Breakfast Club of Canada is led by an experienced team of caring, committed professionals.
PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
A True Leader
Since 1994, Daniel has been taking the lead in setting up programs and projects that foster optimal child development.
Daniel Germain
PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
As president and founder of Breakfast Club of Canada, Daniel works tirelessly to ensure that all children have an equal chance to enjoy a nutritious breakfast every day.
A true social entrepreneurship visionary, Daniel has received numerous awards for his body of work, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Quebec YMCA Peace Medal for his commitment to youth. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec.
LEADERSHIP
Children at the Center of Decisions
Our leadership team’s drive and determination are matched only by their dedication to serving children and youth across the country.
Daniel Germain
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Tommy Kulczyk joined Breakfast Club of Canada’s team as Managing Director in 2019. Tommy’s path had crossed BCC’s as he worked his way up at Sun Youth for 35 years. In those years, he managed to federate many actors around the children’s cause, setting up, amongst other things, what has become La grande guignolée des médias. He had the great challenge to coordinate the emergency aid department, making sure that families had access to resources in challenging times such as floods and power outing. He then joined the City of Montreal as the first Children’s Commissioner, creating the structure that would allow for this city to ensure their children thrive.
It is no coincidence that, as an adult, the leader works tirelessly to contribute to the fight against poverty and social exclusion, as he says he’s grown up seeing this in his backyard.
Marie-Claude Bienvenue
VICE-PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, QUEBEC, AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
Marie-Claude is an ardent advocate for children’s well-being. She joined Breakfast Club of Canada in 2000. Her experience has grown as the Club has expanded throughout the country: from defending Quebec children’s right to a nutritious breakfast to ensuring the Club’s message resonates from coast to coast.
As methodical as she is tenacious, Marie-Claude thrives on challenges. She proudly embraces a steadfast “children first” view in all of her actions and decisions.
Josée Desjardins
NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Josée’s involvement with Breakfast Club of Canada dates back to 2007. Back then, her job was to help set up new breakfast programs and develop business partnerships. With endless energy and enthusiasm, she has driven the Club’s expansion in Western Canada, first as a program director, then as a senior operations manager and finally as vice-president.
Lately, she came back to her roots to lead the Development Department nationally, to make sure the Club is surrounded by partners who believe in making a daily difference in children’s lives as much as we do.
Judith Barry
DIRECTOR, IMPACT & SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS AND CO-FOUNDER
In November of 1994, Judith cofounded the Club des petits déjeuners du Québec (Québec Breakfast Club), fueled by the desire to create social change. She wanted every child to receive two key elements for learning: a nutritious breakfast and a nourishing environment. Judith contributed to every growth level of the organization and then went on to play a pivotal role in the founding of Breakfast Club of Canada in 2005 and currently occupies the position of Director, Impact and Sustainability with a focus on innovative approaches, and collective impact work.
Pierre Champagne
DIRECTOR, FINANCES
Information coming soon.
Marie-Josée Lapratte
NATIONAL DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS
Since 2003, Marie-Josée feels privileged to work on providing equal opportunity for success to all children. First coordinator and then counselor, she is, since 2012, Director of Programs, the territory she oversees going from Quebec, to the whole country.
One of her great professional pleasures lies in the development and deepening of collaborations for the benefit of children. In addition to her talent at rallying school communities to mobilize for their students, her quiet strength is an important pillar for her team who constantly thrive, doing more for children. As her favorite saying goes: alone, we go faster, but together, we go much further.
Caroline Douville
NATIONAL CO-DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS
A true believer that all children should have access to healthy nourishment, Caroline joined Breakfast Club of Canada in 2009, during which time she has worn many hats, mastering a number of roles on the Programs team. Thanks to her drive and determination, Caroline has made significant contributions to the Club’s expansion throughout Canada. She has learned a lot from this experience; seizing the opportunity to improve best practices from coast to coast. Caroline’s leadership style is a collaborative one that calls on all team members to lead and contribute in a way that encourages growth and instills confidence. Now more than ever, her objective is to develop strategies that will efficiently ensure the sustainability of breakfast programs to reach an ever-growing number of children.
Lisa Clowery
DIRECTOR, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
“Breakfast Club of Canada wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for its numerous partners. As part of her mandate, Lisa Clowery develops strategic alliances with businesses and foundations who share the Club’s vision. A fundraising and business development expert, Lisa pays close attention to the needs of the Club’s partners and can show amazing creativity in ensuring everyone gets what they need. Her experience working with large corporations gives her an edge when it comes to identifying opportunities and making sure they generate profitable outcomes for all. Lisa believes children are our most precious resource and sees her work as a way to help them reach their full potential.
