2025
Our Staff
Barry Waldman
Executive Director
As a volunteer, Barry administers and supervises all EPIC projects and programs including hiring and proposal writing, reporting and financial oversight. He also serves on the Board as Director of Finance. He holds a Masters in Educational Administration and has a wealth of experience working with marginalized learners. He founded EPIC in 1996.
Victoria Higgins
Program Director
Victoria comes to EPIC in the Fall of 2026 with a passion for making a positive impact on her community and a strong background in working with people who live with disabilities, suffer with mental illness and/or substance abuse. She most recently held the position of Case Manager and Workshop Facilitator at Nova Scotia Works, helping people with employment needs. Previously she worked as the Youth Outreach Coordinator at Pathways to Employment which serves people with developmental disabilities. We are delighted to have her lead our team.
Kyle McCarthy
Activities Coordinator
Kyle came on board the Youth Peer team in September 2025, after more than a decade of working to help people with special needs at Horizon Achievement Centre in Sydney. As Participant Services & Employment Counsellor, he created and presented skills training and helped clients find meaningful work. He has special interests in music and art and brings enthusiasm and skill to this challenging job. We're pleased to have him with us!
Mike Le Lievre
Music Instructor
Mike has been teaching guitar and performing in bands for many years. He started at Youth Peer in the fall of 2025 where he became an instant hit. He provides small group instruction to interested students and tutors three afternoons a week. Mike's easy-going manner is calming to youth participants and his strong musical skills encourage kids to explore their own musical talents.

New this year:
Cathy Currie
Partnership Facilitator
Former Behavioural Interventionist for NS Child & Adolescent Services
Sarah Currie
Liaison, Peer Tutoring Project
Sackville, Sydney River, Iona, East Dartmouth


The end-of-year Staff Party in 2016

Tutor training, September 2026
Indee Anna Loughlin
Outreach Coordinator
New Waterford, Northside
Indee has become a valuable asset for Youth Peer and Outreach, having started as a turtor/mentor in Grade 10. She is now in her second year of Cape Breton University and plans to become a teacher. She is a French speaker, is learning Italian and is a talented singer. Her abilities to organize and relate to people of all ages benefits EPIC every day she is with us.
Breagha Embree
Outreach Coordinator
Glace Bay, Sydney Mines
Breagha started out at Youth Peer as a tutor when she was in her grade 12 year. She was a stand-out and soon worked at EPIC as a Program and Outreach Assistant. We are now pleased to have her expertise in the guidance and development of our new Sydney Mines program for elementary kids,.
Progam Assistants
Kate MacDonald
Tessa Dixon
Payton MacDougall
Madison Melski
Victor Flores
Kiley Rich​
Nibisha Nimales
Dilpreet Kaur
Lily Crowdis
Emma Larade
Our wonderful Youth Peer & Outreach PAs are all former volunteer/ mentors who have and continue to distinguish themselves as caring, talented young role models: for our clients.
Every year, our staff are treated to a glam night out in support of the African Heritage Gala and paid for by private donations


2026










