Canadian Friends of the Lebanon Mountain Trail: Notice of Annual General Meeting

Thursday 27 February 2025, 7:00 p.m. EST

Online meeting;

The agenda will include a financial report, a membership report, and the election of board members. Only current members of the CFLMT are eligible to vote during the meeting. If you have not paid for membership since January 2024, you will need to renew in order to vote. Please see this page on our website for further details. We are still accepting applications for Board positions; please see below for more details.

Nominees for Board Positions

Tania Ayoub

Project Management Professional

Tania, currently based in Toronto, is an avid hiker and a supporter of the LMT. She is passionate about protecting our natural heritage and supporting rural development.

Tania has extensive experience in management consulting, working with clients across Southwest Asia, North Africa, and Europe. She is a computer engineer and a certified project management professional (PMP). Tania has supported public entities and non-profits in developing their operations, building their internal capacities, and adopting technology solutions. She also has experience in policy development and program development including working with donors and governments to advance social and environmental change, with a focus on gender, youth, and local community participation. More recently, Tania joined Wildlife Conservation Society Canada as a Program Manager.

Pierre Azar

Senior Project Manager & IT Professional

Pierre has over 30 years of experience managing complex technology initiatives across Provincial and Federal governments and private sectors. He holds an Executive MBA and maintains a “Security Clearance – Secret” with the Government of Canada. Throughout his career, he has successfully led large-scale cloud migrations (AWS, Azure), infrastructure transformations, and cybersecurity implementations for major organizations including Shared Services Canada, Air Canada, Bombardier, Bell Canada, BRP, Telus, and various government departments. His project portfolios have consistently involved managing substantial budgets (up to $40M), leading distributed teams (20–200+ resources), and delivering enterprise-wide solutions across multiple countries and continents. Pierre is fluent in English, French, and Arabic and brings particular expertise in Microsoft technologies, ITIL processes, and digital workplace transformations.

Steve Izma

Publisher & Software Developer

Steve’s grandparents immigrated to Canada from Lebanon over 120 years ago. Strong ties to family and culture led him to make three recent trips to hike in the mountains of his ancestors. He has been involved in environmental and social justice issues since the 1970s, especially through his work in the independent Canadian publishing industry. Since retiring in 2016, he has continued to engage in various publishing initiatives, including software development and on industry committees. Steve has been involved in the formation of the CFLMT for over five years and recognizes it as a project firmly committed to a better world.

Mireille Malaket

Social Worker & Environmentalist

An academic background in environmental geography and social work has shaped Mireille's commitment to fostering meaningful connections between people, nature, and culture.

Over four visits to Lebanon, including completing a 30-day thru-hike of the LMT in the spring of 2023, Mireille developed a deep admiration for the trail and its impact on local and international communities. Her Canadian academic experience plus a five-month internship at the American University of Beirut has equipped her with skills in grant applications, fundraising, and building strong networks both in Canada and Lebanon.

In Quebec, Mireille has explored the psychosocial benefits of connecting with nature through initiatives such as co-leading hikes on Mount Royal and coordinating a hike in collaboration with CFLMT, the LMT, and SEPAQ at Orford National Park. She has successfully organized fundraising events for groups like the Cancer Research Society and Canada World Youth. She is excited about opportunities to organize hikes and film screenings and to create platforms for LMT hikers in Canada to share their experiences.

Simon Sahi

Senior Project Manager & Energy Engineer

Simon Sahi is an enthusiastic camper, canoer, and backpacker with multi-day experience in North America, including Yosemite, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Jasper, Gros Morne, and Glacier. His time on trails including the LMT has instilled a deep appreciation for nature conservation and community building.

With over 15 years of experience in the building industry, specializing in sustainable practices, Simon excels in project management, energy efficiency, and feasibility studies. As an energy engineer, he has successfully managed large-scale projects, budgets, and delivered solutions that positively impact communities.

