Gretchen Mayor is a dedicated, compassionate and skilled healthcare professional with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Philippine Women’s University Manila. With a strong sense of empathy and commitment, she has worked as a care provider in both Israel and Canada in various settings.

Since 2017, she has been a valued in-home caregiver in Canada, building meaningful relationships with several wonderful clients and their families who have appreciated her exceptional skills and warm personality.

As a newcomer in Canada, she confronted multiple professional and personal barriers and challenges, while adapting to her new country. However, her unwavering determination to build a brighter future remained her guiding force, teaching her invaluable lessons in resilience and adaptability.

Gretchen prioritizes her educational and professional growth. She successfully completed the Personal Support Worker Bridging Program in September 2021 and has engaged in various additional training organized by the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto.

Gretchen wants to raise awareness about the obstacles caregivers face in navigating the immigration system and building a fulfilling career in care work. By addressing these barriers and offering support and resources, we can empower caregivers like herself to thrive in this vital field of service.

Marcia Cole has over 25 years in the field of developmental disabilities. She has worked with various agencies and families that support adult with disabilities. Marcia comes to us from Sawubona Africentric Circle of Support, where she works to encourage a circle of support, break down stigmas associated with asking for help and facilitate access to services for black families who care for children with disabilities.

Dr Nikki Dunne PhD is the research manager with Family Carers Ireland, the national charity supporting the 500,000 family carers across the country who care for loved ones such as children or adults with physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses, mental ill-health or addiction.

As research manager, Nikki leads Family Carers Ireland’s programme of research and evaluation, managing a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative projects relating to family carers, including the bi-annual State of Caring survey. She is particularly focusing on building and coordinating research involvement and engagement among family carers, researchers and other stakeholders. Nikki has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she was based at the Centre for Families and Relationships. Prior to joining Family Carers Ireland, Nikki has worked in academic research on projects relating to gender and care worker migration, diversity in large organizations and archival research methods.

Paul Knoll is retired from a 21-year career at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. He is a busy artist and community leader. He also spends time managing the Paul Knoll Community Fund which is part of the Ottawa Community Foundation. Paul lives with his sister and brother-in-law in his home in Ottawa.

Lisa Machado leads the Advocacy & Better Health division at Healthing.ca. She is a journalist, and a leader in patient and caregiver advocacy. She has lived with a rare blood cancer for 15 years, and has had decades of caregiving experience, caring for her father and her brother. She lives in Toronto with two teenagers, Archie, the blind pug, and Ezekiel the boxer.

Drucila has been a care provider since 2011. She began her career in the long-term care sector before bringing her skills to developmental services, where she has been working as a direct support professional for four years.

She currently works as a regional rehabilitation worker, providing direct support to residents who have been identified with psychological and social or behavioral challenges as well as developmental disabilities and/or chronic mental illnesses. In her role, Drucila provides skill development support to residents with goals of moving to smaller community settings to be able to thrive in their communities.

Drucila is excited to bring her voice to the Direct Support Professionals Fellowship representing Nova Scotia.

Amber Ward is an Indigenous researcher from Treaty Six Territory. Her home nation is the Enoch Cree Nation of Alberta.

Amber holds a B.Sc. with a specialization in chemistry, a B.Sc. in nursing and recently began medical school at the University of British Columbia, Island Medical Program in Victoria, B.C. (class of 2026). She has held various positions with the federal and provincial governments over a six-year period. Amber has dedicated her career to researching Indigenous health, including the impacts of asthma and allergies in Indigenous communities. Most recently, she completed a study with the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry exploring the perspectives of Indigenous caregivers that support a family member with a disability.

Cayleigh Sexton attended Brock University for Child and Youth Studies and a Bachelor of Education. While completing her Master of Arts Degree at Brock for Child and Youth studies, she conducted a research study about young caregivers within a stress and coping model.

She has been working with Young Caregivers Association (YCA) since 2013 and became the executive director in 2023. She has worked as a frontline staff with young caregivers for eight years and has gained valuable insight directly from the young caregivers she works with. Cayleigh is very passionate about developing curriculum specific to the needs of young caregivers within the school context and sibling experience.

She has a keen focus on new evaluation trends and innovative practices to ensure young caregivers are always the centre of YCA’s work. She currently lives in Brantford, Ontario with her husband and their 3 cats.

Ella Amir is the executive director of AMI-Québec since 1990. Under her leadership the organization has become one of the principal resources in Québec for families struggling with mental illness.

Ella was the chair of the Family Caregivers Advisory Committee for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and a member of the Commission’s Advisory Council. During her time with the MHCC she led the development of the Guidelines for caregivers support, a blueprint for a comprehensive system of care to support family caregivers across the country.

Ella holds a PhD in psychology and applied human sciences, and an MBA. She is a member of the Order of Canada.

Gina St. Amour has built a remarkable career centered around community enrichment and support. A specialist in family and social relations from the University of Guelph, Gina has furthered her education at Queen’s University and the Public Sector Executive Leadership Institute through Rotman Executive Programs.

Since assuming her role as the executive director of The Ottawa Rotary Home in 2004, Gina has been a tireless advocate for respite within comprehensive support networks, fostering communities that prioritize the optimum health and well-being of every individual and family. Her vision and collaborative leadership have fostered strategic partnerships with educational institutions, hospitals, public health agencies, and Rotary Clubs, creating a strong foundation for families to thrive.

Gina also serves as a member of the board of directors for OASIS, presently chairing the Member Services Standing committee for 197 agencies. Known as a “bridge builder,” Gina’s efforts have led to meaningful, impactful change, creating a community that is more inclusive and welcoming for all.

Gina’s unwavering dedication has been recognized with several awards, including the Community Builder Award, the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, and the Non-Profit Business of the Year Award. Through her work, Gina St. Amour continues to be a beacon of change, driving forward initiatives that ensure better support and services for all.