Cumberland helps clients understand the contours of different jurisdictions and competing political agendas and build positive relationships with all levels of government – including federal, provincial, municipal, and First Nations.
Cumberland Strategies is a leading public affairs, government relations and strategic communications firm with decades of experience advising Canadian and multinational blue-chip corporations. Led by some of the country’s brightest public affairs minds, Cumberland brings intelligent strategic thinking to every project and campaign, ensuring successful outcomes for clients.
We leverage our experience to gather insights from all levels of government to shape outcomes and produce results for many and varied clients in a variety of sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, waste management, technology, mining, agriculture, transportation, infrastructure, film & entertainment, land development and the not-for profit sector.
A great team is always greater than the sum of its parts and at Cumberland Strategies we exemplify that truism. With decades of experience navigating government, crafting and executing strategic communications plans and driving public affairs campaigns, the Cumberland Strategies team brings experience, superior political judgement and creativity to every challenge. That is why clients consistently and repeatedly rely on us to meet their corporate objectives.
Bliss is the founder of Cumberland Strategies. Over the past 27 years, he has been an innovator, practitioner and commentator in the Public Affairs arena both domestically and internationally. He has been an advisor to two Prime Ministers, Ministers, Members of Parliament and Cabinet.
Bliss’ private sector experience includes Senior Executive roles in the banking and renewables industry and the pipeline industry. As a former Board Member of the Sierra Club, Bliss has had a lifelong passion for promoting public policies that protect the environment. Bliss was a senior advisor to several elected officials including Chief of Staff to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. His clients include a variety of tech companies, energy related companies, financial services, agriculture, manufacturing, clean technology providers, healthcare stakeholders and infrastructure related firms.
Bliss completed his undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Economics in Canada and his post-graduate degree at the London School of Economics in 1992 and is the founder of Cumberland Strategies.
Contact
Bliss@cumberlandstrategies.ca
| 647-309-0058|
Giancarlo offers clients over a decade of government relations, public affairs and communications experience that spans both the public and private sectors. Politically, he has worked at both the municipal and provincial level at Toronto City Hall as an advisor to a City of Toronto Councillor and then at Queens Park as a Stakeholder Relations and Communications Advisor to the Attorney General of Ontario. In government, Giancarlo dealt with various municipal matters, managed the relationships with non-profit stakeholders, the regulation of professional organizations and helped to navigate sensitive high-profile issues.
In 2010 he left Queens Park to what is now Cumberland Strategies, and has since represented a number of sectors, particularly environmental, natural resource, agriculture and agri-food, trade association, infrastructure, technology and clean tech innovation clients. Giancarlo has an extensive knowledge of strategic communications, regulatory affairs, the government decision-making process and has been a part of a number of federal, provincial and municipal campaigns.
Prior to working in government, Giancarlo gained experience and knowledge of the importance of customer service and finance while working in the banking sector. Giancarlo has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto and is a graduate of St. Michael’s College School.
Contact
Giancarlo@cumberlandstrategies.ca
|416.294.3738|
A Managing Principal at Cumberland, Jon brings over 10 years of public affairs consulting experience over a truly diverse range of sectors. Before joining Cumberland, Jon founded Common Ground Consulting where he uniquely specialized in supporting First Nations organizations, arts and culture institutions and not-for-profits.
Since joining the Cumberland team, Jon has cultivated a distinctive practice of clients and a proven track record of success on often difficult issues. This practice includes; technology companies, start-ups, gov tech, clean tech, First Nations advocacy & self-government, environmental protection, arts & culture and international development.
Before launching into his consulting career, Jon earned a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University and Jon worked as a Special Assistant to a Member of Parliament in Ottawa. His duties included speech writing, research for the MP’s committee, strategy and other responsibilities.
In 2011, he travelled to the United Kingdom in order to complete his Master’s of Science in Politics & International Relations at the University of London. Jon has studied and contributed to local civil society capacity building in Rwanda and has been published in both the Montreal Gazette and Huffington Post. In his spare time, Jon serves as a Coach at the Social Venture Zone at Toronto Metropolitan University and is a lecturer of Strategic Communications at George Brown College.
