Board of Directors

Suzy Yehl Marta, Founder and President began Rainbows in 1983.  Since then, Rainbows has helped more than 2.5 million youth in 17 countries around the world.  Suzy has been the recipient of many awards, including the 2002 Mercedes Mentor Award, a 2001 Jefferson Award from NBC-TV in Chicago, and has written a book titled Healing the Hurt, Restoring the Hope.

Thelma Cockburn, Founding National Director introduced RAINBOWS into the Simcoe County District School Board and the Barrie area in 1991.  She trained as a Rainbows Registered Director in 1992 and helped to train and designate more that 40 school and community sites in her area.  After retiring from teaching in 1995, she served as the first National Director in Canada.  For her service and efforts with children and youth, Thelma has received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Barrie Rotary Club, a Certificate of Merit from District 17, Simcoe Central Unit, of the Superannuated Teachers of Ontario, a Community Achievement Award from the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce and a Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Anniversary medal.  She is a member of the Canadian Governing Board.  At present she is the Director of Finance at the National Office

Nancy Newton, National Director, Nancy is currently on the National Registered Director Training Team, and is a retired Elementary School Office Administrative Assistant for York Region District School Board.  After becoming a Registered Director in 2002, she helped to train over 70 school and community sites in York Region. Nancy continues to facilitate the Prism program at a community site in her town.  Nancy is the current National Director of Rainbows Canada from 2009 to the present time.

HONORARY GOVERNING BOARD, CANADA

Douglas John Cameron, a Juno 2000 nominee, has been entertaining children and their families across Canada for more than 10 years as a composer, singer and children’s entertainer.  His show, ‘Ants in Your pants” is a staple of Treehouse TV and introduces young listeners to a wide spectrum of musical styles.  Douglas’ composing credits include theme music for several Home and Garden TV shows. To honour the 20 th anniversary of Rainbows programming in Canada, Douglas composed and recorded the song, “I Need a Rainbow”. His earlier CD, “Rainbows”, is used with preschoolers  in the Rainbows program.

Craig Kielburger, is the Founder and Chair of Free The Children, a unique organization which has built more than 500 schools throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America, providing daily education to more than 50,000 children. Since its founding in 1995, when Craig was only 12 years old, Free The Children has become the world's leading youth-driven charity.

He is author of Free the Children and the co-author of national bestsellers Take Action!: A Guide to Active Citizenship, Take More Action, the New York Times best seller Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World and the recently released book 'The World Needs Your Kid'. Together with his brother Marc Kielburger, Craig is a syndicated columnist carried by the Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun and Huffington Post, as well as for Canada's most widely-read women's magazine, Canadian Living.

Craig has been awarded many National and International awards for his work, including The Roosevelt Freedom Medal, The World Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child (known as the Children's Nobel Prize) and he is one of the youngest recipients of The Order of Canada. Craig's work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show (he will be on the show May 26, CNN, 60 Minutes and The Today Show and in People, Time and The Economist.


CANADIAN GOVERNING BOARD

Carol Bertram, is a member of the National Registered Director Training Team, is a retired Elementary School principal who piloted one of the first Rainbows sites in the Simcoe County District School Board in Ontario. After becoming a Registered Director in 1993, she helped to train over 60 school and community sites in the area. Carol received an Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario in 2001 for her work on behalf of the teachers in the province. Carol served as the National Director of Rainbows Canada from 2004 - 2009.

Brian Galbraith is the owner of Galbraith Family Law Professional Corporation in Barrie, Ontario, a firm of five lawyers all focusing on family law. The motto of Galbraith Family Law is “Resolving Family Conflict with Heart.”

Brian attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario from 1983 through 1989, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and his Law degree. He then returned to his western roots and articled at a large legal firm in Calgary, becoming a member of the Alberta bar in 1990. Brian has been practicing Family Law ever since. Brian moved to Barrie in 1992 and became a member of the Ontario Bar the next year. Brian has served as president of the Simcoe County Family Law Lawyers’ Association.

Brian is a founding member of The Mediation Centre of Simcoe County Inc., which introduced family mediation to Simcoe County. It was awarded the contract to conduct all mediations for Family Court in both Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka. Brian has done hundreds of mediations. Brian also served on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation and was its president for two years.

Recently, Brian was instrumental in bringing Collaborative Practice to Ontario and was recognized for his efforts with the Founder’s Medallion by the Ontario Collaborative Law Federation. Brian was the founding president of Collaborative Practice Simcoe County and presently serves on the Public Information Committee of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Brian teaches Collaborative Team Practice to lawyers and other professionals through The Divorce Team.

Training information is at www.TheDivorceTeam.ca and the site for the public promoting Collaborative Practice is www.DivorceHappens.ca.

Brian was recently accepted to do his LL.M. at York University in Alternative Dispute Resolution commencing the fall of 2011.

Brian is happily married and is the father of four boys aged 20, 17, 14 and six months. He enjoys white water canoeing, curling, Rotary, skiing, travelling and fathering his four great boys.

Jonathan Pearce  is a Vice President and Equity Partner of Avison Young (Toronto), Ltd., a national commercial real estate organization. Jonathan brings considerable expertise in Marketing, Leasing  and Governance and Compliance. As well, he is very willing to support children and families who have experienced life-altering losses.

Suzanne Poole, Secretary is an active member of the National Registered DirectorTraining Team.  Received her training as a Registered Director for Rainbows in 1993.  She retired from teaching as a French Immersion teacher in 2000.  Suzanne has helped train and support  many sites in the Durham District School Board.  Suzanne is the francophone liaison between the National office and the francophone sites.

Jackie Ramler is a Chartered Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Management Advisor (FMA) and holds her Masters in Business Administration (MBA).  She is a dedicated, passionate and highly-respected Financial Advisor.  Jackie assists families through the complex financial issues of divorce and is also on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association of Family Mediators and Collaborative Practice Simcoe County. With the contribution of 52 divorce professionals from around Ontario. 

Nathan Reeve, Treasurer, dynamic finance leader who holds a chartered accountancy designation in both Canada and the UK.  Nathan currently holds the position of Vice President, Financial Services at Ontario Power Generation.  Nathan also holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.  Nathan brings his financial expertise to the Board along with a strong interest in helping children through life altering losses and challenges in their families.  Nathan has been a Board member for almost seven years, and has acted as the Treasurer for almost six years.

Chris Hiller, who is based in Ontario, Canada is a Certified Business Mentor. Chris works internationally with the owners of small and medium sized businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs and individuals to help them dramatically increase their profits through the power of Joint Ventures, and has spent his entire professional career in sales, marketing, customer service and client retention.In addition, Mr Hiller has been involved with Barter and Trade for over 10 years and has written a barter industry specific book titled "Live like a King or Queen for Pennies on the Dollar." In his capacity as a Entrepreneur, Business Coach/Mentor, and Motivational Speaker, Chris has shared his messages with crowds ranging from 500+ to small intimate focus groups. He has had the privilege of sharing the stage with Les Brown, Greg Reid and LuAnn Mitchell.