Our Team
The role of the Bereaved Families of Ontario-Durham Board of Directors is to ensure that this organization is responsibly managed and that its goals are met effectively and efficiently. These dedicated volunteer Board members are responsible for decision making, including strategic planning, finances, organizational operations, community relations and human resources. They also ensure that the programs and services reflect the mission and goals of the organization.
This Board is a managing Board who, together with the Executive Director, and volunteers, assists in the operation of BFO-Durham. Board members are not required to be bereaved parents; previous experience is an asset.
The Board of Directors meets once a month, and when the need arises for special called Board meetings. Some of our Board Members have served on the Board for an extended period of time showing their dedication and belief in BFO-Durham.
2026/ 2027 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chris Garvey
Board Chair
Chris has been a sales rep for over 30 years, the last 20 in optical sales. He has been married to his wife Suzanne for 26 years. He is the proud father of two children. Tragically his eldest child Blake passed away in 2013. In July of 2013, Chris found support through BFO – Durham. In 2014, he became a trained facilitator and started facilitating one-on-ones and drop-in support nights. He also resurrected and facilitated the Fathers’ support group that had been absent for many years. In 2016, he was recognized as Volunteer Of The Year.
Chris has also represented BFO-Durham at many speaking functions and has been on many fundraising committees. In 2016, Chris along with his wife Suzanne started the Bike, Blade and Board for Blake fundraiser to honour Blake and to raise funds for BFO-Durham and Durham Mental Health Services. Chris has been serving as a director on the BFO-Durham Board since 2015
Charlotte Brisco
Board Chair
Charlotte lost her 18 year-old son Michael to colon cancer on January 6, 2002. After months of
debilitating grief her family physician prescribed an antidepressant and referred her to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist advised her to call Bereaved Families of Ontario (BFO): Durham Region.
He told her that only people who had experienced the loss of a child could help her to navigate the loss of her own child.
She contacted BFO and soon received the help that she so desperately needed. Wanting to give back to
the community, she took the BFO facilitator training program and has conducted one-on-ones, drop-ins and co-facilitated many closed mothers’ and couples groups for over 20 years. In December of 2020 Charlotte was the proud recipient of the Ontario Volunteer Service Award pin and certificate “in celebration of her commitment to volunteerism” for over 10 years.
A retired communications, and program development officer at the Workers Health & Safety Centre in Toronto, Charlotte brings 33 years of experience developing and instructing occupational health and safety courses for workers across Ontario.
As a communications officer she also has many years of writing, interviewing and photography skills which makes her uniquely qualified to be BFO: Durham’s official photographer.
Charlotte is married and has a bonus daughter, son-in-law and two very active grandchildren aged 7and 5 years who keep her and her husband on their toes.
Sharon Sears
Board Member
Sharon became a member of Durham B.F.O shortly after the loss of her son Andrew in 1994 and her infant daughter Rebecca in 1995. Sharon is married with 3 daughters and 6 beautiful grandchildren. She is a trained facilitator and has facilitated many drop-in support nights and infant loss closed groups, as well as provided one-on-one support to bereaved parents.
She is on the Angel Tree Committee, the Walk To Remember Committee and the Beach Dance Committee. She is also the former Executive Director, a job that she loved dearly. She stepped down from her position in 2016 to provide daycare for her grandchildren. She is so grateful for the support B.F.O has given her and continues to give her and her family.
Kirsty Bradshaw (Sinclair)
Board Member
Kirsty came to BFO-Durham in January 2015 after losing her eldest son, Kyle, in November 2014.She attended drop-ins for a year then took part in a closed mums 12 week group in the spring of 2016. She has made many bonds as well as friendships and finds great solace in knowing other bereaved parents who understand what she is going through.
She took the facilitator training in Jan 2017 as she knew she wanted to give back and want to help other bereaved parents. She has facilitated drop-ins, done one on ones and facilitated closed mums groups.
This past spring shw was fortunate enough to be part of our first children’s program, which was for children from the ages 6-12 who have lost a sibling. She worked with the 6-8 year olds. She is also part of the children’s program this fall, this time working with the 9-12 year olds.She became a board member in June 2019 and is also on the Angel tree committee, Beach Bash committee and the Santa Brunch committee.
She has 2 other sons and a daughter as well as 2 grandsons who are her pride and joy and couldn’t be more proud of them all.
Karen Fish
Board Member
Bio to follow….
Caroline Goswell
Board Member
Caroline came to BFO-Toronto for support after the loss of her daughter Kelly in June 1992.
After attending a mom’s group, she was invited to take facilitator training which she completed in the fall of 1994.
Caroline facilitated a mom’s group for BFO Toronto, but by this time she had moved with her family to Pickering. Following in her husband, Gary’s, footsteps she began volunteering for BFO Durham, starting out as a member of the Angel Tree committee in 1996. This remains an event very close to Caroline’s heart and she has chaired this committee for many years.
In the early years, Caroline facilitated a mom’s group and one-on-one interviews. She was co-facilitator with Gail Young for the Family Support Nights offered by BFO Durham in the past and was instrumental in reviving the Family Support Night program in 2024 along with Executive Director Jane Carter.
She has been a recipient of the Volunteer of the Year & Volunteer of Distinction awards. If there is a committee for something, Caroline is usually on it, from Walk to Remember, Dance and Gala planning, Picnic & Butterfly Release, Holiday Market and Santa Brunch.
Caroline has been involved with the Board as the recording secretary for the past 8 years and she looks forward to her new role as Board member for BFO Durham Region.
Bobby Parkinson
Board Member
Bio to follow.
Margaret Fortune
Honorary Board Member
Maggie has owned and operated a business as a Personal Organizer since 2000. Her daughter Annette Elizabeth passed away as a result of an auto accident in 1989 at the age of 20. Maggie attended a Couples’ Group through BFO-Toronto in 1990. She became a bereavement facilitator in the same year and facilitated at BFO-Toronto until her move to BFO-Durham in 2007 where she has been an active volunteer as a facilitator for drop-ins.
Margaret can always be relied on to assist in any fundraising events and has served as a Board member since 2007. Margaret is the recipient of the 2012 Volunteer of the Year Award.
Jane Carter
Executive Director
Jane joined the Board in January 2011 so that she could continue to “give back” to BFO-Durham, as without their continuous support and guidance, she would not be where she is today. She became a member of BFO-D in 2001 following the death of her 13 year old daughter Julie. Fifteen years prior to Julie’s death she lost her son Paul, who was full term, at birth. Jane attended a Mothers’ group early in 2001. She has taken facilitator training and now facilitates groups both in infant loss and older children.
She also manages drop-ins for both age groups. She was the Chairperson of the Angel Tree Committee for many years and has helped organize several BFO-D dances. She was presented with both the Volunteer of the Year Award and the Susan E. Hendricks Volunteer of Distinction Award. Married and living in Ajax, she has two remaining children Michael, 32 and Jennifer, 29 and was an ophthalmic assistant for 36 years. In 2016, Jane stepped down from the Board to take on the position of Executive Director at Bereaved Families of Ontario – Durham Region.