Richard Belzile
Executive Director
Richard is a Queen’s University law school graduate He has worked as a lawyer, senior advisor and elected official. His most recent position was working as a senior advisor in the accessibility office of the Ontario Government, including websites review to ensure they met the criteria of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Richard was an elected French-language school board trustee on both the Limestone Board of Education in Kingston and the Conseil des Ecoles Publiques de l’est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) for almost ten years.
Richard looks forward to working with the CAD-ASC board to remove barriers and build bridges to opportunity and success for the Deaf, Deafened, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing and Deaf Disabled (DDDBHHD+) communities.
Jason Nashtootaway
Indigenous Deaf Researcher
Jason Nashtootaway is Cree from Kashechewan First Nation, ON. He graduated from Loyalist College in 2020 with a diploma in Business Accounting, he has plans to continue his studies and get an advanced diploma in Business Administration Accounting. Jason has previously worked for the Canadian Hearing Services and as a DeafBlind Intervenor. Jason was involved in the Canadian Deaf Youth Leadership Camp in 2012 and won a certificate in 2012. He is excited to work with CAD-ASC on his research project.
Neige Rudi
Office Assistant
Originally from a charming seaside town in southern NB, Canada, Neige is a versatile professional who combines a background in the STEM field with a passion for community engagement. A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a degree in Laboratory Science Technology, Neige has contributed to multiple research and technical projects at various organizations, such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Dow Chemical Canada. Embracing an interdisciplinary approach, Neige enjoys integrating insights from diverse fields to bring fresh perspectives to her work.
Today, Neige is contracted with CAD-ASC to work as an office assistant, which includes managing office operations, assisting with various administrative tasks, and coordinating CAD-ASC’s participation in community events. Embodying our core values of communication, respect, accessibility, and diversity, Neige helps to foster a welcoming and efficient environment for our members and the broader community.
Joseph Antle
Administrative Assistant
Joseph Antle is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a degree in Information Technology with an immersion in American Sign Language and Deaf Cultural Studies. He has a great deal of experience in the IT field involving Deaf and hearing customers’ inquiries and concerns regarding various accessibility services across Canada such as SRV Canada VRS and other platforms. He has maintained up-to-date knowledge about accessibility products and services as well as providing valuable information to Deaf people and their needs.
Joseph is contracted with CAD-ASC to work as an Administrative Assistant to assist with the day-to-day operations of an office by doing tasks such as maintaining the technology equipment, updating the website, preparing documents for the Zoom meetings, filing critical paperwork, answering VRS calls and greetings visitors at receptions. He also manages the records of donors and provides official tax receipts for our donors.
Scott Simser, LL.B
Special Advisor to the Executive Director
Scott Simser brings many years of experience with ligation and advocacy to CAD-ASC. After receiving his J.D. from the Law Society of Ontario, he went on to advocate at many levels of court, such as the Federal Court of Appeal, Ontario Court of Appeal, and Tax Court of Canada. Scott also has a Master of Business Administration degree and he headed his own law practice for several years.
For over seven years, he headed a law practice that served the Deaf and hard of hearing community, achieving further legal victories such as establishing a broader right by Deaf organizations to sign language interpreters while consulting the Government of Canada or meeting elected federal representatives, and also a movie captioning settlement that brought about expanded access to accessibility in move theatre and cinemas across Canada.
Pavel Chernousov
Consultant
Pavel Chernousov has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Moscow State University of International Affairs (MGIMO) and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Ottawa. His work history includes climate change assignments with the United Nations, the Moscow Carnegie Centre, and research and teaching positions at the University of Ottawa. Pavel has a strong academic background in government programs and international development.
While in the United States on his exchange program, he received the President’s Volunteer Service Award and letters of recognition from the US Ministry of Defence, the state of Tennessee, and the commonwealth of Kentucky. He was a volunteer at Saint-Vincent Hospital and Elizabeth Bruyère Hospital in Ottawa working with senior and disabled patients.
During his teen years, Pavel was a volunteer at the orphanage house in Russia working with orphan children.
Charles Gros
Bilingual Digital Content Coordinator
Charles-Maximilien earned two degrees: first, a university diploma in Electronics and Industrial Computing, followed by a master’s degree in general engineering from the CESI School of Engineering in Paris, France. Additionally, he completed a 6-month internship in New York to master American Sign Language (ASL) and English and to explore the Deaf community in the United States. Charles gained experience in programming and administration through intensive training and several internships in web application development.
Currently, he serves as a bilingual digital content coordinator for CAD-ASC, where he modifies and optimizes the website. He is responsible for regularly posting messages, content, and branded hashtags on social media platforms.