Peggy Taillon
Vice-President and Principal
Peggy is a courageous and powerful voice who exemplifies a belief that when we are moving in unison, with shared purpose, nothing is insurmountable.
A passionate advocate for equality and social justice, Peggy brings a relentless drive for better to her many philanthropic and community development pursuits, always committed to inclusion and co-design. She pushes boundaries and believes deeply that inequality is not a natural state and that through leading a renaissance of service that connects all of us to a greater life’s purpose we can build strong resilient nations and a better world for those who come after us.
Peggy has served in senior leadership roles in large complex organizations in health care, business and NGOs; worked with and advised governments at all levels to modernize services for marginalized citizens. Her ability to get at the root of the issue and breakdown what stands in front of the right thing, is legendary. She led the Charter Challenge to Save the Long Form Census, she led Mental Health Reform in Ontario and most recently worked with the harm reduction community to bring Supervised Injection Sites to Ottawa. She always finds a way, and brings others together, especially those with lived experience to get there.
In 2008, Peggy founded the HERA Mission of Canada, a Foundation that supports women leading development projects that empower widows and children in Western Kenya. Through this work, Peggy honors the country where her son Devlin was born and where she fought to change adoption laws in order to bring him home to Canada. CTV’s W5 profiled their journey to become a family and the commitment they have made in Kenya in The Love of a Child which aired in March 2014 — on International Women’s Day. Over 1.2 million viewers across Canada and beyond tuned in or watched online. CTV gave Peggy the Amazing People Award for this moving journey in 2012. She has also been honored with Ontario’s Leading Women, Leading Girls Award, The Mandela Legacy Black History Award and Women Working for Others Award for her commitment to community development in Canada and abroad.
Originally from the small northern Ontario town of South Porcupine, Peggy was educated in Toronto and Ottawa and holds degrees in Social Work, Communications and Law, as well as advanced diplomas in Mediation and Negotiation.