About Us
Warden Woods Community Centre has been working with and for the communities of Warden Woods and Southwest Scarborough for over 50 years.
Mission
Our mission is to build caring, compassionate, just and interdependent communities in our local neighbourhoods, by:
- Listening + collaborating to provide appropriate programs, services and supports that meet the evolving needs and interests of the individuals and groups who make up our beautiful communities.
- Identifying + building resources, skills, capacities and leadership within our communities.
- Connecting our communities to internal and external resources and opportunities.
- Advocating to and with all stakeholders for the benefit of our communities.
Warden Woods Community Centre was founded in 1970 by the Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada (MCEC), in response to the needs of residents from the Oakridge, Cataraqui, Firvalley, Leyton communities and surrounding areas where Social Housing was newly established.
our Financial supporters
our collaborators
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
We are required as a registered public benefit charity to have a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is made up of volunteers who agree to oversee the governance of Warden Woods- they oversee the performance of our Executive Director, our financial integrity, and our adherence to the mission of strengthening our local neighbourhood.
Asif Warsi Ahmed -Vice Chair
Asif Warsi Ahmed is a dynamic nonprofit executive with over a decade of senior leadership experience in the health and social services sector. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Centre of Arthritis Excellence, where he leads strategic growth, stakeholder engagement, and patient-centered initiatives. Previously, Asif was the Executive Director of Hypertension Canada, guiding national advocacy, partnerships, and revenue development.
Throughout his career, Asif has worked closely with boards, government agencies, community organizations, and volunteers to strengthen governance, advance social impact, and champion equity in access to care and community programs. He has also provided executive leadership to multiple provincial and national associations through his work with Zzeem, supporting organizations in strategic planning, membership growth, and revenue diversification.
A Certified Association Executive, Asif is also an active volunteer with professional and community organizations, including Toastmasters International, the Canadian Society of Association Executives, and the MPI Toronto Chapter. Fluent in five languages, he is passionate about building inclusive, collaborative communities and contributing to positive social change.
Towfiq Pritom-Treasurer/Interim Chair
Towfiq Pritom, CPA, ACA is the Head of Accounting at Mejuri, where he leads financial reporting, governance, and accounting operations for the global jewelry brand. He brings extensive experience in financial management, strategic planning, and organizational oversight, helping companies build strong financial foundations that support sustainable growth.
Towfiq holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).
He is passionate about applying his financial expertise to support mission-driven organizations. As a member of the Finance Committee at Warden Woods Community Centre, Towfiq contributes to strengthening financial stewardship and governance to help ensure the organization’s resources are managed responsibly to serve the community.
Gayatri Sriram -Director
Tracy Qin-Director
Tracy is an experienced finance professional with over 16 years in the public accounting field. She spent over 10 years in a public accounting firm where she rose to become a partner. She subsequently started her own public accounting firm where she provides a wide range of financial services to businesses and individuals.
Tracy holds a CGA, CPA in Canada. She completed her BBA at York University.
2nd year of 1st term
Marta Rzeszowska -Director
Marta Rzeszowska is a senior executive in the financial services and fintech sector, with extensive experience leading business development, innovation, and strategic partnerships. She brings to Warden Woods a strong background in corporate growth, transformation, and community leadership.
Beyond her professional career, Marta is deeply committed to giving back. She has served as a mentor at York University and contributes her expertise to multiple boards and charitable organizations, with a focus on community building, fundraising, and supporting women in leadership.
Marta is passionate about strengthening local communities and is excited to support Warden Woods in its mission to provide programs and services that empower individuals and families.
Kalki Nagaratnam -Secretary
Kalki Nagaratnam is a medical student at the University of Toronto. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences with a Minor in Psychology from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Arts in Healthcare Ethics and Law from the University of Manchester. Kalki brings experience across the healthcare and social services sectors and has served on not-for-profit boards, committees, and research ethics boards. Her interests include advancing health equity and access to services, strengthening community well-being and food security, and promoting ethical and inclusive governance.
Kalki enjoys volunteering with community-oriented, purpose-driven organizations that support individuals and households navigating social and systemic barriers. As a board member, she is committed to contributing to Warden Woods’ efforts to foster healthy, connected, and resilient communities.
Ramzia Ashrafi -Director
Ramzia Ashrafi (she/her) is a Registered Nurse, Certified Health Executive, and PhD student in Urban Health at Toronto Metropolitan University, with over two decades of experience across clinical practice, health systems leadership, and nursing education. She has served in various leadership roles across non-profit and social service organizations in Canada and internationally, advancing health equity for newcomer, refugee, and equity-deserving communities through multi-program portfolios, evaluation frameworks, and strategic partnerships spanning government, health, academic, settlement, and community sectors.
Ramzia holds a Master of Nursing in Health Systems Leadership and Administration from the University of Toronto and completed a Health System Improvement Fellowship at the University of Alberta. Her doctoral research examines how community-based newcomer- and refugee-serving organizations adopt and govern artificial intelligence in frontline service delivery, balancing efficiency with equity, trust, and the communities they serve. She is multilingual, speaking English, Dari, Farsi, Urdu, and Hindi.
Deeply committed to giving back, Ramzia brings both professional expertise and lived experience as an immigrant to her governance work, and believes strongly in community spaces that foster belonging, dignity, and opportunity. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, practicing yoga and kickboxing, and spending time with family and friends over a good meal and board games.