Karin Cacciola founded Peaceful Hearts in 2016, as a charity created to support people with special needs. Karin has a special place in her heart from her own family’s journey with a loved one who requires support. Through this personal journey, Karin, realized the lack of supports for people with special needs and their families. Her goal is to make a difference in the lives of as many people as she can who deserve to live a happy and full live despite of their differences.

This dynamic business women was thriving as a sole proprietor in the beauty industry before founding Peaceful Hearts. She now dedicates her business experience and acumen to her charity that’s thriving and growing since its inception. Most notably, Karin manages and organizes the annual fundraising event, the Buttertart Festival, “Tarts4Hearts” in Georgina, now in its 7th year!

Karin’s mission statement is to ensure every family with special needs has an opportunity to experience their personal value in a supportive, caring, fun, life enhancing and skill building environment built on advocacy, community education and partnerships where quality of life is at the core.

Peaceful Hearts offers adults with special needs day programs giving them independence and confidence while doing activities they may not normally do at home. All in a safe, wheelchair accessible store-front environment. Peaceful Hearts offers a van to pick up and drop off clients, as well.

Outside of Peaceful Hearts, Karin has volunteered her gardening skills around Georgina and has proudly served the community as chair of the Uptown BIA in Keswick. 

Leah has been a volunteer and Founding Director with Peaceful Hearts since its inception in 2016.

A tenured team member at TELUS she manages the real estate portfolio for all corporate retail stores nationally. Leah has held various volunteer positions with the Markham Waxers Hockey Association as a long time resident of Markham.

She actively participates in volunteer activities with Peaceful Hearts and the annual Tarts4Hearts Buttertart Festival as well as TELUS Day of Giving opportunities throughout the year.

Catherine has over 25 years of diverse human resources and leadership experience in the professional services, nonprofit, printing, warehousing and manufacturing verticals. She has extensive hands-on experience leading HR initiatives including policy design, performance management, talent acquisition, compliance, talent management, HR workflow development, developing training programs, delivering training, and providing guidance and leadership to senior executive leadership teams.

A Certified Human Resources Leader, she is also holds certification in Talent Management (as a Certified Talent Management Practitioner), Workplace Investigations, and Adult Education.

Her professional affiliations include the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) and the York Region chapter of HRPA where she volunteers as Exam Proctor for the HRPA designation exam and where she serves as a Mentor to new HR graduates.

Catherine started her career with the Ontario Library Services supervising services to the special needs community and she is honored to volunteer with Peaceful Hearts supporting families with special needs experience their personal value in a caring, fun and learning environment.

Di Solitar’s extensive experience in the hospitality industry, has instilled in her a strong affinity for people and genuine enjoyment of interacting
with others.

From an early age, Di has demonstrated a consistent commitment to helping others as evidenced by her various volunteer roles, including visiting seniors, leading Boy Scout group, and participating in child finds initiatives.

As a resident of cooperative community, Di held various leadership positions, including the chairing of the social and the welcoming committees, editing the local newspaper and serving on the house selection committee. Throughout her career, Di, has been an active member of various community organizations, including the optimist and toastmasters.

As a Restaurant Owner, Di played a significant Community development role. Her inner passion lies in fundraising for various causes, including children with cancer, school functions, and animal welfare organizations. Over a 12-year period she has successfully raised over $180,000 for these causes.

Di’s dedication to community service is evident in her enthusiasm, passion and commitment to every project sheet undertakes.

With a career in journalism spanning more than 25 years, Donna Sound is a reporter for CTV NATIONAL NEWS, regularly contributing to the team’s newsgathering efforts. An award-winning journalist, Sound began her career as an editorial assistant and associate producer at CBC News in Toronto, before moving to the front of the camera in 2002. Ms. Sound has reported on, and been invited to, the private audience of the historic Papal apology to Indigenous Survivors of residential schools at the Vatican in Rome. 

Sound has guest co-hosted for Canada’s #1 talk show: “The Social.” Sound was invited to Lisbon Portugal and Vancouver for Web Summit; the biggest technology conference in the world, where she took to many stages speaking and moderating on issues of great significance.

She sits as Director, Board of Directors for 2 The Nations, a humanitarian charity helping people around the world; most recently in Ukraine.

Donna also sat as Director, Board of Directors for True North Aid, an organization providing assistance to people in Canada’s remote northern indigenous communities. She also sat as Director, Board of Directors for Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. 

Throughout her childhood, Sound’s dream was to be a media journalist, and views responsible journalism as having “the best front seat to the world.” Sound also contributes through her emcee work, speaking engagements and bringing visibility to fundraising and community efforts.

Follow Donna Sound on X @donnasound and Instagram @donnasoundctv