Supervisor

Barry Waldman

The day-to-day operations of EPIC and the projects it oversees are handled by Barry Waldman, founder of EPIC. Barry’s experience in teaching, educational administration, proposal writing, community development and working in Native and African-Nova Scotian communities has sensitized him to marginalized youth and the negative consequences which can occur when funding isn’t available to continue important programs. It was this concern that catalyzed his development of EPIC in 1996.

As a volunteer, he supervises all EPIC projects and programs, including the Youth Peer and Parents PEACE programs. He works as an Educational Consultant for the Eskasoni First Nations School Board for whom he fostered the innovative Aboriginal EMPATHIC Program program among others. As well, on a volunteer basis, he oversees the financial operations of EPIC and ensures and manages funding for all initiatives, while still finding time to dream up creatively unique ways for EPIC to fulfill its purpose.

YOUTH PEER STAFF

Co-Director

Barb Donovan

Becoming Co-Director in 2009, Barb has been Director of Youth Peer in its various stages since EPIC adopted the program in 1998. Before coming to EPIC, she was Volunteer Coordinator for Island Community Justice where she still works as a volunteer and serves on the CATCH management team. She guides Youth Peer with soft, but steady hand and is the heart and soul of this successful program. We hope she stays for another dozen years at least!

Co-Director

Brian Dwyer

Brian is a recently retired educator and educational administrator who couldn’t stay away when given the opportunity to work with students as Liaison, in the Give Right Back project initiated in the fall of 2008. In September 2009, we welcomed him as Co-Director, working hand-in-hand with Barb to oversee the entire program. Brian had a successful career with the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board serving as Principal of Memorial Junior High and Sydney Academy.

Volunteers Coordinator

Shannon Fuller

Shannon joined the Youth Peer team in September 2010. As Volunteer Coordinator, Shannon is in charge of recruiting and managing the volunteer mentor/ tutors. In addition, she works with the staff to ensure smooth functioning of the daily student/volunteer matches.

Educator, Student Wrap-Around Support

Lynne O’Neill

Lynne joined Youth Peer in the Spring of 2010 as a “wrap-around” Educator, after retiring as a career teacher with the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School District.

Facilitator, Parents PEACE Program

Peggy Vassallo

Peggy joined Youth Peer, Parents PEACE Program in January 2011. We welcome her to the team.

Youth Peer Assistants
September 2010 – May 2011

Our Youth Assistants are invaluable! Their job is to work with the Volunteers Coordinator as well as all tutors and students to see that every session runs smoothly.

The Assistants strive to ensure all students and mentors are matched each day; they provide tutors with assistance when necessary; they make snacks, organize activities, and clean up the mess when it’s all over.

All our Assistants—who are usually students or recent grads of Cape Breton University—are former volunteer tutor / mentors so they know better than anyone else how to help make those matches the best possible experience for both student and mentor.

Danielle Gardiner

Frances Martin

Ian Isaac

Conner Briggs

Nadine Hutchison

Kayla Wood

In December, Kayla left us for a great job out West. We miss you!

Creative Arts and Guitar Instructors

Susanne Donovan

Susanne is at Youth Peer three afternoons a week to provide all youth and their mentors with a wide range of fun, enriching and educational creative activities. She holds a Fine Arts degree from Mt. Allison University, New Brunswick, Canada.

Emile Conn

Emile has been working with Youth Peer since 2004. He provides private guitar instruction to any interested student two afternoons a week.