Inspirit Foundation Welcomes New Board Members, Thanks Outgoing Directors
Media Release – Download the PDF version*
TORONTO, August 27, 2025 — Inspirit Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its board of directors: Andrew Chunilall and Patti Pon. Both have a passion for building a more pluralist society in the context of Inspirit’s mission.
Meet our new board members:
Andrew Chunilall is the CEO of Community Foundations Canada. At the head of the community foundation movement, Andrew works to help the philanthropic sector transform, innovate and meet the new challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Outside of CFC, Andrew has been highly active in the nonprofit community for 15 years, serving on numerous boards including Community Living London and Art for AIDS International.
Patti is a veteran community and arts champion with an extensive track record of leadership and service in Calgary and beyond. She has deep and diverse experience in the arts sector, having served in senior leadership positions at the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts (now Werklund Centre), Alberta Performing Arts Stabilization Fund, and Alberta Theatre Projects, among others. She has been President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development since 2013 and led the organization through the tripling of its budget in 2019.
Inspirit would like to thank Deborah Irvine and Cheryl McKenzie who have completed their terms. The Foundation is much stronger for their many years of dedicated service and commitment to Inspirit’s mission and vision.
Deborah Irvine joined Inspirit’s board of directors in 2019. Deborah is the only member to have been on all three board committees. She started on the Finance & Investment Committee, then joined the Programming Committee followed by the Governance & HR Committee which coincided with her election as Vice-Chair. Most recently, Deborah served as Co-Chair of Inspirit’s board. The Foundation has benefitted immensely from her thoughtful, strategic guidance, and her steady hand.
“Canada is a country that is rich in stories and experiences. But too many lie with voices that are seldom heard or frequently misunderstood. As a board member, you work with committed staff and colleagues to change this and fully leverage the power of diversity and inclusion,” said Deborah. “This privilege meant I learned from a vast tapestry of resilient artists and story-tellers. Like Inspirit, they have my admiration.”
Cheryl McKenzie also joined Inspirit’s board in 2019. She has been a key member of the Programming Committee, contributing her vast experience around Indigenous media, as well as Canada’s broadcast and journalism landscape more broadly. Her expertise helped inform granting at the Foundation. Cheryl serves as the Executive Director of News and Current Affairs for APTN.
The Inspirit board of directors is a governance board. Members bring skills, experiences, and understanding of different contexts to help guide the organization’s work. Inspirit’s commitment to equity includes diversity in reflection, geography, skill sets, and lived experiences. The Foundation fosters a board culture that actively engages, values the contributions of, and reflects the diverse stakeholders served.
A complete list of Inspirit board members can be found here.
RELATED LINKS
Board of directors web page: inspiritfoundation.org/board-of-directors
ABOUT INSPIRIT FOUNDATION
Inspirit Foundation works to build a more inclusive and pluralist Canada where our differences are valued and engaged, and everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive both socially and economically. We advance racial, social and economic justice by investing our assets and funding media and arts for change. To learn more, visit inspiritfoundation.org and follow Inspirit on Instagram and LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT
Jozef Agtarap
Communications and Outreach Manager, Inspirit Foundation
jagtarap@inspiritfoundation.org
416-644-3600 ext. 107