Board of Directors

As the Chairperson of A Rose for Grandma (ARFG), Girmalla Persaud provides strategic leadership to grow this brand new organization.

Girmalla brings a great deal of experience as she served as the Executive Director of Malvern Family Resource Centre (MFRC) for 35 years before retiring in 2021.  Girmalla also has over 30 years of Board experience by being on several Boards including Centenary Hospital, TAIBU Community Health Centre and Toronto Arya Samaj.  She is a skilled facilitator for nonprofits with core competencies in effective nonprofit management, strategic planning, and board development.  

Girmalla has been a strong pillar of support in Malvern and grew Malvern Family Resource Centre in tandem with the community.  Challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic did not stop her as she mentored and encouraged her staff to develop and implement on-line programs for the community.  She also has a passion for Food Security and was instrumental in launching an Urban Farm during the pandemic creating space for farmers to grow their vegetables and increase sustainability by having them sell their produce at the Farmers Market.

Girmalla is always looking for new opportunities to expand programs for children, youth, women and seniors and developed a robust business plan when she embarked on acquiring a building for Malvern Family Resource Centre.  She was successful in achieving a 20,000 square foot state of the art building to deliver programs and services for the community.

I currently reside in the traditional territory of the Anishnabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), Ojibway/Chppewa peoples. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties.

I am a Caribbean-born, Canadian trained educator and artist with over twenty years of experience, certified by the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) and the Ontario Principals Council (OPC) in Primary, Junior and Intermediate/Senior Education, Visual Arts, First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education and Special Education with a focus on Problematic Disorders. I specialize in teaching, coaching, working with “high risk” students who may be racialized and /or marginalized students, Indigenous students, students with exceptionalities and / or combinations thereof. My professional experience consists of teaching at the elementary and secondary levels, lecturing at a Visual and Performing Arts College for five years, living and teaching at a Federal, First Nations school in an isolated Indigenous community in northwestern Ontario for over a year and working internationally and locally as a Visual Artist / Art Educator, Special Educator, Principal and Author of the upcoming book, Steps to Yes, Transforming Behaviors, For Kids of All Ages.

I have a passion for developing appropriate intervention processes for students with at risk concerns through mediation and coaching: using Visual Arts and Music as Expressive Arts Therapy. I practice inclusion and equity by providing support and time for collaboration with the students and families within their communities. I believe that sharing leadership, creating a shared vision and trusting relationships will ensure successful outcomes.

Currently, I am a founding member of a non-profit advocacy group, Youth Empowerment Support (YES), specifically dealing with Indigenous communities. In the past I have been a Vice President of the Black Women’s Congress of York Region. Now I live, paint, write and teach music in Oakville, Ontario.

Mary Vari graduated university with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1970 and worked as a public school teacher, focusing on children with special needs. While raising 3 children with her husband, Mary was employed in program development for her children’s music school. Mary brings extensive experience as a member of the Board of Directors of a Music Educators organization spanning North and South America with a membership of over 5,000. In addition, she organized and conducted 7 extensive concert tours for up to 35 teenage students at a time to 4 different continents - before access to the internet!

Mary went on to teach at Humber College and took on the role of Executive Director of a Trade School in Toronto.

Her most illuminating work experience was when she had the privilege to work alongside Christiana Egi as Director of Marketing for Alexis Lodge, where her dear mother was a resident. It was there that she developed a passion for learning about dementia and the possibilities for successful care at home,… given the right guidance. Mary was delighted to learn that this valuable guidance and support for those providing care at home for loved ones is provided through A Rose For Grandma Charitable Trust, founded by Christiana Egi in 2023.

Today, Mary is happily engaged as a full time grandmother of 4 youngsters! Christiana’s wonderful books have inspired questions and understanding for all of them, as they learn about the special accommodations that have been made for her brother, who suffered from vascular dementia.

Marguerite currently resides on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.  This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties, more specifically by Treaty 13.

With over thirty (30) years of experience as a Legal Assistant, Marguerite brings not only strong organizational skills, attention to detail and a commitment to excellence in legal procedures and office operations but also a strong sense of purpose and compassion to her role on the Board of Directors.

Throughout her career, she has worked closely with lawyers, paralegals, and clients across various areas of law some of which are Labour, Employment Law and Litigation, Construction Labour Law, and Aboriginal Law/Indigenous Rights.  She has also served on internal committees - ranging from student support to social and IT initiatives - highlighting her collaborative nature and leadership behind the scenes.  She is also highly skilled in document management systems, legal accounting tools, and a range of software essential for modern legal operations.

Outside of her professional career, Marguerite is an active community volunteer. She has served as Vice President of an alumnae association for her alma mater, where she helped plan and coordinate fundraising initiatives. Her volunteer work also includes local food banks, community outreach through her life insurance provider, and school committees.

In addition to her legal work, she is a Registered Nutritional Health Specialist, reflecting her holistic commitment to health, wellness, and helping others. Her diverse experience and passion for giving back make her a valued member of the organization’s Board.

Marguerite is proud to serve on the Board and is excited to contribute to the mission and future of the organization.

As CEO of Curaga Inc., I lead a purpose-driven healthcare organization committed to improving access to high-quality care and dependable workforce solutions across Ontario. With over a decade of experience in clinical care, home-care operations, staffing and recruitment, and strategic partnerships, I am dedicated to building sustainable service models that empower patients, support clinicians and healthcare organizations, and strengthen our communities.

My background spans nursing, home-care program development, healthcare staffing, and organizational leadership — experience that has helped establish Curaga as a trusted partner for hospitals, long-term care homes, clinics, community programs and families in both urban and underserved Northern Ontario regions.

A physician and health writer. Grace has been a physician for over a decade, specialising in neurology before moving to Canada, where she is presently on the path to licensure.

Vishal Sood serves as the Board of Director – Finance at A Rose for Grandma, bringing over 15 years of leadership experience in operations, compliance, and financial governance. He provides strategic oversight of the organization’s finances, including budgeting, reporting, and risk management, ensuring transparency, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. Vishal’s expertise in process optimization, team leadership, and operational strategy supports the nonprofit’s mission to deliver meaningful programs and community impact.