Our Teams
The people behind
the mission.
It takes a village to support our community. Learn more about the talented
people making our work possible and explore opportunities to join us.
Why we’re here
We support individuals and families at every step on their cancer journey, whether it’s navigating a diagnosis, managing treatment, or adjusting their day-to-day lives.
We’re here to provide the personalized care, resources, and community needed to face each challenge with strength, hope, and connection.
Our Values
Supportive Care
We address the full spectrum of client needs—physical, psychological, emotional, social, and practical—ensuring that no aspect of their well-being is overlooked.
Community Partnership
Our programs are developed in collaboration with our clients as well as 70+ service providers, healthcare professionals, and community organizations.
Evidence-Based
Our spaces, programs and providers stay informed and grounded in the latest clinical research and evidence, enhancing outcomes quality of care.
Accessible and Intentional
Our physical and digital spaces are thoughtfully designed to make daily life easier and more manageable, with features that address both immediate and long-term needs.
Funded by Community, Free to Clients
Community-driven efforts enable us to offer vital resources and support at no cost. Generous donors, events and sponsors fuel our mission.
About Debbie Lehmann
As a visionary thought leader in community health and nonprofit leadership, Deborah Lehmann anticipates community needs and trends and translates key perspectives into strategies that address service gaps and builds stronger support systems. With two decades of experience driving transformational change, she has built meaningful partnerships, developed a unique leadership framework and navigated organizations through growth and transition.
Having collaborated extensively with Boards of Directors and committees in various sectors, Deborah combines sound business acumen with critical analysis to enhance organizational capacity and amplify impact. Guided by her core values of human rights, anti-racism, equity and inclusion Deborah fosters psychologically safe workplace cultures, building and empowering talented and committed teams. Her training as a certified grief educator and professional coach brings compassion, emotional intelligence, and a trauma-informed perspective into her leadership approach—ensuring individuals and teams feel genuinely supported, especially during times of transition.
Deborah is highly skilled in strategic planning, business administration, staff performance management, community engagement and stakeholder stewardship. She is also an engaging public speaker on topics such as people-centered leadership, transforming workplace culture, and the power of partnerships.
Meet the Leadership Team
Deborah Lehmann
President & CEO
Lorraine Prezeau
Executive Assistant
to the CEO
Sue Merrill
Senior Director,
Programs & Partnerships
Tricia Ross
Director, Special Events &
Community Engagement
Allen LeBlanc
(Acting) Senior Vice-
President, Philanthropy
Paula Muldoon
(Currently on leave) Leadership
Glenna Courneya
Senior Director, Finance and Operations
Meet the Board of Directors
Julia Knox
Past-Chair
Chief Technology and
Analytics Officer, Sobeys
Ian Sherman
Vice-chair
CEO, Relationship Capital Inc.
Pete Low
Treasurer
Retired
Anthonette Jacob
Director
CEO/Founder, African, Caribbean
& Black Wellness Resource Centre
Joanne Kudakiewicz
Director
Manager of Community Relations and Philanthropy, Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network
Mita Meyers
Director
Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
Tina Nagratha
Director
Finance Officer, Heart & Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery
Suzanne Pellerin
Director
Associate Advisor, RBC Dominion Securities
Mashooda Syed
Director
Owner/CEO, Ottawa Prestige Properties Ltd.
Greg Walker
Director
Association for Smarter Homes & Buildings (ASHB)
Dr. Richar Raigoza
Director
Chiropractor and CEO at Ottawa Health: Performance & Rehab
Lauren Peirce
Director
Senior Manager at FGC
Join our Team
There are many career opportunities with The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, ranging from marketing, to finance, fundraising, and survivorship care.
We offer a warm and welcoming environment for employees, which encourages top-of-the-line teamwork and growth. Together, we join our efforts to change the cancer experience for local families.
Help make our free programs and services possible.
