STAFF
Joanna Baron, B.C.L./LL.B
Executive Director
Joanna Baron has been the CCF’s Executive Director since 2019. Previous to that, Joanna was the founding Director of the Runnymede Society. A native of Toronto, Joanna studied classical liberal arts at St. John’s College, MD, and earned civil and common law degrees at McGill University. She clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and was called to the bar in Ontario in 2013. Following her clerkship, Joanna worked in barrister’s chambers in London, UK as a Harold G. Fox Scholar. Following her return to Canada in 2014, Joanna practiced criminal law with the late Edward L. Greenspan, appearing at all levels of court in Ontario, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Christine Van Geyn, B.A./J.D.
Litigation Director
Christine Van Geyn has been the CCF’s Litigation Director since 2020 and is also a bestselling author and host of the national broadcast television program Canadian Justice. Christine earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Ethics, Society and Law at the University of Toronto, Trinity College. She earned her JD at Osgoode Hall Law school, and also studied at New York University School of Law. She was called to the bar in Ontario in 2012. Before joining CCF, Christine practiced commercial litigation, and then was the Ontario Director of a national non-profit where she was involved in several high profile constitutional challenges.
Josh Dehaas, B.A./J.D.
Counsel
Josh Dehaas is counsel with the CCF. Josh earned his Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, where he volunteered with Innocence Project and was president of Runnymede Society. Josh articled with the Ministry of Attorney General (Ontario) and was called to the bar in 2023. Prior to law school, Josh worked for nearly a decade in journalism including as a web writer for CTV News, as an online editor for Maclean’s, and as a freelance opinion writer for National Post. Josh holds a Master of Journalism degree from UBC and a degree in history from the University of Guelph.
Russell Phillips, B.A.
Development Director
Russell became the CCF’s Communications Director in 2021, having been with the CCF since 2014. Russell holds degrees in Economics (2021) and Policy Studies (2013) from the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University respectively. A true believer in individual freedom and classical liberalism, Russell manages the CCF’s website, social media and supports the Foundation’s fundraising and event planning.
Board of Directors
Andy Crooks
CCF Chairman, Lawyer and Businessman, Calgary
Arbitrator, Vancouver
Port Sydney
Lawyer, Ottawa
Businesswoman, Toronto
Brad Dunkley
Businessman, Toronto
Dr. Glenn Fox
Professor, University of Guelph
Will Johnston, MD
Doctor, Vancouver
Hugh Meighen
Lawyer, Toronto
Dwight Newman
Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Chris Froggatt
Businessman, Ottawa
