NCF Board of Directors
Minutes of Board Meeting
August 5, 2025
Minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors
Board members present:
Anis Hanna (gb499) Chair
Stephen Fanjoy (gd782) Treasurer
Graeme Beckett (aw958) Secretary
Peter MacKinnon (fr198)
Len Fardella
Kathryn Hill
Lia Kiessling
Mark Fernandes
Yacouba Traoré
Regrets:
Spencer Callaghan Vice Chair
Note: Sean Geddes stepped down before the Aug 5, 2025 board meeting for personal reasons.
NCF Management/Staff present:
Executive Director: Shelley Robinson
Guests:
Staff: Dylan Ferris
- Introductions and Confirmation of Quorum
Quorum was confirmed
Motion: To move in-camera.
Proposer: Graeme Beckett
Seconder: Len Fardella
The motion was carried.
- Agenda items
- Approval and adoption of agenda
Motion: To adopt the agenda.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon (fr198)
Seconder: Stephen Fanjoy (gd782)
The motion was carried.
- Minutes of board meeting June 25, 2025.
There were no comments regarding the minutes.
Motion: To accept the minutes of the previous meeting.
Proposer: Stephen Fanjoy (gd782)
Seconder: Len Fardella
The motion was carried.
- Discussion item by Dylan Ferris
This item was conducted in-camera.
- Appointment of Treasurer & first meeting date of Finance Committee
Motion: Motion: to appoint Stephen Fanjoy as treasurer.
Proposer: Anis Hanna (gb499)
Seconder: Len Fardella
The motion was carried.
Motion: Motion: to appoint to the Finance committee Stephen Fanjoy as Chair, Mark Fernandes, Lia Kiessling and Yacouba Traoré.
Proposer: Kathryn Hill
Seconder: Peter MacKinnon (fr198)
The motion was carried.
- Updating the corporation's signing authority
Motion: To appoint the NCF's signing officers to be Anis Hanna, Stephen Fanjoy, Spencer Callaghan and Executive Director Shelley Robinson.
Proposer: Stephen Fanjoy (gd782)
Seconder: Mark Fernandes
The motion was carried.
- Choosing a compatible monthly meeting date
After consultation with the Board and Executive Director the meeting dates were set as the 2nd Tuesday of the month starting September 9th.
- Discussion on the Executive Director's report and meeting materials
The Executive Director's report was submitted in advance of the Board meeting. Highlights of the open portion of the meeting are provided below.
Updates since the last meetng:
NCF members at May 1/25: 4204
NCF members at Jun. 1/25: 4178
NCF members at Jul. 1/25: 4166
NCF members at Aug. 1/25: 4156
NCF held a “WiFi and Waffles” event at CIRA to help raise the profile and create
opportunities for more funding and community partnerships to support our CommuniFi
project, offering free WiFi across Vanier and Overbrook. More than 60 people including
City Councillors, representatives from school boards, local funders, those from Ottawa’s
tech community and other social service agencies. The event also launched the project
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Y8cHRaCkc&t
As we build out the CommuniFi network usage continues to grow on the original two
sites at 251 and 255 Donald St. By the end of June, 2350 unique client devices had
accessed the network with an average of 269 new devices each month and 176
returning devices.
On June 17th NCF won a Family and Community Services Award from the Rotary Club of
West Ottawa! Thanks to longtime NCF member Theresa Jamone for nominating us.
Andrew and Shelley were able to attend the dinner and awards ceremony and speak on
NCF’s behalf.
NCF held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 25th, our first-ever hybrid in-person
and online AGM. Thanks to the Pinecrest-Queensway Employment Services Centre for
hosting the in-person event. Attending members voted to update NCF’s purpose for the
first time since we were founded in 1992 and also approved new bylaws.
As part of the AGM we also ran online elections for the NCF Board of Directors from
June 18-25th with a strong pool of seven candidates for four open positions. Thanks to
all those who ran and everyone who voted. Congratulations to incoming Board
members Kathryn Hill, Lia Kiessling, Yacouba Traoré and Mark Fernandes! Thanks to
outgoing directors Majd Karam, Emmanuel Adenlolu, Sean Geddes and Chris Cope,
though he will stay on in an advisory capacity in the newly-established Past Chair role.
Now that the CRTC has mandated wholesale access to Bell’s fibre optic infrastructure,
we have started a beta test of our new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) internet services.
We plan to launch the new service in the Fall. We are also currently reviewing our other
prices – we are proud that we have been able to keep our prices steady since 2021 but
also need to ensure ongoing organizational sustainability
- Discussion on committee formulation, assignments, chair roles & setting 1st & subsequent meeting dates
Motion: Committee formulation:
- That the Finance Committee consist of Stephen Fanjoy as Chair, Mark Fernandes, Lia Kiessling and Yacouba Traoré.
- That the Governance and Nominations Committee consist of Kathryn Hill as Chair, Peter MacKinnon and Chris Cope.
- That the Marketing and Communications Committee consist of Spencer Callaghan as Chair and Lia Kiessling.
- That the Community Connectivity Committee consist of Len Fardella as Chair, Anis Hanna, Yacouba Traoré and Mark Fernandes.
- That the Audit Committee will be formulated at a later date.
Proposer: Lia Kiessling
Seconder: Peter MacKinnon (fr198)
The motion was carried.
- Approval of consent agenda
Motion: To approve the consent agenda.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon (fr198)
Seconder: Stephen Fanjoy (gd782)
The motion was carried.
- Date of Next Meeting _________
The next Board meeting is proposed to be September 9th 2025. Hybrid, electronic and in-person at NCF office.
- Standing agenda item for discussion without staff and review (15 minutes)
- Discussion item (Anis Hanna)
This item is conducted in-camera.
Motion: To move out of camera and adjourn the meeting.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon (fr198)
Seconder: Graeme Beckett (aw958)
The motion was carried.