Board of Directors
Together we will make a difference!
Ryan Sims - President
Sylvia Naumovski - Past President
Bio: Sylvia was born and raised in Toronto. In 1980 she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University. She accompanied her husband abroad with the Canadian Diplomatic Service and in various positions in international finance and business. She has obtained a diploma in Volunteer Management and is an active member of the George Hull Centre’s Parents’ Association. She is also involved with “Madbakh”, a small group of Somali-Canadian women helping the East African Community in Etobicoke. In February of 2008 she was appointed to sit on the Consumer and Advocate Network which is one of four committees that advise the Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO. September 2008 she was appointed President of Parents for Children’s Mental Health
Rick Arseneau - Treasurer
Director of Operations and Development
George Hull Centre
Bio: Rick Arseneau is the Director of Operations and Development at the George Hull Centre for Children and Families. He has been with the Centre since 1995. Rick graduated from McMaster University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Commerce and attained his professional designation of CGA in 1989. He has served on many Boards and has served as a lecturer at Humber College. Rick has extensive experience in management, specifically in the design and implementation of overall management, finance, and administration systems. His personal motivation has always been his compassion for children and families and his respect for clinical work of those professionals who support them.
Andrea Boulden - Board Member
Bio: Andrea is the mother of two sons, her youngest son Liam was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Tourette Syndrome at age 5 and later to be diagnosed with OCD and a Learning Disability. Her older son Matthew does not have any mental health issues other than the challenges he faces being the brother of Liam, and all of the stress and anxiety it brings. For several years Andrea has been the VP of the GTA Chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada and now looks forward to being a part of the Board at PCMH. Andrea is a Senior Manager of Event Management at KPMG, and has full encouragement and support from her firm for all of her volunteer positions. She recently won a KPMG Community Leadership award celebrating her involvement in these organizations. Andrea has had to advocate a great deal to get the services needed for Liam, and after 7 different school placements and much struggle, she now has in place the supports that are needed for him. Her hope is that through advocating with PCMH life will be easier for other families whose children have mental health issues.
Wayne Hobbs - Executive Supervisor Student Support Services - Grand Erie District School Board
Bio: Both professionally and personally Wayne works tirelessly at advocating for and ensuring that children with mental health illness are treated with equity and respect He brings to the board experience, professionalism, and passion for our issues, and a belief that our children deserve the best this Province has to offer them - nothing less and no excuses. He received his MA in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario and also holds education in Mediation and Negotiation as well as Special Education Law. Wayne is currently involved with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act, Customer Service Standard Committee; K-W Counselling Services; and the Ontario Suicide Prevention Network. In May 2008 Wayne was awarded the 1st Annual Champion of Mental Health Award for outstanding contribution to the advancement of Mental Health in the workplace from the Canadian Mental Health Association, Brantford. It is a privilege to have him part of our Board and working with us for the future of our children!
Janice Matthews - Board Member
Staff
Sarah Cannon - Executive Director
Bio: Sarah joined the Board of Directors of Parents for Children's Mental Health in 2008 before becoming the Executive Director. Since her daughter, Emily's, diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder when Emily was 5, Sarah has been heavily involved in child and youth mental health advocacy. Sarah sits on the Child and Youth Advisory Committee to the Mental Health Commission of Canada as well as Advisory member to the Ontario Provincial Centre of Excellence. She is also the chair of the community engagement committee and the communication committee of the Niagara SSLI cluster. Sarah and her daughter Emily have spoken to media raising awareness of child and youth mental health having stories featured on Canada AM, The Gill Deacon Show, TVO, as well as recently featured in Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest and Maclean’s. In 2009 Sarah was awarded the For Kids Sake Award by Today’s Parent, in 2010 the Kinark President's Award and most recently was awarded the YWCA’s Woman of Distinction Award for her work in children’s mental health and the efforts that she makes to eradicate the stigma that surrounds children, youth and their families.
Gaby Wass - Chapter Liaison
Bio: For 14 years Gaby has been navigating the Child and Youth Mental Health system for her daughter. She has been a strong advocate for ALL children, not only her own daughter, and one of the reasons for her success is her commitment to never taking NO for an answer when a better answer is required for children. Gaby has been on previous Boards including MADD Canada, The Neurofibromatosis Society of Ontario, as well as being the chair of the school council at her children's school. She also now sits as a Board member on the Board of Directors for Oxford Elgin Child and Youth Centre and is a member of the Advisory Council to the Ontario Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health. Gaby's commitment to her role and ensuring that the future is bright for all children is apparent in all she does.