Simon’s 2012 backpacking journey on the LMT ignited his passion for its growth and protection. As a Nominee Board Member, Simon is committed to supporting the CFLMT's mission, which includes promoting educational programs, environmental protection, cultural heritage conservation, and rural economic development associated with the LMT. He is dedicated to building a grassroots community whose love for the LMT will help it grow into a social space for people, particularly those with Lebanese heritage, to connect and thrive.

Openings for Positions on the Board of the Canadian Friends of the Lebanon Mountain Trail

The Canadian Friends of the Lebanon Mountain Trail (CFLMT) is seeking applications from individuals interested in joining the organization’s Board of Directors. Board members are uncompensated volunteers who, in addition to serving on the Board, often volunteer their professional skills and services to the organization and serve as ambassadors for the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) in Canada.

Overall Board of Directors Roles and Responsibilities

• Establish the CFLMT’s vision, mission, and plans;
• Plan, execute and follow up CFLMT’s programs and activities, including outreach, communications, and fundraising;
• Raise funds to support the CFLMT’s work, including by mobilizing Board members’ networks and leveraging their affiliations;
• Promote the CFLMT’s mission, programs and activities to supporters and the public at large;
• Evaluate the CFLMT’s effectiveness and the Board’s performance in achieving its mission and take steps to adjust course and accelerate progress, as needed;
• Ensure effective organizational management and compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations;
• Develop and approve policies and financial expenditures, including grants to non-profit organizations like the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA);
• Cultivate new CFLMT partners and supporters;
• Set and maintain a positive image of the CFLMT and LMT Canada and abroad; and
• Recruit and orient new Board members from across Canada.

Individual CFLMT Board Member Responsibilities

• Participate in a regular schedule of in-person or virtual meetings of the Board of Directors (Board members who miss two meetings in a row may be asked by the Board to re-consider their commitment to the Board);
• Be an active member of the Board and contributor to the CFLMT’s outreach, communications, fundraising, and other activities;
• Recommend possible additions to the Board of people who possess desirable skills and a diversity of experiences and affiliations, with the consideration that the Board ideally has representation from across Canada;
• Lead certain tasks and undertake special assignments willingly and enthusiastically, in line with individual interests and expertise;
• Propose innovative ideas and means to better achieve the CFLMT’s mission;
• Stay abreast of news, developments, and trends affecting the CFLMT, LMTA, and LMT, and try to mitigate potential challenges and leverage opportunities;
• Bring a serious yet lighthearted demeanor to the Board’s deliberations; and
• Exercise appropriate fiduciary oversight of CFLMT operations.

We recommend each new board member, with no previous board experience, take the following course https://info.volunteertoronto.ca/boardtraining

Desired Qualifications

• A passion for and a general knowledge of the LMT and CFLMT mission and objectives;
• A serious commitment to the CFLMT’s purpose, goals, policies, programs, and activities;
• Strong sense of ethics and reservoir of goodwill;
• Strong communications skills;
• Solid and diverse network of contacts whose interests align with the CFLMT;
• Expertise in a field relevant to the CFLMT’s mission, including natural and cultural heritage conservation, responsible tourism, and the Lebanese Diaspora in Canada; resource law and governance, financial sustainability, and fundraising expertise is a plus;
• Ability to dedicate time to CFLMT activities;
• Canadian citizenship or legal residency.

To Apply

Interested candidates should send a short CV or resumé with a cover letter (one page or less) detailing their interest in joining the CFLMT Board of Directors to hishamsaabmail@gmail.com Please put “Application: Board Member” in the subject line. While the CFLMT will be accepting and evaluating applications on a rolling basis, interested candidates should apply as soon as possible to enhance their chances of being selected.

About the CFLMT

The CFLMT is a not-for-profit corporation registered federally in Canada. The mission of the CFLMT is to promote educational programs, environmental protection, natural and cultural heritage conservation, and rural economic development related to the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT). The primary activities of the CFLMT are to promote awareness of the LMT and to provide financial and technical support for the protection, maintenance, and promotion of the trail. At the discretion of its Board of Directors, the CFLMT will provide funds to non-profit organizations in Lebanon, including the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA), to help implement programs and events that will further the purposes of the CFLMT.