The Stella’s Team is growing as we develop programs and engage young adults as facilitators and Peer Ambassadors. We are committed to hiring staff with a diversity of experiences, and assertively hire young adults with lived experience of mental health issues.
We have an energetic, compassionate team. Each team member is committed to values-based practice, working collaboratively, with flexibility. We strive to create bold and responsive approaches to change the landscape of young adult mental health.
Announcement
The board of directors of Stella’s Place is excited to announce Nzinga Walker as the organization’s new Executive Director. Having previously served as Director of Programs and interim Executive Director, Nzinga is well known to the Stella’s Place community. We could not be more excited to have her assume the ED role permanently!
Nzinga’s knowledge of Stella’s Place programs, partners and our young adult community, will prove invaluable. Her leadership will be instrumental to the next phase of our organization’s development, which includes moving into our new permanent home in downtown Toronto, opening our doors to in-person programming and helping our community navigate post-pandemic day-to-day living.
Congratulations Nzinga!
Our Team Members
Nzinga Walker
Executive Director
Catherine Dyer
Director of Development
Peggy-Gail Dehal Gunraj
Director of Program Operations
Asante Haughton
Peer Development and Training Manager
Alex Gosselin
Manager of Clinical and Recovery Services
Dagmar Schroeder
Communications, Marketing & Stewardship Manager
Nader Alasvand
Access Manager
Siman Ibrahim
Manager, Community Healing Project
Nakeesa Kooshafar
Clinician
Sara Khatri
Clinician
Charlotte Johnston
Clinician
Eren Deran
Clinician
Nicole Classen
Clinician
Claire Lewis
Clinician
Erica Ruth Kelly
Peer Initiatives Coordinator
Alex Sawatzky
Creative Marketing Coordinator
Kelly Schieder
Access Coordinator
Megumi Onishi
Research Coordinator
Chukuka Ebuta
Senior Peer Ambassador
Asma Choudhry
Peer Ambassador DBT
Samantha Ledamun
Peer Ambassador DBT
Ava Ghods
Access Counsellor Navigator
Emma Downie
Access Counsellor Navigator
Stacey Gawrylash
Access Counsellor Navigator
Gena Little
Access Counsellor Navigator
Mikaila Morales
CHP Peer Mentor
Julian Devaraj
CHP Peer Mentor
Keisha James
Film Fest Coordinator
Ajay Gallacher
Access Coordinator
Dr. Sabeena Chopra
Psychiatrist
Ashley Ward
Research and Evaluation Manager
Dr. Alexa Caturay
Family Physician
Hannah Iland
Operations & HR Manager
Faith Bachlow
Campaign Manager
Mahamed Mohamood
Case Manager, Community Healing Project
Minatallah Ali
CHP Peer Mentor
Deluxson Yogarajah
CHP Peer Mentor
Husna Raghe
Peer Ambassador
Susan Barnes
Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts
Our Board Members
Donna Green
Founder & Chair, Stella’s Place
Trustee, Green Sanderson Family Foundation
Donna Green has over 40 years’ experience in real estate, arts and culture, and community development. Donna is a tireless community activist and philanthropist. She is founder of Stella’s Place and Chair of the board.
Megan Evans
Secretary & Director, Stella’s Place
Chief Legal & Risk Officer, The Hospital for Sick Children
Megan Evans is the Vice President and Chief Legal & Risk Officer at SickKids Hospital. Megan graduated from Windsor Law School with the Board of Governors Award (Gold Medal) and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1999.
Martha Tory
Treasurer & Director, Stella’s Place
Retired Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
Martha Tory was Senior Partner at Ernst & Young with over 35 years experience in providing assurance and business advisory services. She led Ernst & Young’s Healthcare, Not-for-Profit and University Industry Groups in Canada. Martha retired in 2015 and currently serves on several boards, including Stella’s Place.
Dr. Mario Cappelli
Director
Director of Mental Health & Psychiatry Research, CHEO Clinical Director, Summit Centre
Dr. Mario Cappelli is the Senior Clinician Scientist at the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child & Youth Mental Health and the Past Director of Mental Health & Psychiatry Research at CHEO, Dr. Cappelli is also the Clinical Director of Cappelli & Associates and a Clinical Psychologist who has been in practice since 1991 working with children, youth, young adults and their families.
Colin MacDonald
Director
Principal, Navigator Ltd.
Colin MacDonald is a Principal at Navigator Ltd., where he specializes in public policy, reputation management and campaign execution. Prior to this role, Colin served as a senior policy advisor to several Ontario cabinet ministers. Colin graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a master’s degree in political science.
Steve Wilson
Director
Managing Director, Growth Matters
Steve Wilson is the Managing Director of Growth Matters, an advisory practice working with Canadian high-growth technology companies. Steve graduated from The University of Michigan in 1987 and received his Chartered Accountant qualification in 1990.
Melanie Lovering
Director
Senior Lead Consultant, Philanthropy Partners
Melanie has extensive fundraising experience – delivering exceptional results through donor-centred strategies. Melanie is currently Director of Marketing and Communications at Camp Oochigaes and a consultant with Philanthropy Partners. Melanie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph and received an Arts Management certificate from Humber College in 1993.
Naveen Hassan
Marsha John-Greenwood
-Alex Gosselin,
Manager, Clinical and Recovery Services
