Veterans' House Canada
Darlene Boileau | Board Member
Mark Eldridge | Vice-President
Rev. Andrew Love | Board Member
Mike Ward | Board Member
Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Alan Mulawyshyn | Executive Director
Karen I. Miller | Campaign Director
Sheldon Leong | Fund Development Manager
John Atoyebi | Marketing & Communications Manager
Board Members
Development Committee
Marketing & Communications Manager
John is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with over 5 years of experience. He excels in delivering relevant and consistent information across both for profit and nonprofit sectors.
Since relocating to Ottawa in 2022, John is dedicated to harnessing the power of communications to drive the mission of Veterans’ House Canada.
Executive Director
Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Alan Mulawyshyn joined Veterans’ House Canada in October 2021 as Deputy Executive Director following a 40-year career with the Canadian Armed Forces as an Army Engineer Officer. On 1 November 2023, Alan accepted the position of Executive Director. Alan graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) with a Civil Engineering degree and also has a master’s degree in Defence Studies from RMC. While in the Forces, he has lived and served across Canada and around the world, including operational tours on the Iraq/Kuwait border, in Kosovo and in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Alan is looking forward to this new challenge of replicating the success of Veterans’ House (Ottawa); the Andy Carswell Building, in other cities across Canada where there is the need to help homeless Veterans.
Board Member
Darlene is a seasoned, fluently bilingual (French and English), retired senior executive with over 30 years of varied federal experiences including eleven years in key positions as Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer. A recognized collaborative leader with vision and integrity, proven strategic thinker and decision-maker, Darlene is well versed in dealing with all organizational levels on matters related to financial, policy, and legislative frameworks. She has worked in social, economic and security line departments and portfolios and has chaired international forums under the OECD. During her career she has had the opportunity to collaborate with senior government executives, CEOs, and regularly briefed Ministers, Senators and other Parliamentarians. Darlene's non-government organization experience includes mentoring, coaching, and grants and contributions. She currently sits as a Director on the Ottawa Branch of the National Association of Federal Retirees, and is an active member of Veterans’ House Canada. She holds degrees from the University of Ottawa in Political Science and in Law, and a Masters of Science from Royal Roads University. She is married, is caretaker to two furry friends, loves gardening, kayaking, the great outdoors and travel.
Board Member
Andrew Love is an ordained minister with the United Church of Canada. He also is a military chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces serving as Brigade Chaplain for 33CBG. Since 2006, Andrew has served a number of congregations in East Ontario. Currently, he leads ministry at Dominion-Chalmers United Church in Ottawa. Andrew has been active in multi-faith initiatives for over ten years. He is particularly involved in Christian-Jewish dialogue in Canada. Prior to becoming a minister, Andrew was an executive with Weber Shandwick International providing strategic communications counsel and brand management services to global technology companies. Before all that, he helped community groups build social housing in Toronto, Kingston and Belleville.
Board Member
Mark Eldridge joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a combat systems engineer in 1976 and retired after 37 years, having served in a wide range of leadership and staff positions, and in both Naval and Joint Forces Headquarters.
Since retiring from the RCN, Mark has developed a successful consulting business with clients in the medical, academic, social enterprise and government spheres.
He has also worked to mitigate the plight of homeless veterans through his work in support of Soldiers Helping Soldiers and Veterans’ House Canada.
Secretary
Sheila McIntyre is an Associate Professor of early American History at SUNY Potsdam, where she has taught since 2001. Sheila received her PhD from Boston University in 1996, and publishes for academic and popular audiences. She has received research grants from the Social Science and Research Council of Canada (1999-2001), the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Nuala Drescher Foundation. She helped to found the Consumers Supporting Midwifery Group in Ottawa and that work led to her appointment to an expert panel mandated to review maternity care in the Province of Ontario (2003-2006). Her engagement with ending homelessness, especially for military veterans, began as a volunteer more than 30 years ago at the Interfaith Sheltering Coalition/Father Bill's Place (Mainspring), in Quincy, Mass. Her mother's deep commitment to addressing homelessness led to the establishment of the McIntyre House, a home for up to 10 veterans built nearly 25 years ago.
