Get to know the 2023-2024 Board of Directors
Jeff Weafer
President
Contact Information:
Regina Funeral Home, Arbor Memorial Inc.
4001 East Victoria Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan S4V 3A3
Email: Jeff@fsac.ca
Office Phone: (306) 789-8850
Representing: Western Region
Jeff Weafer’s career in the deathcare profession began in 1994 with Arbor Memorial at the Regina Funeral Home & Cemetery, where he is presently the Managing Director. Today, Jeff is a licensed funeral director, embalmer and pre-need salesperson in Saskatchewan, a place that has always been home. He became a funeral director to pursue his passion for excellence in service while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Jeff has served as Chairperson for the Funeral & Cremation Services Council of Saskatchewan, a Past-President of the Saskatchewan Board of Funeral Home Owners, an elected Council member since 2016, and is actively involved in the FCSC. He is also a single father to six incredible children, ranging from 10 to 25 years of age, and considers being a good father a privilege. Jeff has served as the FSAC Treasurer for the 2020-2021 term and was elected to serve for a second term 2022-2023.
Janet Ricciuti
Vice President
Contact Information:
Government and Corporate Affairs Canada
Service Corporation International (Canada) ULC
1835 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 1T3
Tel: (250) 882-9319
Email: janet@fsac.ca
Representing: Western Region
Janet has been involved in the funeral service profession for over 30 years and has developed strong relationships within the deathcare sector, governments and regulatory boards across the country. The opportunity to take on the career of her lifetime began at Sands Funeral Chapels in Victoria, BC which ignited her passion to go above and beyond serving the funeral service profession. Janet served as Executive Director of the British Columbia Funeral Association for 23 years and held several key advisory positions to government and public agencies as well as investing several years in competency-based funeral director and embalmer licensure programs and administering these programs. In 2013 she assumed the role of Manager, and more recently Director of Government and Corporate Affairs for Service Corporation International (Canada) and continues to encourage deathcare professionals to build upon positive working relationships with each other and position the profession as a unified key policy player in the minds of government.
Her knowledge, skills, and abilities to identify issues and potential solutions and her experience with legislative process have connected her with both stakeholders and regulatory leaders from across Canada. Today Janet continues to serve with the same passion on a variety of provincial and international committees and is a trusted advisor on challenges and opportunities within the deathcare sector.
Ray Fournier
Treasurer
Contact Information:
Batesville Canada Ltd.
99A First Gulf Boulevard
Brampton, ON, L6W 4T8
Email:
ray@fsac.ca
Representing: Suppliers
Ray boasts over 33 years of dedicated service in the Canadian funeral supply industry, with Batesville, where he has honed his craft and accrued over 18 years of invaluable senior management expertise. His illustrious journey within the company is underscored by an unwavering commitment to excellence, sterling leadership, and an insatiable drive for innovation. Throughout his tenure, Ray has been instrumental in propelling the organization to new heights, leveraging his profound understanding of B2B sales, marketing strategies, financial analytics, and universal business management. His extensive knowledge spans across consumer goods, distribution, and retail sectors, enriched by significant experience in merchandising, containment, and labour management.
Ray was a Past President of the Canadian Funeral Trade Association (CFTA) and the past Chair of the Funeral Profession Coalition Council of Canada (FPCCC) from 2007-2017. He continues to be an active member of several provincial and district associations across Canada. Currently serving as the FSAC Treasurer and Executive Committee member, along with co-chairing the Governance Committee, Ray continues to leave an indelible mark on the funeral profession. His leadership and commitment to excellence have earned him widespread respect and admiration both within the company and across the death care profession.
Beyond his professional accolades, Ray is renowned for his strong ethical compass, tireless work ethic, and significant contributions to the community. He exemplifies resilience, perseverance, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence in both his personal and professional endeavors. His philanthropic endeavors extend to various volunteer boards and public committees, where his expertise and dedication shine through, benefiting causes close to his heart. Notably, Ray remains deeply engaged as a volunteer and donor for organizations such as the Sick Kids Foundation, Lung Cancer Research Foundation, and Save Me Dog Rescue.
Outside of his professional sphere, Ray is a devoted husband and proud father of two adult children, epitomizing the values of integrity, compassion, and dedication in all facets of his life.
Allan Cole
Director
Contact Information:
MacKinnon & Bowes Ltd.
2 Meridian Road, Toronto, ON M9W 4Z7
Email: allan@fsac.ca
Office Phone: (416) 465-7508
Representing: Central Region
Allan Cole became a licensed funeral director in 1978, after following in his grandfather’s footsteps. He has served on several committees and boards to support initiatives that promote funeral service in Canada and the United States. Allan has the distinction as Canada’s first civilian contractor for Mortuary Affairs for the Government of Canada, is certified in Mass Fatality Operation Training from the United States Department of the Air Force, Air Mobility Command, and has received a number of awards throughout his career, including the FSAC Award of Merit in 2013. Today, Allan is the President and Owner of MacKinnon & Bowes, where he started working at in 1975. Allan has served as FSAC President for the 2020-2021 term and was elected to serve for a second term 2022-2023.
