Board of Directors
Danusia Figiel
Chair of the Board & Executive Committee
Danusia Figiel
Danusia Figiel is an accomplished accountant with over 20 years of international experience leading multi-country companies. As Partner and COO/CFO of Senez Consulting (SenezCo), an engineering firm with offices in Canada, the U.S., and France, she oversees financial strategy, operations, and organizational development. Danusia brings deep expertise in corporate leadership, forecasting, tax compliance, and project management.
Passionate about community service, she currently serves as Chief Girl Scout (Naczelniczka Harcerek) for the global Polish Scouting Association and Treasurer for both the Polish Combatants Association Branch 20 and its charity arm. She has also served on the Board of the Adam Mickiewicz Foundation since 2010. A dedicated advocate for Polish culture and heritage, Danusia previously held the role of Treasurer on the Canadian Polish Congress’ Head Executive Board from 1994 to 2002.
Jan Faryaszewski
Chair of Quality and Risk Committee
Jan Faryaszewski
Jan Faryaszewski is a seasoned financial executive with over 25 years of international experience in strategic finance, risk management, procurement, and corporate governance. He has held CFO roles at Canada Post, Molson Coors Canada, Polpharma, and GreenSpace Brands, and senior leadership positions at Danone, SABMiller Poland, and The Coca-Cola Company. Jan has served on several boards, including The Beer Store, Innovapost, and WWF Poland, bringing strong audit committee and nonprofit governance expertise. He holds an ICD.D designation and degrees from Tufts University, Thunderbird School of Global Management, and INSEAD. Fluent in English, French, and Polish, Jan offers a global perspective, operational discipline, and a commitment to public service to not-for-profit organizations like Copernicus Lodge that deliver impactful, community-focused missions.
Lucian Ezman
Corporate Secretary
Lucian Ezman
Lucian Ezman, P.Eng., MBA, is the President of Komandor Canada Interior Design Services Inc. and Director of Komandor Canada Closets & Doors Inc. With over 30 years of experience in interior design, manufacturing, and global exports, he is a founding partner of Komandor S.A. in Poland, helping expand the brand to over 40 countries. Holding an MBA from the Western University Ivey School of Business and an engineering degree from Carleton University, Lucian specializes in product development, material requirement planning systems, and CAD-CAM manufacturing. His entrepreneurial leadership fosters innovation and growth, combining European design sensibilities with strategic business acumen. A Toronto native with Polish roots, he is passionate about sports, coaching, and family. Beyond business, he enjoys golf, hockey, skiing, and boating while promoting Polish culture and entrepreneurship in Canada.
Natalie Farshait
Director
Natalie Farshait
Natalie Farshait, RN, MN, CHE, is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience in a complex, multi-site acute care health environment. Passionate about patient-centered care, she has a proven track record in clinical transformation, system integration, and performance excellence. As the Founder of Ontario Safety Agency and former Senior Director at Humber River Hospital, she has played a key role in evidence-based practice integration, patient safety, financial management, and pandemic response. Natalie excels in cross-functional team building, mentorship, and fostering high-performance cultures. She has worked closely with Ontario Health Teams to improve care coordination and is deeply committed to advancing senior care transformation. Born and raised in Ukraine, she understands the cultural and spiritual needs of the Polish-Canadian community. Excited about the opportunity to contribute to Copernicus Lodge, she looks forward to supporting its vision of being the leading care provider and home of choice in the community.
Marc Buklis
Chair of the Property Management Committee
Marc Buklis
Marc is a financial services professional with over 30 years of experience. He has worked at and with financial institutions such as Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank and RBC Capital Markets and served as a management consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Global Business Services, specializing in the transformation of risk, finance and compliance with technology. In his current role he is working in the financial technology space, with an Open Banking platform.
Marc has been a member of the Copernicus Lodge Board of Directors since 2022 and is the Chair of the Quality and Risk Committee, and the Property Management Committee. He is an annual volunteer at the Roncesvalles Polish Street Festival.
Margaret (Małgorzata) Martin
Vice-Chair of the Board
Margaret (Małgorzata) Martin
Małgorzata (Margaret) Martin is Vice President of Project Management at Enterprise, bringing over 20 years of experience in managing high-profile communications and event initiatives. Known for her calm leadership and strong relationship-building skills, she has led major projects such as the province-wide Level-Up Skilled Trades Career Fairs, the APEx conference, and Ontario’s Growing the Greenbelt public consultation. Prior to joining Enterprise, Margaret spent more than a decade in Ontario politics, gaining valuable insights into government operations. A dedicated community leader, she has served on numerous boards including the Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services and the Polish Canadian Congress. Margaret continues to support cultural and academic initiatives through her involvement with organizations like the Adam Mickiewicz Foundation and Polish Studies at the University of Toronto.
