

As a dad to an adolescent son, he’s an advocate for the effective blending of various modes of transport and safety measures. As a holder of a valid M license for close to 25 years, he has a profound interest in ensuring that anyone hopping onto two wheels is highly skilled and can enjoy the sights and the sounds as the wind blows through one’s hair. Under a helmet, of course.

Prasath Sarma

Prasath Sarma

DIRECTOR

 


Prasath is a highly flexible executive with experience in strategic planning, engineering, operations and IT.  He enables transformation through cultural change and is committed to organizational and individual success.  He has an engineering degree from Ryerson and has lived in Ottawa for the past 15 years. 

As a father of 2 school-aged boys, safety is a top priority for Prasath.  He loves walking with his dog and going on family bike rides throughout Ottawa.  "I'm glad to be part of organizations like OSC that embed the safety culture so we, as a community, can live, work and enjoy our city safely."

Dwight Stewart

Dwight Stewart

DIRECTOR

 


Dwight is an experienced professional with a background in Information Technology and Public safety. He has been acknowledged as being a calm and decisive leader under stressful situations, and he has worked as a trainer and mentor to his colleagues.

He Is frequently outdoors and using Ottawa's roadways from driving, to motorcycling, or with family members cycling.  He has young children that love the outdoors, and he is enthusiastic about helping to ensure that they and all the members of our community can safely enjoy our beautiful city. 

“I could not be happier than to be part of an organization that helps to protect the children that will form our future."

Join us

Interested in Joining our Board?

We are a vibrant, $3.5 million charitable, not-for-profit organization established in 1957. Board members contribute to our mission as we continue to chart new directions as a road safety (no matter how traveled) organization.

The current OCS programs include our flagship Adult Crossing Guard program (encompassing 241 intersections throughout Ottawa); our history-rich and first-class motorcycle training program; providing leaders for the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) walking school bus program; our children’s CycleSafe program; and more. Every day, our dedicated staff and volunteers encourage folks to make smart choices about their individual safety and the safety of their families.

Your time commitment would be anywhere between 5-10 hours per month, depending on current levels of activity. The Board meets on the second Monday of the month from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., with no meetings scheduled in July, August, October, and March. We also have two retreats yearly – one on a Saturday in January and the other over the second weekend in June so the new board can get to know each other and get up to speed on the OSC’s activities and plans. This June orientation retreat is mandatory.  All available positions are elected at each Annual General Meeting for a minimum term of three years.  The Board elects its officers.

For more information on the Board of Directors, please download the Board information package PDF.

Volunteer Board Director Position: 2 Vacancies

The Board shall accept nominations, other than those from the Nominating Committee, provided that:

a.they are received in writing by the Board at least twenty (20) days prior to the relevant Annual Meeting;
b.each nomination is seconded by a member in good standing;
c.the nominee is also a member in good standing;
d.the written consent of the nominee is presented; and
e.the nomination is signed by not less than ten (10) eligible voting Members.

No nominations will be accepted from the floor at the Annual Meeting.

If you are interested in a volunteer board of director position, please submit your resume and a letter of intent, along with the above required information, to the OSC’s Executive Director Jamie Kwong at jamie.kwong@ottawasafetycouncil.ca no later than Friday, May 6, 2022 at 12pm.

Board Application Process

 

Step 1

Complete an application either online at Online Board Application Link or by downloading the application form Board Application Fillable PDF.

Step 2

Send your resume, letter of interest, completed Membership Application Fillable PDF and Board of Directors application (if not submitted online) to our CEO at jamie.kwong@ottawasafetycouncil.ca.

Help Support the Ottawa Safety Council

Donations to the Ottawa Safety Council help us to continue building new programming and creating and delivering awareness campaigns to bring road safety advocacy and awareness to everyone in Ottawa, regardless of how they travel.

Our Latest Blogs