Biography

John F. Spekkens holds degrees in Philosophy and in Social Work from the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and the University of Toronto. His professional career in mental health includes 35 years as President and C.E.O., first at East Metro Youth Services, and then at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. Governance, accreditation, and strategic planning in the not-for-profit sector are his areas of expertise. He has provided leadership on the Boards of the Council of Accreditation (based in New York City), Children’s Mental Health Ontario, the Child Welfare League of Canada, and several other agencies’ Boards of Directors. In recognition of his extensive work in mental health, Mr. Spekkens received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003. He served on the Board of St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto from 2004 to 2016, and was a member and chair of the Governance Committee for many years. From 2010 through 2021, Mr. Spekkens served as a mediator and adjudicator on three provincial review boards: the Child and Family Services Review Board, the Custody Review Board, and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. He is fluently bilingual in English and French. Mr. Spekkens has been a member of the Law Society Tribunal since June 2014.