Speakers

Registration   Accommodation   Program-At-A-Glance   Detailed Program   Speakers

Lynn Alexander
Property Manager, DRLHC, Region of Durham, Social Services

Lynn Alexander joined the Region of Durham in 2000 as a Property Manager in the Housing Services Division.  Lynn oversees a large portfolio which encompasses 6 municipalities.   The portfolio is made up of senior, family and transitional housing communities.  Lynn is very empathetic to the needs of her tenants and facilitates referrals to various community agencies as needed.  In addition to sitting on the Durham Elder Abuse Network, Lynn is a Fellow member with the Institute of Housing Management and is an instructor through their distance learning program.

Hafsa Asif
RECE Graduate

Hafsa Asif a mom to four beautiful children, recent RECE graduate.

Hafsa is passionate about children and childcare, she believes every child deserves nurturing and quality care. 

In their spare time she loves to read, learn about the human body or child psychology and be in nature, and when she's not doing all that she's running around with her children. 

Jane Beach
Early Childhood Education and Care Research and Policy Consultant

Jane Beach is a research and policy consultant specializing in early learning and child care (ELCC). With a diverse career spanning several decades, she has held roles ranging from centre director to senior government management. For the past 30 years, Jane has worked as an independent research consultant, conducting numerous studies on child care policy across Canada and internationally. She has served on multiple advisory bodies and authored numerous papers on the child care workforce and system-building in ELCC. Currently, Jane is the lead researcher on a multi-year project examining the successes and challenges of building capacity and expanding child care in Canada’s public and non-profit sectors.

Geri Blinick
RentSafe Project Manager, Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment

Geri Blinick (she/her) serves as the project manager for RentSafe, an initiative of the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE), that aims to address unhealthy housing conditions affecting tenants living on low income in both urban and rural communities across Ontario.  Geri also supports CPCHE’s policy advocacy toward improving children’s environmental health. Geri is a registered social worker who has worked in the not-for-profit sector in housing, homelessness, community health and environment.

Brittany Bridge
Program Analyst, Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Brittany Bridge is a Program Analyst with the Region of Waterloo Housing Services, where she leads and supports various projects related to End of Mortgage and community housing administration. Brittany has held multiple roles in Housing Services at the Region of Waterloo and Starling Community Services. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Politics from Wilfrid Laurier University and is currently pursing a Project Management Certificate from the University of Waterloo.

Bernice Chau
Policy Development Officer, City of Toronto, Children's Services

Bernice (she/her) is a Policy Development Officer with Toronto Children’s Services. She is passionate about storytelling, and amplifying the voices of 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Bernice is a training professional and Certified Human Resources Professional. Prior to joining the City of Toronto, she worked in the non-profit sector supporting 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

Alexis Cook
Grey Bruce Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Coordinator, County of Bruce

Alexis is a dedicated health advocate with a Master of Public Health, a Bachelor of Applied Science focusing in Adult Development and Psychology and post graduate certificates in Brain Disorders Management and Infection Control. With specialized training in research, project management, harm reduction and stigma she brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Her extensive experience spans across public health, acute care, and congregate settings, embodying a commitment to improving community well-being and fostering health equity. In her free time Alexis volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, spends endless hours gardening and loves to explore new spots around Grey and Bruce with her family.

Helen Doyle
Environmental Health Work Group Chair, Ontario Public Health Association

Helen Doyle is chair of the Ontario Public Health Association’s Environmental Health Workgroup, collaborating with public health partners to promote and advocate for action on environmental health issues including: climate change, air quality, water quality, housing, built and natural environments and children’s environmental health. Following a 30 year career with York Region Public Health, Helen now teaches part-time with Conestoga College’s School of Health & Life Sciences – Bachelor of Environmental Public Health Program.

