• (905) 277-8455
  • info@cacdcanada.org
  • 1275 Mississauga Vly Blvd, Mississauga, ON L5A 3R8
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Who we are

The Team

Meet Our People

CACD was established by Ron and Sonia Cunningham, devoted Christians enthusiastic about helping others less fortunate. They work tirelessly, focusing on activities, services and supports that assist BIPOC youth with employment, protection, recreation, education, and health promotion. Positive Youth Development (PYD) has been implemented to build and strengthen skills, promote healthy relationships, and provide the means for youth to realize their full potential.

Our Founders

Ron Cunningham

Founder & CEO
Ron Cunningham is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development (CACD), a Black-led Registered Charitable Organization that operates in the GTA. CACD works to transform the lives of “at-risk” youth by performing programming that serves their unique needs, develops leadership capabilities, and fosters civic participation. Ron, a competent accountant, has worked in the financial sector for over 20+ years. He worked in the Chief Accountant and Corporate Finance Divisions of the Bank of Montreal (BMO), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Banca Commerciale Italiana of Canada (BCI) and Royal Trust, a subsidiary of Royal Bank (RBC). Ron, a social change-maker and compassionate humanitarian, has impacted the lives of 100s of youth over the last 20 years, perfecting his Youth Development Programs. These seek to improve the lives of children and youth by meeting their basic physical, developmental, and social needs and by helping them to build the competencies needed to achieve their full potential and become successful adults.

Board of Directors

Marva Dennis

Assistant Treasurer
Marva Dennis loves volunteering and has been doing so with Citizens For The Advancement of Community Development for over 6 years and currently one of its directors. Also, Marva is a Tax Specialist and CEO of MavisCo Financial Services Inc. She is committed to helping clients achieve business success by helping them establish practical and sound tax and financial processes. Focused on services for small businesses and individuals, she is committed to delivering tax and financial services that meet each client’s unique objectives. She has a MSc. in Accounting and over 25 years’ experience in Accounting, Taxation and Management combined.

Brian Fox

Chair

Alex Gregory

Assistant Secretary

Wes Mckenzie

Founder & CEO
Wes McKenzie joined CACD 10 years ago and is delighted to serve on the board of directors. For the past 25 years, Wes, a Real Estate agent in Mississauga, has volunteered his time at Nursing homes in Mississauga, where he brings live guitar music to residents on Saturdays. He hopes that in these challenging times, he can continue to make a difference in the lives of the young residents of Mississauga.

Colin McClean

Officer

Abimbola Saka

Officer
Dr. Saka a physician deeply committed to patient-centred care, the principles of evidence-based medicine, and health equity. She is the founder of D.A.S. Innovative Hub, a health system consulting firm, where she leads initiatives to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare. She is known for her adaptability, motivation, and collaborative spirit, as well as her keen interest in positively impacting healthcare systems. She is also currently a postdoctoral fellow at Centre for Mental Health and Addictions where works a project focused on the integration of programs, so they are more efficient, equity informed, and holistic to support patients. She earned her BSc in Anatomy from Nigeria and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Washington University of Health and Science (WUHS) in Belize. She also holds an M.B.A. in Health Services from DeVry University and a Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Translational Research from the University of Toronto. Her research and work focus on identifying and addressing gaps within health systems to enhance the experiences and outcomes of patients and their families.

Fatima Samji

Officer
Dr. Fatima Samji is an Educational Specialist, Social Mobility Researcher, Education Innovation Consultant, & EDI Policy Specialist. She holds an M.Ed. in Leadership for Learning in K-12, an M.A., & a Ph.D. in Higher Education, both specializing in Education Policy, from the University of Toronto. She empowers diverse groups within Ontario Colleges, Universities, non-profits, & private organizations by creating & delivering award-winning curriculum, workshops, & training. Dr. Samji earned awards to present at respected international conferences where she advocated for broadening the perspectives held by leaders in the education sector. Dr. Samji’s lived experience, research, & professional experience led to her mission - to build the capacity of diverse people, organizations, & systems, by facilitating them in accessing their excellence, supporting greater social mobility & innovation toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Karen Thom

Officer
A Mississauga resident and a passionate Youth Advocate and Community Volunteer. A Financial Analyst by Profession Certification Accounting and Business Management. Hobbies include hiking, creative art, music and gardening.

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By becoming a member, you become an active voice within a passionate team dedicated to empowering youth and driving meaningful change. Contribute to decisions, collaborate on impactful initiatives, and help shape the direction of programs while building valuable connections and leadership experience.

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