Our Teams
About the YMHC Directors
Colin Lyons
Hi my name is Colin. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, I am a recent graduate of McMaster University’s Sociology (Specialist Option) program with minors in Mental Health and Addictions and History. Currently, I am working in retail branch banking as well as pursuing enrolment in a Consecutive Teacher Education program. My role with YMHC is Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors.
Sheryl Boswell
Sheryl Boswell is the Executive Director and Founder of Youth Mental Health Canada, a registered charitable nonprofit organization focused on youth, family, and community engagement for mental health education, support, advocacy, and change.
Sheryl’s journey to YMHC began in her hometown of Hamilton. As a teenager, she worked with young people with disabilities, went to university to continue her studies in the field, and after university, lived in Zimbabwe for three years and worked as a Special Education teacher.
In Canada, Sheryl has taught elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and adult education students. She is also a trained Life Skills Coach and a Career Counselor.
Sheryl has been a mental health advocate for almost 20 years. She has contributed to change in education to support students with mental health disabilities. She has provided advocacy support for students across Canada.
Sheryl has written five mental wellness workbooks, produced a national youth mental health documentary film with 150 students from three provinces and a national youth mental health film contest, Directing Change Canada, created the largest online mental health platform in Canada and the largest youth mental health social media platforms internationally. Sheryl works with many international suicidologists, experts, and organizations, and is a well-regarded expert and collaborator in the field.
Sheryl has been an active member of the American Association of Suicidology, International Coalition for Addressing and Understanding Suicide Experiences, and the International Association of Youth Mental Health. She has presented at numerous conferences across Canada and internationally and provided youth mental health workshops and training courses on a wide variety of topics for schools, community organizations, professionals, and families.
Sheryl is a suicide loss survivor. The experience of loss has informed her understanding of suicide experiences and suicide prevention.
About the YMHC Staff Members
Jim
Jim is the Digital Operations Manager and Chief Information Officer at Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC), bringing extensive experience in web development, digital storytelling, and data-driven platform creation to support the organization’s mission. With a Master’s in Computer and Information Technology from the University of Pennsylvania, Jim has expertly led the development and maintenance of YMHC’s digital presence since 2015, initially as a volunteer and in a formal part-time capacity since 2022. His technical expertise spans a broad stack, which he has leveraged to enhance YMHC’s operational efficiency, public outreach, and advocacy for youth mental health in Canada.
Rita Bruno-Gallo
Hi! I’m Rita, owner, graphic designer and print manager for Rita B Designs. I have over 16 years of experience in graphic design and print.
I have a passion for design, print and paper, foods of the world, travel, coffee, oh and cats, I love cats! 🙂
Before venturing into the world of freelance, I worked for printing companies both big and small in Hamilton and Toronto.
There I learned everything from working in reception, customer service, accounting, designing, pre-press, printing, finishing and delivery. I became an experienced user in Adobe Lightroom, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat, creating anything from logos, to postcards and colour correcting and retouching. In addition to design capabilities, I gained expertise in pre-press, production and finishing of various types of printing projects.
Years later, I decided to take my business on the road to travel, meet new people and get inspired! I travelled from Canada, to the US, to Europe and South East Asia for 13 months before returning to Hamilton, where I call home.
Now I dedicate my work to connecting to my community and help businesses and entrepreneurs get the designs and materials they need to thrive on an ongoing bases.
I can be found working on my lap-top in my little corner home office with a garden view, a quaint coffee shop downtown, or visiting my friends and clients in Niagara, Toronto, or anywhere in between.
I continue to grow my skills and knowledge in graphic design and I work closely with my print partners to get great quality at the best value.
Tracey Bazso
My name is Tracey Bazso (she/they), and I have been with YMCH since 2020. I am a Master’s Degree student in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University, and I am a C.C.C-Q. I graduated from university with a dual degree in Biblical and Theological studies, and Honours Social Work, and a certificate in Addiction Counselling. Trauma-informed care is a passion of mine for those dealing with mental health challenges. Growing up I struggled with my own mental health challenges and did not feel like I had anyone to talk to, which is where my passion for youth mental health came from. Having lived experience with mental illness has given me a unique perspective in my professional role in the mental health field. I am also queer, hard of hearing and have multiple disabilities, which gives me an additional perspective on why a wraparound and holistic approach to mental health is so important.
About the YMHC Contactors
Alstra Solutions Ltd.
We at Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC) are immensely grateful for the exceptional support and pro bono hours contributed by Alstra Solutions. Their dedication to helping us embrace the digital era has been invaluable, enhancing our website, IT systems, and automating our processes.
Alstra Solutions offers a comprehensive range of online solutions that extend beyond website design. They specialize in corporate website design, search engine optimization, online advertising, and traffic intelligence data analysis.
For charities, nonprofit organizations and public service projects, Alstra provides substantial discounts and even free website hosting for extended periods. Visit Alstra's website https://alstra.ca for more details.
Thank you, Alstra Solutions, for being a part of our journey and helping us make a significant impact in youth mental health.