The Lighthouse is supported and receives guidance from a wide range of professionals who care deeply about our work.

DR - age 16

“It has helped getting out what I can’t share with others but it’s great knowing other teens have/are gone/going through the same thing you are. Thank you Lighthouse” 

Board members have backgrounds in business, marketing, communications, law, accounting, IT, strategic planning, social work, health care, teaching, parenting, and some are past participants of the program. We are grateful to have the support of these wonderful community members who serve on our board of directors.

Our Board of Directors:

Please hover with your mouse over each name for more information

Andy Aicklen Director-at-Large since December 2010
Chair- Andy has close to 30 years of experience in Enterprise Software in North America as Country Manager in senior roles at PeopleSoft, Hewlett Packard and Oracle Corporation. Andy is also a former United States Naval officer. He earned a Masters of Business Administration degree in finance and accounting from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas. He was recognized by Computer Dealer News as one of the top newsmakers in 2003 and 2004. A strong contributor to the local community in Oakville, Andy is the past secretary of the Lighthouse, current Board Chair, and a member of the fundraising committee.
Marge GriceDirector since December 2011 - Vice Chair,
Margaret graduated from the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario in 1988. She has over 20 years of work experience with the TD Bank Financial Group including senior management roles in International Banking, Business Banking and Visa. She is currently the Canadian Representative for Orangefield ICS Limited located in Hong Kong. Margaret has recent fundraising experience working with Laing House (peer support for youth with mental illness) in Halifax.
Cheryl RutonDirector-at-Large since January 2011
Treasurer/Secretary
Cheryl Ruton has been on the Board of Directors since January 2011, and has been Treasurer since June, 2011. Cheryl is a Chartered Accountant, and has been working for PepsiCo for the past 20 years – currently as Corporate Controller for the Beverages Division in Canada. Cheryl was previously employed at Ernst & Young for 6 years prior to that. Cheryl has a passion for The Lighthouse because she saw the healing impact the program had on her close friend and friend’s children following the loss of their husband and father at a young age.
Nancy Williams Director-at-Large since November 2001
Past Chair
Nancy has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University and is also a Certified Management Accountant. Nancy served as the Treasurer of The Lighthouse for 11 years and is the current Past Chair. Nancy worked for the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Technology before starting her Accounting and Tax consulting business in 1989. She has also developed marketing credentials as a partner in a promotional company.
Jo FallonDirector-at-Large since May 2006
Co-Founder, Honorary Board
Before coming to Canada in 1996, Jo worked in the Editorial Dept of Harper’s & Queen Magazine, London; and before that at Lloyd’s of London. In 1999 Jo co-founded The Lighthouse and has been a driving force with a clear vision of what The Lighthouse should provide to our community, and how, ever since. Having experienced the deaths of both of her parents during her childhood and adolescence, she is passionate about providing a haven where children and teens can tap into their own ability to heal and to begin to rebuild and reinvest back into their lives, thereby living life with strength, compassion and vigour. Jo received training at The Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon, which provided guidance and inspiration for the Lighthouse program.
Filomena Dennis Director-at-Large since February 2011
Filomena worked at TD Canada Trust for 10 years as a Lender (Account Manager). The lives of Filomena and her sons were dramatically changed in 2005 following the sudden death of her husband. Filomena and her young sons participated in the Lighthouse program and received much needed support. As she has experienced the program first hand, Filomena joined the board of directors in 2011 and is also a member of the Program Committee.
Helene Lavictoire Director-at-large since April 2013
Helene has extensive experience in health benefits systems solutions and electronic health records and currently works as Product Manager with TELUS Health.  In her prior role at Green Shield Canada, Helene managed one of Canada’s largest corporate foundations and an annual Corporate Giving Program, coordinating funding to grass-roots not-for-profit organizations across the country.    Helene is a volunteer member of the Oakville Community Foundation Grants Review Team.  She is also the mother of two school aged children and an active parent in Oakville’s francophone community.
Patricia GuiryDirector-at-Large since September 2010

Pat has worked with children, adolescents and their families in the Halton area, since 1976. She has worked at Syl Apps Youth Centre, in private practice, at Halton Child and Youth Services (currently the Reach Out Centre for Kids), and is currently employed by the Halton District School Board as a School Social Worker. Pat is a member of the Program Committee at the Lighthouse.
Georgina CostaDirector since March 2013
Board Secretary This is Georgina's first seat on a not-for-profit board and she is excited to provide her support to the Lighthouse. Georgina brings over 12 years of Human Resources experience and has spent most of her career in the IT/Software and Telecommunication industry. She currently works for Sigma Systems which is a global software company and has worked for Dependable Hometech and Bell Canada in the past. Georgina is a mother of 2 small girls and lives in Milton where she can continue to support the outreach awareness of the program to Halton residents.
Murray McKeage Director-at-Large since June 2012
Murray is a realtor with the Goodale Miller Team at Century 21 in Oakville and has previously worked with RBC Financial Group for over 22 years in various senior management roles in the wealth management, trust and estate business. Murray is a Certified Management Accountant, Financial Planner and has a Masters Degree, Finance from Dalhousie University. Murray served as an active member for 6 years with the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa and was a Director and Vice President of the Multiple Birth Family Association in Ottawa for 4 years. He is a proud parent and has 5 children including triplet daughters.
Hyder Masum Director-at- Large since January 2013
Hyder has over 10 years of experience as a lawyer, and currently works as Senior Legal Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer with Russell Investments. Prior to that, Hyder’s varied legal career includes time spent in progressively senior roles at the Toronto office of a global law firm, a boutique litigation firm in Toronto and a Mississauga law firm. Hyder has an MBA from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, as well as a Masters in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. Hyder’s community involvement includes volunteer work with the Child Advocacy Project and continuing service as a board member of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association.