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.

Amber Buchanan

Program Director

Amber Buchanan joined us in September 2024. She comes to Youth Peer with a strong background in community building and service and is especially experienced in leading educational workshops and events. Amber is a Gaelic (and Spanish) speaker, She has worked extensively with Cape Breton's Gaelic community. EPIC is so pleased to have her on board!

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!

Each February, EPIC hosts the staff and supports the area's Black Community by attending the African Heritage Dinner and Dance, paid from a board donation. This is from 2014.

Indee Anna Loughlin

Outreach Coordinator

Glace Bay, 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

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

Madison Melski

Payton MacDougall

Onah Uzoh

Julia Boudreau

Our wonderful PAs are all former Youth Peer volunteer/ mentors who have and continue to distinguish themselves as caring, talented young role models:

Anna George

Activities Developer

Anna was a volunteer with Youth Peer Glace Bay throughout high school before bring hired as Coordinator for three Outreach sites for several years. She left us to study psychology at Memorial University in Newfoundland. Now enrolled in a graduate program at Dalhousie, Anna has rejoined us part time as a Peer Tutoring Coordinator in Sackville. As well, she is spearheading the development of new mentoring activities that will further enrich the relationships between YPP kids and their tutor-mentors. We are happy to have her back!