Ed Reiterowski
Treasurer, Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee
Ed Reiterowski
Edward Reiterowski, BSc, MBA, CPA CA (Retired) is a seasoned financial professional with over 40 years of experience in audit, advisory, and financial systems. Spending 35 years at BDO Canada LLP, Ed was a partner for 25 years, specializing in computer-based accounting and control systems across sectors such as government, not-for-profits, credit unions, and manufacturing. His expertise spans system evaluations, financial audits, litigation support, and tax representation. Ed has also advised major organizations, including the Ontario government, on financial system security and integration. A dedicated community leader, he has served on finance and audit committees, coached youth sports, and contributed to professional regulatory bodies. He has also supported the SPK Branch 20 Credit Union as an auditor and currently serves as Treasurer of Copernicus Lodge. Fluent in English and Polish, Ed remains actively engaged in financial oversight roles.
Doris Galas
Director
Doris Galas
Doris Galas is a seasoned healthcare leader and registered nurse with over 40 years of experience in mental health and addictions across acute, community, and tertiary care settings. She was a Clinical Program Manager at Humber River Health, overseeing multiple clinical programs, managing over 90 staff and multimillion-dollar budgets. Doris previously held leadership roles at the Northwest GTA Hospital Corporation – Brampton Memorial Campus, Queen Street Mental Health Centre (now CAMH), and Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital. Her expertise spans strategic leadership, risk management, quality improvement, and transformational change. In her leadership roles, Doris was passionate about education and professional development, mentoring high-performing teams and advancing patient-centered care. She has played a key role in service delivery, clinical supervision, and organizational planning. Doris was active in several healthcare committees, and influenced mental health care through innovative leadership and operational excellence. She remains deeply committed to patient and staff well-being.
Martha Milczynski
Chair of Governance, Nominating & HR Committee
Martha Milczynski
Martha Milczynski is an Associate Judge (supernumerary) with the Federal Court of Canada. Prior to her appointment in 2003, Martha was a partner with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and Chair of the Financial Services Commission and Financial Services Tribunal of Ontario.
Martha’s prior legal practice expertise included advising private and public institutional clients, including those in the education and healthcare sectors, on corporate and pension plan governance, risk management, best practices and policies, and fiduciary duties. Martha is an experienced mediator and dedicated problem solver with a strong sense of community. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Polish Combatants’ Association (SPK),Branch 20.
Valerie Devine
Chair of the Copernicus Lodge Foundation
Valerie Devine
Valerie Devine has over 40 years of experience at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), having held key roles across the bank, most recently leading Advice Centre initiatives that advanced RBC’s strategy of becoming a digitally-enabled relationship bank.
Since retiring, Valerie led a COVID Vaccine Engagement Team in South Etobicoke, educating the community on vaccine benefits. She is a passionate believer and supporter of hospice care and is a dedicated volunteer at the Dorothy Ley Hospice since 2014. Valerie is active in her parish, Holy Angels Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Toronto Rosary Apostolate program and is also involved with food programs supporting the unhoused and those facing food insecurity. Her efforts reflect a lifelong passion for supporting others and building stronger, more compassionate communities. She joined the Copernicus Lodge Quality & Risk Committee in June 2024 and is a regular volunteer at the Roncesvalles Polish Festival. As a board member, she will help with strategic decisions that prioritize quality of life and compassionate care for residents.
Michael Szymanski
Director
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski, MBA, ICD.D is a recently retired Regional Vice President and Director with UniFirst Canada, a multinational business services organization.
His board experience includes serving as a Director with the Mississauga Board of Trade. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Audit Committee for The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda Territory.
He brings extensive knowledge, experience and skill set related to finance, operations and business development.
Educational qualifications include an ICD.D designation and an MBA earned from the Schulich School of Business.
Michael grew up in Toronto’s Polish community, the son of Polish immigrants. He has an immense passion for preserving and promoting Polish culture.
Stan Mazur
Director
Stan Mazur
Stan Mazur is an IT and cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience in the manufacturing and technology sectors, bringing deep expertise in cyber risk management & security, ethical hacking, and enterprise IT strategy. He has led complex, cross-functional projects that secure critical infrastructure, modernize legacy systems, and align technology with business objectives. Stan is skilled in project management with a strong focus on execution, accountability, and aggressive cost control. He is known for strategic foresight and operational discipline across global environments, while delivering high-impact cybersecurity initiatives, including red team exercises and advanced threat mitigation. Born and raised in Toronto’s Roncesvalles area, Stan proudly maintains a strong connection to Polish culture and traditions. Outside of work, he is passionate about hockey, baseball, and snowmobiling, and enjoys spending time in the Kaszuby region of Ontario, reconnecting with nature and his family’s Polish heritage.
Senior Leadership Team
Aleksandra Grzeszczuk
Chief Executive Officer
416-536-7122 ext. 238
Jessie Everett
Director of Finance
416-536-7122 ext. 393
Henry Zajac
Fundraising and Development Officer
416-536-7122 ext. 392
Liana Chandran
Director of Operations
416-536-7122 ext. 257
Elizabeth Chabelska, RN
Director of Nursing
416-536-7122 ext. 242
