NCF Board of Directors
Minutes of Board Meeting
March 10, 2026
Hybrid, in person at NCF office and via Zoom
Minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors
Board members present:
Spencer Callaghan Vice Chair
Stephen Fanjoy (gd782) Treasurer
Graeme Beckett (aw958) Secretary
Peter MacKinnon (fr198)
Mark Fernandes
Len Fardella
Kathryn Hill
Lia Kiessling
Neerushana Jehanathan
Regrets:
Anis Hanna (gb499) Chair
Note:
Sean Geddes stepped down before the Aug 5, 2025 board meeting for personal reasons.
Yacouba Traoré stepped down before the October board meeting for personal reasons.
NCF Management/Staff present:
Executive Director: Shelley Robinson
Guests:
None
- Confirmation of Quorum
Quorum was confirmed and Spencer Callaghan chaired the meeting.
Motion: To move in-camera.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon
Seconder: Stephen Fanjoy
The motion was carried.
- Consent Agenda
- Adoption of the consent agenda
Motion: To adopt the consent agenda.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon
Seconder: Graeme Beckett
The motion was carried.
- Minutes of board meeting January 13, 2025.
There were no comments regarding the minutes.
- Executive Director's report
The Executive Director's report was submitted in advance of the Board meeting. Highlights of the open portion of the meeting are provided below.
Nov. 11/25-Jan. 13/26 v.2
NCF members at Oct. 1/25: 4107
NCF members at Nov. 1/25: 4096
NCF members at Dec. 1/25: 4087
NCF members at Jan. 1/26: 4084
1. Updates since the last meeting:
a. We sold more than 180 tickets to our Free the Net fundraising screening of
Hackers! Thanks to all those who came and those who sponsored tickets for
others to come. Some NCF members and some of the folks who use CommuniFi
on Donald Street were able to attend because of this generosity. We have more ‘Free the
Net’ activities planned for the coming year and will keep members posted.
b. After a successful launch of CommuniFi services on Donald Street, NCF has
received additional funding from CIRA to expand our CommuniFi pilot project!
Upcoming work includes:
- building a new CommuniFi supernode to connect the Shepherds of Good Hope
locations on Murray Street including three shelters (for women, men and an
emergency intox shelter) and up to 300 feet around 216 Murray Street as well as
other nearby locations in Lowertown.
- connecting an Ottawa Mission residence at 161 Presland Road to the CommuniFi
network based at Donald Street.
- connecting indoor and outdoor common spaces at three additional Ottawa
Community Housing (OCH) locations in Vanier-Overbrook and Sandy Hill
including 800 St. Laurent, 300 Lacasse and 721 Chapel.
- Updates from committees
This item discussed in-camera.
- Nominations and Governance committee
This item was to determine which board members are planning on remaining on the board after the 2026 AGM.
- 2026 AGM dates and discussion
The AGM will take place on June 24th. June 10th will be the deadline for the Nominations committee. A one week voting period for the Board of Director's candidates June 17th 7pm to June 24th 7pm.
Motion: To form an AGM ad-hoc committee composed of Lia Kiessling, Len Fardella and Kathryn Hill.
Proposer: Stephen Fanjoy
Seconder: Lia Kiessling
The motion was carried.
Motion: To set the AGM dates as discussed.
Proposer: Stephen Fanjoy
Seconder: Lia Kiessling
The motion was carried.
- Formation of the Audit Committee
Motion: To appoint Graeme Beckett, Mark Fernandes and Neerushana Jehanathan to the Audit Committee.
Proposer: Len Fardella
Seconder: Lia Kiessling
The motion was carried.
Motion: To approve the consent agenda as discussed.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon
Seconder: Stephen Fanjoy
The motion was carried.
- Auditor for 2026Motion: To recommend at the AGM the firm of Marcil Lavallee as NCF's auditor for the current 2026 financial year and the remuneration will be fixed by the Board
Motion: To recommend the firm Marcil Lavallee.
Proposer: Len Fardella
Seconder: Lia Kiessling
The motion was carried.
- Strategic focus discussion on governance items:
2026 strategic roadmap.
This item was conducted in-camera.
- Date of Next Meeting _________
The next Board meeting is proposed to be May 12th 2026. Hybrid, electronic and in-person at NCF office.
- Standing agenda item for discussion without staff and review (15 minutes)
- Discussion item (Spencer Callaghan)
This item is conducted in-camera.
Motion: To move out of camera and adjourn the meeting.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon
Seconder: Mark Fernandes
The motion was carried.