Biographies
Meet the Chair
John Ecker, Whitby
John Ecker of Whitby is a communications, marketing, branding and fundraising executive. Most recently, he served as the Director, Family of Faith & Special Projects at Archdiocese of Toronto where he led Indigenous healing and reconciliation activities. In 2022, he was the Program and Production Lead for the Pope’s visit to Iqaluit, Nunavut and received a Papal Medal from Pope Francis for his work. He also oversaw brand development and marketing for the archdiocese’s Family of Faith Campaign and led the strategic re-positioning of the archdiocese’s Office for Refugees. Previously, he served as Vice President at Indspire (the former National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation) and held director-level positions at the Ontario Trillium Foundation, ECHO: Improving Women’s Health in Ontario, and the Toronto Board of Trade.
He is Chair of Ontario's June Callwood Awards for voluntarism. He is a Board member of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund. He also serves on the Board of Governors of Durham College, with campuses in Whitby and Oshawa. Ecker previously served on the Board of Credit Canada and was chair of the Whitby Public Library Board, the Waterview Child Care Centre, the Lynde Marsh Alliance and Heritage Whitby (LACAC). Internationally, he established Bimini Bound, which sent over 10,000 books and learning resources to schools on the island of Bimini, Bahamas.
In 2025, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario recognized Ecker’s service to his community, to Ontario and to Canada when she presented him with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
He received his Photography Diploma from Fanshawe College in London and his Bachelor or Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Waterloo.