Our Board

Home » About Us » Our Board

Please note: To request board meeting minutes from prior to 2023, please email info@cmhahkpr.ca

John Lyons, President

John Lyons is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management Executive Program. He has and continues to be an active and contributing member of the community where he resides. He has served on numerous Boards and Committees in many different sectors. He enjoys working with community members and agencies to help and foster healthy relationships. John has been with the board since 2018 and holds the position of President.

Heather Temple, Vice-President & Treasurer

Heather has held the position of board member for CMHA HKPR since 2017. She was raised in Peterborough and eventually moved to Ottawa to complete her degree in criminology followed by a certificate at Fleming College in Emergency Management Planning. Heather has worked in Public Administration in the Justice System for fourteen years working predominantly in labour relations and most recently in pandemic recovery. She is most passionate about supporting organizations and teams through transformations in service delivery.

Sandra Hamilton, Secretary

Sandra is dedicated to improving the lives of people with mental health issues with a focus on strengthening access to healthcare and ensuring that patients and families are included in mental health decision making. Her passion for improving the delivery of mental health treatment is personal and is rooted in her own family’s lived experience with mental health. In addition to her role as secretary of the board for CMHA HKPR, Sandra is also a member of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Mental Health Quality Council, a steering committee member on the Peterborough Ontario Health Team and is the Co-Chair of the Patient and Family Advisory Committee for the Peterborough Ontario Health Team. Sandra has recently retired from the Ontario Public Service after 34 years of service working in both Social Services and the Ministry of Natural Resources as the Business Manager for Corporate Services. Sandra has held the position of board member for CMHA HKPR since 2019.

Caroline Monsell

Twenty years ago, Caroline recognized the need to help herself as her own mental health was suffering. Once she could help herself, she helped her family. Caroline joined the Board to give back and make a difference in her community. Caroline is currently self-employed as the Principal Consultant for IMPACT Now, a company that provides consulting, coaching and learning opportunities to organizations. Caroline has a Masters of Arts in Learning and Technology together with C.H.R.L. and C.T.D.P. designations. She has worked for more than twenty five years for private and public companies. Her passion is working with people in a learning and development capacity to help them become comfortable with what they once thought was uncomfortable. Caroline has held the position of board member for CMHA HKPR since 2017.

Matthew Wilkins

For the past 10 years, Matthew has been working in Operations Management and Business Development from a foundation, experience, and knowledge based in Human Resources management. The industries he serves span real estate development, construction, hospitality, and entertainment for businesses across Canada. Being responsible for the administration, business relations, and human resources and relations gives Matthew an outlet to work with the people and partners that are the foundation of our workplaces. It has also allowed him to hone his collaborative approach to adapt to the changing workplaces that the range of industries served provides.

A firm believer in continued education and ongoing training, Matthew takes on any opportunity to learn, rounding out his education from Sir Sandford Fleming College and Ryerson University. Matthew has held the position of board member for CMHA HKPR since 2021.

Jason Ward

Jason founded and co-owns Wards Lawyers, a full-service firm in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Prior to retiring in 2022 after more than 20 years practicing law, Jason practiced civil litigation generally, particularly family law, estate disputes and employment law.

In 2021, Jason was designated as and appointed a Certified Specialist – Civil Litigation, by the Law Society of Ontario.

Jason is dedicated to his community and has been awarded the Business Leader of the Year Award by the Chamber of Commerce. Jason has served on local boards and offered advisory services to local non-profit and charitable organizations and is passionate about youth mental health. Jason hosts the largest kids’ road hockey tournament in Ontario, if not beyond, raising money and awareness for youth mental health. He also passionately donates and actively participates in many, effective youth mental health awareness initiatives in his community. Jason joined the CMHA HKPR Board in 2023.

Chhavi Chawla

Chhavi is passionate about spreading awareness to highlight the importance of mental health across various communities. Chhavi graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Trent University. This knowledge of human behavior from her education has proven invaluable and allows her to approach challenges with empathy and creativity, and to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.

Chhavi is a results-oriented professional with a background in administration, customer service, and working and volunteering for non-for-profit organizations. With over 6 years of experience in these fields, she has developed a unique set of skills that allows her to deliver outstanding results. Chhavi is currently working as an Executive Assistant in the Vice President’s office at Trent University.

Michelle Carr

Michelle is honored and excited to be serving on the CMHA HKPR Board of Directors. Michelle feels grateful to be welcomed into such a diverse and inclusive organization.

At 30, Michelle was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. She has a fundamental respect for those facing psychosis, marginalization, stigma, and homelessness, as she has experienced these challenges herself.

After 20 years of treatment and recovery, Michelle is empowering others and giving back to the community. She is compassionate towards finding a path to good mental health for all.

Heather Litster

Growing up, Heather experienced difficulty with her mental health, it was through CMHA services that she was able to access the tools she needed to feel more connected to herself and sense of community. Heather has a background in healthcare, marketing, and customer service, firmly believing that her true professional role is to support wherever needed. She spends her free time developing her knowledge base to complement her education in Anthropology & Biology from Trent University. Her passion is with the intersection of mental health and menstrual cycle awareness. Heather is honoured to have the privilege of sitting on the Board of Directors at CMHA to give back to the valuable organization that helped her along her way.

Karthik Elangovan

Karthik holds a Master’s degree in Business Management and is both a Chartered Management Accountant (UK) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). His global expertise has been shaped by advanced studies in Disruptive Innovation at Harvard Business School (USA), Social Entrepreneurship at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (Germany), and a General Management Programme in Japan.

With over two decades of experience in finance and strategy across banking, fintech, and the nonprofit sector, Karthik specializes in innovation, risk management, and sustainable business growth. He is a fintech entrepreneur, finance coach, and part-time professor, driven by a mission to create connections between diverse people and groups to build inclusive, resilient communities that support mental health for all.

Brendan Sova

Brendan is an experienced healthcare leader with more than 15 years of progressive leadership across acute care, mental health, long term care, and community health settings. He brings a strong clinical foundation, systems level perspective, and a collaborative, values driven approach to governance and organizational leadership. A registered nurse by background, Brendan is recognized for translating frontline insight into strategic decision making. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Health Administration. He is passionate about using data informed tools to enhance system performance and maximize the client experience and their physical and mental health outcomes.

Carol Sun

Carol Sun is passionate about community wellbeing and mental health advocacy. She currently serves as an Accounting Coordinator at Hospice Peterborough and brings a background in asset valuation, financial analysis, and front-line community engagement. She holds a Master’s degree in Big Data Analytics from Trent University and contributes experience in financial stewardship and data-informed decision-making.

As an immigrant to Canada, Carol values connection, belonging, and inclusive community care. Her professional and community experiences have shaped her understanding of the diverse needs within the community and the importance of accessible, person-centered support. She is committed to supporting strong governance and the long-term financial sustainability of community-based mental health services.