Formerly one of YATI's Community Education Specialists, Sarah Butson holds an MSc in Educational Research from the University of Manchester in England and an Honours BA in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. Before joining YATI she worked as a research associate for chronic disease and health promotion projects with the C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre through the University of Ottawa. In her academic and professional life she has had the opportunity to engage in youth development through teaching, research, and volunteer initiatives and is excited to use these experiences within her new role with YATI.
Vicki is currently working on her M.Ed in Adult Education and Community Development through OISE at the University of Toronto, and holds a B.A. in Political Science and a B.Ed. Previous to joining YATI, she worked at a Sexual Assault Centre at the University of British Columbia delivering workshops, trainings, and presentations, as well as providing advocacy and support services. Vicki is passionate about social justice, and has been committed to youth engagement through her role as a high school teacher in the Vancouver School District, and through her extensive volunteer background with various campaigns and nonprofit organizations
Adelaida is a graduate of George Brown College’s Social Service Worker program. She also holds a double major in Women’s Studies and Communications from York University. She feels passionate about empowering youth at both the local and international level; she has facilitated health promotion workshops for post-secondary students in Canada and has taught Life Skills classes to youth in rural Jamaica. She enjoys travel, food, and reading travel survival guides...especially the food recommendations! Adelaida is thrilled to learn from and be a part of the YATI team!
Monica recently finished her Bachelor of Arts Double Honours in Law and Human Rights with Minor in History from Carleton University. A anti-tobacco industry advocate for the past 6 years as a student volunteer and then Youth Facilitator for expose, Monica is dedicated to social justice, community health and youth engagement. As a passionate student volunteer Monica was a part of one of the largest youth led anti-tobacco industry organizations in Canada, working with other youth to denormalize tobacco use. For the past three years Monica has had the opportunity to empower youth in Ottawa-area high schools to take action against the tobacco industry and become youth leaders in their community. Secretly a crazy cat lady and complete dork, Monica is excited to be a part of the YATI team. Monica hopes to begin a Masters program in law and social justice next fall.
Liza holds a BA in English from the University of Toronto and is a recent graduate from the Corporate Communications and Public Relations program at Centennial College. Liza has participated in fundraising for youth based initiatives, volunteered at schools and completed an internship at the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. She has a passion for working with youth and providing them with the tools with which to achieve their highest potential, so she is very excited to be part of the YATI team!
Mimosa recently completed the Fundraising and Volunteer Management postgraduate program at Humber College and holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Development Studies and History from Queen's University. She is a bookworm, pop culture enthusiast and blogger. Her involvement in tobacco control and health promotion initiatives began in high school and her passion for change has provided opportunities to work for the Region of Peel Health, Ministry of Health (on the first Stupid.ca campaign) and of course, YATI! Mimosa strongly believes in empowering youth and the ability to create positive change by working together.
Emily is in her third year at the University of Toronto, studying Fine Art and Visual Studies. In high school Emily worked for her local Youth Action Alliance, R.E.A.C.T. (Resist Expose and Challenge Tobacco). Emily is very passionate about tobacco health and tobacco industry issues, and will never pass up the opportunity to educate her peers on the dangers and effects of tobacco.
Yolanda is starting her second year at Ryerson University in September completing a BA in Politics and Governance with a minor in Psychology. Her main goal is to become the Prime Minister in the next 30 years or less! She is, for the main part of the day hyper and talkative, and has a side job of an auctioneer (extremely fast speaker!) Just kidding though! Her kyropnite is home-made smoothies; she has a knack for baking and creating her own recipes. A passion she has is to create stage plays and is always looking for new ideas to write about. Being adventurous is a true hobby for Yolanda; she is always interested in trying new things! She was a part of Peel’s YAA extinguish and is extremely stoked to continue working with health promotion, advocacy and of course YATI!
Sushima Naraine has grown up, been schooled and had more fun times in the city of Toronto than she could count. An avid lover of Harry Potter, history and jewellery, she will be pursuing a degree and a career within the museum sector.
Billionaire. Playboy. International Superstar. All words that describe someone else. Matthew Lee is currently working on his Bachelors of Journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa. When he's not out chasing leads, bothering politicians on Parliament Hill, or trying to get people to return his phone calls (for the fifth time), you can find him on the mountain, where he'll snowboarding, biking, or just hanging out. On the business side of things, Matt has previously worked with Y-ACT in Waterloo Region as part of the Youth Action Alliance initiative and currently sits on the Curriculum Advisory Committee for YATI.
