Board Members
Jon Jurus - Chair
Jon Jurus is an Honors Economics graduate from the University of Western Ontario where he also quarterbacked the football Mustangs. Jon joined the Brampton office of Investors Group in the spring of 1990. He was promoted to the role of Division Director in April of 1993 and obtained his certified designation as a financial planner in 1994. In December of 1995, Jon transferred to the Guelph Office as a Division Director where he remained until 2002. In May of 2002, Jon was promoted to the role of Region Director for Hamilton where he remains today. Jon joined the Board of Directors for the Guelph Wish Fund for Children in 2005. Also, Jon has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Guelph Teen Housing, Wyndham House and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph. Jon resides in Guelph with his beautiful wife Janice, daughters Brynn and Paige and son Joshua.
Ken McDougall - Vice-Chair
Ken McDougall is a Graduate of Manufacturing Engineering from Fanshawe College in London. Ken joined Linamar Corporation in 1987 as a Tool Designer and has held many different positions inside of Linamar Corporation including Quality Manager, Operations Manager, Director of Asia Pacific Development, President of Skyjack and currently is Group President of Linamar Manufacturing Group Americas. Ken was briefly on the Board of St Joseph’s Hospital in Guelph before taking an assignment in Mexico that precluded his ability to continue with the board. He is a longtime supporter of the Guelph Wish Fund and is excited to be joining the Board in 2012. Ken resides in Guelph with his amazing wife Patricia and their two wonderful children Cole and Haily.
Ron Asselstine - Co-Founder & Past Chair
Ron Asselstine co-founded the Guelph Wish Fund for Children with Alan Ferris in 1984. Ron served as President/Treasurer of the charity from 1984 until 2010. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors as Past President and Advisor. Born in Toronto, Ron has resided in Guelph since 1947. Ron and his beautiful wife of 40 years, Wendy, have two children and four grandchildren. Ron played numerous sports within the Guelph community. He started officiating ice hockey in 1969 with the Guelph Hockey Referees Association, and eventually became one of the top officials in the WHA and NHL, officiating over 2000 regular season games, numerous International, and All-Star games in both leagues, and Stanley Cup playoff games. During his 29 years in hockey, Ron also recruited and mentored young officials. He retired in 2001 and performed some consulting work for the OHA as an independent investigator as part of the OHA Abuse Prevention Services Program. Ron’s service to the community and people around him has earned him countless accolades. An induction into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame (2004), the City of Guelph Mayor’s Community Service Award, the Rotary Club "Paul Harris” Fellowship, the National Association of Sports Officials "Gold Whistle” Award, the Sertoma Club "Service to Mankind” Award, a Prime Minister of Canada Citation, the Governor General of Canada "Caring Canadian” Award, the Queen Elizabeth 2 Golden Jubilee Medal, 2010 and the Guelph/Wellington Children’s Foundation’s Benefactor Award.
Melanie DiReto - Treasurer
Melanie joined the Guelph Wish Fund for Children, Board of Directors in November 2012.
She is currently the Manager of Finance and Administration with the Agricultural Adaptation Council based in Guelph. In this role, she provides leadership in the areas of finance, claims administration, federal/provincial financial reporting, human resources, facility management, and privacy policy. Melanie graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Administrative & Commercial Studies in 2002, became a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) in 2007, and is currently working on attaining her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. In her spare time, Melanie has volunteered with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Guelph, Habitat for Humanity and is looking forward to serving on the board of the Guelph Wish Fund for Children. Melanie was raised, and currently resides in Guelph, with her husband, and best friend, Enio, and their two children – Santino and Alessia. Melanie looks forward to serving on the Board and contributing to this great charity !
Crystal McDermid - Secretary
She has worked with HR Solutions in the Strategic Solutions Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Guelph since 2006. A Guelph resident since 1978, she married her magnificent husband Shane in 2007 after a 9 year relationship. They have 2 incredible children – Michael and Ava, who have a 13 year age difference between them and whom they look forward to continue raising within this great community. Crystal’s love for kids came from being surrounded by many children her entire life. She comes from a large family and as a child, she grew up in a home where her mother ran a private home daycare. As an adolescent, Crystal volunteered in various children’s camps within the community including visits to Hopewell Children’s Home for children with severe physical and developmental disabilities requiring 24 hour care.
Emily Paige McNabb, Crystal’s God-Daughter, is a wish recipient and was sent on a memorable Disney vacation with her family in November 2008. Sadly, Emily passed away at 22 months of age in January 2010 of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
The Guelph Wish Fund for Children helped to bring joy and happiness to such a precious little girl and make possible a wish that created life-long memories for Emily’s family. Crystal’s personal experience with The Guelph Wish Fund for Children demonstrated first-hand the importance of this agency in our community. She is honoured to serve as a member of this board, in appreciation for the profound impact it has had on her life and loved ones.
Dominic Dotto - Director
Domenic Dotto has been a Director with the Guelph Wish Fund for Children since its inception.
