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Board of Directors

We are blessed at eCause Canada to have such great people involved with our company.
It was difficult to choose just a few to be part of our Board of Directors, we did however,
and each one brings with them unique skills and a diversified background to assist us
in achieving our goals. We all share the same basic vision; a greener healthier world with a much greater emphasis on supporting one another. The business model of people, planet, and then profit is what drives us here as eCause. Here is a little more information about each one of the members of our Board of Directors.

Joyce Shanks - Founder and President

I founded eCause Canada in August 2008. It seems more appropriate to say however that eCause was actually an evolution of what I have been doing for more than 2 decades. Some people might call me the bleeding heart, tree hugging healer, and that really wouldn't be terribly far off from a synopsis of me. I have a holistic clinic that I operate out of my home, I raise money and donate money all the time to a variety of different causes, and I make every effort to tread lightly on this planet. What drives me most in this world is being able to provide a healthy and happy home and environment for my daughter and the future of us all. What I have created with eCause was an opportunity to combine several of my driving forces together allowing me to not only make a positive impact close to home, but to make a difference on a much bigger scale. The trend these days is thankfully much more environmentally driven. Consumers are becoming more mindful of what they are buying, and companies are providing "greener" products for consumption. We have a great opportunity here to support, educate and assist on so many different levels, thank you in advance for the opportunity to work with you on your specific endeavors.

Ray Shanks - Vice President

I have had a life long passion for Railroads coupled with a deep respect for nature which makes my role of Director with a focus on transportation on the board of eCause a seemingly ideal fit. I grew up in a farming community in Lanarkshire, Scotland where my father was an inspector for the Scottish SPCA. He instilled in me my deep respect for nature and animals. My mother was an avid gardener and made good use of our large country garden to grow a variety of fruit and vegetables. Although the buzz word "organic" had not yet been penned all our produce was organic and we often supplied the local neighbourhood. We got our milk in urns, and our meat directly from the local farms. We were actually pretty close to being self sufficient, quite a feat for the 1970's. Nearly 40 years later while my day job is supporting multi million dollar mass transit rail projects around the world I am honoured to be on the board of directors for eCause. With lessons learned from my past I believe I can help to create a better future.

Susan Stoliar - Secretary, Treasurer

When Joyce asked me if I wanted to become involved with eCause, I was incredibly eager. I was recently retired from years of bookkeeping in the garment industry and wanted to remain somewhat busy. Being active in community fundraising was something that was part of my life while my children were growing up, and in the 1980s I became involved with The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. While supporting their annual Bike-a-thon and Rolls Royce raffle, I took my volunteerism one step further and became the Recording Secretary on their Board of Directors. A highlight for me was when I was given the opportunity to attend the annual convention of JDF in Washington D.C. I was invited to give a speech that year on behalf of the Montreal Chapter, on the rewards and benefits of fund raising. It is incredibly rewarding to help support research funding which improves people's lives. Working with eCause, allows me this opportunity on a regular basis, it is a challenging and rewarding adventure which helps to improve all of our futures.

Kathleen Gran - Director

When Joyce asked me to join her Board of Directors, I didn't think twice. Having been a life long nature and animal lover, joining eCause Canada and being part of this eco-friendly venture was not only a logical next step, it was a privilege. I am proud to contribute my corporate experience and expertise of the French language and culture - despite my name, I am a francophone « pure laine »!

I work as an Image Coach and Mentor and I own my own business called CHIC. I thrive in helping people feel better about who they are and giving them the necessary tools to better understand and develop their personal image and brand. I truly believe that a strong self-image starts first and foremost with a healthy body and lifestyle. I therefore embrace eCause's mission and trust that I can make a positive contribution to the success and growth of this company.

Nancy Overbury - Director

I am a classically trained artist, and over the past fifteen years I have been involved in the fields of Graphic Design, Illustration, and Art Direction and management. Past projects included advertising, packaging, and product development for beauty care and cosmetics, fashion, print and press. In my portfolio are products I've developed for numerous companies such as Revlon, Loblaws, LaSenza, and Serenita and La Temperance Spas.

In 2006, however I branched out with my own design company: Overbury Arts. Personally I love fragrance, colour and all things natural which led me to the development of my own brand of all body care products, Hint of Eden. Here I combine my passion for being creative with the science of developing natural body care products. In 2009 the Hint of Eden Brand of body care products was honoured by becoming a finalist in the Montreal and West Island's Chamber of Commerce Awards for Eco-Sustainable Production and Design. I am proud to be both a supplier to eCause Canada, and on their Board of Directors.