Board of Directors
Donald J.P. Ziraldo
C.M., LLD – Chairman, Board of Directors
Donald was a founding partner in Inniskillin in 1975, a company dedicated to producing high quality, estate-bottled wines. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Brock University in 1994 in recognition of achievements including the arts, community service, and contributions to the university.
Among his many achievements, Donald received the Order of Ontario in 1993 and Order of Canada 1998, and in 1999 the National Post Business Magazine chose him as one of the top twenty- five Canadian CEOs of the century.
Donald’s many board and advisory positions include Shaftesbury Films, Vintners’ Quality Alliance, The International Wine Institute, Zerofootprint, Vincor International, the Shaw Festival, and in 2006 the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs appointed him as Chairman of the Vineland Research & Innovation Center to be a driving influence in bringing together Ontario wines, agriculture, and regional cuisine to the international stage.
For his business and community work, Donald has received over twenty domestic and international awards and lifetime achievements in the areas of wine making and marketing, and business development and entrepreneurism.
Donald has also published several literary works, including Icewine: Extreme Winemaking.
Senator Trevor Eyton
OC, JD
Mr. Eyton is a well-known businessman in Canada and internationally – who is the former President, CEO and Chairman of Brascan (now Brookfield Asset Management Inc.), one of Canada’s largest companies. Brookfield’s focus is on property, power, and infrastructure, with past and present involvements in companies such as Noranda, Labatts, London Life, Royal Trustco and others.
Appointed to the Senate in 1990 by former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, he served on three committees – Banking, Trade and Commerce, Transport and Communications and Scrutiny of Regulations where he was the Joint Chair. He also served as a Director of Coca-Cola Enterprises (Atlantic) from 1998-2007. Mr. Eyton retired from the Canadian Senate in 2009 and is currently Honorary Chairman of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, as well as a Director of Brookfield Asset Management Inc, Magna International Inc., Altus Income Fund and Chairman of Ivernia Inc.
Prior to his business career, the Senator was educated at Toronto’s Jarvis Collegiate Institute and the University of Toronto where he received both his BA and JD.
Jason Randall Barrs
B.A., LL.B, J.D.
Mr. Barrs attended York University in Toronto Canada, where he earned his B.A. in 1971. Mr. Barrs graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1974.
Mr. Barrs’ practice is restricted to Criminal Law (Trials and Appeals) and Board and Tribunal Hearings and Appeals. Randy conducted many high profile criminal defences and has appeared frequently before the Ontario Court of Appeal. Randy also represents License Holders before the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and has conducted major appeals before the Divisional Court.
Mr. Barrs is a member of the Criminal Lawyers Association and Advocates Society. After 34 years, he remains one of Toronto’s top criminal lawyers.
Todd Halpern
Currently residing as President of Halpern Enterprises, Todd and his family have been in the business of importing fine wines and spirits into Canada for over 57 years.
Todd joined Halpern Enterprises in 1979, and since has grown the company tremendously. Today the company represents over 100 of the World’s finest wine and spirit producers.
Serving on the Toronto General Hospital Board since 2005, Mr. Halpern is Board Champion of the Krembil Neuroscience Centre’s Krembil Discovery Tower and Krembil Neuro Program. He is also Chair of the Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival, which benefits research at University Health Network.
Alan Ralph
Chair – Audit, Finance and Compensation Committee
Mr. Ralph is a Chartered Accountant who retired in 2007 after 34 years as a partner of Deloitte & Touche LLP. During his tenure with Deloitte & Touche , Mr. Ralph specialized in Audit and Assurance serving both publicly traded and owner-managed enterprises. Mr. Ralph was the office managing partner for the Niagara and Burlington offices, the Director of Audit and Assurance Services for South Western Ontario and a member of the Deloitte National Committee for Audit and Assurance Services in Canada.
Currently, Mr. Ralph is a director and chair of the audit committee for Loto Inc. a publicly traded company that develops and markets lottery software, director and chair of the audit committee for QAT Inc. a publicly traded company that develops quantitative analytical software and also as director and chair of the audit committee for the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, an internationally recognized centre of horticultural research and innovation excellence.
Mr. Ralph presently operates as an independent consultant to winery investors and owners as well as other small business enterprises.
Mr. Ralph has also served as a director and board chair for various community, charitable and not for profit Boards and Associations located in the Niagara Peninsula.
