Our Teams
About the YMHC Directors
Chelsea Wong
Hi, I’m Chelsea. I have a BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary and am currently a medical student at the University of Alberta. I have been part of YMHC since 2020 as a volunteer and a member of the Board of Directors. I am actively involved in community initiatives that support underrepresented youth, seniors, and families, emphasizing accessibility and inclusive, supportive environments. My work in both academic and community settings is driven by a commitment to empowering youth through compassion, collaboration, and evidence-informed approaches to mental wellness. Outside of academics, she is loves figure skating and baking/cooking for her food blog @freshandflavourful.
Colin Lyons
Hi my name is Colin. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, I am a graduate of McMaster University’s Sociology (Specialist Option) program with minors in Mental Health and Addictions and History. Currently, I am enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier University in their Bachelor of Education program (Primary/Junior section). My role with YMHC is Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors.
Janey Dickinson
I’m Janey Dickinson, a placement student with Youth Mental Health Canada, guided by a deep passion for nurturing healing and hope in young lives. As I pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, specializing in Addictions and Mental Health, I bring both academic understanding and heartfelt compassion to the work I do.
I believe that every young person carries within them a universe of strength, waiting to be seen and supported. I walk beside them with empathy and intention—listening, learning, and helping them rediscover their resilience. To me, mental health is not simply the absence of struggle, but the presence of connection, courage, and care.
Through my placement, I’m honoured to contribute to creating spaces where voices are lifted, stories are honoured, and brighter paths are imagined—step by step, heart to heart.
Kristen Zucker
Hello!! My name is Kristen Zucker. I am a recent graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, where I finished with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing. I was born and raised in Ancaster Ontario and currently work as a Personal Banking Associate at TD Bank. In December of 2024, I joined Youth Mental Health Canada as a Member of the Board of Directors, and I am thrilled to be getting involved in my community!
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.
Tracey Bazso-Page (she/they)
Tracey holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, an Honours Bachelor degree in Social Work and Biblical and Theological Studies, a Certificate in Addiction Counselling, and ASL and Deaf studies. They are currently working with the Calgary Catholic School Board as a School Wellness Counsellor and a child and trauma specialist consultant with her own business, Turn the Page therapy and social services. Tracey has been with YMHC since 2020 and has expertise in child, youth, trauma, addiction, queer, and neurodiverse mental health and illness.
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.
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.