Our Board of Directors

  • Tylar St. John

    Board Chair • Joined July 2017

    Tylar (CPA, CA, CBV, CFF) has specialized in the assessment of economic damages and the valuation of businesses and other assets for over 10 years. She has focused in the areas of complex commercial litigation including breach of contract, intellectual property, and forensic accounting. Tylar was an instructor in the Master of Forensic Accounting program at the University of Toronto and has spoken on the topic of business valuation at Canadian and international conferences. Tylar previously held the positions of Board Treasurer and Vice-Chair, and was appointed Board Chair in September 2024.

  • Dale Clement

    Board Vice-Chair • Joined November 2019

    Dale is Vice President, Clinical Programs, Strategy and Transformation at Unity Health Toronto. Dale is a registered nurse with a Masters of Nursing as well as a Masters of Business Administration with over 20 years of extensive strategic and operational leadership experience in hospitals and the community. Partnering with patients and their families for better care experiences has always been her priority. Dale is the Chair of the Rent and Planning Committee, was appointed Vice-Chair of the Board in September 2024.

  • Mary-Lynn Oke

    Board Treasurer • Joined September 2019

    Mary-Lynn is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 25 years of business experience in finance, accounting, supply chain management, and strategic planning. As well as serving on the Board of Directors of Signal Gold and Jaguar Mining, Mary-Lynn provides financial and advisory services to organizations assisting them to improve the efficiency and productivity of their businesses. Mary-Lynn became Board Treasurer in September 2022 and is also Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee.

  • Dr. Alice Charach

    Board Secretary • Joined July 2018

    Dr. Charach assumes the roles of Staff Psychiatrist, Ambulatory Services at the Hospital for Sick Children; and Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, at the University of Toronto. She is a grandmother to four active children and enjoys arts and crafts, singing, dancing, and reading storybooks together. Dr. Charach has been the Board Secretary since September 2022 and is the Chair of the Quality Committee.

  • Gigi Dawe

    Chair of Governance • Joined July 2017

    Gigi is a corporate governance and sustainability thought leader and educator for companies and individuals responsible for the oversight of organizations. She also sits on the advisory boards of the Embedding Project, the Canada Climate Law Initiative, and the International Corporate Governance Network’s Human Capital Committee, and is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, and the Institute of Corporate Directors. As of September 2023, she is the Chair of our Board Governance Committee.

  • Nat A.

    Board Advisor • Joined November 2021

    Nat is currently a nursing student at George Brown College, and has been connected with Youthdale since 2012. Through their lived experience they offer the Board a unique client perspective, supporting and advocating for clients and families. Nat’s time with Youthdale has enabled them to move towards an improved and more fulfilling journey, including realizing their passion for helping people and entering a career in healthcare.

  • Damion Nurse

    Board Member • Joined November 2021

    Damion has over 15 years of experience in marketing, project management, and producing. He has worked as an executive producer for Global TV, and in advertising at St. Joseph Communications, where he oversaw high-profile campaigns on SJC’s properties (including Toronto Life, Maclean’s, and Chatelaine). In addition to Youthdale, he works with The Knowledge Institute for Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions, and Myles Ahead: Advancing Child and Youth Mental Health, as part of a conscious effort to work in the mental health and addictions sector. Damion is also an established cake artist, sculpting over-the-top edible masterpieces as owner of Cinnabean Cakes.

  • ShannonSproule

    Shannon Sproule

    Board Member • Joined September 2022

    Shannon is a lawyer at Turnpenney Milne LLP, where she practices in all areas of employment law, human rights, and conducts workplace investigations. After having grown up in Edmonton, Alberta, Shannon has enjoyed living in different parts of the world, including France, Ottawa, and now Toronto. In her spare time, Shannon can be found enjoying music, hiking, and having snowball fights with her nephews.

  • Rosemary McGuire

    Board Member • Joined September 2024

    Rosemary McGuire is Vice-President, Member Experience at Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) where she leads the organization's research and thought leadership strategy. She oversees a team of senior professionals responsible for the development and delivery of educational resources for members across a broad range of areas including economics, sustainability, emerging technologies, financial reporting, and audit and assurance. She also oversees CPA Canada's financial literacy program and the organization's sustainability and capital markets policy and advocacy activities.

  • Kate Deakon

    Board Member • Joined September 2024

    Kate Deakon is senior legal counsel for a global biopharmaceutical company. Prior to her current role, Kate was a litigator at a Bay street firm where her practice consisted primarily of medical malpractice defence for healthcare institutions and mental health disputes. In her spare time, Kate loves to try new recipes, run, and spend time with family and friends.

  • Shirley Suurdt

    Board Member • Joined September 2024

    Shirley Suurdt is an accomplished finance leader with more than 20 years of experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Her expertise includes accounting, auditing, operational and strategic finance. She has collaborated with non-profit organizations in both board member and advisory roles. She has contributed to strategic planning and provided leadership for special projects. Shirley earned her Masters of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and is dedicated to non-profit leadership and social justice initiatives.

  • Siobhan McCarthy

    Board Member • Joined September 2024

    Siobhan has over 35 years working as a Clinician, Supervisor and Director in the field of Children’s Mental Health and Child Welfare. She has most recently served as the Director of Holistic Services at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. Siobhan is currently in private practice as a Family and Individual Therapist in Toronto and also provides consultation and clinical support to clinicians in private practice. Siobhan’s hobbies include gardening, cooking and keeping her two dogs busy.

  • Meghan Herman

    Board Member • Joined September 2024

    Meghan has spent her career building and executing on product, talent and go-to-market operational strategies for hyper-growth SAAS and Financial Services organizations. In her current role, she heads up Go to Market Operations for Shopify’s Revenue organization, a $7B revenue business that empowers over 2 million entrepreneurs, across 175 countries globally, to grow their online, retail and B2B businesses. Meghan lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and two children.

  • Paris Semansky

    Board Member • Joined September 2024

    Paris Semansky is the Director of Communications and Public Affairs at CAMH - Canada's largest mental health hospital and world leading mental health research centre. She has 15 years of experience in issues management, strategic communications, and public policy.

    A born and raised Londoner (Ontario), Paris studied social justice and peace at King's University College at Western University and recently completed her Master of Communications Management through McMaster University. Her biggest accomplishment is as mother to her daughters, Anna and Mira. Paris, her girls, and her husband, Mike, live in Toronto's east end.

  • Kathleen Frame

    Board Member • Joined September 2024

    Kathleen Frame is a healthcare professional with extensive experience and a strong track record in driving quality improvements and leading strategic initiatives within complex healthcare environments. Her expertise encompasses project management, quality improvement, risk management, and health administration. Kathleen is a strong advocate for teamwork and collaboration, believing that collective effort and diverse perspectives are essential for success. Kathleen is particularly dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the child and youth mental health sector.