About

CANADIANS
SAW A NEED.
CAREMAKERS
IS OUR RESPONSE.

CANADIANS SAW A NEED.
CAREMAKERS IS OUR RESPONSE.

Family Caregiving can be a challenging role. Many are unexpectedly called on to provide critical support without any training. Nearly all Canadians can see themselves in this reality at some point in their lives; in fact, over 8 million are currently navigating this experience.

The call for more support for family caregivers echoes across the country. Helping those who give their time and energy to others, those who go unseen and unsupported, is exactly what is needed in Canadian communities.

Recognizing this important issue, The Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation was established in November 2020. Our goal is to support family caregivers while inspiring a collective commitment to the cause throughout Canada. We are grateful for the support of Suncor, the proud owner of Petro-Canada, for committing to this meaningful cause.

OUR BOARD

CareMakers is a CRA-registered charitable public foundation that funds Canadian organizations that support family caregivers in their region. We are governed by an independent board of directors. Our current board members are Deborah Gullaher, Pat Ritchie, Rem Langan, Chris Forward, Geena Virk, and Adriana Shnall. We are honoured to work together with our partners to champion the cause of family caregiving in Canada.

DEBORAH GULLAHER

Deborah is the Chair and one of the founding members of the Petro- Canada CareMakers Foundation. During her career at Petro-Canada and Suncor, Deborah held a number of senior leadership roles in the downstream business and was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the time of her retirement in 2021. She served on the Suncor Energy Foundation board and led the development and launch of the Suncor Downstream Diversity and Inclusion network. As a caregiver herself, Deborah has a personal passion for growing awareness and support of caregivers.

PAT RITCHIE

Since joining Suncor in 1996, Pat has held multiple roles in various parts of Suncor’s downstream business, including Market Manager – Eastern Canada Wholesale Operations, Director – Lubricants Business Integration, General Manager – Strategy and Development, and most recently, Vice President – Sales and Marketing. As part of his role, he also contributed to the launch of Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation. Pat received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and joined the Board of Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation in 2023.

REM LANGAN

Rem is an accomplished marketer with over 35 years of experience in executive management, marketing and communications in both business and not-for- profit sectors. Currently, he acts as a consultant to companies and not-for- profit organizations. Rem has been an active board member of numerous charities, including Variety Village, Parachute Canada, Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Toronto 2015 Sport Legacy Fund, Ontario Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, POV, as well as a founding board member of the Petro- Canada CareMakers Foundation and the Impakt Foundation for Social Change.

CHRIS FORWARD

Chris is the General Manager of Harvey’s Oil and Harvey’s Home Heating. He has been part of the Harvey’s team since 2008, and now oversees operations that guide the strategic direction and day- to-day management of over 7,000 energy utility customers in Newfoundland and Labrador. A champion of local and national causes, Chris has a vast record of volunteering and strategic council for organizations, such as Pride at Work Canada, and Boys & Girls Clubs of St. John’s. He continues to be a force for change, and a leadership example for the business and queer communities.

GEENA VIRK

Geena has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from the University of British Columbia. She has been an Associate with Petro- Canada since 1999 and is currently the Area Licensee for 12 (almost 13) locations in the Fraser Valley of BC. Geena has participated yearly with Women Helping Women since 2010. This group of women puts together “feel good” boxes for women in shelters or second-stage housing during the Christmas season. Geena also sits on the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Grants Committee and the committee for Petro- Canada CareMakers Local Grant program.

ADRIANA SHNALL

Dr. Adriana Shnall, PhD, MSW, RSW serves as the Program Director of the Koschitzky Centre for Innovations in Caregiving at Baycrest, drawing from 30 years of clinical expertise in older adult and family care across various settings. Recognized with the Baycrest Outstanding Innovations award, Adriana holds an Assistant Professor role at the University of Toronto. Balancing clinical practice, education, research and leadership, she integrates her skills to empower family caregivers, healthcare providers and the public, fostering an improved quality of life for both caregivers and the individuals they support.

DEBORAH GULLAHER

PAT RITCHIE

REM LANGAN

CHRIS FORWARD

GEENA VIRK

ADRIANA SHNALL

THE CAREMAKERS FOUNDATION
COMMITMENT

Our vision is a country where family caregivers are valued, recognized and supported. We actively uphold this vision through strategic initiatives in four key areas:

Raising awareness for the cause.
Providing financial grants to charities that support family caregivers.
Fundraising initiatives for caregivers across Canada.
Convening and collaborating with others in the sector to create innovative programs and more.

This commitment propels us forward, guided by the belief that together, we can create lasting change for caregivers.

SUPPORTERS OF THE
CAREMAKERS FOUNDATION

Thank you to the companies, groups, and individuals who are supporters of the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation. These donors and partners champion our efforts through support of our events, cause-related marketing, hosting local events of their own and direct donations. We couldn’t do the work we do without their generous contributions! Together, we make a meaningful impact in the lives of family caregivers.

To learn about how you/your company can get involved, visit our support us page or reach out directly at info@caremakers.ca.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Download copies of audited financial statements here.

GRANTS & FUNDING

Find information about how to apply and past grant recipients here.

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