Kim Godin
Manager, Children's Services, County of Lambton

Kim Godin, Manager Children’s Services Department with the County of Lambton. Kim brings over 30 years of experience in Social and Employment Services, Child and Community Development, having served vulnerable families, children, and youth. Kim is a graduate of Western University in Public Administration, Project Management and Fanshawe College Child and Youth Care.

Faith Hale
Executive Director, Ska:na Family Learning Centre

Faith Hale, a proud member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the MHA Nation, is the Executive Director and co-founder of Ska:na Family Learning Centre (SFLC), one of Ontario’s first Indigenous organizations focused on Child Care and Early Years programming. Faith was instrumental in researching, developing, and implementing an urban Indigenous culturally relevant early years framework. Under her leadership, SFLC continues to grow, offering diverse programs and services, while Faith mentors the Child Care and Early Years sector through collaboration with various boards, committees, and networks.

Faith holds a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wayne State University, a Bachelor of Education from Brock University, and an Early Childhood Education Diploma from St. Clair College. As a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), she has served on the College of Early Childhood Educators advisory committee, presented at various conferences, and led research projects in education and community development at local and provincial levels.

In addition to her work with SFLC, Faith is the President of the 7 Generations Indigenous Centre (7GIC), a College of Early Childhood Educator Mentor, and has held leadership positions such as past Second Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) and delegate appointee to the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services Board. 

Brynn Harlock
Housing Programs Advisor, Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Brynn Harlock is a Housing Programs Advisor with the Region of Waterloo Housing Services, where she supports community housing providers to strengthen their operations, governance, asset management, and financial position. Prior to her work in Waterloo, Brynn worked with non-profits and co-ops as Housing Programs Coordinator in Durham Region. She is also an instructor for the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA), specializing in Rent-Geared-to-Income administration. Brynn holds a Master's degree in Religious Studies and a certificate in Sexual and Gender Diversity from Queen's University.

Jane Hartley
Executive Director, Victim Services Bruce Grey & Steering Committee Member, Grey Bruce Community Safety and Well-Being Plan

With over 25 years of experience in victim services, crisis intervention, and advocacy, Jane Hartley is a dedicated leader committed to supporting individuals and communities in times of crisis. Recognizing that no single agency can address all the complex needs of victims, Jane has been instrumental in developing multi-sectoral collaborations that bring together law enforcement, healthcare professionals, mental health providers, and social service agencies. She believes that effective partnerships lead to more accessible and holistic support, reducing barriers and empowering individuals on their path to healing. Throughout her career, Jane has played a key role in enhancing coordinated responses to crisis and trauma, working closely with emergency service personnel, frontline support workers, and advocacy groups. She is also actively engaged in advancing best practices in victim advocacy, including initiatives aligned with the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). Jane holds degrees in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Western Ontario and a diploma in Child & Youth Counselling from Lambton College, equipping her with a deep understanding of victimization, trauma-informed care, and community-based support services. Beyond her professional work, Jane is married and a proud mother of two. She resides in a small rural community in Bruce County, where she enjoys the beauty of lake life with her family and their beloved dog, Piper.

Jason Hastings
Director, Strategic Initiatives, Region of Peel

As a passionate believer in the potential of people and communities, Jason Hastings has spent his career finding ways to make a difference. As the Director of Social Development, Planning and Partnerships at Peel Region, he leads a dedicated team that applies advanced data & analytics, evaluation, community development, continuous improvement and other approaches to move the needle on social issues. A fan of tackling tough problems, his work is focused on building welcoming communities for newcomers, ensuring every child gets the best start in life, everyone has a roof over their head, people have access to good jobs and enough money to live their lives. Jason has held similar roles with York Region, the City of London and United Way. He holds an MPA from the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University and a BA from Western University.

Christine Heavens, MBA, CET
Director, Community Development and Services, Cochrane District Services Board

As the Director of Community Development and Services, Christine Heavens brings extensive expertise to her role within the CDSB. She excels at conceptualizing, articulating, and executing solutions to address complex, multifaceted regional and community issues through culturally inclusive and person-centred approaches supported by strong community and business partnerships. With 25 years of management and leadership experience in the public sector—over half of which as a senior corporate leader —Christine has successfully led both in-person and remote teams. 

