{"id":645,"date":"2022-06-29T15:46:30","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T19:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/?page_id=645"},"modified":"2024-01-16T22:46:33","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T03:46:33","slug":"our-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/challengescanada.com\/index.php\/our-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Team"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Michael Richardson, Director <\/div>\n
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Michael Richardson is currently the Director of Challenges Canada Incorporated (CCI). With over 25 years of leadership experience in the recreation industry, Michael has held various director, management, risk consultant and facilitation roles throughout Ontario.\u00a0<\/p>

Michael\u2019s connection to the Recreation and Education industry started in the Ontario summer camps industry. Over the past 25 years, Michael has worked with a number of camps across Ontario in various positions including director, manager, assistant to the director, programmer, facility maintenance, and many frontline staff positions. Through CCI, Michael continues to work with camps to train staff and provide certifications that increase program quality and safety; leading to improved participant experiences and outcomes.<\/p>

Michael holds an Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism degree and a Bachelor of Education. As an educator and leader, he has worked with numerous institutions and organizations including Lakehead University, Brock University, Seneca College, Confederation College, Fleming College, Durham College, Outward Bound Canada, Camp Kirk, Taylor Statten Camp Ahmek, Camp Robinhood, YMCA Camp Wabanaki, Onondaga Camp, March of Dimes Canada, The City of Toronto, The City of Thunder Bay, The Children\u2019s Centre Thunder Bay, The Outdoor Council of Canada, Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors,\u00a0 and the Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association among others.<\/p>

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\n Laura Bradbury, Health & Wellness Programmer <\/div>\n
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Laura is a Nurse Practitioner and Psychotherapist with nearly 15 years of experience in health care. Laura completed both undergraduate and graduate level degrees, in addition to a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner certification at Ryerson University in Toronto. She has additional training through University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and The Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.\u00a0 Laura has a special interest in the mind-body connection and the powerful role of mindfulness. When Laura isn\u2019t working with clients and students, she can be found chasing after her 2 young children.\u00a0<\/p>

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\n Chris McLeod, Business Developer & Facilitator <\/div>\n
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Chris is a proud member of the M\u00e9tis Nation of Ontario with Metis lineage from Saskatchewan and family connections to the Plains Cree and Dene in the Northwest Territories.\u00a0 Having worked with over 400 Indigenous communities in Canada, Chris has an extensive network comprised of National, Provincial and Territorial Indigenous Leadership, Tribal Council Leadership, Community leadership, and dozens of institutions\/organizations that work in the areas of Indigenous education, health, youth development, economic development, and governance.<\/p>

With 20 years experience working with First Nation, M\u00e9tis and Inuit peoples, communities, and organizations across Canada.\u00a0 Chris focuses on creating sustainable initiatives and partnerships that are mutually beneficial and that promote social, economic and educational opportunities for Indigenous Canada.<\/p>

Chris has a passion for land-based programming and language revitalization and spends time working with young Indigenous people in sport and small business development.<\/p>

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\n Jessica McEachern, Facilitator <\/div>\n
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Jess is a seasoned professional with a decade of experience playing and working in the great outdoors. With a diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services, a certificate in Ecotourism, and a current pursuit of an Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work, Jess is truly dedicated to her craft. Her journey has been a fascinating blend of adventure therapy and recreation therapy models, showcasing her passion for creating transformative and empowering experiences. Jess’s commitment to making a positive impact is nothing short of inspiring. She has skillfully facilitated various experiential and land-based programs, particularly shining in contexts with at-risk youth and individuals facing severe mental health challenges. Jess\u2019s vibrant energy and wealth of experience make her an invaluable asset to any team or project. That’s probably because Jess’s journey is not just about education and experience; it’s a testament to her unwavering commitment to making the world a better place, one outdoor adventure at a time.<\/p>

