Board of Directors

Demetrios (Jim) Papamanolis

Chair | Toronto, ON

Jim Papamanolis is a corporate lawyer with extensive experience in the energy sector. His practice focuses broadly on corporate-commercial matters relating to the development of energy projects, including project finance, construction and mergers and acquisitions. Jim holds a BA (Honours) from the University of Toronto and an LL.B. from Queen’s University. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2007. Jim values and is committed to the important work of Osteoporosis Canada, having a close family member affected by the disease.

Celeste Munger

Vice-Chair and Treasurer | Vancouver, BC

Celeste is a CPA, CMA currently working as Controller for MEC Mechanical Inc., a mechanical construction company in Vancouver British Columbia. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia. Prior to her business career, Celeste spent 2 years teaching in South Korea and 3 Years teaching in Japan. She has volunteered with her community centre association, with CPABC, and with multiple community theatre groups in the past.

Dr. Elaine Kilabuk

Director | Ottawa, ON

Dr. Elaine Kilabuk is a General Internal Medicine physician who works at The Ottawa Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario and Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit, Nunavut. She completed her medical training at McGill University, followed by her residency and fellowship training at The University of Ottawa.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Kilabuk holds various leadership positions that focus on advancing Indigenous health and Point of Care Ultrasound practices.

Her experience treating osteoporosis patients in underserved areas, along with a family member’s experience with the condition, drives her commitment to improving healthcare for all Canadians living with osteoporosis.

Emily Bartens

Director | Hamilton, ON

Emily Bartens is a retired Certified Professional Bookkeeper who worked for a diverse group of businesses in the Hamilton/Burlington area.

Emily has been an active volunteer with Osteoporosis Canada since 2002 and she served the Hamilton Chapter in various leadership roles. Emily became the first Chair of the National Operations Advisory Council, a position she held for 3 years ending in June 2007. From this role, Emily became a National Board member in addition to sitting on various committees working her way to National Chair and Past Chair. Emily is pleased to be back on the National Board.

With a family history of osteoporosis, she strives to do all that she can to support Osteoporosis Canada.

Dr. Claudia Gagnon

Director | Quebec City, QC

Dr. Claudia Gagnon is an adult endocrinologist at CHU de Québec-Université Laval. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Université Laval and a researcher at CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre and at Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre in Québec City. She is a scholar of the Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé (FRQS). After completing residency training in adult endocrinology at Université de Sherbrooke in 2006, she undertook a 3-year fellowship in metabolic bone diseases and phosphocalcic metabolism in Melbourne, Australia.

A large part of her clinical practice focuses on the treatment of osteoporosis, metabolic bone diseases and disorders of phosphocalcic metabolism. Her main research interests are on the impact of obesity, diabetes, and their treatments (in particular bariatric surgery) on bone health.

She received funding from Diabetes Canada, Diabète Québec, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, some of which were cited in the most recent bone guidelines of the American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. She has been awarded the 2022 Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism Young Investigator Award, the 2019 Jean-Davignon Young Investigator Award from the Cardiometabolic, diabetes and obesity FRQ-S network, the 2017 research prize of the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec, and the 2015 New Investigator Award at the International Symposium on the Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis. She has been involved in the Scientific Advisory Council of Osteoporosis Canada since 2018 (2018, 2020 and 2023 CMC planning committee, rapid response team, beyond the break presentations, podcasts). She is also actively involved in various provincial and national committees including Diabète Québec, Diabetes Canada, and INESSS (2023 provincial bone mineral density screening program for osteoporosis). Finally, she is involved in the international guidelines on vitamin D supplementation after bariatric surgery and X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.

Dr. Laëtitia Michou

Director | Laval, QC

Dr. Laëtitia Michou, MD, PhD is an associate professor and head of the Division of Rheumatology at CHU de Québec-Université Laval. Dr. Michou is a clinical investigator at the Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec and rheumatologist at the CHU de Québec. Research interests of Dr. Michou are human genetics of bone and joint diseases, particularly Paget’s disease of bone, rare bone diseases, osteoporosis, atypical femur fractures and rheumatoid arthritis. In her career, Dr. Michou has published 81 refereed publications and more than 150 conference abstracts. She has supervised research projects of 70 undergraduate, graduate, or medicine students or residents from four continents.

Dr. Michou completed her medicine training, rheumatology residency, and PhD in Human Genetics in France. She completed a clinical fellowship of two years in fragility bone diseases at the centre Viggo Petersen, Rheumatology department, Lariboisière hospital, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France.

Dr Michou has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Osteoporosis Canada since 2012, a member of the Research Committee from 2016 to 2023, and a member of the Board of Directors since September 2024.

Dr. Robert G. Josefchak

Director | St. Catharines, ON

Dr. Josefchak grew up in Thunder Bay, was educated at Western in London, and has practiced orthopaedic surgery in St. Catharines, where he continues to run an orthopaedic office practice. He and Maureen have been married for 38 years, have two adult children and have recently become grandparents. They are in the process of transitioning his surgical orthopaedic practice to share in the family’s mutual interests in golf, skiing, cycling, wine and travel.

He is an Associate Clinical Professor at the Department of Surgery, McMaster University and has been the Principal Investigator in over thirteen orthopaedic research studies.

He has served as the Ontario Orthopaedic Association’s Regional Representative to Osteoporosis Canada from 2006 – 2016, He has successfully completed the McMaster University Chartered Director Program. He has served on the Niagara Health Foundation, Board of Directors since 1986 and sits on their nominating Committee. He is also presently on the Board of Directors for Community Living Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln.

Roy Marra

Director | Caledon, ON

Roy has more than 25 years of experience in the Information and Technology sector. He has held a wide range of roles within the IT sector across a range of verticals (Healthcare, Financial, Public and Private) and is currently a technology executive in the energy industry. Roy is committed to the important work of Osteoporosis Canada.

Roy has a B.Sc (Computer Science) an EMBA and received the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College.

Petra Newton

Director | Toronto, ON

Petra served as a Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice from 1989- 2019 presiding in Criminal matters. She was president of the International Association of Women Judges, Canada, on the Board of Directors and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Petra was elected for two terms to the International Association of Women Judges Board of Directors representing North America.

Petra was Chair of the Gale Moot, Committee Member and continues to participate as a judge. She has been a panelist with respect to a variety of issues including women in the justice system and advocacy.

Prior to her appointment to the Bench she was a Prosecutor and Legal Advisor with the Department of Justice and Criminal Defence Counsel.

Petra received a Bachelor of Arts and Law Degree from the University of Manitoba and Certificate de Langue Française from the Sorbonne.

Paula Rietta

Director | Toronto, ON

Paula Rietta is General Counsel at Circular Materials. She provides strategic guidance and oversees the legal affairs of the organization, including corporate, compliance and risk management issues. Prior to Circular Materials, she was Group General Counsel for Cox Automotive Canada Company where she was responsible for the provision of legal services for the company’s multiple business units for both Canada and Brazil.

Prior to joining Cox Canada, Ms. Rietta was Vice-President, Legal for Ford Credit Canada Company and oversaw all legal matters on a national basis.

Ms. Rietta graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master’s and undergraduate degree in Political Science. She also received a Law degree from the University of Windsor.