Forensic and Dispute Resolution Services, Grant Thornton LLP
Topic: New Business Risks in the COVID Landscape
Host: Michele Guy
Sandy Boucher is a seasoned investigator with 35 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Starting his career with the Royal Hong Kong Police, where he worked for 12 ½ years attaining the rank of Superintendent, Sandy specialized in Asian organized crime, narcotics and money laundering investigations. During his time with the force, Sandy received many commendations for his work with police forces around the globe.
Sandy came to Canada and the private sector in 1995. He is a specialist in fraud and corruption investigations, background due diligence enquiries, asset tracing and recovery, managing major investigations and security. Sandy now works on detecting and preventing fraud and corruption and divides his time between investigating such cases and advising organizations on how to prevent them from occurring. He has led and conducted a wide range of investigations including a number of high level corruption probes and has testified around the globe in both civil and criminal courts.
Since 2009, he was worked in the forensic group of Grant Thornton LLP where he heads the national investigative research, and anti-corruption practices. More recently Sandy has been managing and growing the firm’s national cybersecurity practice and leading the breach response and investigations team.
Glenn Davis and Brigitte Bogar provided us with our musical interlude and National Anthem.
It was a sad start as we recognized the loss of 22 lives in the Nova Scotia tragedy. The city had the Toronto sign lit in red and we were asked to wear red to honour the RCMP officer killed.
Bill Empey, son of a Rotarian, gave us his Let’s Be Personal chat. See below.
Susan Howson updated us on progress of spending by the foundation for COVID-19 causes. We will be doing more as the committees submit their proposals to the Phil Fund Review Team.
Saleem Kassum introduced our guest speaker, Tess Widdifield, acting Executive Director of ShelterBox Canada. She started working with them in BC and then joined the New Westminster Royal City Rotary Club. Now, here in Toronto, she is a member of Toronto Twilight RC, while her job takes her across the country.
Access to clean water continues to be a world issue, especially as we try to implement hand washing during COVID-19. This is difficult to do in overcrowded areas as well as maintaining social distancing. In Wuhan where it appears to have started, density is
6,000 /sq.km. while the Rohinga refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar Pakistan are crowded in at 40,000 /sqkm. There are currently 70,000,000 person displaced from their homes worldwide.
ShelterBox continues to act in disasters, currently with the Vanuatu force 5 cyclone and also flooding in Tanzania. But they also continue to work in other areas in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Somaliland. Tess is impressive.
Susan presented Tess with a cheque for $10,000 from the foundation. ShelterBox will use it well.
John Andras won the weekly prize and we didn’t even get to hear his voice – he’ll have to wait to collect. Next meeting – May1st, also Virtual.
Our Club’s Phil COVID-19 Review Committee met this Monday and reviewed 8 proposals and we are happy to share with you that we have granted funds to the following organizations for COVID support:
# 1: a grant request submitted by our Women’s Initiatives Committee: for
Women’s Hostel’s Inc for Nellie’s- $5,000 to help cover the cost for additional cooks.
#2: from our Environment Service Committee: for The Stop Community Food Centre – $10,000 for The Stop’s COVID emergency response meal program
# 3 and 4: from our Senior Citizens Committee: for the Sunshine Centre for Seniors - $5,000- for their virtual program and staff chatline and
for SPRINT Senior Care – $5,000 for COVID-19 support for more appropriate staffing.
These were all from the $100,000 alloted by the Foundation for proposals from the philanthropic committees.
In addition the Senior Citizens Committee has approved from its budget $5,000 for Growing Neighbourhoods, helping seniors in the Regent Park area.
Please update Maureen Bird with any donations from your committees for recognition in the Voice.
In my family women did not complete university degrees nor participate in the workforce after marriage. As a young woman who wanted more, I was directionless. At age 19, I was living in a tiny apartment, juggling multiple minimum wage jobs.
I then landed a contract position as an office clerk at an ad agency. I was surrounded by inspiring women who had university degrees, careers, and leadership positions. By the time I finished my contract, I was enrolled in college, studying accounting and finance.
After graduating, I landed a full-time job at PwC. I kept studying part-time while working and advancing my career. After another 7 years of working full-time while studying, I completed both a university degree and accounting designation.
Today, I am a partner in the forensic and litigation accounting group at RSM. Our team calculates damages in a civil litigation context, and investigates insurance claims, often giving expert witness testimony in court.
I have been a member of the Rotary Club of Toronto since 2009, and have known many of you even longer. Why do I remain? Because you are my chosen family. The fact that I have been able to give back and make a difference along my journey with Rotary is a huge bonus.
Let's Be Personal By Bill Empey
I have been proud to be member of this club over the years and I am especially proud today. It seems to me that we have done an excellent job of adjusting quickly to the COVID 19 emergency.
The story of my work and my association with Rotary truly begins with my father. He, and my grandfather before him, were successful in the real estate business in Montreal. They guided my life more by example than by words. Mt father was a dedicated lifetime Rotarian; serving as the president of the Rotary Club of Westmount in the 1950's.
