About Us

Co-founder and National Council  Lead 

Research Affiliate, Young Caregivers Association 

PhD Candidate, Child and Youth Studies, Brock University 

MA, Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo

Supports her parents (who are also carers): her father who lives with a rare schizoaffective condition and is recovering from substance use and her mother who lives with disability and mental health challenges. 

Rebekah is dedicated to improving the Canadian mental health system, honouring her grandmother who was a psychiatric survivor. She lives with Lupus, feels her best in nature, and has two cats that she adores: Mollie and Leslie. Rebekah is the 2025 recipient of the CCCE Young Caregiver Advocate Award. 

Lives in Ontario.

Research and Strategic Partnerships Lead 

Researcher, Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) 

Research Coordinator, Toronto Metropolitan University

Supports her mother living with mental health challenges and chronic health conditions. 

Lux is guided by the belief: "be the change you wish to see in the world". She feels driven to use her lived experience as a racialized woman from a low income community to reimagine systems of care. 

Lives in Ontario.

Outreach and Knowledge Mobilization Lead 

Project Manager, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario

MSc in Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo

Supports her father, who lives with an acquired brain injury, and supported her mother, who is a cancer survivor. 

Camryn feels most relaxed while watching sports and reading a book. 

Lives in Ontario.

Policy and Strategic Relations Advisor 

Vice President, Communications, Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation

Supports her father who lives with right-side paralysis and aphasia following a stroke caused by a blood clot that formed on a stent after a myocardial infarction.

Having navigated overwhelming and isolating moments while protecting her family, Monika now advocates for young caregivers who make similar decisions every day. She believes that recognizing this strength is essential to creating understanding and change. 

Lives in Ontario. 

Awareness and Engagement Lead 

Young Carers Coordinator, AMI-Quebec

Treasurer, Burden Collective

Supports his partner who is an amputee, and a close friend living with chronic illness. 

Oliver is a trans man from rural BC, who brings his passion for collaboration to projects in the arts, health, and social policy. Oliver was the 2023 recipient of the CCCE Young Caregiver Advocate Award. 

Lives in Quebec. 

Intersectional Research and Practice Lead

PhD Candidate, Communication, Concordia University 

MA, Socio-legal Studies, York University

Supports his mother living with mental health challenges.

After navigating complex healthcare systems and family dynamics, Nicholas has dedicated himself to improving the care experiences of young people, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. Outside of his research, he is deeply interested in creativity and yoga, and finds joy in becoming the best version of himself.

Lives in Ontario. 

Council Member, Research & Policy Committee

Supports her mother who lives with schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa. 

Krissy is passionate about the outdoors. You can find her in the mountains hiking or in lakes paddle boarding. She has two cats she adores named Pippin and Mouse. 

Lives in British Columbia. 

Council Member, Research & Policy Committee

High School Student. 

Supports his father who lives with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 

Jacob enjoys playing sports like basketball and football. He has been caring for his father for his whole life.  

Lives in Ontario.

Council Member, Awareness & Support Committee

Student at University of Manitoba, School of Art.

Supported her two grandparents as the primary carer: one who lived with stomach cancer and another who had a heart condition. 

Melodie is a watercolour painter who strives to inspire hope in other young caregivers through the power of art. She also loves animals and has two cats and a dog.

Lives in Manitoba. 

Council Member, Research & Policy Committee

High School Student. 

Supports his sibling who has been a complex patient at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) since birth. 

Benji is passionate about youth engagement in research and has completed the Youth Engagement in Research Course at McMaster University. He shares his lived experience to help healthcare providers and policy makers better understand the sibling perspective and to help improve supports for families who are caring for a loved one.

Lives in Ontario. 

Council Member, Awareness and Support Committee

Student at Toronto Metropolitan University in Business Technology. 

Supports her older brother with autism, OCD, and other mental disabilities. 

Bernadette loves fine arts, fashion, music, and has played three instruments. 

Lives in Ontario. 

Council Member, Awareness and Support Committee

Student at the University of Guelph, Bachelor of Applied Science in Family Studies and Human Development. 

Supported her mother with ALS (also called Lou Gehrig's disease). 

Saige is the President of the ALS club at the University of Guelph. She enjoys running, listening to music, and eating chocolate.

Lives in Ontario.

Council Member, Awareness & Support Committee

Lead Analyst, Students Commission of Canada

Supports her mother living with chronic illness, pain, and disability. 

Fiona is an introverted cat-lady with an affinity for nature, hiking, and bodies of water.

Lives in Quebec.

Council Member, Awareness & Support Committee

Supports her sibling. 

Urooba is a psychology major at University. 

Lives in Ontario. 

Council Member, Awareness & Support Committee and Research & Policy Committee 

Research Assistant ||, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal

Supported her mother with multiple complex rare diseases and anoxic brain injuries until the end of her life in 2025 and helped raise her younger brother who is neurodivergent. Supports her grandmother living with Alzheimer's disease and colon cancer. 

Alexis is a passionate traveller, writer, and long-time advocate for disability rights. She has two fluffy bunnies she dotes on: Cinder and Royal. 

Lives in Alberta.

Council Member, Research & Policy Committee

Supports both of her parents: her mother, who lives with mental health challenges and her father who recently experienced a spinal cord injury leading to a physical impairment. 

Ceara recently graduated from Trent University, during which she completed an undergraduate fourth year thesis project exploring the psychological impacts of caregiving titled: "Examining Young Carers' Views on Attachment and Peer Differences." She hopes to further explore child psychology and to spread awareness about young carers in graduate studies. 

Lives in Ontario. 

Council Member, Research & Policy Committee

PhD Candidate at University of Toronto - University Health Network 

Supports her father who is living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 

Madalena is passionate about shaping health policies that impact the well-being of those living with the effects of disability, illness and aging. She’s a coffee shop enthusiast who never turns down a perfectly crafted latte and an almond croissant.

Lives in Ontario. 

Council Member, Awareness & Support Committee and Research & Policy Committee

Teaching Assistant, Child and Youth Studies, Trent University 

Dance Instructor 

Supports two Autistic siblings, including her younger sibling with a vision disability. Supports her maternal grandparents who live with chronic illness and aging needs. Supports her mother, who is also a carer, living with mental health challenges. 

Mackenzie has an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care and a BAH in Child and Youth Studies. She loves dance, animals, and connecting with others.

Lives in Ontario.