Contact
Jon@cumberlandstrategies.ca
|647.965.3706|
Carys is a Senior Consultant on Cumberland Strategies’ National Government Relations Team. She specializes in facilitating impactful provincial and federal Government Relations strategies across a variety of sectors. Carys leads Cumberland’s healthcare practice, advising clients on navigating Ontario’s healthcare system in a post-pandemic landscape.
Carys gained extensive knowledge of government during her tenure working for two different Ministers of Energy at Queen’s Park. Throughout her government experience, she developed a deep understanding of public policy, crisis communications and stakeholder relations, driving transformational initiatives. She has served as a senior political advisor on numerous provincial and federal campaigns, leading to her exceptional understanding of the political decision-making process.
Carys is the founder of the Cumberland Strategies Women in Politics Program. She is a leader in driving change to improve representation and encourage more women to get involved in politics. The Cumberland Strategies Women in Politics Program highlights prominent female leaders and policies that impact Canadian women and supports women entering the field through the annual Women in Politics Internship Program.
Carys is an advocate for supporting local communities, sitting on the St. Michael’s Hospital Youth Leaders Board in Toronto, the Toronto Chapter of Equal Voice, as well as the Neuchatel Junior College Canadian Advisory Committee.
Carys has an international education, having attended New York University, the University of Toronto, as well as Neuchatel Junior College in Switzerland.
Contact
Carys@cumberlandstrategies.ca
|416-500-1161|
Born and raised in New Brunswick, Mackenzie is well-versed in legislative affairs, strategic communications, and stakeholder relations. She has held various positions in different jurisdictions, including the Ontario Government, the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission and the University of Toronto Press.
After being selected to participate in the Ontario Legislative Internship program, Mackenzie went on to work for the Ontario Ombudsman, focusing on municipal policy. She has served as Senior Advisor to the Ontario Government House Leader, and had roles in the Ministry of Economic Development and Job Creation, and most recently the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
Mackenzie is known for her comprehensive knowledge of the legislative process and sound communications strategies that give her the ability to tackle issues with the support of a variety of stakeholders. Mackenzie has proven writing skills – recognized as a recipient of the Louis Robichaud Award for Best Essay in Canadian Politics and the William Vaughn Prize for Best Essay in Legal Studies. This is in addition to being an accomplished public speaker – representing the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at the national level.
In addition to her work in politics, Mackenzie serves on the board of the Loran Foundation, the Program Advisory Committee for DemocracyxChange at Ryerson University, and is a volunteer for the Distress Centres of Greater Toronto. Mackenzie holds a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Thomas University in Political Science and French certifications from Université Laval and Université de Montréal.
Contact
mackenzie@cumberlandstrategies.ca
|506 612 1432|
Derek leads Cumberland’s Ottawa office as a Senior Consultant who specializes in delivering for clients across various sectors, including First Nations advocacy and clean technology companies.
Before joining Cumberland, Derek spent over ten years advising numerous elected officials, overseeing candidate recruitment for a federal party for two election cycles and managing and supporting dozens of local campaigns. Derek proved to be adept and discreet at managing highly sensitive files and navigating political issues across different sectors. Derek has a proven track record at the Federal and Provincial government level as a political advisor to Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of Provincial Parliaments and the Premier of Ontario, and the Prime Minister. He played a Senior role in two national election campaigns that resulted in back-to-back victories for the Liberal Party of Canada.
Derek holds a BA and MA in History from Trent University, where he was also a Teaching Assistant. Derek is an avid runner, who has run several races and is training for a marathon.
Contact
derek@cumberlandstrategies.ca
|873 353 6641|
Vienna is an Analyst on Cumberland Strategies’ National Government Relations Team. She supports Cumberland’s provincial and federal initiatives across a variety of sectors, with specific interest and expertise in Healthcare, Agriculture and Mining.
