Jennifer Ferguson – Chair
Jennifer is a dedicated marketing professional with a strong focus in advertising, direct mail, public relations and partnership development. In her role as the Sr. Director of Marketing Services, Jennifer continues to develop new and successful initiatives and strategies for Niagara Casinos in the constantly evolving gaming industry which she has proudly been a part of for over 20 years. As a devoted supporter of mental health in the Niagara Region, Jennifer is passionate about improving the community and contributes through her participation with various community boards and volunteer work.
Laura Fyfe – Vice Chair
Laura Fyfe is a research-focused career professional with a background in skills translation and labour market research. In her role as the Skills Translation Coordinator at Brock University, Laura facilitates meaningful connections between skills, education, experiential learning, and an ever-evolving labour market. She is dedicated to the mental health, safety, and well-being of her community and has actively contributed through civic engagement and volunteer work.
Karen Smith Curtis – Treasurer
Karen Smith Curtis is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in financial services and the not-for-profit sectors. Karen has served on various non-profit boards and committees including Gillian’s Place, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Reconnect Mental Health Services. Karen currently works for the St. Catharines Public Library, resides in St. Catharines and is the mum of three grown children.
Carling Wright – Secretary
Carling Wright has been a proud volunteer with Pathstone since 2011, sitting on the Board of Directors for the past 4 years. As a Registered Social Worker, she has worked with both adult and youth populations with a focus on housing stability, addictions support, and mental health-related concerns. Carling currently works as a Front Desk Manager and Marketing Associate at a hotel in Niagara Falls.
Benoît Beausoleil
Benoit is an IT Leader with over 22 years of experience currently working for Procter & Gamble. Having spent most of his life moving between Québec, Ontario and the US, he is now a resident of Niagara region since 2012 with his wife and daughter.
Paddie Lucas
Paddie has sat on the board of directors for Pathstone Mental Health for five plus years. She is passionate about providing support to children throughout the Niagara Region with minimal wait time and as close to home as possible. Currently there are 10 locations throughout Niagara which is something to celebrate. Paddie owns a promotional business (Brand You, Promotional Products) and she supports small and large business with branded apparel and swag. She worked in enforcement for the Attorney General for 10 years prior. She has 2 adult children and 8 grandchildren.
Brad Mayhew
Brad is an Elementary Principal with the District School Board of Niagara. In his 26th year in education, he has a tremendous passion in working with children and to ensure that all kids get the support they need to reach their full potential. He is happily married with two children, ages 15 and 10.
Willow Shawanoo
Kechego is Anishainaabekwe, Ojibway from Kettle and Stoney Point, Turtle Clan, living in St. Catharines with her spouse and their three children. As an intergenerational survivor she has used her intergenerational strengths to graduate from Brock in 2013 with two degrees in History and Sociology. Willow is a long time and active community member currently working at the Niagara Regional Native Centre’s Indigenous Community Justice Program. Throughout her tenure at the Centre she has held numerous roles and continues to be an advocate for her community.
Aliyah Cimek-McCulligh
Aliyah is a long-time volunteer at Pathstone, sitting on the Youth Advisory Committee since 2019. They have also sat on the Inclusive Alliance and Trauma-Informed committees, and was a childcare volunteer for 2 years. They are attending Brock University for Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice, with the intent of becoming either a Licensed Forensic Psychologist focusing on cases involving violence in the home, or a Child Protection Services worker. Because of their passion to help mothers and their children escape abusive situations, Aliyah has dedicated thousands of hours to volunteering with various non-profits in order to make the change they wish to see in the world. They have accomplished plenty for their age, as Aliyah also has a seat on the Board of Directors for Pets Alive Niagara, is the Lead of Art and Graphic Design for Youth Empowering Youth and is a former Crisis Responder for Kids Help Phone.
Brian Ferguson
Brian is an Occupational Health & Safety professional who has provided health and safety leadership in construction, industrial, aggregates, resource recovery and environmental companies across North America for over twenty years. Currently, he is Vice President of Health and Safety at Walker Industries. Brian lives in Niagara with his wife, their three daughters, two rescue dogs, and two rescue turtles. Brian is passionate about volunteering and has done so throughout Niagara his whole life. He currently also sits on the Board of Directors and Governance committee for the Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) Youth Collective, which provides a safe space for the youth in the area to congregate, learn and have fun.
Woody McKaig
Woody has practiced law in St. Catharines since his call to the bar in 1976. He provides legal and strategic advice on a variety of matters, including labour relations, collective agreement negotiations, interest and rights arbitrations, Ontario human rights cases, policing issues and administrative law matters to a small handful of public and private sector clients. Woody lives in Niagara with his wife and law partner Sara and their two youngest children. The older three children and four grandchildren are spread out – in Florida, Ottawa and Ancaster. He recognizes the issues facing those in the community facing mental health issues, and joined the Pathstone Board to work towards making things better.
Suzanne Curtin
Suzanne Curtin, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Child and Youth Studies and she is also the Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies at Brock University. Her research background is on early infancy and cognitive development in children with a focus on language and social communication. Suzanne moved from Alberta to Niagara in 2020 with her partner, and they are happy to now call St. Catharines home.