Simon Dubé
Director
Contact Information:
Service Corporation International (Canada) ULC
4525 ch. de la Côte-des-Neiges
Montréal, QC H3V 1E7
Email: simon.dube@dignitymemorial.com
Office Phone: (514) 342-5310 Ext. 2252
Representing: Central Region
Simon was born in Amqui, Québec but moved to a small community near Ottawa, Ontario at a young age. He began working in the funeral industry at the age of 16. Passionate about helping people in his community, he decided to enroll at College Boreal to pursue a career in funeral services. Simon has been part of the Dignity Memorial Family since December 2003. In is role of Market Director at Service Corporation International Canada, Simon leads a team of 37 funeral homes in the province of Quebec. On his time off, Simon enjoys outdoor activities with his family.
Jeff Hagel
Director At-Large
Contact Information:
President
McInnis & Holloway Funeral Home Ltd.
Jeff graduated with his applied degree in small business and entrepreneurship and his diploma in international business from Mount Royal University. He worked outside of the funeral profession until 2004 when he made a career change, went back to Mount Royal University and took their distance learning funeral directors certificate program while obtaining his funeral director and embalmers licenses in Edmonton, AB. Jeff joined McInnis & Holloway in June of 2007 and became a partner in October 2011 and President in 2020. In 2015 Jeff was voted onto the Alberta Funeral Service Regulatory Board where he contributed to the working relationship between the board and the profession and various government ministries. In addition to his role on other boards in Calgary, Jeff and his wife Danielle have two children Joshua and Jacob.
Kollin Weatherbee
Director
Contact Information:
Sydney Memorial Chapel Ltd.
49 Welton Street
Sydney, NS B1P 5R3
Tel: (902) 539-0500
Representing: Eastern Region
Kollin grew up in the funeral business and currently owns Sydney Memorial Chapel and Cape Breton Crematorium in Nova Scotia. He has a deep interest in the current and future changes that affect and benefit the funeral industry. Kollin has represented the Funeral Service Association of Nova Scotia (FSANS) on the Nova Scotia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, and served as the Nova Scotia Board of Registration's Secretary. He is proud to have great relationships with peers across Nova Scotia, speaking to funeral directors weekly on different topics and concerns, and is looking forward to representing Nova Scotia as an FSAC Board Director.
Heather Kiteley
At-Large Director
Contact Information:
President & CEO, GFD
2844 Bristol Circle, 2nd Floor
Oakville, ON L6H 6G4
Email: heather@gfd.org
Tel: (800) 268-2466
Heather has over 25 years of experience in the bereavement sector, spanning across many roles, throughout Southern Ontario, Canada. Heather became a second-generation Funeral Director after obtaining her Funeral Directors License in 1993. Since then, she began to appreciate the necessity of pre-need funeral planning for the families she served.
As her career progressed, pre-need bereavement planning became her passion and drive. Heather’s continuous appetite for learning and professional growth motivated her to obtain her Insurance License in 2001 and in 2021, her MBA from McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Heather has always welcomed the opportunity to share her knowledge and expertise through speaking engagements, most notably, the Funeral Services Education Program at Humber College in Toronto, as an Instructor and Guest Lecturer.
Heather became President at GFD in 2016 after leading the pre-need team for eight years. With an intense focus on membership support and care, streamlining the administration process for GFD Members, and a robust investment approach, GFD’s assets under management have grown 150%.
Steve Reynolds
Director
Contact Information:
Managing Director Oakview Funeral Home, Arbor Memorial Inc.
56 Lakeshore Road, W.
Oakville, Ontario L6K 1C7
Email: sreynolds@arbormemorial.com
Tel: (905) 842-2252
Representing: Central Region
Steven was born and raised in Peterborough, Steven graduated from Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough from Business Administration with an Accounting Major. He attended Humber College where he graduated with Honours in 1996 after interning at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home in Toronto. In 1999 and 2000 he had the opportunity to be an instructor at Humber College in the Funeral Service Education Program. In 2000 he began work at the Ward Funeral Home in Toronto. In 2005 Steven began working for Arbor Memorial in Oakville at Oakview Funeral Home where he is currently the Managing Director. Steven is the Past President of the Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals from 2019-2021. He is the Past President of Toronto District Funeral Directors Inc. where he served as President from 2013-2015. Steven is actively involved with the Knights of Columbus as a Former District Deputy representing Oakville and Burlington. Steven is a former Board member of the Halton Catholic Children’s Education Foundation which provides aid to the needy children in the Halton Catholic School Board. He also serves as a Captain for Charterability, a group that provides pontoon boat rides for the physically challenged. Steven enjoys spending time with his wife Sonia, son Sean and dog Scout.
