Bereaved Families of Ontario board includes:

L. JAMES CARDINAL, Chair - Bereaved Families of Ontario

L. James Cardinal (better known as Jim) is a third generation funeral director. Licensed as a funeral director in Ontario in 1982, Jim became president/owner of Cardinal Funeral Homes Ltd in 1984 after the death of his father. He is proud to carry on the family tradition of caring for his community since 1925.
Jim has served on many volunteer boards:

• Past president of Guaranteed Funeral Deposits 1994
• Board member of the Ontario Funeral Service Association 1995 to 1998
• Founding member of Open Dialogue
• Board member of the Toronto and District Funeral Directors Association 1996 to 1998
• President of the Funeral Service Association of Canada 2005 -2006
• Board member of Bereaved Families of Ontario - Toronto 2002 - 2007

He has also volunteered as a T-Ball and Little League baseball coach in High Park as well as coaching minor hockey at Humber Valley.
In his younger years Jim travelled Ontario as a professional musician before joining the family business. He still enjoys playing the odd gig now and then whenever he can. Jim is an avid scuba diver and loves to travel the world in search of the perfect dive.
Jim is married and has two sons, both currently away at university.

TERESA GIBSON, B.A.
Teresa has Bachelors in Sociology, a Certificate in Grief and Bereavement Studies and is at present working on her Bachelor’s of Social Work. She became a board member in 2004 to Midwestern Regions’ Affiliate. Teresa is currently working with youth who are in trouble with the law. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with Grand River Hospital (Spiritual Care), Huntington Society of Canada and Hospice of Waterloo Region. Her past board experience has been the Alzheimer Society of Kitchener-Waterloo. Teresa joined the Provincial Board in June 2007.

JEFF THORSTEINSON
Jeff and his wife Janet live in Whitby Ontario and they have 4 children: Matthew, Joseph (9yrs), Daniel (6yrs) and Eva (4yrs). Jeff and Janet became involved with the BFO affiliate in London Ontario shortly after Matthew died very suddenly from meningitis on Feb. 24th, 2000. BFO London played a very significant role in helping Janet and Jeff through the grieving process and when they felt the time was right they became involved as volunteers: Jeff by sitting on the BFO London Board of Directors and volunteering as a grief counsellor and Janet by teaching yoga for grieving mothers and volunteering as a grief counsellor. After moving to Whitby in 2006, Jeff joined the board of the provincial BFO organization to continue contributing to the work of BFO. Jeff works in downtown Toronto for the Bank of Montreal group of companies developing and executing their business strategies, Janet is raising the children and teaching a multitude of fitness class in the Whitby area and Joe, Dan and Evie are very busy with school, music and sports activities.

KATE BURDETT
Kate is a bereaved parent who has served Bereaved Families of Ontario in both Ottawa and Midwestern Region for many years. She has facilitated a great number of BFO groups and currently serves as the Professional Consultant for BFO-Midwestern Region. As well as sitting on the Board of Directors for BFO Provincial, Kate has served on the boards of both BFO Ottawa and BFO Midwestern Regions. Kate regularly provides seminars and training for Corporate EAP programs, government agencies, and area Health Centres and is an active volunteer in her community mental health networks. Kate's private practice centres on issues related to grief, loss and stress.

FRANK JABLONOWSKI
Frank is Retired Captain, from the Burlington ON Fire Department, holder of the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal and the Provincial Fire Services Long Service Medal.
Frank became a member of BFO in 1988 after the death of his 19 year old son, Officer Cadet Frank J. Jablonowski. Bereaved Families of Ontario extended a helping hand after the death of my son and since then I endeavour to do the same for others, in their time of need. I expect to carry on with this vocation, while able to be able to do so.
In addition to being a Trained BFO Facilitator, has served in many capacities at the BFO Affiliate and Provincial level. Also, active as the Secretary to the Board of Directors to Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, Active Volunteer and Director with the Buckhorn Community Center. Current serving member of the Galway-Cavendish-Harvey Fire Service
His avocation is tinkering in his home workshop, woodcarving, photography, calligraphy and is a voracious reader. He is the caretaker of four pets: three cats and one elderly retired German Shepherd Police Dog.