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

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,  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.

Co-Director

Sylvia Dearing

Sylvia comes to Youth Peer from Island Community Justice, where she served as Executive Director for 12 years. This is truly a home-coming, as Sylvia was the director of the precursor of the Youth Peer Program at ICJ before EPIC adopted it in 1998. Sylvia brings with her a wealth of experience and her special mix of enthusiasm, practicality and upbeat wisdom. We are blessed to have her back!

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 has been doing a wonderful job with Youth Peer’s Parents PEACE Program since January 2011. Peggy’s “day job” is as Operations Director at Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia.

Youth Peer Assistants
September 2011 – May 2012

Frances Martin

 

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.

Nadine Hutchison

 

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.

Brandy MacInnis

 

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.

Creative Arts and Guitar Instructors

Susanne Donovan

 

Susanne, who has been the Art Instructor at Youth Peer since 2002, provides youth and their mentors with a wide range of fun, enriching and educational creative activities three afternoons a week. 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.