Our staff are knowledgeable through years of lived & working experiences related to youth homelessness, LGBTQ2S+ identities, Indigenous populations, mental health, substance use problems & disorders, & developmental & learning disabilities.
Staff ensure youth understand and are informed on their rights in education, health, housing, employment and relationships. Our staff are committed to connecting youth members with allies and support networks in the community.
She has extensive training and background in supporting youth who have been, or at risk of being, commercially sexually exploited and has worked alongside the legal system to develop safety plans as well as obtaining restraining orders to protect these victims. She is a strong advocate and takes a youth-led approach in her work. Shannon has experience working with youth who have behavioural challenges, are struggling with substance abuse, are living with mental illness, managing anxiety and depression, and experiencing homelessness. She has vast skills in crisis intervention, conflict resolution, case management, navigating the mental health and justice systems, as well as assessing risks and developing/implementing safety plans. With compassion and understanding, Shannon works with each youth to help them build on their strengths, accomplish their goals and attain personal growth.
Through her education, her focus of expertise was in Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), counselling approaches (CBT, DBT, ACT, etc.), and the abnormal psychology of child and adult development. With a background working in various social service fields and diverse communities of people, Sarah has committed her career to assisting others in achieving their goals and continuing to learn and evolve. Originally from London, Sarah worked closely with Deafblind individuals with complexities for 6 years, as she is passionate about advocating for others and ensuring quality of life is maintained. In previous employment, Sarah was working in Dual Diagnosis as a Counselor with Pathways to Independence, supporting young and mature persons in; behaviour management, medication supervision, and case managing adults transitioning into independent living. Sarah’s experience is largely focused on maintaining a positive rapport with individuals she works with and encouraging independence and connection in one’s community. Since moving to Picton, Sarah is dedicated to learning and experiencing more of what the County has to offer and contributing back in any way possible.
After 10 years working with young people in various capacities at the Prince Edward County Public Library & Archives, Whitney decided to switch gears and joined the team at theROC, where she now has the privilege of coordinating and executing the daily activities at the PEC Youth Centre, having been bestowed with the loving title of “ROC Mama”. Whitney, and her husband Andrew, have three wild children who help inform and inspire her work each day. Whitney is currently the co-chair of the Athol-South Marysburgh Public School Parent Council, and tireless advocate for youth voices in PEC.
Hailey completed one of her program placements at theROC, where she discovered her passion for youth work and community engagement. After graduating, Hailey joined theROC as a Youth Intern, quickly proving her versatility and dedication by taking on various roles within the organization. Her creativity and knack for social media management have now led her to the position of Social Media and Donor Relations Coordinator, where she combines her love for graphic design and storytelling to elevate theROC’s online presence. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team and can’t wait to see the amazing things she’ll continue to accomplish.
While her professional focus has been based in earlier stages of development, She hopes to bring light and context to the ways formative years shape our experiences and perceptions, to challenge systemic barriers, and to explore creative and alternative pathways to individualized growth in community. She is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the team at theROC in supporting PEC youth.
theROC Board of Directors is composed of passionate community members with a range of backgrounds and education. The Board meets monthly and oversees governance and investment management while supporting the Executive Director in the sustainable growth of the agency.
Alison successfully advocated for changes to the Corporation of Prince Edward and City of Belleville taxi bylaws to protect youth, vulnerable people, and those living with a disability. Alison is the founder of PEC Period Party, a community project that seeks to raise awareness on period poverty in PEC, fundraises for essential period products and creates a safe space for menstruating people to normalize talking about menstrual health.
Alison graduated from Ryerson University with a Community Engagement, Leadership and Development certificate and holds professional certifications such as Project Manager Professional (PMP), Information Technology System Management (ITSM), & Business Analyst.
David is currently a volunteer firefighter, now in his 44th year. He is past chair of the Prince Edward Police Services Board, and is still a committee member for the Community Safety and Well Being Plan. David is past chair and remains as board member of the International Student Exchange Ontario which, among other responsibilities includes escorting students to Europe.
David is a Board member for Community Care for Seniors Prince Edward. One of his responsibilities is being the ’55 Alive Driver’s Course’ instructor. David is also an executive member with the local Retired Teachers of Ontario, and volunteers at the Picton United Church Food Bank.
Given his educational background, David is excited and proud to be a board member for The ROC, supporting youth in our community.
David and his wife Pat, have two married children and two grandchildren.
Bill is a longtime ROC volunteer, having served as Treasurer for several years, along with other volunteer positions in the County. He remains retired and spends a lot of his time raking leaves!
Megan lives in Belleville, while spending many weekends at her family’s property in Leeds in the Thousands Islands. She is actively involved in her church and is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, allowing her to support and give back to her community in different ways.
In her free time, Megan enjoys quilting, cooking and baking with local produce and ingredients, yoga, spending time outdoors and playing with her two West Highland Terriers – Annalee and Poppy.
With a diverse background, Bill brings valuable experience to the Board, having served as a teacher and school administrator, as well as a board member for several nonprofit organizations. His expertise also includes sustainable agriculture and extensive volunteer work with a range of groups, including hospice, 4H, theatre companies, and various quilt guilds.
Bill is excited about the future of theROC and proud to serve on the Board that will help guide that future.
Catalina moved to the County in 2019 to begin her role as the Municipal Clerk for the Corporation of the County of Prince Edward. She loves local government as it is all things to all people, and her interests include meaningful civic engagement, multi-governmental partnerships, and youth advocacy. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her husband and their family and friends.
