Our Staff.

Dana Ypma, Executive Director, dana@raffifoundation.org.  Dana joined the Raffi Foundation as executive director, in July 2019.  Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Dana studied Early Child Development, earned a BA in Anthropology from the University of Calgary, and a Master of Arts degree with Royal Roads University.  With over 28 years’ experience in the social service sector, more recently as executive director with Island Women Against Violence, she brings a strong history of not for profit, social service and community advocacy experience. Dana is excited about focusing on what is a truly preventive and children-first approach in advancing Child Honouring as a universal ethic.  Energized by her surroundings, Dana enjoys being immersed in nature and the beauty of the west coast, walking with her dogs and spending time with her family, partner and three grown children.

Susan Moore, Administrator, admin@raffifoundation.org.  Susan joined the Raffi Foundation as administrator in July 2019, bringing with her an accounting background which she used in business environments for 25 years until she “decided to use my accounting powers for good” and sought a more community focused service path.  Having four children of her own, for the next ten years she chose to work in Calgary public schools where she could combine her desire to contribute to the well-being of children, and their extended community, with the use of her skills to ensure the financial well-being of the schools that served them.  Having grown up in B.C., Susan loves being outdoors, and is enjoying living as simply as possible in a small off-grid cabin in connection with her forest environment, and sharing that experience with her family.  Susan feels “honoured to work with the Raffi Foundation, as an avenue to serve the well-being of children in a broader spectrum through the path created by the Child Honouring philosophy and vision.”

Kate Kovaleva, Social Media Coordinator.  Kate joined the Raffi Foundation as social media coordinator in October 2019.  She has a BA in English Literature and Political Science from UBC and a work background in youth health research and marketing communications.  Kate is currently pursuing Public Relations at UVIC and is excited to learn and connect with others around the universal ethic of Child Honouring.  Kate is thrilled to be part of a team that strives to make a positive impact on individuals, society and the natural environment through advocating for children’s well-being.

Board of Directors

Raffi Cavoukian,  C.M., O.B.C.  Singer, author, founder of Child Honouring. Known to millions simply as Raffi, a renowned Canadian songwriter and children’s entertainer. He has been named to the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia and the UN’s Earth Achievement Award. Raffi is co-editor of the anthology, Child Honouring: How To Turn This World Around. He holds four honorary degrees.

Bert Simpson,  Senior Associate, Troubadour Music Inc. Formerly a primary teacher and consultant in inner-city Toronto schools, Bert has been involved with Raffi and his music since 1976. Current work includes communications, marketing, contracts, and creative development.

Sonia Furstenau is a Canadian politician who is currently the leader of the Green Party of British Columbia. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2017 provincial election to represent the electoral district of Cowichan Valley. On November 2, 2016, Green Party leader Andrew Weaver announced that Furstenau would replace Adam Olsen as one of the deputy leaders of the party. On January 27, 2020, Furstenau announced her candidacy for the leadership of the party.

In 2014, Furstenau started her political career when she was elected to serve as a director of Electoral Area B within the Cowichan Valley Regional District. This was after two years working with the Shawnigan Resident’s Association to protest and appeal a British Columbia Provincial permit that allowed the siting of a landfill at the headwaters of the community’s source of drinking water, in the Shawnigan Lake watershed.  After four years of community efforts, the permit was revoked February 2017.

Prior to holding elected office, she was a high school teacher in Victoria and Shawnigan Lake. She has a BA and MA in History , and a BEd from the University of Victoria.

Sonia lives in Shawnigan Lake with her husband Blaise Salmon and their children.

Advisory Council

Fritjof Capra, Ph.D., physicist, systems theorist and author, is cofounder and former chair of the board of directors, and currently serving on the board of directors for the Center for Ecoliteracy, which promotes ecology and systems thinking in primary and secondary education. His latest book is The Systems View of Life.

Budd L. Hall, Ph.D.,is a Professor of Community Development in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria and is Secretary of the Global Alliance on Community-Engaged Research. Dr. Hall was the founding Director of the University of Victoria Office of Community-Based Research and is a Senior Fellow, Centre for Global Studies.

Dr. Judith G. Hall, O.C., M.D., F.R.C.P.(C.), is a clinical geneticist and pediatrician. She also participated in founding the Council of Canadian Academies, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and Genome Canada. Dr. Hall has been honoured with more than 50 awards including the Order of Canada and Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Hall was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2015.

Emily R Hawken, Ph.D, is a neuroscientist, and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Canadian Frailty Network (CFN), Queen’s University, Providence Care Mental Health Services in Kingston, Ontario.

David C. Korten, Ph.D, is co-chair of the New Economy Working Group, president of Living Economy Forum, co-founder and board chair of YES! Magazine, and Associate Fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies. He is author of The Post-Corporate World: Life after Capitalism (1999); The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community (2006); Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth (2009, 2010), and Change the Story, Change the Future: A Living Economy for a Living Earth (2015).

Fran Korten, Ph.D, is Publisher of YES! Magazine. YES! reports on powerful ideas and practical actions for creating a just, sustainable, and compassionate world.

Roslyn Kunin, C.M., Ph.D., LL.D.,  is President of Roslyn Kunin and Associated Inc., an international economic consultancy.

Bruce P. Lanphear, MD, MPH is an Investigator at the Child & Family Research Institute, BC Children’s Hospital and Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia.

The Very Reverend Bill Phipps, LL.B., D.D., served as Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1997 to 2000. He is co-founder of Faith and The Common Good Interfaith Network, an International President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, and author of Cause for Hope: Humanity at the Crossroads.

Carolyn Pogue is the author of many books for all ages, including: After the Beginning, an ecological tale for children, Seasons of Peace: A Teacher’s Guide, A World of Faith: Introducing Spiritual Traditions to Teens, and The Art of Peace: A Camp for Kids.

Rekha S. Rajan, Ed.D.has been an educator for over 20 years. She holds a Doctorate and Masters in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, in NYC and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL.

Rekha is the author of a six books for teachers and parents on how bring the arts, music and musical theater into children’s education. As a nationally recognized educator, her work has been featured with NPR, the National Head Start Association, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the California Alliance for Arts Education, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is a curriculum advisor to multiple states and agencies including the California Department of Education, the Illinois Department of Education and is the editor forGeneral Music Today, a journal of the National Association for Music Education.

Her debut children’s book, a STEM-rich nonfiction for Scholastic entitledAMAZING LANDMARKS(2022) emphasizes reading aloud through critical thinking, Q&A and reflection. Rekha continues to conduct groundbreaking research on arts education, integrating the arts into schools, and strategies for supporting parents and families with arts-engagement at home. She is also an award-winning professional opera singer and musical theater performer.

Dr. Rajan lives in Northern California with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and two birds in a house full of books.

Stuart Shanker, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Psychology, internationally celebrated speaker, thinker, and writer. Dr. Stuart Shanker is one of the world’s leading authorities on self-regulation. He is the Science Director of the Self Regulation Institute and CEO of The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd. He has authored many books including, “Calm, Alert and Learning: Classroom Strategies for Self-Regulation (2012)”, and his latest book is Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (and You) Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage With Life (2016).

Joel Solomon is President of Renewal Partners and Chairman of Renewal Funds. He is a founding member of Social Venture Network (SVN), Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), the Tides Canada Foundation, and is board chair of Hollyhock. He is author of The Clean Money Revolution.