I finished my Ph.D at Boston College in the late 1970s and joined a new business – Data Resources. I returned to Canada to head up the business here and eventually set out with my own firm doing labour market analysis.
I am officially retired but my firm asked me back to advise on the structure and use of a new computer based model that will identify skill shortages and options for recruiting in the automotive industry.
I came to a Rotary lunch in the early 1990's in support of a fellow economist who was speaking and ultimately, was asked to join. Over the years I have become critical of way economics places self interest at the center of a world view and political priorities. I am more persuaded by the idea of "Service above Self". So as my affection with economics decreased, my enthusiasm for Rotary, and its remarkable success at helping people, has increased.
I am especially thankful for the opportunity that Rotary offers to learn more about and serve Canada's First Nation community. The world needs more Rotary and I am happy to be serving others along with you.
Virtual Cooking Class, April 25th
This was supposed to be the last of the series but it will be back by popular demand.
This was more of a challenge – three courses. The main course was braised chicken with mushrooms. John Carr thought the gougères (biscuits) should be spicier and would add a pinch of cayenne. Lorna Johnson thought it was all “guestable”. Maureen Bird only decided to give it a try at 4:30 but her son Stephen gave her extra hands to shop (she didn’t have chicken or cream or cream cheese – or icing sugar) and then return to mix up the gougères and dessert while she put together the chicken – all was ready for 7:00 pm!
This was a rich meal – and delicious! Neil suggested that we might need to make smaller quantities if we want to be able to get out the door at the end of this.
We will see how our savoury tarts go next week
Our 3rd Virtual Cocktail Party…
International Show and Tell..Hosted by Pat Neuman, Fellowship and Entertainment
Familiar strains of music from France, Mexico, England and several more countries, played by pianist Lorna Johnson, ushered us into another Virtual Cocktail Party. This time it was International Show and Tell.
We were very pleased to have guests, Beth Selby our DG for 7070 and her husband Barry Vail join us, their bistro set ready with artifacts from France- even a mini Eiffel Tower! Of course their choice of wine was French..Prince Kumar regaled us with stories and an beautiful costume from Trinidad Carnival. His drink from Trinidad..Rum Punch! June Brown told us her story of her Dutch shoes from the Netherlands, and Alex Brown proudly showed us his carving made by a Wales craftsman. Lorna Johnson talked about Australia as we viewed her “Kangaroo” on the wall…her appetizer was a pumpkin soup, accompanied by Australian white wine..Terry and Elaine Wray represented Mexico and showed a beautiful painting purchased at a silent auction while on their trip over the winter.. Terry, your story about the painting was wonderful. Maureen Bird talked about her many trips to Africa and her activities …she is now using leftover African fabric to make face masks.. Kevin Power spoke of Newfoundland where his Dad was born..and offered us some Screech..James Statham led us through making a “Dark and Stormy”, the Sailor’s Drink from St. Lucia....we need that recipe, James!! Bob Cartilage although wasn’t able to get on the Zoom platform, talked about his trip to England and the National Trust book ends he acquired. NeilPhillips took us for a tour through Nerac (his other home), while sipping on a fine French wine..your French home sounds wonderful!! Pat Neuman spoke of her trip to Portugal, with 3 Rotarian girlfriends, sipping Port, while showing us her Portuguese olive tray.
What a great evening!! It was a smaller group but most enjoyable as we really got to know each other.. next Virtual Cocktail Party is on May 14.. 5:30 to 7 pm…Join us!!!
Virtual Book Club, April 30th
This is the first of a series hosted by Jackie Davies and this week the participants talked about books they have read recently.
Gerry Bird just finished Hilary Mantel's 'The Mirror & The Light', the third in a trilogy on Thomas Cromwell in the time of Henry VIII. He feels that it is worthy of yet another Man Booker Prize which Ms Mantel won in 2009 for Vol. 1, 'Wolf Hall', and in 2012 for Vol 2, "Bring Up The Bodies'.
He read aloud one section and the words are delicious. The book was picked up in the airport mid-March on the way home from Florida with the expectation of a couple of weeks of isolation. Ha!
Marcy Berg talked about a much lighter book - 'The Rosie Project' by Graeme Simsion. Don Tillman is a scientist seeking the perfect mate who must complete a 16-page questionnaire. Rosie reaches out to him on a different manner (and would never have passed his test) and the rest is history if not scientific. There are two more books in the series.
June Brown just finished an audio book (libraries are closed but downloads are available). She was delighted to listen to a best seller 'The Dutch House' by Ann Patchett, especially when it was narrated by Tom Hanks. It relates the story of a young man who becomes a perpetual student to prevent the step-mother from getting access to a trust fund.
Harold Weir (friend of Pat N.) spoke about 'The Seventh Scroll' by Wilbur Smith, a story about the search for the tombs of the pharoahs in the 1950s while trying to fend off government officials and thieves.
Join our special guest Gail Pahwa, Master Gardener in Training, member of Scarborough Garden & Horticultural Society, Toronto Master Gardeners and Toronto Botanical Garden.
As we enter May it is time to get out and getting working.
