The People of GSC
We work to provide seniors, and everyone who cares about them,
with the resources they need to combat financial fraud.
While we have varying responsibilities and operate
from varying locations, we are united in this:
we are all committed to this cause, and we are all volunteers.
Directors
Yigal Bruk serves as both a Director of GSC Foundation and as its CEO. He is currently pursuing a BSc in Neuroscience at York University, in preparation for medical school.
His background — an immigrant to Canada from Israel with older family members, themselves with Ukrainian roots — taught him first-hand the vulnerabilities that older people can face, and the responsibility that society has to protect them. He chose seniors’ vulnerability to financial fraud as his personal field of activity, and he looked for initial support in the worlds he knows best: academic (in both British Columbia and Ontario), sports (having played soccer professionally in Germany), and a wide range of the ethnic and other communities that make up the fabric of Canada. With the support of his team, he guides the growth and impact of the organization.
Arshia Esmaeili holds a BSc in Business and Economics and also an Associates Degree in Entrepreneurship, both from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. With this academic training, he brings a data-driven and strategic mindset to his work as a real-estate professional. He applies the same tools – including market analytics, consumer behaviour data and digital advertising techniques – to his role as a Director.
Matthew Hoppe is a professional soccer player, currently based in Denmark, who has a passion for community service. In 2022, he created the Matthew Hoppe Foundation, a non-profit organization in his home country, the United States of America, to help young athletes in that country develop their skills. He brings that same passion to his service with GSC, where he provides advice on operations and operational development.
Dr. Perlon joined Mackenzie Health in 1999 and is currently the longest-serving full-time emergency physician in the Group’s two York-Region hospitals. He has held various leadership positions with the Group, and is now Wellness Director for the Emergency Physicians group and President of the Mackenzie Health Emergency Physicians Associates. In addition to his service with GSC, Dr. Perlon’s volunteer activities include leadership roles with Spin Doctors (a fund-raising cycling team for Mackenzie Health) and with Hatzoloh (volunteer first-responders).
Officers
Yigal Bruk serves as both a Director of GSC Foundation and as its CEO. He is currently pursuing a BSc in Neuroscience at York University, in preparation for medical school.
His background — an immigrant to Canada from Israel with older family members, themselves with Ukrainian roots — taught him first-hand the vulnerabilities that older people can face, and the responsibility that society has to protect them. He chose seniors’ vulnerability to financial fraud as his personal field of activity, and he looked for initial support in the worlds he knows best: academic (in both British Columbia and Ontario), sports (having played soccer professionally in Germany), and a wide range of the ethnic and other communities that make up the fabric of Canada. With the support of his team, he guides the growth and impact of the organization.
Aryan Ghasemi, founder and CEO of Perseus Creative Studio, is an entrepreneur and business strategist. His background in marketing, statistics and management includes academic training at the Sauder School of Business (UBC), where he focused on business strategy and data-driven decision making. He now uses all those skills not only to build his own company, but also, as our COO, to help guide GSC as well.
After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of British Columbia, Ella moved to Europe to pursue her passion for soccer professionally. Though an injury requiring surgery brought her back home, her rehabilitation has given her the opportunity to reflect and gain a different perspective on her future. The experience has reinforced her interest in pursuing a career in medicine and finding meaningful ways to give back.
Through her experience working as a caregiver, Ella has built meaningful relationships with older adults in her community and gained a deeper understanding of the challenges they can face, particularly when it comes to scams and financial exploitation. She is proud to be apart of the GAL Foundation and contribute to a cause she cares deeply about. Ella brings strong organizational skills, community outreach experience, and a commitment to service to the GAL team.
Andrew Yuan is a software engineer with a strong background in AI and full-stack development, and further experience in cybersecurity.
Program Team
Donel recently completed an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience and is now beginning a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology and Neuroscience. He is passionate about pursuing medicine and using his education to support the health and well-being of the general population.
Through his experience working in several older adult care homes, Donel developed a strong interest in supporting senior communities and addressing the challenges they face. This experience inspired his involvement with GSC, where he hopes to help volunteers across Canada organize and deliver educational initiatives that promote awareness, accessibility, and meaningful community impact.
As a current student at York University in Biomedical Sciences, Kateryna has been greatly involved with various community organizations, which strengthened her values of social justice, advocacy, long-term impact and compassion. Her involvement with the Least Restraint Initiative in her local hospital exposed her to barriers faced by seniors with post-surgical delirium. She wishes to continue raising awareness about broader issues affecting senior populations by promoting digital literacy and fraud prevention. Now, as Community Outreach Coordinator, she will help GSC develop a network of community partnerships to raise awareness of senior financial-fraud issues and of ways to combat them.
Natalie recently graduated from York University with a Bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, while also competing as a varsity student-athlete. She brings a strong foundation in science, along with the discipline and teamwork built through years of competitive athletics to her work with GSC, experience she hopes to carry forward into a future in medicine.
Having grown up in Vancouver, Natalie has a personal connection to the community she now serves. Through prior experience working with senior populations affected by Alzheimer’s, she developed a deep appreciation for the challenges older adults face and a commitment to supporting their well-being. As BC Operations Manager, she looks forward to building new relationships across the province and advancing GSC’s mission of educating and protecting seniors from financial fraud.
Currently a Master of Kinesiology student and national-level swimmer at the University of Toronto, Eric Ginzburg is preparing for a career as a medical professional with a dual focus on health and community service. As Ontario Program Manager at GSC, Eric leads the province’s programming to help seniors navigate the digital world safely.
Lucas Robson is a student-athlete at the University of Alberta, currently pursuing a bachelor of arts in media studies. He has over half a decade experience working in media and sports. While relatively new to the province of Alberta, Lucas intends to use his experience to help grow GSC in Alberta, beginning in Edmonton and expanding from there in response to demand and opportunities.
Ingrid Jin is a student at the University of Toronto studying Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology and Physiology. She dances competitively, representing UofT St. George, and outside of school enjoys practicing Taekwondo and Kendo. Across her academic, extracurricular, and community involvement, she values curiosity, teamwork, and making a positive contribution to the people around her.
While working towards an Honours BSc in Neuroscience (York University, Toronto ON), Vaish Shanoj continues to use her digital media skills to help others. In the past, she has supported outreach and fundraising with a Canadian charity and the educational goals of a United Nations initiative. She now brings her research-driven perspective, and her concern for the well-being of diverse audiences, to her role as a Social Media Manager for GSC.
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