We are a group of youth and adults dedicated to building youth capacity and celebrating youth achievement in our community. Read on to find out who we are.
Board of Directors
Kaleigh Maclaren Kaleigh has been volunteering with CAYFO since winning a Spirit Award three years ago. In this time she has sat on both the Spirit Planning committee and the Ottawa Youth Commission Executive Committee and helped out with other programs. Kaleigh is now the Youth Chair of CAYFO. She is in her second year of Communications at the University of Ottawa and continues to volunteer with other community organizations.
Samira Ahmed Samira has been with CAYFO as a volunteer for six years. She is one of the founding members and former Chair of the Ottawa Youth Commission, is the founder of For Youth By Youth (FYBY) News- a news outlet dedicated to youth in Ottawa and also sits on CAYFO’s Board of Directors. An avid public speaker Samira has spoken at National Child’s Day, Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards, and numerous other conferences. She has been a FLARE magazine Volunteer of the Year and a YMCA Young Woman of Distinction. Samira attends the University of Ottawa as a third year law student.
Richard Goldstein Richard was welcomed into the CAYFO family in November, 2007 and was Co-Chair of the CAYFO Board of Directors in 2010. Giving up all hope of a life in either professional hockey or rock and roll (think Happy Gilmour and Spinal Tap,) Richard graduated from Ryerson University and commenced his involvement in the construction industry in Toronto in the mid 1980’s. His experience in the management of projects such as the Hospital for Sick Children expansion in Toronto, the City Hall/City Centre project in Waterloo and the new Canadian War Museum project in Ottawa, will serve CAYFO well in the realm of organizational development and team dynamics. Richard now acts as the Director of Construction for a construction, real estate and development company in Kanata, is an avid hockey player, golfer, musician and gym rat, and lives his failed hockey/music career vicariously through the exploits of his three sons
Julianna Cronk Julianna Cronk is a 21 year old student in her final year of undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa. Studying English and History, she hopes to attend law school after graduation. She is In addition to working with CAYFO, Julianna volunteers with Best Buddies and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa.
Joe Veryard Joe has been with CAYFO for two years as a Board Member and has been involved with CAYFO in various ways for over a decade. Joe and his wife Catherine have been educators for twenty-nine years. For the past thirteen years, he has served the Ottawa Catholic School Board as a school administrator. He is currently the Principal of Safe Schools for the board. Joe has two children, Emily and Patrick.
Patrick Sinclair Patrick is a 3rd year University of Ottawa student studying Philosophy and Political Science. A Native of Toronto, after moving to the Ottawa region for school he encountered CAYFO through the Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards and has been a part of the organization ever since. He has been involved with CAYFO since 2009 both as a member of the Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards committee as Sponsorship Chair and as Youth Lead for General Sponsorship committee for the organization.
Fahd Alhattab Fahd is a High School student at Colonel By Secondary, who is passionate about the student council he leads for his peers. His passion for getting involved and really taking action as a youth started with his involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ottawa, in which he is still heavily involved, helping young leaders reach their full potential. Fahd joined CAYFO as a board of directors in 2009. He also sits on the Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards Committee, and is one of the Youth Heads of FYBY News. CAYFO has been a life changing experience for him, allowing Fahd the opportunity to meet some of the greatest advocates for youth, and feels like his hard work and effort is helping make a difference in the lives of others.
Jennifer White Jennifer is an Ottawa- based lawyer who focuses on labour and employment matters. She spent 9 years working in-house for an arctic airline, and is currently working as an investigator of public complaints against the RCMP. She is completing an LL.M. in alternative dispute resolution, and is the proud mom to three fabulous kids. She coaches her kid’s ringette and soccer teams, competes in triathlons and enjoys playing late night ladies hockey.
Michael Johnson Michael is a Business Administration Student majoring in Accounting at Algonquin College. Michael is currently interning at a financial software company and volunteers for several charities in the Ottawa region. He has been involved with Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa since 2009, and was honoured to be elected to the board in February of 2011.
Brigitte Beaulne-Syp Brigitte is currently Senior Manager of Youth Programs and National Outreach at the National Capital Commission. She has more than 25 years of experience in planning and delivering innovative public programs, including educational initiatives, youth engagement initiatives, traveling and virtual exhibits, special events and relationship marketing. She is very excited about working directly with young people through the Youth Liaison Committee. Her favorite words: ‘’vie’’ and ‘’espoir’’. Words she detest: ‘’tais-toi’’ and ‘’nul’’. If she was a transportation mode, she would be her flamenco shoes. In another life she would have been Bruce Springsteen’s back-up singer.
Ike Awgu Ike is a lawyer practicing in Ottawa. He is also a former columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Ottawa Sun. Ike studied economics and mathematics at Carleton University before going on to earn a law degree from Queen’s University in 2008. In 2004 Awgu finished 4th at CUSID National Championships. Awgu returned to Ottawa in 2009 and is vice-president of LIKO Corporation, a real estate and property development company.
Angela Ohlman Angela has been a local Realtor for the past 8 years and is now working alongside a seasoned real estate developer. Angela enjoys living in this beautiful city and takes pride in her role as a mother to two amazing young teens. Angela’s passions include the outdoors, reading, cycling and acting as a humanitarian in her various volunteering roles. She is very excited to start her latest endeavor with CAYFO as she understands the importance of celebrating youth, their achievements and watching the awesome effects as that are sure to ripple out into our communities; to create thoughtful positive change.
Honorary Chair
Max Keeping Max is the co-founder of Child & Youth Friendly Ottawa; retired anchor and Vice-President of News at CTV Ottawa, he is now CTV’s Community Ambassador. Max is also Chairs the Max Keeping Foundation, and the Ottawa Senators Foundation, and is associated with dozens of other charitable and community organizations. Max has been honoured as a Member of the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario.
Employees
Mandi Duhamel- Partnership and Development Coordinator
Originally from Lively, Ontario, Mandi is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with honour degrees in leisure studies and psychology. With previous background working with youth throughout the city, she intends to combine her knowledge and business experience to contribute to CAYFOs legacy and further develop the organization and opportunities for youth. Mandi was a captain of the University of Ottawa’s Women’s hockey team, a member of the CWHL Ottawa Senators and now is the Assistant coach of the Carleton University Ravens.
Meredith Berriman- Youth Engagement Coordinator
Hailing from New Hampshire, Meredith moved to Ottawa to attend Carleton University where she graduated with an honors degree in Communication and English. Before becoming involved with CAYFO, Meredith was a literacy advocate as an English teacher at a school house for new Canadian families. She is really excited to be working with the amazing CAYFO team and to have the opportunity to bring inspiring youth programming to every youth in the community she loves!
Adam Langlois-FYBY Coordinator
Questing for truth in a cryptic world, Adam has found himself harnessing media to provoke thought amidst the FYBY team. He is an advocate for critical thinking, and encourages a passionate approach to life, confronting conflict instead of seeking the path of least resistance. Adam is a videographer who believes in the power of video to create social change and loves to inspire aspiring videographers to do so. He’s got big hair.
Other members include: Katie McGregor, Jake Goldstein, Justin Winchiu, and Richard Goldstein