Her innovative approaches and collaborative efforts to address systemic barriers have earned her considerable respect within the Cochrane district and across the province. Ms. Heavens is an active member of the Boreal SSM consortium and executive team, serves as chair of the Far Northeast Training Board, chairs the Literacy Network Northeast Working Group, and the District School Board Ontario Northeast Special Education Advisory Committee.

Christine holds a master’s in business administration (MBA) focused on global leadership, is a Certified Engineering Technologist, and a Survey Technician. She is also finishing a master’s degree in education focused on leadership in learning.

Lori Kempe
Executive Director, Children First in Essex County

Lori Kempe is the Executive Director of Children First in Essex County and Executive Lead, Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.  Over the past 28 years, Lori has held a variety of positions in children’s mental health, developmental services, and child welfare in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent communities.

Joanne Kennedy
Program Manager, Housing and Ontario Works, Cochrane District Services Board

Joanne Kennedy's distinguished career with the Cochrane District Services Board (CDSB) spans an impressive 35 years. Beginning as a frontline worker in the Housing department, Joanne's dedication and passion for helping others propelled her into management. In her current role as Program Manager, she is a valued contributor to both housing and Ontario Works initiatives.

Throughout her career, Joanne has actively participated in several regional and community boards, driven by both her personal commitment to community service and her professional dedication to CDSB. She has played a pivotal role in leading and informing numerous innovative CDSB initiatives, including the expansion and strengthening of partnerships as part of the Social Assistance Modernization project and the Employment Service Transformation (EST) roll-out for the district.

Joanne's leadership is characterized by her unwavering commitment to employee and client success. She fosters a culture where every voice is heard, and lived experiences are valued as essential knowledge for progress. Joanne champions a collaborative team approach, emphasizing the importance of strengthening relationships and partnerships to support collective efforts.

Chris Kindy
Case Manager, Haldimand Norfolk Health and Social Services

Chris Kindy is a Case Manager at Haldimand Norfolk Health and Social Services and a Mental Health Worker with the Canadian Mental Health Association – Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk. With a background in Sociology from the University of Guelph and Addictions Studies from McMaster University, Chris has a deep understanding of the social issues impacting his community. He also serves as Vice President for CUPE Local 4700, advocating for workers’ rights.

Having faced his own challenges with Epilepsy and Mental Health, Chris feels privileged to work in roles where his main goal is to advocate for those who need it most, ensuring they have access to the best resources and support. He is particularly passionate about raising awareness around issues such as homelessness, mental health, and food insecurity.

Chris is an active member of several boards and committees, including Rotary Sunrise Norfolk, Epilepsy Ontario, Youth Unlimited YFC Norfolk, and the Crisis Workers of Ontario. Outside of his professional and advocacy work, Chris enjoys spending time with his family—walking his dog Penny and traveling the world with his wife Emily and daughter Maren.

Kameka Kirby-Chang
Early Learning Capacity Building and Workforce Mentor, Five Counties Children's Centre

Kameka Kirby-Chang is an Early Learning Capacity Building and Workforce Mentor for Five Counties Children's Centre, with over 13 years of experience in early childhood education. A Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) with a background in Early Childhood Leadership from George Brown College, Kameka has worked in various roles throughout the sector, empowering both children and educators.

Alison Kooistra
Policy Development Officer, Toronto Shelter & Support Services, City of Toronto

Alison Kooistra is a queer Dutch and Mennonite settler who lives in Toronto with her wife and two children. She is a Policy Development Officer with the Coordinated Access team, Toronto Shelter & Support Services, City of Toronto. Her role focuses on the development and continuous improvement of the STARS common assessment tool in collaboration with community partners.

