Jeff is a retired family physician. He retired early from his calling as a physician as a result of being diagnosed with the devastating disease, ALS, at only 41 years of age. Currently, the only muscles Jeff can control are his eyes. It is through his eyes that Jeff is able to communicate with his loved ones and the world. Fortunately, due to the advances in technology, Jeff is able to control his surrounding environment and use it to foster and share his knowledge and growth with others.  Jeff published his memoir, Still Life, in 2019. Jeff writes about his experience living with ALS and his grief following the loss of Zach and Kaya. In February 2021, Jeff gave a TEDx Talk entitled, Redefining Life With Meaning Following Profound Adversity.

Jeff brings a wealth of previous board member experience to this board, having previously served on The William Osler Health Center Board for 3 years and as senior staff support for The Halton Healthcare Board of Directors for 4 years.

Jeff has a special bond with his 3 sons. He continues to share with them his love for off the wall comedies and classic rock music. Jeff enjoys sharing his knowledge, compassion and resiliency with others and in so doing continues his calling as an empathetic caregiver.

Jennifer Firth – Treasurer

Jennifer is Kaya’s mother. She knows that Resilience takes many forms, all of which are based in Love, Hope, Connection and Laughter.

Jennifer spent 30 years practicing Physiotherapy, where she learned that healing the physical body and learning to adapt to loss of abilities, whether temporary or permanent, requires compassion. She cared about her patients as she cared for their conditions and was witness over and over again to the remarkable ability of the human body, mind and spirit to heal after loss. Critical elements of healing all involve growth, and the elements of growth are the same whether the healing is physical, emotional, cognitive or spiritual: Hope, Connection, Love and Laughter.

Each season since Kaya and Zach’s passing, Jennifer has experienced firsthand the personal healing and growth of those closest to Zach and Kaya. The ripple effect of love as evidenced by this Foundation that grew from the deep desire of our broken hearts to make something good out of a loss so painful has left a positive impact across our nation.

Kaya and Zach’s lives were something beautiful, and in small and large ways, from the visible to the nuanced, their love continues to animate our lives as we heal and grow together, continuing to create many beautiful somethings.

Duncan Firth – Board Member

Duncan is Kaya’s father. He chose to be a hands-on dad, happy to build a backyard rink, and even happier to shoot pucks on it with Kaya and her brothers. The time he prioritized with his family, spent coaching , teaching the kids to  wakeboard and waterski, attending their sports games and activities, blended with the countless hours of ordinary moments just living life together – all those moments where Laughter and Connection took root – now form his most treasured memories.

Duncan’s 30 years of experience in the transportation industry has provided him with skills in logistics, resource and project management. He supports the Foundation by bringing this skill set to his role as a member of the Board of Directors.

Andrea Campbell – Vice Chair

Andrea became acquainted with the Sutherland and Firth families through her son Eion.  He passed in 2018 at 21 years of age from cancer. Eion was a very close friend of the Sutherland family and during his life, including the time of his illness, he maintained a positive focus and gave genuine support and love to those around him, especially his close friends and family. To view Eion’s story, click here here

Andrea has been active within the Georgetown community for her entire life, from being an executive member for local sports leagues to planning major fund-raising events like the Big Chill.   Currently Andrea is an active member of the Georgetown Hockey Heritage Council.  Along with her fund-raising experience, Andrea brings from her long career as a Customer Service Manager in Logistics, an extensive skill set of organization, logistics and communication experience.

She has been an integral part of the team organizing all Foundation fundraising events to date and is excited to bring her skill set and her commitment to her role as Vice Chair.

Allison Brownlee – Secretary

Allison has been an Educational Assistant for 21 years at the Halton District School Board. The students that she works with every day show her the power of resilience as they face daily challenges in their lives.

Kaya would affectionately call Allison “Mama B”.  Her contagious laughter that filled The Brownlee house regularly for 16 years, will always be a treasured memory for Allison. Kaya was a true gift to Allison’s daughter, Kara, and her family.  Allison is humbled to be on this Board and honoured to be involved in carrying on Kaya and Zach’s legacy.

Ryan Biehn – Board Member

Ryan is the son of Greg and Judy Biehn and one of Zach’s best friends.  Their relationship started at a young age through various friendships with the Sutherlands.  It grew through high school and university years and was fostered with their love of sports – golf, hockey and baseball.  Ryan was born and raised in Georgetown and with Zach’s influence and encouragement to take risks, completed medical school in Ireland and is currently in his Family Medicine Residency through Western University. Ryan is a proud friend and grateful to be on the Board of Directors for the Zach and Kaya Resiliency Foundation where he provides the perspective of a young person who has found resiliency following loss. He is looking forward to supporting the continued evolution of the Foundation in memory of Zach and Kaya.

Kara Witten – Board Member

Kara is an elementary teacher.  She and Kaya were fortunate enough to have an inseparable, unbreakable bond that began when they were 6 years old. They referred to each other as “non-romantic life partners” (a term coined by Kaya), and there is no better way to describe their relationship. Through Kaya, Kara was privileged to know Zach. To know them is to know true friendship, true connection, and true love. She is honoured to be on this Board of Directors to help others through sharing Kaya and Zach’s legacy and spreading their love.

Judy Biehn – Board Member

Judy Biehn is married to Greg and is the proud mother of three children one adored standard poodle.  She is a retired teacher with the Peel Board of Education where she worked for 32 years mostly supporting students and families with Autism and Special Needs.

Her family has always thought of the Sutherlands as their chosen family.  Zach was not only like a son to them but a shining star in so many ways.  When he met Kaya, his star shone even brighter.  She is honoured to be on the Board of Directors for the Zach and Kaya Resiliency Foundation. Recognizing youth living with loss is a loving and purposeful way to remember the impact Zach and Kaya had on our lives.  Judy stands proudly with The Sutherlands and her new chosen family, The Firths in supporting and celebrating youth in their journey of healing.

Greg Biehn – Board Member

Greg Biehn is married to Judy – they have three children Ryan, Callum and Hadley and have lived in Georgetown over 25 years.  Greg has worked in various progressing roles of responsibility in marketing, sales and business development within the healthcare industry.  This includes companies like Johnson & Johnson, EMD Canada (Merck KGaA) and McKesson Canada.  They have known the Sutherlands for several years and have forged a very meaningful family relationship.  The strength of their relationship has been centered around their children as Zach was a wonderful friend to the Biehn family – always welcome, always making them laugh and always being a positive and uplifting force.  They were fortunate to have witnessed the impact that Kaya had on Zach’s life.  Greg is privileged to be on the Board of Directors for the Zach and Kaya Resiliency Foundation and help contribute, provide support and recognize the resiliency of young people living with loss.