Give Hope
Help make Freedom Centre a reality.
A place for healing and hope for our community and Canadian Veterans.
Board Members
Pastor Jenn Turner
Rev. Rosmary Redshaw
Pastor Jenn Turner
The pastor of Cambridge Preston Church of the Nazarene, the site of the Freedom Centre and our board Chair. She is a recovering addict, with a wealth of life experience. She is experienced with conflict management and working with people in crisis and conflict with the law.
Ken Turner
Rev. Rosmary Redshaw
Pastor Jenn Turner
is a Mechanical Engineer and brings a wealth of expertise in IT. Ken also brings a lifetime of experience being married to a recovered addict. He brings creativity and passion to the table. (Non-voting community member)
Rev. Rosmary Redshaw
Rev. Rosmary Redshaw
Rev. Rosmary Redshaw
An ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and the Coordinator for the Freedom Centre. Rosemary, who is a strong advocate for the marginalized, spent 27 years working as a Chaplain in Provincial and Federal corrections. Her experience has given her exposure to the needs of people in crisis from young offenders, to adult men and women; and shaped her advocacy for the marginalized.
Jim Tolmie
Jennifer O’Connor
Rev. Rosmary Redshaw
As our representative for the veterans, we have Jim, who spent 37 years as a medic and physician’s assistant in the Canadian Forces. Jim is also the South Western Ontario Field Operations Manager for VETS Canada and brings first-hand working experience with struggling veterans. Jim also has experience in family medicine and recently compl
As our representative for the veterans, we have Jim, who spent 37 years as a medic and physician’s assistant in the Canadian Forces. Jim is also the South Western Ontario Field Operations Manager for VETS Canada and brings first-hand working experience with struggling veterans. Jim also has experience in family medicine and recently completed his Behavioral Addiction and Addiction Counselling Skills.
Ron Budhu
Jennifer O’Connor
Jennifer O’Connor
Ron Budhu is enjoying his retirement life from accounting following the last 17 years of his career as a Senior Financial Analyst with the City of Toronto. Prior to the political environment, Ron spent 25 years of an illustrious financial career with Volvo in Canada, the USA, Sweden and England. He is motivated daily in his walk with Chri
Ron Budhu is enjoying his retirement life from accounting following the last 17 years of his career as a Senior Financial Analyst with the City of Toronto. Prior to the political environment, Ron spent 25 years of an illustrious financial career with Volvo in Canada, the USA, Sweden and England. He is motivated daily in his walk with Christ by his beautiful wife, Dolly, with whom they have two children and two grandchildren. Ron continues to use his talent in his church, currently serving as Treasurer in the Cambridge-Preston Church of the Nazarene.
Jennifer O’Connor
Jennifer O’Connor
Jennifer O’Connor
Has 15 years of experience in Recreation Therapy facilitating cognitive, social and physical programs for the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions. She is also a Registered Massage Therapist. Jennifer is our community representative.
John Leistra
Joseph (Joe) Blanchard
Joseph (Joe) Blanchard
John Leistra worked for almost 30 years as a Biomedical Electronic Technologist at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He retired from full time work there in 2011. Since 2001 till present, John has been servicing the patient care equipent used by the Region of Waterloo EMS Paramedic Service, Waterloo Region Police Services, and the Fire Depa
John Leistra worked for almost 30 years as a Biomedical Electronic Technologist at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He retired from full time work there in 2011. Since 2001 till present, John has been servicing the patient care equipent used by the Region of Waterloo EMS Paramedic Service, Waterloo Region Police Services, and the Fire Departments in Cambridge and Kitchener. He has joined the Freedom Centre board because of his interest in helping create housing for struggling and homeless Canadian Military Veterans. John sits on the Board as a non-voting community member.
Joseph (Joe) Blanchard
Joseph (Joe) Blanchard
Joseph (Joe) Blanchard
CD (Canadian Decorated medal), MBA
Joe is a 30-year veteran of our Canadian Armed Forces, where he served as a Medical Officer in the Healthcare Administration. Currently, he owns 3 companies and has been working tirelessly on advancing and promoting veteran issues in soft-skills, training and development, job experience programs, entrepr
CD (Canadian Decorated medal), MBA
Joe is a 30-year veteran of our Canadian Armed Forces, where he served as a Medical Officer in the Healthcare Administration. Currently, he owns 3 companies and has been working tirelessly on advancing and promoting veteran issues in soft-skills, training and development, job experience programs, entrepreneurship, and job placement programs. Joe is completing his Doctorate in Entrepreneurship to help our Military and RCMP service members and their families start and expand their businesses nationally and globally. Joe has been married to Sonia for 40 years. They have two children and live in the Ottawa area. They are also the grandparents of the two most beautiful girls, Mackenzie and Charlotte
Tim Riley
Joseph (Joe) Blanchard
Tim Riley
Tim is an army veteran who has travelled the world and experienced many highs and experienced divorce, incarceration and depression. At his bottom, he sought Jesus and established a strong personal relationship with Jesus. He is also active on the board of directors for New Life Prison Ministries and their aftercare programs and mentors
Tim is an army veteran who has travelled the world and experienced many highs and experienced divorce, incarceration and depression. At his bottom, he sought Jesus and established a strong personal relationship with Jesus. He is also active on the board of directors for New Life Prison Ministries and their aftercare programs and mentors others. He strives to be salt and light in his workplace, where he is a crew leader and chief union steward. He is passionate to be of help to make the Freedom Centre loving and impactful for the community and veterans in need. Tim is a non-voting member.
Community Partners
Citizens for Cambridge is a volunteer based organization dedicated to harnessing the passion, ingenuity and commitment of Cambridge citizens to support the development of a better community for all
Freedom Centre partnered with Top Markets of Preston to feed five families (18 people) for Thanksgiving and gifted them with a week’s worth of food items. THANK-YOU TOP MARKETS
We hold pop-up sales and, in turn, donate to local charities anything we are unable to sell. This is an ongoing venture for more information go to Facebook or Twitter to hear about our next sale!
Veterans House helps provide funding and or development tools through partnerships to established NFP's or organizations who want to connect with Veterans House Charity and its partners to provide programs or services for Veterans' Mental Health and/or First Responders.