Jennifer Lamond
Income and Social Supports Program Analyst, Peel Region

Jennifer Lamond is a strategic thinker with 20+ years of experience planning, analyzing, implementing, and evaluating a wide variety of human services initiatives, programs, strategies, and policies. As a Program Analyst for Human Services program delivery, Jennifer has had the opportunity to develop and work collaboratively with internal and external partners on projects to respond to Human Services needs in the Region of Peel.  

Jennifer has a proven track record of applying an evidence-informed decision-making lens to complex human services portfolios.  She is committed to human services programming that is designed with operational staff, lived experts and the broader community.  Jennifer is a passionate advocate for holistic, person-centred mental health and addictions supports.

Curtis Madden
Community Paramedic & Advanced Care Paramedic, City of Brantford

With 9 years of experience in the paramedic field, Curtis Madden has dedicated the last 6 years to specializing as a Community Paramedic, followed by 3.5 years as an Advanced Care Paramedic. His clinical expertise is backed by a degree in Public Health, which enhances his ability to deliver high-quality care and drive positive health outcomes within the community. Curtis is passionate about combining his medical knowledge with a proactive approach to health, always striving to improve patient care and community wellness.

Julia Mathew 
Administrative Coordinator, Community and Development Services, Cochrane District Services Board

Julia Mathew is a distinguished graduate of the Northern College Office Administration Executive program, bringing over nine years of exemplary experience in the administrative field. Her career is marked by a commitment to continuous learning and professional development, ensuring she remains at the forefront of administrative excellence.

Julia’s unwavering dedication, creativity, and integrity, combined with her exceptional skills and proactive mindset, enable her to effectively support the administrative needs of teams, making her an invaluable asset. Julia's innovative and inquisitive nature drives her to explore and implement more effective and efficient work processes, significantly contributing to the advancement of team goals.

In her role at the Cochrane District Services Board, Julia has been instrumental in supporting the organization's efforts through significant change management initiatives, showcasing her ability to navigate complexities while showcasing her adaptability.

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights from her extensive experience, enriched by her hands-on approach and her passion for improving administrative functions. 

Lisa Marie Middleton
Manager, Asylum Claimant Response, Region of Peel

Lisa Marie Middleton is a strategic leader in human services with over 20 years of experience in policy development, program design, evaluation and working with homeless and marginalized communities. She has a proven track record of translating policy into effective on-the-ground solutions that directly impact communities. Currently serving as the Manager of Asylum Claimant Response at the Region of Peel, Lisa Marie works alongside dedicated teams and service providers to develop and implement programs that support newcomers. Her expertise lies in creating sustainable, people-centered policies while ensuring their successful execution in real-world settings. Throughout her career, Lisa Marie has been committed to addressing complex social challenges, fostering inclusive environments, and driving meaningful change through evidence-based decision-making and hands-on leadership.

April Muldoon
Manager of Community Supports, County of Renfrew

April is the Manager of Community Supports with the Department of Community Services. April is passionate about client service delivery and is dedicated to making meaningful changes that meet people where they are at. April believes in the power of inclusive decision-making processes, a person-centered approach, and ensuring that clients are actively involved in shaping the services they receive. Through April’s leadership, April fosters a collaborative environment that prioritizes the needs and voices of the community, striving to create a more responsive and supportive service framework.

Ashley Pettifer
Director, Client Experience and Operations, Ryelle Strategy Group

As Director, Client Experience and Operations, Ashley oversees Ryelle Strategy Group’s management consulting projects in Canada and around the globe. With a laser focus on delivering excellence, Ashley leads teams in driving strategic outcomes and building client’s execution infrastructure across public sector, NGOs, and the Labour movement. Central to everything she does, is a commitment to delivering an exceptional client experience.