Born and raised in Guelph. Dominic has spent his entire career in the appliance industry working for W.C. Wood. He had progressed through key assignments, had broad experience within the company and an intimate knowledge of the industry in general and the freezer category specifically. Dominic is well respected in the appliance industry by both his customers and his competitors. Dominic earned his diploma in Business Administration from Conestoga College, and in 2005 received his diploma in Strategic Sales Management, at the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business.
He is now General Manager of ColdTech Commercial Products a division of Danby Products Limited.
Dominic also spent 14 years as a Minor Pro Hockey Linesman in Canada and the US. Dominic resides in Guelph with his 17 year old daughter Thalia.
Pam Baker - Director
Pam Baker has lived in Guelph since 1978, when her family moved here from Montreal.
She has been a volunteer in the community since then. Pam was the President of the Youth Across Canada with Mentally Retarded from 1976 – 1980. A club for mentally challenged people that provided activities and social events for young adults on a weekly basis in Guelph. Her parents were involved with the Royal City Kiwanis and she volunteers at its social functions. Pam was one of the founders of the Guelph Youth Basketball Association in 2005 and sits on their board as operations chair. GYBA is a not for profit group established to administer a community-based basketball program to engage all interested participants in a quality athlete centred experience, and to ensure that the mission and goals of the program are followed. Pam manages events such as summer camps, coaching clinics, player clinics and the AGM. She is the main register for the club members including House League and Rep groups (750 members). Pam led the initiative for on-line registration website, she also manages all club confidential information including police checks, "hoop-help” (financial help for members) applications, club surveys and the fundraising initiative "Swish for the Wish”. Pam and her husband Steve have tow boys age 19 and 13. Their youngest son is a WISH Child. Pam has joined the board of the Guelph Wish Fund for Children to give back to this agency and community, as she understands the needs of the Wish children and their families.
Jason Guardiero - Director
In college Jason played for the varsity hockey team and was a national finalist at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Hockey Championship. For five years Jason was an associate hockey coach for the Junior B hockey team in Guelph, the Guelph Dominators and the present Guelph Hurricanes. In 2011 Jason decided to move to new challenges, stepping down as a hockey coach to become a coach with the Special Olympics Basketball program. Presently, Jason works for the Guelph Police Service as a Detective in the Criminal Investigation Branch – Technological Crimes/Child Exploitation Unit. Prior to his current assignment Jason was a Detective in the Youth Crime Branch where he participated in several city wide youth initiatives. Since working in the Criminal Investigations Branch, Jason has been seconded to work in many different Major Case investigations.
Jason has always had a strong sense of vocation for community involvement and is now a proud member of the Guelph Wish Fund for Children, having joined the Board of Directors in January 2012.
Lisa Logan-Dayman - Director
Lisa has been a hairdresser and barber since 18 years of age and has been working at the Cutting Corner since 1997.
Susan McNabb - Director
Susan McNabb joined The Guelph Wish Fund for Children Board of Directors in January 2012.
Susan and her incredible husband Adam are the parents of wish recipient Emily and son Aubrey. As a family, they have fond memories of their family trip to DisneyWorld made possible by the kindness of The Guelph Wish Fund for Children in 2009. Susan is a Registered Practical Nurse, working in her native Guelph, and currently residing in Elora. Susan and Adam now host an annual charity golf tournament, The Emily Paige McNabb Memorial, to raise funds for charitable organizations that were instrumental in the care of their daughter. The proceeds from the first annual tournament, hosted in 2011, were donated to The Guelph Wish Fund for Children. Susan hopes to bring her enthusiasm and fund raising experience to the Board of Directors in a way of ‘Paying it Forward’ in the form if aiding in the decisions of granting wishes to potential future recipients in the hopes of making dreams of other families become reality.
Michael Guardiero - Director
Mike was born and raised in Guelph and currently resides in Breslau with his beautiful wife Brandie.
Mike earned his diploma in Business Administration Marketing from Mohawk College in Hamilton in 1998. Mike has spent his entire career with The City of Guelph in many capacities. He has progressed through the city ranks and holds a Class 3 water license from the Ministry of Environment. Mike is now working in the Engineering and Environmental Division at The City of Guelph. Mike is in his 15th year of officiating hockey. In those 15 years he spent 10 years at the Minor Pro Level in the US and now spends his time working at the Junior and University Levels in Ontario. Mike is looking forward to continuing to support and give back to this community.
Mark Dalbello - Director
Mark was born and raised in Guelph. Mark earned his diploma in Business Administration Accounting
from Conestoga College in 1991. Mark joined TD Canada Trust as a Customer Service Representative in the fall of 1988 and has progressed through the organization to his current position of Branch Manager in the Elora office. Mark has always been involved in sports in Guelph, for many years playing and officiating minor hockey. Mark spent 13 years officiating Junior and Minor Professional Hockey in Canada and the United States. Mark is currently involved in youth sports in Guelph through the Guelph Minor Hockey Association and Guelph Soccer. Mark resides in Guelph with his beautiful wife Cheri Rockefeller and their three daughters McKenna, Avery and Emerson. Mark is looking forward to giving back to the community in his role as a Director of the Guelph Wish Fund for Children.