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\n Jesse Yacoubov, Program Coordinator & Facilitator <\/div>\n
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Jesse is a dedicated Environmental Educator, with a degree in Environmental Studies and a diploma in Outdoor and Adventure Education. His commitment to experiential learning is evident in his belief that the most profound education comes from direct experiences. Beyond the classroom, Jesse’s passion for education has led him to work as a recreation therapist and to successfully lead multi-month canoe trips across Ontario. Jesse, a compassionate servant leader, values and lives a life dedicated to building grit and practicing resilience, all while caring deeply for the well-being and success of others. His goal is to be an educator who connects minds with the wonders of the natural world through hands-on experiences. This aligns seamlessly with the ethos of Challenges Canada, providing Jesse with a platform to fulfill this aspiration and contribute meaningfully to his broader mission.<\/p>

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\n Alf Grigg, International Facilitator <\/div>\n
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Alf has over 30 years of leadership experience in the recreation and education field. He was one of the first Canadians to be certified at the international level as a Facilitator.\u00a0 Alf was also one of 3 Canadian facilitators to help host the world\u2019s first and largest democratic meeting in New York City, for 5000 New Yorkers, after \u20189\/11\u2019.\u00a0 During his career, Alf was a full-time Training and Leadership Coordinator with the City of Toronto.\u00a0 Teaching part-time at Centennial College, Sheridan College, Humber College, Seneca College, University of Toronto and OSIE, he holds a degree in Recreation and Leisure with Distinction, diploma in Recreation Leadership, Ontario Teaching Certificate and three certifications in Teaching Adults.\u00a0 He was a vice president of Canadian Intramural Recreation Association of Ontario (CIRA) including Director on the board for the Ontario Camps Association (OCA).\u00a0 He is also a Member of the Society of Camp Directors, Honourary Life Member of the OCA and CIRA-Ontario. Alf is a recipient of the Ontario Camps Association highest award – Dorothy Walter Award of Excellence, Centennial College Alumni Award of Distinction and a Nominee for the Order of Ontario.<\/p>

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\n Alicia Stroobach, Facilitator <\/div>\n
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Whether rock climbing around the world or playing in nature, Alicia loves being outside.\u00a0 For the last 15 years she has worked in the recreation industry as an instructor, program developer, and managing a climbing business.\u00a0 Alicia has a degree in Outdoor Recreation and a diploma in Therapeutic Recreation.\u00a0 Her passion is for outdoor programming, teaching skills, and always striving to connect people to nature.\u00a0<\/p>

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\n Jarod Chinnick, Facilitator <\/div>\n
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Jarod Chinnick is a father, outdoor educator, farmer and lives in the Kawartha Lakes region. Whether growing food for his local community or facilitating land-based experiences with participants, Jarod strives to connect people with the land, thus deepening their relationship with it. He currently works as an instructor in the Outdoor and Adventure Education Program at Fleming College and is expanding operations on his family farm. Jarod has a degree in Outdoor Recreation and masters degree in Experiential Education.<\/p>

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\n Courtney Vaughan, Facilitator <\/div>\n
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Courtney is a M\u00e9tis educator, and is a citizen of the M\u00e9tis Nation of Ontario. She has worked alongside community-based organizations in East Africa, the Dominican Republic, and Italy, as well as within her own community with the M\u00e9tis Nation of Ontario, focusing on issues pertaining to globalization, industrial exploitation of land, food sovereignty, and women\u2019s rights. She has delivered over 100 trainings in Indigenous cultural awareness in non-Indigenous communities. Her Master\u2019s dissertation focused on the ways in which settler-to-Indigenous private land return can be actualized to support reconciliation and decolonization in the Canadian context. Her research expertise explores M\u00e9tis history and governance, Indigenous relationships to land, and the politics of decolonization and reconciliation. Courtney is an avid canoer, occasional beader, and aspiring jigger.<\/p>

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\n Bretton Clark, Facilitator <\/div>\n
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Bretton has 20 years of experience as a multi-disciplinary teacher and holds a masters degree in Education. His purpose is to use the experience of wilderness travel and nature connection to help people overcome obstacles for themselves, their families and their communities. Bretton works to understand the goals of others, then designs and delivers programs that leverage the primordial challenges of nature to accomplish those goals.<\/p>

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