Starting her career in external strategy and revenue diversification, Ashley has applied these relationship building skills to organizations’ internal landscape. Leading the firm’s People, Culture & Capacity portfolio, Ashley brings engagement, collaboration and co-creation to organization’s strategic plans, organizational processes, and culture change initiatives.

Ashley’s education and training feature an Honours Specialization in Childhood and Social Institutions from the University of Western Ontario as well as a Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability from the University of Toronto. This commitment to social justice and population health outcomes has led her to become an active community volunteer holding positions at the highest levels.

Erica Phipps
Executive Director, Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment

Erica Phipps serves as Executive Director of the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment (CPCHE), a national collaboration of organizations that work together to advance children’s environmental health protection, and is the founding director of CPCHE’s RentSafe initiative. Erica has worked on environmental health and toxics issues for nearly three decades, with a focus on intersectoral action, policy advocacy, housing and health equity. She has a master’s degree in public health, a doctorate in health promotion and is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa.

Lisa Pitcher
Housing Program Coordinator, DRLHC, Region of Durham, Social Services

Lisa Pitcher has been with the Region of Durham as a Housing Program Coordinator since 2017.  Prior to this, she held various roles in the supportive housing space within Durham region and the Ottawa area dating back to 2010.  Lisa is passionate about supporting vulnerable tenants, particularly older adults.  Lisa has had the opportunity to spearhead several community development initiatives as well as facilitate incredibly successful tax clinics for those in need.  She brings extensive knowledge and experience working within the homelessness, transitional and supportive housing sector and holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Carleton University.

Daniel Quesada-Rebolledo
Outreach Worker, Regional Street Outreach Program, Income, Employment & Homelessness Supports Division, Regional Municipality of Durham

Daniel Quesada-Rebolledo is a Supervisor on the Homelessness Outreach & System Support team with the Region of Durham, overseeing a team of Outreach Workers who support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness across the region. He previously worked as an Outreach Worker on the same team. Before working in homelessness services, Daniel worked in international development across Latin America, focusing on health and poverty reduction initiatives. He also led an initiative funded by the Government of Canada supporting the well-being of over 30,000 temporary foreign workers across Ontario. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Studies from Trent University and speaks English, French, and Spanish.

Jackie Quinn
Property Manager, DRLHC, Region of Durham, Social Services

Jackie Quinn has been with the Region of Durham since 2001.  She has held several roles in the Housing Services Division, including her current role as Property Manager. Jackie successfully oversees a very busy portfolio: which includes family, senior and transitional housing communities.  Jackie is incredibly passionate about supporting vulnerable individuals and uses her extensive knowledge of community supports and resources to ensure all tenants needs are met.  Jackie is an accredited member of the Institute of Housing Management; and teaches the Residential Tenancy Law course at several colleges across Ontario.  Jackie is currently expanding her knowledge in the field by completing a Masters Certificate in Public Sector Management.

Daniel Rowe
Specialist, Housing Analytics, Housing Services, Peel Region

Daniel Rowe is a Specialist in Housing Analytics with Peel Region’s Housing Services. He previously worked as a researcher at McMaster University and the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at Unity Health, Toronto.

Kim Sangüesa
Manager, Partnerships, Quality and Accountability, Region of Waterloo (Children's Services)

Kim Sangüesa is the Manager of Partnerships, Quality and Accountability in Children’s Services at the Region of Waterloo. Kim is a proud Registered Early Childhood Educator and has worked at the Region for 28 years including roles as an Educator, Home Child Care Consultant, and Supervisor at two of the Region’s directly operated child care centres. In her current role, Kim is responsible for the Region’s quality initiatives program for Early Years and Child Care, and works directly with Special Needs Resourcing Agencies, EarlyON Child and Family Centre Leads and the Early Years Professional Resource Centre operated by Conestoga College. Due to the impacts the workforce crisis has had on the early years sector, Kim is working alongside Children’s Services colleagues and community partners in the development of a long-term Workforce Strategy to support early years programs.

