Carolyn Acker is Founder of Pathways to Education Canada. As Executive Director of the Regent Park Community Health Centre, Ms. Acker developed the Pathways to Education Program, providing at-risk, disadvantaged high school students with the inspiration and ability to graduate. Having lowered the dropout rate in Regent Park from 56 percent to 11 percent, and increased post-secondary attendance from 20 percent to 80 percent, she successfully replicated Pathways in five other communities.

Ms. Acker has also been Director of Nursing Services and Policy and Program Development at St. Elizabeth Health Care, has served on the Board of St. Michael’s Hospital and was named one of the 32 most inspiring Canadian women of Italian heritage.