Her exceptional public policy and project management expertise derive from her experience as CEO of the NATO Research Group at the Munk School of Global Affairs, driving the critical conversation on geopolitical matters of national security, international cooperation, and multilateral diplomacy. This experience shaped her deep understanding of Canada’s role on the international stage and the national economic growth potential within the agricultural, critical minerals and natural resources sectors.
Vienna is a nationally ranked soccer player, playing as a member of the University of Toronto varsity team. Her passion for the game extends beyond the field as she works with the governing body and several clubs across Canada to promote female youth empowerment and leadership.
Contact
vienna@cumberlandstrategies.ca
Robert is an analyst on Cumberland Strategies’ National Government Relations Team. He supports Cumberland’s provincial and federal initiatives, specifically within the Technology and Environmental sectors. His expertise is at the intersection of digital transformation and environmental sustainability. He provides clients with an exceptional understanding of how to navigate government processes, targets the right audiences and craft strategically delivered messaging. Robert is Cumberland Strategies’ lead digital campaign expert with extensive experience in web design, demographic targeting and ad creation.
Robert’s expertise in public policy and strategic communications comes from his of years of experience working in Mayor Tory’s office, as well as supporting his recent re-election campaign where he supported the policy team, led field organizing for West Toronto and managed tour and data processes. His political experience began in the Hon. Chrystia Freeland’s constituency office, where he managed stakeholder relations and drove local efficiencies within her riding. Robert has served on numerous provincial and federal campaigns, driving his advocacy for change in his local community.
Contact
robert@cumberlandstrategies.ca
Julia is an intern on Cumberland Strategies’ National Government Relations Team. Her educational background at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy shaped her interest in Indigenous economic development and procurement, Indigenous social policies, healthcare, and climate action.
Having worked for the federal government within the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labour, amidst a global pandemic, Julia is an experienced navigator of stakeholder relations and strategic communications. Her drive towards Indigenous-led economic development was an asset during her time in the Provincial Ministry of Indigenous Affairs. She has several years of experience volunteering on both federal and provincial campaigns in Toronto and Ottawa, proving to be a critical asset on a winning team.
Contact
Julia@cumberlandstrategies.ca
Paul Sparkes is an accomplished business leader and entrepreneur with over twenty-five years of experience in public affairs, media, Venture Capital, finance, capital markets and Canada’s political arena.
He is currently President of Otterbury holdings Inc and is a corporate director, advisor and deal maker for growth companies in the public and private markets. Previously, Sparkes co-founded Difference Capital Financial, a TSX-listed specialty finance company that invests in media, technology, health care and U.S. real estate.
Paul spent a decade as a leader in the broadcast and media industry as Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs for CTVglobemedia (now Bellmedia), where he had oversight for corporate matters including strategy, regulatory, public and government affairs, communications, corporate social responsibility, as well as all sponsorship for CTVglobemedia Inc., and its divisions, including 27 conventional TV stations, 29 specialty and pay TV channels, 34 radio stations, The Globe and Mail, and Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.
Over the course of his decade long tenure at CTVglobemedia, Sparkes led the development and implementation of successful public affairs strategies and major campaigns in support of corporate, board and regulatory priorities over transitions including changes in shareholder ownership structure as well as corporate acquisitions and divestitures.
Prior to joining Bell Globemedia in 2001 as Group Vice-President, Public Affairs, Sparkes held senior positions in the public service, including with the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. From 1996 to 2001, he served in the Office of the Prime Minister as Director of Operations, and Special Assistant for Atlantic Canada. Sparkes also served as Executive Assistant to two Premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Sparkes sits on several public and private boards in Canada the US and Europe, He is also the Chairman and Founding Member of the Smiling Land Foundation.
As a past member of the OneXOne board, Sparkes led the implementation of the First Nations School Breakfast Program providing healthy food for Aboriginal children in remote communities. He also served eight years on the board of the Animal Planet Digital Channel , four years as President of the CHUM Charitable Foundation , four years on the board of the LCBO and is a past board member of the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association and the National Arts Center Foundation.
