Our Team

Honourary Patrons

The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, PC, CC, CMM, COM, CD

The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, PC, CC, CMM, COM, CD, was Canada’s 26th Governor General from 1999-2005. She is the bestselling author of Heart Matters: A Memoir, Room for All of Us: Surprising Stories of Loss and Transformation, and a biography of Dr. Norman Bethune for the Extraordinary Canadians series. In 2014, she delivered the CBC Massey Lectures, published as Belonging: The Paradox of Citizenship. In her multi-faceted career as an accomplished broadcaster and distinguished public servant, she has received numerous prestigious awards and honorary degrees in Canada and abroad. Upon leaving the office of Governor General in 2005, Madame Clarkson co-founded the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, which seeks to accelerate the acculturation of new citizens into Canadian life so they can participate fully and add their important voice to our pluralistic society. In 2007, she became Colonel-in-Chief of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Since its inception in 2007, she has been the Chair of the Executive Committee and a member of the Board of Directors at the Global Centre for Pluralism. In 2009, she established the Clarkson Cup, the championship trophy for Women’s Hockey. A Privy Councillor and Companion of the Order of Canada, Madame Clarkson lives in Toronto.

The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy

The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy is a Canadian politician, statesman and academic. During his political career that spanned 27 years, Dr. Axworthy held several Cabinet positions, notably Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Minister of Human Resources Development, and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1996-2000. In the Foreign Affairs portfolio, Dr. Axworthy became internationally known for his advancement of the human security concept, in particular, the Ottawa Treaty – a landmark global treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. For his leadership on landmines, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Following his retirement from parliament, he served as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg from 2004 to 2014 and as Chancellor of St. Paul’s University College. Dr. Axworthy is also Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch and serves on the advisory council of USC Center on Public Diplomacy and of Fair Vote Canada.

The Honourable Wendy Cocchia, CM, OBC, LLD (Hon)

The Honourable Wendy Cocchia is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and dedicated community leader in British Columbia and Canada.

A champion for disability rights and services, Her Honour is the co-founder of the Pacific Autism Family Network in British Columbia. The Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) is a first-of-its-kind knowledge and resource network in North America that provides essential information and services to people who are neurodivergent (including autism spectrum disorder) and their families across the lifespan.

Her Honour has been an active member of her community throughout her life. She has served as Governor of the Business Council of British Columbia, as the first female Trustee of the Vancouver Police Foundation, and as the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s fifth and youngest female Chair. She is a Fellow of Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia, and was a founding Director for Destination British Columbia.

In recognition of her leadership and community involvement, Her Honour is a member of the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia and has received two honorary doctorates from the Justice Institute of British Columbia and Vancouver Island University. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Canada’s Most Powerful Women: WXN Top 100 award, she has received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the British Columbia Community Achievement Award and received Variety’s International Corporate Fundraiser of the Year.

Her Honour has built a successful career in the hospitality industry. She is the co-founder of the Absolute Spa Group and grew the company from one location to Canada’s largest independent spa chain, which sold in 2020. Most recently, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Crew Management Ltd. and the Century Plaza Hotel in Vancouver.

Her Honour holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia.