About Us
The Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy (PGFL) is the national body that stewards an endowment dedicated to promoting literacy awareness and supporting adult literacy programming across Canada.
PGFL’s Board of Directors is a volunteer group of literacy champions based all over Canada whose contributions include:
Administration of national grant programs
Communications, branding and marketing initiatives
Preparation of annual report and audited financial statements
Stakeholder engagement
Board of Directors
Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy Board of Directors
Fiona Bramble – Director
Victoria, BC – Founder-CEO, REP Here In Canada and managing editor of Here Magazine. Member of Creative BC Magazine Advisory Committee and the Greater Victoria Alliance for Literacy. Former ELL educator.
Meghan Dillon – Secretary
Toronto, ON – Intellectual property lawyer, specializing in trademarks. Formerly worked in book publishing, negotiating author contracts.
Alison Gzowski – Director
Toronto, ON – Gzowski Family representative for the Board, writer, editor, producer, and event organizer for non-profits.
Brigid Hayes – Chair
Ottawa, ON – Consultant, strategic planning and policy development adult literacy and skills. Formerly, Director – Labour, Canadian Labour and Business Centre, and Program Manager, National Literacy Secretariat, HRSDC.
Deb McInnis – Director
Moncton, NB – Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB Region. Formerly Executive Director for Laubach Literacy New Brunswick. Member, Greater Moncton Literacy Advisory Board, and a volunteer for the Children’s Wish Foundation for over 25 years.
Leah Patry – Treasurer
Toronto, ON – Enjoyed a more than 25-year career in finance, the majority of which was spent as a global equity portfolio manager at one of the country’s largest pension funds. Most recently provided financial expertise to institutional clients within the global asset management division of one of the country’s chartered banks. Currently, Chair of the Friends of Bon Echo, a fundraising and advocacy group for the provincial park.
Mary Ruby – Director
Toronto, ON – Former Chief Administrative Officer and legal counsel for a global entertainment technology company. Over 30 years experience in corporate governance, legal, HR, real estate and facilities operations. Current Chair of a women’s crisis centre in Collingwood, Ontario.
Scott Walter – Director
Ottawa, ON – Over 35 years’ experience working in the literacy/education sector domestically and internationally. Recently stepped down as Executive Director of CODE (Canadian Organization for Development through Education); previous positions include Team Leader Education at CIDA; Director, International Development at International Literacy Association; Chair of the Global Book Alliance.
Amadeo Ventura – Director
East Garafraxa, ON – A transformational strategist with over 14 years of experience in community development and engagement. Proven expertise in leading nonprofit organizational growth and management of complex projects. Currently working in the arts and mental health sector as Executive Artistic Director at Workman Arts.