Sparkes is a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. He was an Olympic Flame Torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Educated in Quebec and Newfoundland, Sparkes holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Memorial University. He has been recognized as among the 100 Top Lobbyists in Canada.
Ava Hill was born on the Six Nations Reserve and is a Mohawk, Wolf Clan. Ava was the Elected Chief of the 56th and 57th Six Nations Elected Council. Prior to holding the Office of Elected Chief, Ava was a Councillor for District Two for three terms, a total of nine years. After serving for fifteen years as a member of the Six Nations Elected Council, Ava did not seek re-election in the last Six Nations General Election which was held on November 9th, 2019.
Ava has extensive experience working with First Nations and Indigenous organizations (regionally, nationally and locally) in both a volunteer and professional capacity. She served as the Executive Director of the Chiefs of Ontario Office, the Executive Assistant to the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and the Executive Assistant to the Co-Chair of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. She also spent some time in Saskatchewan working for the Wahpeton Dakota Nation and the Prince Albert Grand Council.
In addition to her duties as a Councillor, Ava worked as a private consultant who specialized in event planning/conference co-ordination, facilitation, report writing and the organization of lobbies at Queen’s Park and on Parliament Hill.
Ava has also dedicated many years as a volunteer for several agencies and committees both in major cities and in her home community.
During her tenure on the Six Nations Elected Council Ava sat on many of the internal and external committees. She was the Six Nations representative on the Aboriginal Leadership Partnership for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games. She was Six Nations representative with the Iroquois Caucus and has been active on international files attending the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for the past few years. She also participated in the Global Preparatory Meeting, which was held in Alta, Norway, in preparation for the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples that was held in New York City in 2014.
Ava represented Six Nations on the Chiefs of Ontario Political Confederacy from November 2013 to November 2019. While in that position, she was also a member of the Chiefs of Ontario Wealth Creation Committee, Energy Committee and the Chiefs Committee on Housing. She represented the Chiefs of Ontario on the Ontario Provincial Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion up until June 2018.
Ava is a former member of Diverse onBoard, which was a program at The Change School at Ryerson University, and is currently a member of the Board of Governors at the University of Waterloo and a Board member of the National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development with the University of Victoria. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Victoria Forum 2020, an International Forum being held at the University of Victoria in November 2020.
Over the course of his professional career, Nathan Wright has focused on supporting elected leadership in the area of executive management, policy coordination and political strategy for indigenous communities and organizations.
He has worked with and led a number of dedicated professionals who advocate on behalf of the Indigenous Nations within Ontario. Over the years he has been honored to represent Indigenous peoples in varies public forums and gained valuable knowledge and experience in advancing First Nation priorities.
Nathan’s key accomplishments include establishing the first Assembly of First Nation Yukon Regional Office, including an operating budget and governance model; structuring the unique negotiation process which led to First Nations in Ontario acquiring 2.5% shares of Hydro One Inc.; developing and implementing indigenous led advocacy strategies which resulted in changes to public policy, including the Safer Ontario Act, Ontario Resource Revenue Sharing policies and Ontario’s Archaeological policies as they relate to Indigenous peoples.
Jeff Passmore has worked in the renewable energy, renewable chemicals, and industrial bio-economy sectors for over 40 years, both as a consultant, and, for 12 years, as Executive Vice President of Iogen Corporation, an advanced biofuels production company. His expertise includes strategic investor relations, project capital attraction, site location assessment – including feedstock availability and cost, and corporate communications. He was a key player at the table in negotiated investments by Shell, Petro Canada, Goldman Sachs, and VW. He led a team of four professionals that succeeded in getting Canadian Renewable and Conservation Expenses (CRCE) embedded in the federal tax act in 1996, and was instrumental in the creation of the NextGen Biofuels Fund at Sustainable Development Technology Canada in federal Budget 2007.
In 2010, he launched the Passmore Group Inc., a management consultancy focused on providing clients with the necessary tools to lead to the more rapid commercialization and deployment of technologies in the bio-economy and cleantech sectors. His area of concentration has been on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to Canada targeting primarily US and EU companies. He has raised non-dilutive subordinated debt for a number of offshore companies seeking to establish businesses in Canada.
