Major Individual Giving Cabinet

Monique Jilesen

Chair, 2024 Major Individual Giving Cabinet

Managing Partner, Lenczner Slaght

Monique Jilesen is Managing Partner at Lenczner Slaght and one of Canada’s leading litigators who clients turn to for their most complex commercial disputes. She is known as a powerful and fearless advocate, unafraid to take on tough, notable, and high-profile cases, even at a moment’s notice. Her recent cases are a particularly noteworthy example of her practice. Highlights include acting as counsel to the Ukrainian World Congress in an application for judicial review of Canada’s decision to allow the delivery of turbines to Germany for use by a sanctioned Russian company, and. successfully securing an unprecedented Mareva order freezing up to $20 million of assets and cryptocurrency of Freedom Convoy leaders in Li v Barber. She has also previously represented Douglas Cardinal in an injunction to restrain the use in Canada of the Cleveland baseball team’s racist name and logo on human rights grounds.Consistently recognized for her exceptional work, Monique was awarded The Advocates’ Society’s prestigious Douglas K. Laidlaw Award for Excellence in Advocacy, named Litigator of the Year at the Canadian Law Awards, and recognized as “Canada’s top litigator” in Toronto Life’s prestigious Top 50 Most Influential of 2023 list, an exclusive ranking of the people who represent Toronto on a world stage and whose bravery, smarts and influence are changing the world.

Lisa Gonsalves

Chair, Board of Trustees

Commissioner, Community and Health Services and President, Housing York Inc.
The Regional Municipality of York

Lisa is an accomplished public sector professional with a 33-year career leading numerous human services and policy initiatives.

For 24 years, Lisa has served in various roles at York Region, including the Regional Clerk’s office, the Office of the Chairman and CEO, and as Director of the Strategies and Partnerships Branch in the Community and Health Services department. As Director, she managed community investment allocations, strategic social policy, research, analysis, and strategic communications. She spearheaded the Region’s newcomer and seniors strategies and the Inclusion Charter, which earned international recognition from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. In 2019, she became the General Manager of Paramedic and Seniors Services, overseeing paramedic operations and two long-term care homes. In 2024, she was appointed Acting Commissioner of Community Health Services and Acting President of Housing York Inc., where she oversees social services, public health, housing, emergency housing, and paramedic and seniors services.

Lisa has also held various positions in the provincial government, including roles at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Community and Social Services, Cabinet Office providing support to the Premier’s Office, and Management Board.

Since 2012, Lisa has been a member of the United Way Greater Toronto Board, serving as Chair of the Community Impact Committee, Vice-Chair, and Chair of the Board.

Lisa holds a B.A. in Public Policy and Administration and an M.A. in Political Science.

Victor Dodig

Chair, 2024 Community Campaign Cabinet

President and CEO, CIBC

Victor Dodig leads a team of over 47,000 team members globally who live CIBC’s purpose every day – helping make ambitions a reality. Under Victor’s tenure, CIBC has transformed into a modern relationship-oriented bank, with a North American platform for growth and a commitment to enable a more sustainable future for all stakeholders. Victor is a strong advocate for Canada on the world stage, and a proponent of creating a more prosperous and inclusive future. He serves as the current Chair of the Business Council of Canada. Victor is committed to inclusion, both to strengthen our social fabric and as an economic imperative. He serves as Chair of CIBC’s Inclusion Leadership council and is Past Co-Chair of the Black North Initiative. He is a recipient of the 2017 Catalyst Canada Honours (Company Leader) Champion award, is Past Chair of the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board and Past Chair of the 30% Club Canada. Victor resides in Toronto with his wife, Maureen. They are the proud parents of four children.