Board of Directors

Aubie Greenberg (Co-Chair, effective January 1, 2021)

Aubie is a media professional with extensive experience in the broadcast industry as both a programmer and development executive. In his most recent role was Director, Original Programming at Astral Media’s The Movie Network, Aubie was responsible for the development of TMN’s Original award-winning pay television programming which has aired throughout the world.

Previously, Aubie held the role of Director, Programming at The Movie Network where he oversaw all aspects of programming for the pay network TMN and its classic movie channel Mpix. Since leaving Astral, Aubie has written several new television and feature film projects while playing an active role in the Canadian entertainment industry.

Jessica Zackheim (Co-Chair, effective January 1, 2021)

Jessica Zackheim is the Founder of Jessica Zackheim Inc., a lifestyle management firm that specializes in helping individuals, families, and businesses to better manage their responsibilities and relationships.

Jessica is a graduate of Branksome Hall School and sat on the Alumnae Executive for over 5 years as in various leadership capacities. She attended Dalhousie University and York University and has a B.A. in Sociology.

Jessica has worked with Best Buddies for the last five years coordinating the Thrill of Ascot Event which runs annually every June, various shopping evenings and other fundraising initiatives for the charity.

She lives in Toronto with her husband Ken and their two children.

Daniel J. Greenglass (Board Member/Co-Founder, effective January 1, 2021)

Daniel J. Greenglass Co-Founded Best Buddies Canada in 1994 and was Co-Chair until 2020.

Mr. Greenglass is Chief Financial Officer and Co-Managing Partner of Brennan Custom Homes Inc., Toronto’s premier luxury custom residential design/builder.

Mr. Greenglass currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation and is Board Champion responsible for raising $150 million for the redevelopment of Toronto Western Hospital’s new Centre for Image-Guided Neurosurgery operating facility. Mr. Greenglass also sits on the Board of Directors of Honest Reporting Canada an organization that promotes fairness and accuracy in Canadian media coverage of Israel and the Middle East.

Mr. Greenglass has been educated at Crescent School, University of Toronto and is also a graduate of Harvard University, Advanced Management Development Program in Real Estate.

In 2007 Mr. Greenglass was awarded the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship for his philanthropic work and specifically his work with Best Buddies Canada.

Other charitable endeavours include raising over $1,500,000 for Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival in support of UHN; working with the 519 Community Centre Building Campaign; Patron/Chairman for the 2012 CANFAR Gala raising over $1,000,000 benefiting the Canadian Foundation for Aids Research.

Penny Shore (Board Member/Co-Founder, effective January 1, 2021)

Penny Shore Co-Founded and Co-Chairs the Board of Directors of Best Buddies Canada. A graduate of Carleton University and the University of Toronto, her career experience includes being a publisher, gerontologist, and social entrepreneur.

Over the past 35 years, as President and CEO of P. Shore & Associates Inc., Ms. Shore has been an innovative and highly creative leader and business builder across Canada. She has established and developed products and organizations from concept to full operation, in both the public and private sectors. She has been a custom publisher in both business and mass-market educational programs. An experienced public speaker, she delivered North American media tours and extensive national training programs. Her custom fundraising events for numerous charity clients have created successful results, meeting fundraising targets.

Other charitable endeavors include being on the Board of the Canadian Foundation for Aids Research, Chairperson of CANFAR’s National Youth Network, Founder and Chair of the Research Centre for the Older Worker, Board President of Ariel’s Legacy Canada, and Co-Founder and Advisory Board Co-Chair of VOLT Hockey Canada. She has received the City of Toronto Access, Equity and Human Rights Award, and the International Leadership Award, Best Buddies International.

Emily Ben-Haim

Ms. Ben-Haim is Vice-President, Client Wealth Management, for Gluskin Sheff. Prior to joining Gluskin Sheff in 2016, Ms. Ben-Haim was a member of J.P. Morgan’s Wealth Management team in New York and thereafter part of their Investment Bank covering Institutional Sales in London, England. Prior thereto, Ms. Ben-Haim worked for Morgan Stanley's Risk Management team. Ms. Ben-Haim holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Ms. Ben-Haim has been a board member of Best Buddies, a global charitable organization since 2018.

Her other charitable endeavors include serving as a committee member for Art Toronto’s fundraiser for the AGO since 2016.

Heli Donaldson

Heli Donaldson established and operated the renowned landmark Spirits Bar & Grill of Toronto for over 25 years.

Heli maintains her involvement in the hospitality sector focussing on the wine, spirits and service industry.

Director of Best Buddies Canada commencing in 1998. Founder & Chairperson of the Best Buddies Advisory Committee with the mandated to assist in achieving the vision and goals of the the charity.

Previously co-chaired the Best Buddies Gala in its 8th and 9th years.

Extensive experience and humanitarian work through associations and board memberships with the BIA Bloor Yorkville Association, YBBA Yonge Bloor Bay Association, ORHMA Ontario Restaurant Hotel Motel Association, PIA Partners in Art and continues to maintain involvement with other organizations and charities.

Graduated from University in Boston, Massachusetts. Employed in Boston for several years for Scudder, Stevens, and Clark. Upon returning to Toronto worked in advertising for Vickers & Benson.

John Elwood

John David Elwood has been a Board Member of Best Buddies since 2000. In 2002 he conceived and helped initiate the annual “Thrill of Ascot” event which, with the full support and great efforts of the Board, Staff, and Sponsors, has now become one of Toronto’s most popular fashion charity events.