In 2016 Passmore launched and now Chairs Canada’s inaugural annual Industrial Bioeconomy Business Conference “Scaling Up” focussing on the financing and commercialization challenges faced by biochemical, bioenergy, and advanced biofuels technology providers.
For more information visit the Passmore Group website at www.passmoregroup.ca
Larry has decades of service in the fields of education, municipal governance, and the non-profit a well as for-profit sectors. First elected as a Councillor for the City of Stoney Creek, Larry later became a Councillor for the amalgamated City of Hamilton and served as Mayor from 2003-2006. His nearly 25 years of political experience serve him well in his current interests.
As mayor Larry championed the construction of a major roadway infrastructure for the city which had been debated for decades, and set up a poverty roundtable to address issues of housing and homelessness for needy citizens.
Larry also has extensive background in education having risen (and retired from) the position of secondary school principal with a local large school board.
Larry currently manages a Consulting service providing strategic advice and advocacy to large and medium-sized business interests from Ontario as well as the United States.
As well as his business interests, Larry is committed to the community and volunteers as Chair of a local Children’s Aid Agency, has been on the board of an anti-poverty initiative and currently hosts a weekly, politically-oriented television program in the Hamilton area.
Bill Walker
President and CEO, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI)
Bill Walker was a three-term Member of the Provincial Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound from 2011-2022.
He has served as the Chief Government Whip, Cabinet Minister of Government and Consumer Services, as well as the Associate Minister of Energy.
Bill also served seven years in Opposition as the Critic for Seniors, Long-Term Care and Accessibility, Community and Social Services, Long-Term Care and Wellness, Children and Youth Services, as well as Deputy Health Critic for Rural and Northern Ontario. He is also a long-time PC Caucus Nuclear Chair. In 2020, Bill was awarded the Provincial Public Policy Stewardship Award by the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council in recognition of his contributions to public policy in the field of medical isotopes.
Prior to his election to provincial parliament, Bill worked as Operations Manager at Bruce Power, and was Executive Director at the Bruce Peninsula Health Services Foundation where he led a successful campaign to raise $3 million for the Lion’s Head and Wiarton hospitals.
He is currently the President and CEO of the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI). He oversees the operations of OCNI including providing services and support to utility and national lab partners and members, membership retention and growth, facilities management, financial administration, outreach and relationship building. Walker also works with members and partners in strengthening the nuclear industry’s Indigenous Engagement program.
Chris is the Managing Partner of Compensation Governance Partners, based in Toronto. He advises boards and management to support stakeholder value by effectively aligning organizational strategy with executive pay.
Prior to CGP, Chris was the National Practice Leader of Executive Compensation at a multinational human resources consulting firm. As a lawyer and tax advisor, he provides deep technical and industry expertise in all executive compensation and governance aspects.
With over 25 years of experience at HR advisory, accounting and law firms, Chris has worked extensively with private and public sector clients worldwide. He has advised human resources and compensation committees in organizations ranging from the S&P/TSX 60 to not-for-profits, providing advice in the areas of governance, compensation strategy, competitive benchmarking and incentive design.
President and CEO
UniversalCare Canada Inc.
Joseph Gulizia has been involved in operating Long-Term Care, Retirement Homes and Continuing Complex Care facilities since 1997. He holds a Certificate in Long-Term Care Administration from Ryerson University. With a long history in the industry behind him and the qualifications to accompany his experience, Joseph Gulizia opened the doors of Richview Manor, our first senior residence, in 2008. Since then he has grown to 17 residences, taking care of 2089 residents.
Joseph is a recipient of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award (2012), City of Vaughan Volunteer of the Year Award (2013) and the 2015 Business of the Year – Young Entrepreneur Under 40 – Vaughan Chambers of Commerce. UniversalCare has been nominated for the 2017 Professional Services Business Excellence Award by the Vaughan Chambers of Commerce.
Joseph prides himself on being accessible. Don’t hesitate to call him at 905 558 8000 with any question you may have.
