The CompanionLink Team
Professionals dedicated to ending loneliness and social isolation in our elderly communities.
Leadership
Ann Marie
Gaouette-Stevenson
With a deep commitment to anti-oppression principles, socially responsible business, equity, and sustainability, Ann Marie spent the past 15 years working and volunteering in organizations empowering the development and success of vulnerable communities. A champion for change, Ann Marie implements innovative strategies optimizing operational development, cultivating resilience, and making meaningful impact. Ann Marie's passion for senior support rose from her relationship with her grandmother, who was her best friend and devoted supporter.
David
Kepes
David began organizing grassroots volunteer efforts to reduce social isolation in May 2020 following the onset of the pandemic. David is a civilian member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where he has served in various roles for the better part of a decade. In 2019, David was recognized by the Government of Canada as an Exceptional Young Public Servant and received a Public Service Award of Excellence for his service. He is passionate about serving his community and mobilizing people to build sustainable solutions to complex challenges.
Franco
Taverna
A professor at the University of Toronto, Franco teaches in the Neuroscience and Health and Disease Programs. He is an expert in Community Engaged Learning and for 14 years students in one course have become friendly visitors to seniors living in long-term care. When the pandemic shut down the visits, Franco and his students innovatively arranged to support seniors and staff with various initiatives including Companion Calls. He brings years of experience and knowledge in the neurobiological and social aspects of aging and dementia.
Arlene
Astell
Arlene is a psychologist with many years of experience working with older adults in clinical and research settings to support independence and well-being. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and Director of the Dementia Aging Technology Engagement Lab at KITE Research Institute, University Health Network.
Board of Directors
Kylie
Martin
Kylie holds a bachelor's degree in Vocal Jazz Performance and is still singing! Her career includes roles in corporate marketing, personal brand styling and business facilitation with start-ups. As a grief recovery method specialist and grief advocate, she is currently involved in many entrepreneurship initiatives. She was originally lead to CompanionLink by becoming a volunteer with their senior care program. Kylie is always bringing a level of service to her own life through her community theatre, stage performance and charitable efforts in Africa and India working with vulnerable children.
Al
Turnbull
Al is a corporate commercial and capital markets lawyer at a leading Canadian law firm in Toronto, Ontario. He enjoys finding creative solutions to complex problems in his legal practice and in his roles as a director and executive officer of CompanionLink. Al’s proximity to the need addressed by CompanionLink stemmed from his direct experience living with and assisting an older individual for most of his early life. With a people first approach to his life and work, Al is a determined worker with a good sense of humour.
Adrian
Kaats
An engineer by training, Adrian is a career operations and technology expert focusing on the nonprofit sector. An ardent believer in multi-generational living, he comes to CompanionLink with a passion for elder care that started as a child participating in day hospital programs, and accompanying his mother, a geriatric social worker, on care facility evaluations. Adrian's "have fun, do good" philosophy brings the humour, levity and joy to a dogged pursuit of outcome driven business process development.
David
Kepes
David began organizing grassroots volunteer efforts to reduce social isolation in May 2020 following the onset of the pandemic. David is a civilian member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where he has served in various roles for the better part of a decade. In 2019, David was recognized by the Government of Canada as an Exceptional Young Public Servant and received a Public Service Award of Excellence for his service. He is passionate about serving his community and mobilizing people to build sustainable solutions to complex challenges.
Franco
Taverna
A professor at the University of Toronto, Franco teaches in the Neuroscience and Health and Disease Programs. He is an expert in Community Engaged Learning and for 14 years students in one course have become friendly visitors to seniors living in long-term care. When the pandemic shut down the visits, Franco and his students innovatively arranged to support seniors and staff with various initiatives including Companion Calls. He brings years of experience and knowledge in the neurobiological and social aspects of aging and dementia.