Catherine Dyer- Project Coordinator
Catherine (Cathy) Dyer is a 27 year-old survivor of the child welfare and mental health systems. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto (Political Science & Environmental Studies majors). As the founding leader for the New Mentality, she works alongside youth who are speaking out about the stigma surrounding mental health problems and making a difference in their communities. Cathy is the recipient of the Child Welfare League of Canada's Youth Achievement Award and the Toronto Community Foundation's Vital People Award. She is an avid cyclist, loves to eat pie (and cake) and laughs a whole lot! Brings vitality and vision to wherever she goes, Cathy firmly believes that youth are powerful agents for positive change in the world.
Nancy Pereira – Communication and Events Coordinator
Nancy Pereira is 25 years old, and much of her adolescence and young adulthood was spent advocating for accessibility for persons with disabilities. In 2006, Nancy graduated from the University of Guelph(majoring in Sociology), and in 2007, she authored the report “Ready…Set…Engage!” which helped to lay the foundation for The New Mentality project. Nancy believes that developing a stronger child and youth mental health system means creating opportunities for the engagement of young people as partners in change. Nancy loves everything and anything to do with music. Although she cannot play an instrument, she has been known to carry a tune fairly well, and is one of those people who can turn anything into a song – listen or it!