Treasurer
Cal Hegge is a Certified Professional Accountant with over 40 years of military and government service, primarily in the financial management area. He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1990 with the rank of Colonel. His employment within the Public Service was split between Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (now Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). He retired in 1990 with his last position being Chief Financial Officer, DFO. Since retiring he has worked as a management consultant to several government departments and agencies, and is presently an external member of the Audit, Evaluation and Performance Measurement Committee of the Canadian Transportation Agency.
Cal is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College (1978) and the National Defence College (1989). He became a Certified General Accountant in 1977. He has a BA from Mount Allision University and a MBA from York University.
Chair
Neil Raynor is an aeronautical engineer and business strategist. He is an air force veteran and attended both the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell and the RAF Staff College. Since retiring from the RAF, he has held senior executive positions in Canada in the aerospace overhaul and manufacturing industry, airport authorities, and for the past 15 years has consulted to the aviation industry. His clients have included all levels of government, airports, airlines and aviation service providers. He is active in the charitable sector with the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society, Project NorthStar, Multifaith Housing Initiative, and Veterans’ House Canada. Currently he is Managing Director of the Lindbergh Group Inc., an Ottawa-based consultancy.
Communications & Marketing Manager
Amanda joined our team in October 2017 as Interim Office Administrator and is currently the Manager of Communications and Marketing.
Amanda holds three degrees from Carleton University: a Bachelor of Journalism, a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and a Master of Philanthropy and Non-profit Leadership.
Amanda brings to the table a diverse set of skills, having worked in the newspaper industry and co-founded/managed a non-profit dance company. She remains passionate about working with vulnerable communities and populations.
Fund Development Manager
Sheldon has more than 12 years of fundraising experience and has worked with non-profit organizations in Vancouver and Ottawa.
Throughout his career, he has successfully raised funds to support child health, the environment, education, international development and the arts.
Having moved to Ottawa in 2011 and establishing roots with his young family, he is committed to improving the lives of those in need in the community.
Executive Director
Suzanne Le is the Executive Director of Veterans’ House Canada and has led the creation of the first Veterans' House project in Ottawa. She is known as an inspirational and ethical leader and a champion for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She is passionate in her pursuit for social justice, and with a strong belief that "everything is possible."
Suzanne is the former president and current board member of the Ontario Non Profit Housing Association Board and sits on the Social Housing Registry of Ottawa Board.
Suzanne has her Masters degree in Conflict Studies from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, and has a Bachelors degree in Comparative Religion from Carleton University where she received a Senate Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Her research and academic studies into the core causes of conflict has led her personal quest for those most at risk in our society and her stance that everyone, regardless of background, deserves an equal opportunity in life.
Campaign Director
With over 30 years of experience as a fundraiser and fundraising strategist in both the political and charitable arenas across Canada, K.I.M. Inc. is the embodiment of Karen’s life passion. Under her leadership, it has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier fundraising companies.
Karen’s work includes many political leadership and mayoral campaigns. Also, Karen has been very successful in raising funds for many military families and military initiatives. She spent 9 years as Fundraising Director with the True Patriot Love Foundation, raised funds to build the Visitors Education Centre at Vimy, France, and led the campaign for the 75th Anniversary of Juno Beach for the Juno Beach Foundation.
Karen has always had a passion to assist our military families and veterans.
Board Member
Mike Ward has extensive public and private sector experience in international commerce, trade policy and political affairs. International work includes a career in Canada’s Foreign Service that spanned senior assignments at a number of international locations and, currently in the private sector with various firms and organizations. In addition to his ongoing international work, he is Vice President of the NATO Association of Canada (NAOC), a former President of Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI) and a current board member of Veterans’ House Canada (VHC).