Renata started her career as a high school teacher and after 5 years decided she wanted to do something a little more out of the box. Since then Renata has worked at Niagara Region Public Health as a leader in youth engagement and works directly with the REACT Peer Leaders. Renata has a BSc, BEd, and MEd in Curriculum Studies all from Brock University, as well as a postgraduate certificate in Public Relations from Niagara College. Ren and her husband have 2 young boys who are fast, loud, gross, and her most favourite people in the entire world.
Sarah is in her fourth and final year of Health Studies, minoring in Biology at the University of Waterloo. She was a peer leader with the Youth Action Alliance group Crave for two years in high school with the Halton Region's Health Department, empowering teens to take action against the tobacco industry. Sarah is currently involved with Leave the Pack Behind on UW's campus as the Campus Program Coordinator, where she provides resources and support for smoking cessation to young adults. Sarah is very passionate when it comes to healthy living and leadership, and she is extremely excited to be apart of the YATI team!
Sasha’s involvement with The Lung Association began in 2006 where she worked with Youth Action Alliance"s across Ontario advocating about the harmful use of tobacco products. Sasha now attend Ryerson University for Social Work. Sasha also volunteers with The Hospital for Sick Kids as a Child Life Specialist and intern with the Leukemia & Lympoma Society. In her spare time Sasha enjoys reading, shopping & spending time with family and friends.
Heather has worked with youth in tobacco control and advocacy all over the province as a recognized training facilitator and curriculum writing over the last six years for the Youth Advocacy Training Institute. Heather McCully has been an adult ally with the Hamilton Public Health sponsored youth advocacy group HCAAT (Hamilton Crew for Action Against Tobacco) since 2005 . In addition, Heather's previous role as the Student Health Education Coordinator for McMaster University provides her with a solid foundation in a wide range of issues affecting youth and young adults. Her work with youth earned her the 2009 Week of the Child and Youth Award. Heather has an honours undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from McMaster University and is currently completing her Masters in Public Health at the University of Waterloo. Heather lives in the Hammer with her husband, beautiful little boy, and black lab. Heather has been to the north pole, loves hot yoga, and always strives to work with youth people as meaningful participants, valued leaders and equal partners
Nathan has a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and comes to us with an extensive back ground in youth recreational program development. Previous to working with YATI, Nathan has had experiences in youth centers, coaching and workshop facilitation. Nathan always brings his unique style and passion to everything he does and is excited to work with so many outstanding youth and youth champions.
For over 15 years Terry has utilized his diplomas in Human Resources and Career Counselling to motivate young people to achieve their dreams. Terry has inspired teens while in leadership roles in several organizations such as Simcoe County District School Board, Orillia Education and Industry Foundation, Venture Academy Treatment Centre, and Worth Unlimited Self-Awareness Wilderness Trip Programs. In his spare time Terry is either paddling a canoe or building them.
Kate loves facilitating at YATI as it brings together her passions in education, health, youth and advocacy; she believes strongly that young people play critical roles in health promotion. Kate holds degree's in Physical & Health Education, Biology, and Education from Queen's University, and is nearly finished her Master's in Community Health from Brock University, where she has been hiding out beneath piles of youth engagement and health promotion research for the last two years, along with teaching seminars and playing Ultimate Frisbee. Prior, she worked with youth health promotion initiatives at Public health in Eastern Ontario, taught outdoor and environmental education, and worked for Outward Bound Canada. She also spent 2 years working with health promotion projects in Guyana (South America) and Tanzania (East Africa), which she credits with teaching her many great things, including the power of effective youth voice in health promotion, and a some delicious foods and spices, which she enjoys cooking with in her spare time. As an outdoor enthusiast, Kate also spends lots of time traveling in rural Ontario in search of great places to hike or paddle.
Sarah has been with YATI since 2006 and still pinches herself that she gets to work with such talented youth (and youthful adults) who are so passionate about improving the health of those around them. By day, Sarah is a not-so-mild mannered professor at University of Guelph-Humber and Humber College’s Kinesiology and Fitness & Health Promotion programs. Sarah completed both her undergraduate and doctorate degrees in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. Her research focuses on how the body responds to exercise and feeding, as well as what determines the health choices people make. When she is being slightly less nerdy, Sarah loves to garden, mountain bike, camp, read and hang out with her husband and 115 pound Bernese Mountain Dog Hudson.
Avery is entering her fourth year at the University of Ottawa, studying Biomedical Mechanical Engineering. She developed a passion for youth advocacy as a student volunteer in high school with exposé, a tobacco prevention program with Ottawa Public Health. She went on to work for exposé as a Youth Facilitator. On her free time, Avery loves to paint and travel. She is very excited to be a part of the YATI team!
