Here is the 2026 board of directors for the Gloucester Community Food Centre

Tim Foran – Chair, Board of Directors 

Tim retired from the public service in 2021 after a 30-year career in a variety of leadership roles.  With extensive experience related to homelessness and newcomer settlement issues, he brings a strong passion for social justice to the Gloucester Community Food Centre (GCFC) and its mission of tackling food insecurity.

A member of the Board of Directors since 2022, Tim has contributed to the organization’s Strategic Planning, Personnel, and Building Committees. He was elected Chair of the Board in 2026 and is committed to working with fellow Board members, staff, volunteers, partners, and the community to strengthen the organization’s impact and ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of local residents.

A long-time resident of the Beacon Hill–Cyrville community, Tim is also a certified English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. In addition to his work with the GCFC, he volunteers as a mentor to newcomers, helping them successfully establish themselves in their new community.  Tim is continually inspired by the dedication of the volunteers whose generosity makes the organization’s work possible.

Sofi Blazeski – Vice-Chair, Board of Directors 

Sofi began her career in the federal public service in 2002 and has held a variety of roles with the Department of National Defence and Environment and Climate Change Canada. She currently works with Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Indigenous Guardians Secretariat, where she administers a Grants and Contributions program, drawing on her experience in policy, research, and government operations.

Sofi has served on the GCFC Board of Directors since 2018, contributing to the Strategic Planning, Governance, and Personnel Committees. In 2026, she was elected Vice-Chair. She is proud to support GCFC’s mission of serving the community with compassion and dignity and values the opportunity to give back through volunteering and community involvement.

A first-generation Canadian of Macedonian descent, Sofi was born in Scarborough, Ontario, and later moved to Ottawa. Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, she enjoys spending time with her family and staying active through hiking, biking, and swimming.

Josée Plouffe – Secretary, Board of Directors

Josée is a communications and project management professional with over two decades of experience in the not-for-profit, private, and public sectors. She appreciates the importance of clear documentation and takes pride in taking notes and making processes easy to understand.

She values the role GCFC plays in supporting neighbours facing food insecurity and is proud to contribute to an organization grounded in dignity and community. Born and raised in Ottawa, Josée is a mom of two who enjoys running, reading, and adding sparks of joy to everyday life.

Narinder Kaur – Treasurer and Board Member 

Narinder is an accountant with an MBA in Finance and eight years of experience in accounting and the fintech sector. She currently works full-time as an accountant while pursuing her CPA designation. As Treasurer of the Board, she brings strong financial expertise, careful attention to detail, and a practical approach to overseeing the organization’s finances.

Before moving to Canada, Narinder built her career in India, working across fast-paced and dynamic professional environments. Having gone through the challenges and opportunities of starting a new chapter in Canada herself, she understands how much of a difference community support can make for individuals and families as they settle in. She is proud to bring her financial background to an organization working to reduce food insecurity and ensure everyone can access nutritious food with respect and care. Outside of work, she enjoys long walks and is grateful to now call Ottawa home.

Evelyne (EP) Power – Board Member 

EP retired from the public service in 2022 and brings over 30 years of experience working with marginalized communities to design solutions that work for them. She believes in providing services with dignity and that listening to people is the best first step in finding sustainable solutions.

EP joined the GCFC as a volunteer as soon as she retired because she wants to be part of making things better. She feels volunteers are an important part of a healthy community. EP is also a volunteer Master Gardener and quilter with a wonderfully goofy family.

Bob Sawchak – Board Member

Bob recently retired from the public service, where he spent over fifteen years supporting intergovernmental relationships focused on improving tax and benefit programs, including those that help vulnerable Canadians.

Additionally, he has a combined twenty years of experience leading communications for two local non-profit organizations, helping them share their stories and connect with the people they serve.

As a new board member, Bob is eager to use his insight into community demographics and outreach to strengthen relationships with residents who need help. Having called East Ottawa home for twenty-five years, he is passionate about building an inclusive, caring neighbourhood where everyone feels welcome and supported.

Norm Radford – Board Member 

Norm is a long-time, dedicated community volunteer who actively supports the Gloucester Community Food Centre (GCFC). His interests lie in social equity.

Norm had a long career within the Parliament of Canada, where he worked as a Committee Clerk for various standing committees. He was assigned for many years to the international affairs division of Parliament, organizing and travelling with official Canadian and foreign parliamentary delegations. His tenure gave him a deep understanding of political systems and strategic planning for parliamentary operations. His outlook has always been focused on the betterment of Canadian society.

He is a long-term resident of Beacon Hill and an avid cyclist who has undertaken many adventure trips. He was a volunteer cross-country ski patroller in Gatineau Park. He was also a member of the CAP to CAP expedition, which paddled from Ottawa to Washington, D.C., to promote clean rivers.

Chelsea Liu, CPA – Board Member

Chelsea Liu is a Chartered Professional Accountant in Ontario with 10 years of progressive professional experience in auditing, assurance, and corporate accounting in credit unions, public hospitals, health care sectors, and non-profit organizations. Chelsea has served on the GCFC Board of Directors and Finance Committee since May 2021. She also served one term as Treasurer of the GCFC between 2021 and 2022.

Over the past 20 years, Chelsea has volunteered extensively with local hospitals, non-profit organizations, and charities and has gained valuable insight into the operations and financial management required to run a successful local non-profit organization and advance a cause with significant social and economic impact in the community.

In her leisure time, Chelsea is passionate about gardening and a self-sufficient lifestyle. Chelsea and her mom built a beautiful vegetable and flower garden in the front yard of their suburban

home in Half Moon Bay, Barrhaven. Every year, the garden supplies fresh home-grown vegetables for Chelsea’s family throughout the summer.

Danielle St Jean – Board Member 

Danielle St Jean brings an unusual mix of backgrounds to the GCFC Board: she worked as a technical product owner in software and is now completing her law degree at the University of Ottawa. That path has given her a practical eye for how organizations run well, from clear governance structures to the systems that keep them accountable.

She was drawn to GCFC’s work because food security touches every part of a community’s well being, and she wanted to put her skills toward something with a direct, local impact. She is especially focused on helping the Board operate transparently and effectively so it can support the community’s mission.

Danielle recently moved to Ottawa from Gatineau with her husband. When she is not working, she is usually out hiking or camping or curled up with a good fantasy novel. She is looking forward to getting to know the Gloucester community better through her work with GCFC.

Leanne Houston – Board Member 

Leanne Houston is an active member of the Beacon Hill community and has brought enthusiasm and organizational experience to the Board since 2022. Leanne is a teacher and department head at Colonel By High School, where she prioritizes not only teaching her subjects but also showing young people the power and value of volunteering in their community.

Living and raising children in Beacon Hill, Leanne is pleased to play a role in helping her neighbours navigate times of challenge, and she looks forward to being part of GCFC’s ever increasing role in fighting food insecurity. She believes that fostering a sense of belonging and safety is how we build a strong and nurturing community, whether in a school, a neighbourhood, or a food centre.

Natasha Albert – Board Member 

Natasha is a dedicated community advocate with more than 15 years of experience working in the non-profit and community sectors. In her role at the Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre (EORC), Natasha works to strengthen community connections, build partnerships, and support programs that respond to local needs.

Natasha joined the Gloucester Community Food Centre (GCFC) Board out of a strong commitment to food security and a belief that everyone should have access to healthy, affordable food. She is passionate about creating inclusive, resilient communities where individuals and families can thrive.