Courtney Sarpong
Child Care Supervisor, City of Toronto - Children Services

Courtney, (She/Her) is a Center Supervisor at O’Connor Early Learning and Childcare Center. She holds a diploma is early childhood education and a bachelors degree in Education and Digital Technologies. As an active member with the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Working group and Advisory Circle within Children Services, she is dedicated to creating an environment for children that emphasizes on breaking barriers that is often imposed on young children. Courtney is a firm believer of the power of active, responsible, and diverse representation in children’s play.

Joel Schryer
Senior Clinical Manager, Children First in Essex County

Joel Schryer holds a Master of Social Work and is the Senior Clinical Manager at Children First, a children’s mental health agency servicing children birth to six and their families. He has worked in numerous social work roles in mental health, child welfare, youth justice and section 23 classrooms. Joel has taught as a part time faculty member at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan and as a sessional instructor at the University of Windsor.

Krista Scott
Housing Programs Advisor, Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Krista Scott is a Housing Programs Advisor with the Region of Waterloo, where she supports non-profit and co-op housing providers. Krista started at the Region in 2010 and has worked on various housing programs including capital repair, rent assistance and community housing programs. She also worked for the city of Stratford’s housing division for three years before returning to the Region.  Krista is an Accredited member of the Institute of Housing Management and has been a member since 2013. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Contemporary Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Business Administration Diploma from Mohawk College and Certificate in Leadership from Western Continuing Studies.

Dr. Magdalena Smolewski
Lead Researcher/Consultant, Women’s Equity Business

Magdalena (Magda) Smolewski holds PhD, MA, and Hon. BA (with High Distinction) in socio-cultural anthropology from the University of Toronto. For many years, Magda has been an instructor at the University of Toronto and currently is on the faculty of the Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, as a graduate supervisor. She is a retired, long-time Research Director at the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) and worked at the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs as a lead for relationships and policy divisions. Magda co-authored (with Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux) Historic Trauma and Aboriginal Healing, published in 2004 by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and now she provides services as a consultant to Indigenous organizations across Canada, including work on reconciliation, youth leadership, 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous-led education and training, urban issues, violence against Indigenous women, wellness, healing, and trauma-informed approaches.

John Stapleton
Consultant, Open Policy Ontario

John Stapleton worked for the Ontario Government in the Ministry of Community and Social Services for 28 years in the areas of social assistance policy and operations. During his early career, John was senior policy advisor to the Social Assistance Review Committee. His most recent government work concerned the implementation of the National Child Benefit in the late 1990’s and 2000’s.

John was a senior research associate with the Neighbourhood Change Research Partnership at the University of Toronto. He is former Chair  of Ontario Soldiers’ Aid Commission and is a volunteer with West Neighbourhood House and a former volunteer with WoodGreen Community Services of Toronto. John was Research Director for the Task Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working-Age Adults in Toronto and was the co-chair of the working group associated with this project. He is a former Innovation Fellowship at the Metcalf Foundation. He teaches public policy.  He sat on federal Minister Duclos’ advisory committee on poverty reduction, the Minister of Community and Social Services advisory group on social assistance reform and Toronto’s advisory group on poverty reduction.

John has published op-eds in the Globe & Mail, National Post and the Toronto Star. He has written reviews for the Literary Review of Canada and written articles and studies for Ideas that Matter, the University of Toronto, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the C.D. Howe Institute, Realize, the Caledon Institute, The Toronto Dominion Financial Group, the Metcalf Foundation, the Ontario Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, Employment and Social Development Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs, Civic Action, Policy Options. Toronto.com and many others.

John is the former chair of the Board of West Scarborough Community Legal Services and is a member of the Council on Aging of Ottawa’s Expert Panel on Income Security. He is the Past President of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and remains on its Board of Directors.

Kirby Steinhoff
OMSSA Trainer, integrative consulting inc.

