About Us

Preparing youth to succeed
in a global economy

Mission

Our Story

EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE

Here at JA Central Ontario, we envision a world in which young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. 

We want to make sure all young people are economically empowered with the skills, confidence and networks to shape their future in a way that works for them and those around them. 

Start a local business? Set up a community food bank? Land the job of their dreams? Save for that trip of a lifetime? No matter what they dream of, through JA Central Ontario they will build the skills, practice the thinking and meet the people who will help them get there.

Together with a dedicated network of volunteers, partners and educators, we deliver immersive learning experiences for students in grades 3-12, focusing on work readiness, financial health, entrepreneurship and more. JA students benefit from real-world work experience and know-how, transforming their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and aspirations as they build their futures.

As young Canadians plan a future in the wake of a global pandemic and a rapidly changing world, JA learning experiences are more important than ever. By building a wide range of skills and nurturing self-belief, JA prepares young people for the future of work, teaches them how to think entrepreneurially, and ensures they have the tools to be financially capable adults.

Our work covers Dufferin, Durham, Halton, Peel, Toronto, York and Simcoe regions. We are part of the world’s largest and most-impactful youth-serving NGOs – JA Worldwide – and work closely with our national network, JA Canada.

We are proudly accredited by Imagine Canada.

about-us-book-head

Our Purpose

Our Mission

JA Central Ontario inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy.

Our Vision

A world in which young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities.

Our Values

  • Believe in the boundless potential of young people
  • Advocate for relevant, hands-on learning
  • Teach principled, market-based economics and entrepreneurship that build a more sustainable world
  • Approach our work with passion, honesty, integrity, and excellence
  • Seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and talents in our staff, volunteers, and boards to reflect the geographies and communities we serve
  • Nurture the power of partnership and collaboration
Our-Purpose

Our Team

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Rhonda Klosler
Chair, Board of Directors

Chief Operating Officer & Eastern Canada Market Lead
RSM Canada

Board of Directors

Chris Cornell
Vice Chair, Board of Directors

Partner, Audit, National Sector Lead, Insurance
KPMG

Board of Directors

Dean Percy
Treasurer; Chair, Operations

Treasurer; Chair, Operations

Finance Services Executive (Retired)

Board of Directors

Vivian Leung
Secretary

Secretary

National Tax Learning and Development Leader
Director, National Tax Centre
KPMG LLP

Board of Directors

Anthony Boright

Director

Technology Entrepreneur and Financial Services Executive (Retired)

Board of Directors

Michelle Cowan

Chair, Governance & Nominations

Regional Vice President, North Toronto Region
RBC

Board of Directors

Kathy Falconi

Director

Strategy Executive (Retired)

Board of Directors

Jeff Wright

Director

Co-Head, Integration
National Bank of Canada

Board of Directors

Stephen Jurisic

Director

Creative Director Consultant

Board of Directors

Nancy King

Director

Vice President, Executive Product Owner
TD Bank

Board of Directors

Manasi Koushik

Director

Vice President Sustainability, Quality & Community
Dexterra Group

Board of Directors

Jamal Pascall

Director, Emerging Leader

Senior Strategic Manager
RBC

Board of Directors

Hitesh Peshavaria

Director

Partner, Government & Public Services
Deloitte

Board of Directors

Steve Tyers

Director

SVP Modernization & Enablement, Technology, Infrastructure and Innovation
CIBC

Board of Directors

Daniel Shum

Director

Vice-President & Senior Partner
IBM Canada

Senior
Leadership

Senior Leadership

Kim Charteris
President and CEO

Senior Leadership

Simone Cowdery
General Manager

Senior Leadership

Alanna Clark
Senior Director, Government Relations & Fund Development

Governors

Meet our Governors
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Our Team

Our Partners

Become a Partner

We couldn’t empower a new generation without the support of our generous partners – thank you!

Last updated: January 2026

Changemakers

Champions

Innovators

  •  
  • Peter & Catherine Clark Family Foundation

Accelerators

  • 990 Capital Management
  • Accenture Inc.
  • Actuarial Foundation of Canada
  • AEO Better World Foundation
  • American International Group
  • Allegis Global Solutions
  • Amazon Canada
  • American Express Canada
  • A.W.B. Charitable Foundation
  • Bell Canada
  • Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
  • Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
  • Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)
  • Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd.
  • Continental Casualty Company (CNA)
  • Deloitte Canada
  • Enterprise Mobility Foundation
  • Export Development Canada (EDC)
  • FactSet Canada Inc.
  • Fairfax Financial Holdings
  • Fundserv
  • Fairstone Financial Inc.
  • Fig Financial Inc.
  • Hosper Mortgage
  • Imperial Oil Limited
  • International Financial Data Services (IFDS)
  • Interac Corp.
  • KingSett Capital
  • Liberty Mutual Canada
  • Moneris Solutions Corporation
  • National Bank of Canada
  • Pacific Life Re
  • Pathwise Credit Union
  • RBC Insurance
  • RGA Life Insurance Company of Canada
  • State Street Corporation
  • Sun Life Financial Emerging Professionals Network
  • TC Energy
  • The Coca-Cola Company
  • The Actuarial Foundation of Canada
  • The Lawson Foundation
  • The Starke Group
  • Thomas, Large and Singer (TLS)
  • Volvo Financial Services
  • Wealthsimple Foundation
  • Wells Fargo Securities Canada, Ltd.
  • Whitchurch-Stouffville Legacy Fund

Our Donors

Become a Donor

We couldn't impact our students without the support of generous individual donors. Thank you to everybody who has helped us raise funds to empower a new generation.

You can find a full list of our donors in our Annual Report