Ellen Hibbard, President

Ellen Hibbard is excited to serve as ORAD President. She is 2nd year Ph.D. Candidate at Ryerson University in Communications and Culture in Toronto. Her focus is how web-based technology can be used by Deaf Academics and Sign Interpreters in the Sciences. She is profoundly Deaf. She is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technology Institute of Technology for the Deaf in the U.S. in 1997 with a Bachelors of Science in Biotechnology. She received her Masters of Science from the University of Rochester in Genetics, Genomics and Development in 2004. She did research for 10 years in molecular biology field. She also taught science for three years in a Deaf residential school in the U.S. prior to moving Toronto for her Ph.D studies. She is passionate about cross-cultural understanding for both Deaf and Hearing people. She is advocating for understanding among Hearing people about Deaf Culture.

She loves to meet new people, travel, learn new things, and make new friends. She joined ORAD because she wants to be active in the GLBTTTIQ community here in Toronto and show Deaf culture at the same time. She is Deaf and American. She uses the upper case ”D” for Deaf to identify herself as culturally Deaf (which means she considers herself belonging to the Deaf Community), uses American Sign Language, and has a history with Deaf Culture. The lower case ”d” for deaf means a condition of not being able to hear. She does not use the term “hearing impaired” at all because it means she is a hearing person with an ”impairment”. She does not consider herself as someone who has “an impairment.” She is a person who adapts to life in the world around her with strong culturally Deaf identity. Her deafness is not a disability; it is another “condition of being”, such as short, tall, or female.

She looks forward to making sure that ORAD follows by-laws and events are successful.

Vanessa Floros, Vice President

Maggie Harkins, Secretary

Maggie Harkins was born and raised in Waterloo. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology in Montreal just before she moved to moved to Toronto where she is now an ASL/English interpreting student at George Brown College. She just completed her first year of the program. She was appointed as Secretary to the ORAD board in February of 2009. Since moving to Toronto, she has become actively involved in the vibrant Queer community of Ontario. She loves being part of ORAD and a part of the community here in Toronto. She feels privileged to work with an extraordinary team of people to serve the Deaf and Queer community.

Jenny Blaser, Treasurer

Jenny Blaser is currently in her first year of study at the University of Toronto. She plans to pursue a double major in Linguistics and Equity, with a Disability Studies focus.  Jenny moved to Toronto from Kingston Ontario, in September of 2007. She took little time to become involved in the LGBTT2Q community as a strong activist and role model working with Eagle Canada, Toronto Police Service, the Ministry of Education, The Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, and The Triangle Program. The main focus of her activism has been the education system and ensuring that schools are safer, equitable spaces for all students regardless of their differences.

Jenny is currently focusing her attention on creating an equitable environment for Deaf students at the University of Toronto. Recently she has successfully worked with the University to make priority registration for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students requiring interpreters official policy. She is now working to ensure all office staff at the University receive proper training of how to use TTY/Relay services, and increasing Deaf awareness on campus.

Frank Folino, Executive At Large, Ex-Officio

Frank Folino was born Deaf in Toronto and he graduated with Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science at York University with his research fields relating to the political economy and political power on Canadian federalism. He is a currently part-time student at York University, majoring in certificate program for French through online and his next goal is to enter Masters in Political Science after the completion of the certificate program in French. Frank will be to provide a strategic and operational leadership, supporting ORAD’s Board of Directors in its affairs. His portfolio includes Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD), Special Projects and Governance Committee. Frank brings his experience to LGBTTIQQ2S communities with his extensive experience in business management and community relations to this organization that would like to see ORAD to lead and grow into a better organization that can serve the Province of Ontario.

Christel Reid, Director At Large

Christel Reid was born and raised in the GTA, where she now works and plays in Toronto's Deaf community. She has worked as a Literacy and Basic Skills instructor of Deaf adults for the past three years, and is looking forward to the coming year with these learners. She also loves to travel and particularly enjoys indulging in the natural boundless beauty that Canada has to offer.

Christel is a hearing Child of a Deaf Adult (CODA) and has been involved in the Deaf community for her whole life. She is thrilled about the prospect of working with ORAD to secure more community support for other queer youth with Deaf families. She is looking forward to joining the board and sharing her cause with similar minded, inspired community leaders.

Michelle Bourgeois, Director At Large

Michelle Bourgeois was born in Montreal, Quebec but grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. She is still very much a Montrealer.  She is in her 7th year as an itinerant teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.  She just completed her Masters in Education at York University and is working on publishing her thesis "Deaf South Asian Immigrant Youth and Their Educational and Cultural Experiences". As well, Michelle works from time to time in the Part Time Employment Program for Newcomers as a supply instructor at CHS and teaches ASL classes at CHS Toronto, CHS Mississauga and George Brown College.

Michelle would like to continue working with the Board on various projects in the upcoming year. Michelle enjoys working with ORAD immensely and loves seeing ORAD grow.  Her past experience with ORAD has compelled her to come back for more!

Kari English, Director At Large

Kari English was born in Belleville, Ontario.She graduated from Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf in '97. She did some college but worked in the Deaf Community from 2000 to 2005 at the Ontario Association of the Deaf and Silent Voice. Kari was on the Board of ORAD for 2 years as a secretary from 2003 to 2005. Kari is now living in Ottawa working at the Canadian Hearing Society in the OIS department.

Since Kari moved, she has missed being involved with ORAD. She values the purpose and goals ORAD has. In Ottawa, there is no Deaf GLBTT community here, and the situation is similar in many cities outside of Toronto. Kari would like to work towards changing that by  helping ORAD reach out to other cities, starting with Ottawa.

Connie Dignan, Director At Large, Ex-Officio

© Ontario Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (ORAD) 2008 -- All Rights Reserved.