Board of Directors
Sarah is the Founder and Chair of the Sarah McLachlan School of Music and holds an honorary Doctorate from Simon Fraser University. She has an active presence within the School as an advocate for the profound potential of music education to empower, motivate, and transform lives. As the key visionary Sarah brings an enthusiasm and passion to every facet of the school. In her celebrated career, she has sold over forty million albums, received three Grammy’s, eight Juno’s and founded a music school.
Donna is President, Chief Executive Officer, Senior Wealth Advisor and owner of OmniVita Custom Wealth Management Inc., an IIROC regulated dealer member firm she founded in November of 2016, after spending 25 years at ScotiaMcLeod. While with the bank owned firm, she was a long-standing member of their Chairman’s Council, an elite group of top advisors nationwide. Her new firm provides customized, client driven, service. She has earned the designations of Financial Management Advisor, Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute and Certified International Wealth Manager.
Her understanding of finance and business management has allowed her and her late husband, Kim, to successfully run businesses since 1988. In addition to her wealth management firm, she currently owns and oversees the operation of Innovative Parts & Solutions, a railway parts manufacturing company that provides parts and tools to railways globally.
Ashif, President and CEO of Trust Science, was awarded the 2002 Ernst & Young Prairies Entrepreneur of the Year award and in 2005 was named as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 and in 2007 named BDC’s Entrepreneur of the Year (Alberta) and has received Canada’s 50 Best Managed companies award three years in a row. Ashif received NAIT's Alumni of Distinction Award and was also recognized as one of the Top 50 Graduates in 50 years. In 2014, Ashif was named an Honorary Lt. Col for the 20th Field Artillery Regiment (Canadian Army) in addition to receiving the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals. He has serves/served on several boards, including Stollery Childrens Hospital Foundation, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Kids Kottage, Alberta’s Promise, Economic Development Edmonton, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Corent Technology, University Hospital Foundation, Citadel, Edmonton Opera and others. Ashif is also a national judge for the Entrepreneur of the Year program and a member of the Henry Crown Fellowship program, part of the Aspen Institute.
David is one of the few creative directors in Canada with experience in all agency disciplines: media, account management and creative. Over the course of his career, he has written and produced over 500 commercials and corporate films, including creative work for clients like Labatt’s Breweries, Goldcorp, Rio Tinto, Vancouver Playhouse, Grouse Mountain, President’s Choice, Sunlight, Rugby Canada, and Knowledge Network. He also created the motto and thematic campaign for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and was the Director of ‘The Gathering’, an award-winning documentary on the Aboriginal participation in the Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Games.
David’s work has been awarded at international advertising shows including Cannes, Clios, London International, Hollywoods, Marketing and the Bessies, as well as four golds at the Cassies, the Canadian awards for advertising effectiveness. David is a former Instructor at the Institute of Communication and Advertising, where he taught for 20 years. He is also a former Director of the National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) West, and Past-President of the Advertising Agency Association of British Columbia (AAABC).
Dan Cleland has over 30 years of experience within the music industry. His path has included work as audio engineer, production manager, tour manager, and music school board member. Following his tour management of such celebrity musicians as Avril Lavigne, the Barenaked Ladies, Norah Jones, and The Chieftains, Dan has come to work as a major member of Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s management team. Dan brings a wealth of energy, industry knowledge, and professional acumen to his work, and though he is undoubtedly a workaholic, he does maintain one of his favorite hobbies as a pilot, as well as his own endeavors in music. Dan’s experience and insights is invaluable to our team.