Other charitable efforts include: Fundraising for the Myelin Repair Foundation in California, the MS Society of Canada, and years as a team leader liaising with corporate sponsors for the United Way.

Mr. Elwood acts in an investment advisory capacity to clients providing guidance and raising capital funds for new ventures.

As a member of the Independent Financial Brokers of Canada, and licensed by the Ontario Securities Commission, Mr. Elwood has managed large groups of private investment portfolios.

Previously, Mr. Elwood managed Crown Trust Co., then First City Trust as Vice President of Business Development for Eastern Canada.

Mr. Elwood graduated from Bishops University in Quebec, Canada. He entered the Banking and Trust industry with Montreal Trust, ultimately promoted to Head Office in Toronto in the Pension Trust Investment Department. As an Industry member, he joined the Education Committee of the Mutual Funds Institute of Canada, then in its early years.

J Gibson

J Gibson is the President of JGD Inc. which offers comprehensive design services from architectural design to building and construction management, thru to the finishing of interior design and décor. J studied architecture at Harvard and Columbia Universities and went on to study interior design at Parsons School of Design in New York.

J is committed to giving back to the community. He has volunteered his time, sponsored friends and last year J involved his company in making gift boxes for women’s shelters throughout the city. He has been extensively involved in many different charitable organizations including The Princess Margaret Hospital, Camp Oochigeas and the Ronald McDonald House.

J offers a wealth of knowledge from his experience in corporate identity, design aesthetic, and public service.

Jacqueline M. Harper

Jacqueline M. Harper obtained her law degree from the Université de Moncton and a Bachelor of Science from St. Francis Xavier University. She returned to Toronto and has practiced law for over 25 years, providing services in both official languages. She is currently in private practice, focused primarily on administrative law and civil litigation matters. In addition, Jacqueline is a Deputy Judge in Toronto and Certified Adjudicator. She is a past member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and a current member of the Law Society Tribunal and Licence Appeal Tribunal. Her work has taken her across the Province, including attending to matters on the First Nations’ reserves of Moosonee and Attawapiskat. Jacqueline is an elected member of the Toronto Council of the Ontario Bar Association, as well as a member of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators. She has been a frequent speaker on various legal issues. She is involved with a number of local charities and has been a life-long volunteer with various groups for people with intellectual disabilities.

Bonnie Hurvitz

Bonnie Hurvitz is the owner of B. R. Interiors, an interior design company specializing in residential homes.

Bonnie is currently a board member at The McMichael Gallery.

Bonnie chaired Mind Matters, an event to raise funds to build a classroom for the Fresh Start Program for Sunnybrook Hospital's Brain Sciences Centre.

Bonnie was a former director of Sunnybrook Foundation. Bonnie also sat on both the Donor Relations Committee and the Common Marketing & Communications Committee for Sunnybrook.

Rob Knowlton (Treasurer)

Rob Knowlton completed his Bachelor of Science – Mining Engineering at Queen’s University in 2007 and his Masters of Business Administration at Dalhousie University in 2009. Rob then obtained his Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2012, working with KPMG in the Audit Practice. Rob then moved to Sydney, Australia, where he worked at KPMG and then the National Broadband Network to lead the accounting for a landmark acquisition by the company. Rob is the loving father of two boys, and is passionate about exploring the outdoors. Rob has volunteered his time for many charitable causes including Movember, the Ride for Heart and the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Rene Pantalone

Mrs. Pantalone is Director of a number of family-owned real estate and development companies in Toronto, Canada, including National Homes, a major residential homebuilder, and Living Life Group, whose interests include developing and managing retirement residences as well as commercial development, infill housing neighborhoods and land development.
Mrs. Pantalone also sits on the board of The Institute for International Urban Development and is a current member of the Toronto Real Estate Board. As past Chair, and long-time Board Member of Montcrest School, an independent non-profit school in Toronto, Mrs. Pantalone directed overall growth, acquisition of land and campus development. Rene is a past Governor of the Canadian Olympic Trust, and a past member of the Canadian Olympic Association. Representing the Canadian Alumni, she was a board member of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design Alumni Council. Mrs. Pantalone has sat on the board of a number of charities in Toronto including The Sunnybrook Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Fundraising Committee and Rosalie Hall Home for Unwed Mothers. Rene was past chair of the TFSC for Ovarian Cancer which raised monies for both Toronto General Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital Ovarian Cancer Research and clinics. Rene was instrumental in establishing the Ovarian Cancer Clinic at Princess Margaret Hospital as well as establishing The Heart of Fashion for North York General Hospital Breast Screening Clinic. Mrs. Pantalone's education includes both B.A. and B. Ed. degrees from York University in Toronto and she recently graduated from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, AMDP '05.

Deborah Robinson

Deborah is the Founder and President of Bay Street HR, an outsourced human resource and board governance consultancy.

Deborah’s work is primarily within the financial services, media and technology sectors.

Deborah founded Bay Street HR in 2001 and since then has worked with many leading boutique firms and assisted in start-ups and mergers/acquisitions. She has leveraged her insights garnered through her consulting work to invest in several of her client companies. She recently ended her term on the board of VIA Rail, Canada’s national railway as Director, member of the HR Committee and Governance Risk and Strategy Committee. She is a Director of Best Buddies/ Vrais-Copains Canada, chairs the Human Resources Committee and co-chairs the Best Buddies Foundation. In addition, she is Director, Chair of the Governance and Compensation Committee for Park Lawn Corporation (PLC-TSX) and Canada Jetlines (JET-TSXV). Deborah was born and raised in the Boston area and moved to Toronto in 1995.