Karine Grondin
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
As the Human Resources Director for Breakfast Club of Canada, Karine Grondin sees her role as ensuring that the organization’s people remain its greatest asset while leveraging their passion and skills to make them more fulfilled employees. A seasoned advisor cumulating over 20 years of experience in human resources and communications, Karine highly values team spirit and professionalism. It is with a strong sense of ethics that she approaches her work, whether it is remuneration, organizational development, recruitment, training or employee engagement. As a member of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés, it is important for Karine to instil a harmonious workplace where each employee is treated with respect. A great listener, she is fiercely dynamic and always open to new ideas to ensure staff mobilization when faced with small and big decisions.
Maxime Poulin
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR
For close to ten years, Maxime Poulin has held various positions in Quebec and overseas, as a consultant and as a Project Manager, Director of Operations and IT, and Chief Technology Officer for different start-ups. In addition to his professional experience, Maxime completed specialized degrees in computer science and in business administration, making him the ideal person to lead Breakfast Club of Canada’s department of IT. For the multipassionate and multitalented Information Technology Director, the Club embodies hope, generosity and altruism, values he is strongly committed to. Through his role, his goal is to contribute to the Club’s expansion by improving “communications” between systems and by enhancing the management of the Club’s various teams and their capacity to collaborate.
Nathalie Rochette
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
If there’s a world that Nathalie Rochette knows, it’s that of children, having spent several years of her career with Hasbro Canada, the company behind some of the world’s greatest success stories of the toy industry and who happens to be a partner of Breakfast Club of Canada. But this experience wouldn’t in itself summarize Nathalie’s career, who has also championed roles in agencies and with significant Quebec institutions. She brings to the position of Director of Communications many strengths: a great sense of public relations, political flair, an excellent understanding of the media and a solid know-how in team and external agency management. For the time being, Nathalie’s main preoccupation is to increase awareness of the Club across the country so to help it reach its ultimate goal of ensuring all Canadian children have access to a breakfast every morning.
Amélie Simoneau
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Breakfast Club of Canada was looking for someone who could spearhead a team of skilled individuals to raise its profile at the national level when Amélie Simoneau came along to lead the marketing team. Amélie cumulates several years of experience in digital & marketing strategies, branding & advertising, relationship-building, strategic partnerships, and management, having worked in agencies, the media and the corporate sector. Mother of two, she sees her role as an opportunity to pay it forward and to change people’s perspectives: “Before joining I couldn’t imagine that right here in Canada, there are children who are food insecure. I think that everyone should be aware that such a reality exists.”
BOARD
An Unwavering Focus
We are fortunate to have the experience and expertise of our board which is composed of people who are passionately concerned about children’s futures, the Club and its mission. We are sincerely grateful to them for their involvement in and commitment to our organization.
Chairman
Jacques Mignault
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, CEO AND PRESIDENT, TROIKA DEVELOPMENTS INC.
Board Members
Louis Frenette
CONSULTANT
Ian Gilmour
ASSOCIATE PARTNER, MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, KPMG CANADA
Isabelle Rayle-Doiron
VICE-PRESIDENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS & GENERAL COUNSEL, DANONE
Susan Muigai
EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, PEOPLE & GENERAL AFFAIRS, WALMART CANADA
Barry Baker
CONSULTANT
Lisa Cabel
NATIONAL LEADER, EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR LAW, KPMG LAW LLP
Anne Fortin
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECT DISTRIBUTION AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, INTACT CORPORATION FINANCIÈRE
Ron Margolis
PRESIDENT, MARGOLIS CAPITAL – COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS
To view related party transactions, click here.
GOVERNANCE
Imagine Canada Accreditation
We have been awarded the Imagine Canada accreditation in recognition of the sound management practices in place at Breakfast Club of Canada.
This represents an important stride forward in terms of the organization’s credibility, confirming that the money we receive from our many donors is invested wisely and responsibly.
The Imagine Canada Standards Program is designed to recognize best practices among Canadian non-profits and charities. Before we could receive our accreditation, we had to prove we met 75 strict requirements in five key areas of operations, namely board governance, financial accountability and transparency, fundraising, staff management and volunteer involvement. We are now one of a select group of organizations that have demonstrated excellence and leadership in this regard. It is our hope that this will further strengthen the trust and confidence people have in the Club.
Code of Ethics
We are guided by ethical governance and social responsibility.
Our code of ethics guides all the actions of Breakfast Club of Canada employees.
It is the basis on which our behaviours rely to ensure nothing keeps us from fulfilling our mission.