Benchmarks and Boardrooms: My Journey from a Park Bench to CF Canada’s Board 

I still remember the day in 2013 when my wife, Chloe, told me she was living with cystic fibrosis (CF). We were sitting on a battered wooden bench along the canal in Cornwall, just two young people dreaming about the future. Until that moment, I had never heard of CF. My first instinct was to Google it, and in those early searches I discovered Cystic Fibrosis Canada. Within months, I had joined the Ottawa Chapter board, organizing fundraising events and immersing myself in a community I didn’t yet fully understand, but knew I wanted to support. 

From Local Chapter to National Board 

In those early days, I was sprinting: working long hours at a Big Four accounting firm by day, growing my career, and planning charity runs and donor dinners by night. It was exhausting, but meaningful. When I eventually stepped back to focus on my career and our growing family, I thought my CF volunteer journey might be over. But a few years later, longtime board member Stuart Hodge encouraged me to consider serving at the national level. He recognized that my finance background providing accounting services to nonprofits and small business could contribute to CF Canada’s mission. In 2024, I joined the national board of directors, and I haven’t looked back. 

Why CF Canada’s Mission Resonates 

When I first got involved, I assumed donations went straight to research. But through my local group, I learned that CF Canada’s mission is broader: it’s about improving day-to-day life for Canadians living with CF. That means supporting local clinics, advocating for drug access, funding research, and helping families navigate complex systems. Advocacy isn’t an add-on at CF Canada, it’s central to the mission. 

One example stands out: the long fight to make the life-changing drug Trikafta accessible in Canada. CF Canada didn’t just launch petitions or protests. The team trained parents, patients, and volunteers to understand the complex drug-approval process, equipping them to meet with MPs and provincial decision-makers armed with facts and stories. That mix of community power and professional advocacy ultimately succeeded and thousands of Canadians with CF gained access to a treatment that extends lives. 

Impact You Can See 

Serving on the board has given me a front-row seat to CF Canada’s tangible impact. The median age of survival for people with CF has risen dramatically. What was once seen as a childhood disease is now managed into adulthood and beyond. Behind that progress is a mix of science, advocacy, and the tireless work of families and volunteers who refuse to give up. 

I see the impact closer to home too. Chloe was once told she might not live past her twenties. Today she holds a master’s degree, is raising our young son, and still finds time to go rock climbing and run 5Ks. Every time I see her defy expectations, I see the fingerprints of CF Canada’s mission, from better treatments to improved clinic care to advocacy that keeps life-extending drugs within reach. 

Lessons From the Boardroom 

Being part of the board has taught me as much as I’ve given. I’ve learned that governance is about balance: investing in research for a cure, while also funding supports that families need right now. I’ve learned the power of stewardship! That picking up the phone to thank a donor or hear a parent’s story builds relationships that can unlock transformative gifts. And I’ve learned that nonprofit boards thrive on accountability: asking tough questions of leadership, while trusting staff to execute with professionalism and care. 

Most importantly, I’ve seen that nonprofits like CF Canada aren’t “nice-to-haves.” They are central players in our healthcare system, influencing government policy, partnering with researchers, and delivering support that changes lives every day. 

Why I Serve 

When I think back to that park bench in Cornwall, I couldn’t have imagined the journey ahead: from Googling “what is CF?” to serving on the organization's board of directors. For me, it comes down to this: CF Canada’s mission isn’t abstract. It touches my wife, my family, and thousands of Canadians directly. 

Serving on the board allows me to give back with my skills and my heart. It’s my way of helping create a future where Chloe, and every Canadian living with CF, can truly live without limits.