Kirby Steinhoff (she/her) has been in the employment and social services field for over 10 years, starting as a frontline crisis counsellor in a domestic violence shelter and transitioning to Ontario Works case management is currently employed with the City of Greater Sudbury as a caseworker. 

Kirby has worked as a trainer and policy developer and is considered a subject matter expert and has trained both front-line and supervisory staff on various SAMS modules and directives.

Kirby has completed an Undergraduate degree from Western University in Women’s Studies and Feminist Research, a diploma in Human Resources from Fanshawe College and Master of Arts in Labour Studies from McMaster University with research focused on social policy, inclusion and contemporary work. 

Barb Tierney
Mesa Coordinator, County of Renfrew

Barb is committed to driving meaningful structural changes that enhance support for the most vulnerable members of the community. With a passion for creating low-barrier access to essential services, Barb works collaboratively as the Mesa Coordinator for the County of Renfrew to ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use health, and mental health challenges can be provided with wrap-around supports. Barb believes in an approach that is rooted in compassion and collaboration, fostering partnerships with various stakeholders to build a more inclusive and supportive environment.

Lauren Waugh
Program Manager - Policy & Strategic Initiatives, Region of Durham

Lauren Waugh is the Program Manager, Policy and Strategic Initiatives (PSI) in the Children’s Services Division (CSD) at the Region of Durham. The PSI team collaborates with all CSD teams, and with internal and community partners to conduct local research and promote the use of evaluation findings to implement data-informed, evidence-driven decisions and initiatives with the early learning and child care community. It also leads the development of policies, strategies and best practices based on community needs. As the program lead, Lauren has a commitment to ongoing research, actively supporting knowledge mobilization and exchange and leads continuous quality improvement initiatives through collaboration.

Dave Wiedrick
Director, Bylaw Compliance and Security, City of Brantford

Dave was born and raised in Brantford and joined the Brantford Police Force in February 1987 retiring in February 2017 after working uniform patrol, Major Crime, was in charge of the Vice Unit, the quality assurance team, and oversaw the entire Uniform division for the service and Admin section and then retiring at the rank of Det-Inspector.  During his career, Dave was an Incident Commander overseeing major police events and the Tac team for 12 years.

In addition to his more than 100 police and leadership courses Dave has certificates and degrees from Mohawk College, Dalhousie University, McMaster University and University of Toronto Rotman School of Business.

Some highlights of Dave’s career beyond his hundreds of solved cases, was volunteering for make a Wish and taking a terminally ill boy to Disney World for the day, Dave was also selected to attend the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Tolerance in Los Angeles California, as well as being the Designated Door Opener (DDO) for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she attended Brantford in 1997. 

After retiring from policing at 51, Dave choose a similar slower enforcement path and became the Manager of Bylaw for the City of Guelph.   A few years later Dave joined the City of Brantford as the Director of Bylaw. He currently oversees Bylaw, Property Standards, Security, Parking and Animal Control.

Dave is married to his wife Marie, of 36 years and has a son and daughter and son-in-law and a grandson named Walker. 

Darryl Wolk
Manager, Policy Development and Public Affairs, OMSSA

Darryl Wolk has served as Manager of Policy Development and Public Affairs for 8 years at OMSSA. His portfolio includes advocacy in the areas of social assistance, employment, housing, homelessness, child care, public health, long-term care and community safety and wellbeing.  Darryl graduated from the University of Windsor with an MBA and has 15 years of work experience in the municipal, health and social services sectors.

Bethany Zack
Policy Development Officer, City of Toronto, Children's Services

Bethany (she/her) is a Policy Development Officer with Toronto Children’s Services. In her time with Children’s Services, she has supported the development of a 2SLGBTQ+ Community Advisory, coordinated the 2SLGBTQ+ early learning and child care research project, and supported the launch of Celebrating 2SLGBTQ+ Children and Families learning materials and e-learning modules. Bethany holds a Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work.