Board of Directors

We are incredibly fortunate to have the dedication and leadership of a strong Board of Directors who are deeply committed to the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada. Our board is comprised of leaders in the fields of business, finance, law, medicine, media and non-profit sectors.

Our mission: as a champion of family-centered care, RMHC Canada is dedicated to supporting and enabling excellence in RMHC programs that help families with sick children.

Karima Karmali

Board Chair, RMHC Canada

Ross Betteridge

Board Vice Chair, Retired Chief Operating Officer at SCM Insurance Services

Michèle Boudria

President & Chief Executive Officer, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited

Francesca Cardarelli

Sr Director, Strategy & Insights, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited

Susan Taves

Corporate Director & Business Advisor

Gemma Hinksman

Senior Director, Canada Impact Team, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited

Denise Hansen

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited

Katharine Smart

Pediatrician, and President of the Canadian Medical Association

Stacy McLean

Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Mike Malleck

Regional Chapter Board President Representative, RMHC Southwestern Ontario

Rob Dick

Senior Director, Global Supply Chain, McDonald’s Corporation

Duane Ledgister

Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Connor, Clark & Lunn Private Capital Ltd.

Simonne Leblanc

Founder & CEO, SLB Impact Inc.

Ryan McCullough

Owner/Operator, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited

Bob Chisholm

Owner/Operator, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited

Richard Pass

Regional Chapter CEO Representative, RMHC BC & Yukon

Our Founder, George Cohon, 1937 - 2023

Founder of Ronald McDonald Charities in Canada and Russia, and Founder of McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited, and McDonald's in Russia.

A longstanding champion of RMHC’s mission and families with sick children, George was instrumental in bringing Ronald McDonald House Charities to Canada in 1981 with the opening of the first RMHC House in Toronto, establishing RMHC Canada in 1982, and launching RMHC’s largest fundraiser in partnership with McDonald’s Canada – McHappy Day.

With his recent promotion to Companion of the Order of Canada, George has been recognized with this honour, in part, for his philanthropic work in establishing RMHC in both Canada and Russia and for his commitment to children’s health and well-being across Canada and around the world.

Thank you, George – our founding and forever champion – for all you have done and continue to do in support of RMHC and families with sick children.

George