About Us

Co-Founder and National Council Lead  

PhD Candidate, Child and Youth Studies, Brock University 

MA, Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo

Research Affiliate, Young Caregivers Association 

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 was the 2025 recipient of the CCCE Young Caregiver Advocate Award. 

Lives in Ontario.

Awareness and Engagement Lead 

Partnerships & Knowledge Translation Specialist, Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence

Treasurer, Burden Artists Collective

Supports his partner who is an amputee, and a close friend living with chronic illness and a lack of accessible housing, causing her to be homebound. 

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. 

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.

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

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. 

Council Member

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supports her sibling. 

Urooba is a psychology major at University. 

Lives in Ontario. 

Council Member

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

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

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

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. 

Council Member

Student at the University of Alberta, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology. 

Supports her father who suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in 2023. 

Paulene enjoys cafe hopping and trying different variants of matcha ranging from the flavours of earl grey tea to indulging with banana bread cold foam!

Lives in Alberta. 

Council Member

Software Developer, GoBolt.

Actor. 

Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Computer Science, University of Toronto Mississauga.  

Supports his brother with autism and an intellectual disability. 

Moazzam likes reading, cooking, and making theatre. 

Lives in Ontario. 

Council Member

Patient Outreach Coordinator & Research Associate

Bachelor of Medical Sciences, Specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences, Western University

Supports her sister who lives with a complex chronic illness.

Riya is passionate about helping patients and families feel supported as they navigate complex healthcare systems. She is especially interested in advocacy and in understanding how health policy can shape care and supports available to families. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature, hiking, and photography.

Lives in Ontario.

Council Member

Research Associate & Systems Change Strategist in Accessible and Inclusive Science at IDEA-STEM

Bachelor of Health Sciences, Concentration in Disability and Chronic illness, Carleton University 

Claudia supports her sibling living with schizoaffective. 

Claudia is passionate about advancing anti-ableist and anti-sanist systems of care. Grounded in the principles of disability justice and anti-oppressive praxis, her work spans research, policy, community education, and engagement, including collaborations with organizations such as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Ontario Health’s Mental Health and Addiction Centre of Excellence, Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa and the Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network. Through her research, community work and advocacy, she bridges critical scholarship and collective action to dismantle systemic barriers and co-create just environments that nurture collective flourishing.

Lives in Ontario.

Council Member

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. 

Assistant Professor, Child and Youth Studies, Trent University Durham

Adjunct Professor, Brock University 

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Human Ecology Dept, University of Alberta

Research Scientist with the Inner City Health and Wellness Program, Royal Alexandra Hospital.