Board of Directors

A dedicated team of business leaders and passionate hockey enthusiasts make up the leadership team of HEROS. Planning the direction and growth of the organization, the Board of Directors has remained devoted to goal of empowering Canada’s youth through ice hockey.

Barb Aidelbaum, Co-Founder

Barb Aidelbaum is a Skate Canada triple gold medallist, a nationally certified coach in both figure skating and hockey and the first female coach ever to be carded in Canada by a Junior “A” hockey team. For more than 30years, she has coached both national and international figure skaters and hockey players in several different countries. With her great passion for sport, Barb brings an extensive knowledge of the Canadian sport system both at the amateur and professional levels. Her background with the NHL, AHL, NCAA, CIS, CHL and CJHL was instrumental in the founding of HEROS programming. Barb currently runs high-performance hockey skating camps for NHL prospects and pros. She also works with team strength and conditioning staff as a consultant and works closely with NHL teams analyzing player’s skating technique through their team video. She enjoys snow skiing, pilates, tennis and helps out with several of her children’s sporting activities and teams.

Casey McCawley, Co-Founder

Growing up on the prairies, Casey developed a love of hockey at an early age. It was his desire to help and support his long-time, close friend Norm Flynn that led to his involvement on the HEROS Board of Directors. Casey’s strategic planning, managerial, program development and troubleshooting expertise have been instrumental in the creation and expansion of HEROS. Born and educated in Winnipeg, Casey graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in agriculture. In 1987, Casey moved to Vancouver and joined Parrish & Heimbecker Limited, a long–established agricultural firm specializing in international grain exports. Currently, he serves as general manager of the B.C. region, a position he has held for the past 12 years. “The greatest reward in my participation has been seeing the phenomenal difference we can make in these children’s lives,” Casey says, “HEROS to me is about seeing dreams come true”.

Jonathan Carter

Jonathan Carter is a Managing Director at CIBC Wood Gundy, leading a head office team in Toronto responsible for Investment Strategy, Product Management, Marketing and Insurance. Jonathan has been with CIBC since 2001 and came to know the HEROS organization through friends and colleagues, and HEROS’ former Chairman of the Board Terron Falk. After getting to know how HEROS has impacted youth across Canada and having the chance to open the Toronto Stock Exchange with several HEROS participants, Jonathan jumped at the chance to become more involved. Having a love for the game, the values HEROS teaches and seeing the passion and dedication of volunteers and staff Jonathan sought to be part of the HEROS family. Jonathan joined the Board of Directors in December 2015 and leads a Development Committee with a focus on fundraising and prospective sponsorship opportunities.

Harnarayan Singh

A born and raised Albertan, Harnarayan Singh fell in love with the game of hockey at a very young age. Growing up in the small, southern Albertan town of Brooks, while his family was very different in appearance from others, hockey created friendships and brought him closer to his peers. His dream wasn’t to play in the NHL, but to be a part on Hockey Night in Canada. While many told him it wouldn’t be possible, Harnarayan persevered, graduating from Mount Royal University’s Broadcasting program, and eventually working for CBC Radio in Calgary. It was here that the chance to be a part of the first ever broadcast team for Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi allowed him to fulfill his dream in 2008. Since then, Harnarayan has expanded his role to be a national television host on the English language broadcasts for Rogers Sportsnet broadcasts while also working as a host for Flames TV. Though he is most well known for the “Bonino Bonino Bonino” goal call in the 2016 NHL playoffs, he works tirelessly to promote inclusion, acceptance and equality in sport, music, culture, and day to day to life. In 2017, Harnarayan was named a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada and was also appointed as an ambassador for the NHL’s Hockey Is for Everyone initiative.  A prominent guest on Hometown Hockey with Ron MacLean, Harnarayan has been profiled in the New York Times, Maclean’s and on HBO. Follow him on Twitter at @IceSinghHNIC.

Kevin Klippenstein

Kevin is a Chartered Accountant.  He is the Chief Financial Officer and a Director for Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited, a large privately held agri-business with operations across Canada.   He has been with P&H since 2000.  In this role Kevin is ultimately responsible for Treasury functions, financial reporting, M&A activities, I.T., H.R., legal issues and of course Risk Management.

Kevin was involved on the ice for the first three years there was a HEROS program in Winnipeg.  He continues to enjoy playing hockey, golf, cycling, kayaking and basically any activity his three daughters take an interest in.  He has coached various levels of ringette for over 10 years.

Kevin’s current board involvement includes the national board of Participation; St Mary’s Academy and Past-President of The Manitoba Club.

Pam Ryan

Pam is President of Lucent Quay Consulting Inc., a full-service strategic communications and engagement firm with offices in Vancouver and Toronto.

A hockey fan for as long as she can remember, one of Pam’s favourite childhood memories is the weekly family ritual of homemade pizza from TV tables while watching Hockey Night in Canada. In 2010, Pam picked up a hockey stick for the first time and finally learned to play.

Pam learned about HEROS from Co-founder Casey McCawley and jumped at the opportunity to lend the support of the entire Lucent Quay Team with media relations, marketing and communications, and helping to organize the first annual fundraising gala. She joined the HEROS Board in 2018 because she believes in the empowering good that comes from a positive experience participating in team sport and more importantly, because she was moved by firsthand accounts of HEROS graduates who spoke of the life skills and personal growth they’ve gained through their involvement in the HEROS organization.

Financials

HEROS is proud of its rich background and grass-roots upbringing. Since the initial programs in 2000, HEROS has grown to an international level and looks forward to continued growth. As a Canadian registered charity, Charitable Number 877195610RR0001, HEROS is responsible to maintain the highest level of integrity and transparency for its finances. Each year, our financial statements are audited and strategic decisions are made for growth. Below are our most recent Annual Reports. HEROS is proud of the many great donors and partners that allow for our programs to take place. Without such generous support, our programs would never have taken flight.