The Board was elected at the Annual Meeting on June 19, 2024
Paul Johanis
Chair
Paul worked in a variety of roles and functions over a 37 year career in the federal public service, from the lowest level to the most senior, ending his career as Assistant Chief Statistician of Canada (Corporate Services). He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from l’École nationale d’administration publique and a PhD in Public Policy from the School of Public Administration at Carleton University. Since his retirement, he has been involved in various City of Ottawa planning files and issues in the defence of greenspace. He is the current Chair of the Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital.
Leeanne Van der Burgt
Secretary
Leeanne has been a resident of Ottawa for over 20 years. She has been an active contributor in every community she has lived in from volunteering for working groups and committees to sitting on a number of Boards. She has organized and participated in numerous fundraising events across the City for a host of charities and not-for-profit organizations. She has worked with youth for more than ten years and worked with seniors and adults with disabilities for three. Now living in rural Ottawa, Leeanne is happy to bring that perspective to the work at FCA.
Elizabeth J. McAllister
Director-at-large
Elizabeth McAllister was the President of the Manor Park Community Association from 2017 until 2022. She worked with 6 other Community Associations to form the “Community Collective.” Together they collaborated to address poverty and homelessness in the Ward 13 and Vanier, prepared for consultations with the City on the Official Plan, main street development and worked other issues of mutual concern. Prior to joining MPCA, Elizabeth served in leadership positions in the international development community for over 30 years. She held a number of senior assignments at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., including Director of the Operations Evaluation Department (OED), Director of External Affairs and United Nations Relations and Special Advisor to the Vice Presidency for East Asia and Pacific. Prior to joining the World Bank, Ms. McAllister held executive positions in the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Elizabeth is a recipient of awards for community service and leadership, including a 1994 Governor General's Commemorative She earned her Master’s in Public Administration at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of New Brunswick.
Arto Keklikian
Director-at-large
Arto Keklikian, P.Eng., RPP, MCIP, retired in late 2022 from the federal public service after 40 years as Senior Planner with the Capital Planning Branch at the National Capital Commission. In this role, Arto developed federal land use and transportation/transit policies, managed multi-partner transportation, transit and Environmental Assessment studies, provided policy and strategic advice to senior and executive management and the Capital Region Federal Government Caucus. He authored the 1984 NCC Parkways and Driveways Policy, managed the Champlain Bridge Widening Environmental Assessment, co-managed the 2013 Greenbelt Maser Plan and former Sir John A. Macdonald Riverside Park Plan, and numerous Interprovincial Crossing and bridge strategic and planning studies, and contributed to multi-professional teams on climate and environmental quality, sustainable mobility, interprovincial transit integration, greenspace protection, and the Gatineau Park Plan. Arto has also been a guest lecturer at Carleton University and at the University of Ottawa. Arto is a registered Professional Planner in Ontario, member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, and Professional Engineers Ontario. He began his professional career with a non-profit housing co-operative in Montreal, and in municipal government with the former City of Halifax before joining the National Capital Commission. Arto obtained his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Concordia University in 1975, and his Master’s in Urban Planning from McGill University in 1985. In addition to being a member of the Board of the Federation of Citizens’ Association of Ottawa, Arto is also on the Board of Heritage Ottawa, and engages in the endeavours of a number of community and civil organizations Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital, Action Sandy Hill, Transport Action Canada, Reimagine Ottawa, and is a member of the City of Ottawa Committee of Adjustment.
Stephen Barry Turner
Director-at-large
(Pending)
Vice Chair
Lorne Cutler
Treasurer
Lorne Cutler has been living in Westboro since 1988 and has been president of the Hampton lona Community Group for many years. Lorne grew up in Toronto, where he received his BASc in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Ivy School of Business. Lorne has worked in the finance industry since 1984. Lorne is also a Lieutenant-Governor Appointee Councillor for Professional Engineers Ontario, Ontario's licensing agency for engineers where he serves as Vice President and Chair of their Audit and Finance Committee. While interested in all aspects of city building, Lorne is pleased that he has been able to provide FCA with his financial skills for several years acting as Treasurer for the organization.
Lynne Davidson-Fournier
Director-at-large
Lynne Davidson-Fournier has been living in Guildwood Estates for over 40 years and is president of Guildwood Residents Alliance. Lynne obtained a B.A. Honours degree in Translation at the University of Ottawa, and worked for over 40 years as legislative translator, revisor and training expert within the federal government. In recognition of her work, Lynne was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1993 and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. She also wrote a Manual on the translation of regulations in 1985 for the Translation Bureau and was part-time professor at the University of Ottawa for nine years. She was a member of the City’s French Language Services Advisory Committee from 1996-1999, and served as vice-president and president of the School Council of Franco-Cité High School for several years. Lynne is a strong proponent of clarity and accuracy in official texts in a bilingual context.
Phil Sweetnam
Director-at-large
Phil Sweetnam, P. Eng. (retired), is a 2nd generation Stittsville resident who owns a mobile home community and several rental houses on family land. He is the recipient of many community and provincial awards including the City of Ottawa Environmental Award in 2006, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the FCA in 2018. Always active in the community, Phil has a cheerful countenance and is known to never pass on a really good bargain.
Warren H. Waters
Director-at-large
Warren is Planning Chair and VP of the Lowertown Community Association, and a retired Geographer and Economist living in Lowertown since 2009. He practiced for over forty years in the fields of environmental and social development. His professional experience includes over twenty years consulting for industry and government in Western Canada and abroad, and twenty years with the World Bank in Asia and Africa, integrating ecological, social and economic principles into the development process.
Past President
Robert Brinker
Past President
Robert lives in the Carlington neighbourhood since he immigrated to Canada in 2000. He enjoys community building, home renovation, woodworking and spending time with his dog Layla. He is an FCA board member since 2018.