Kelly-Lynn Musico is a physiotherapist, yoga teacher and mom to three young adults. Along with her lived experience as a family member in the child and youth mental health sector, Kelly-Lynn brings extensive experience in the hospital, home care, school and private sectors and a long track record as a dedicated volunteer. She currently contributes her voice to a national mental health research project and several family advisory councils at both the local and provincial levels.

Chrystal is a mom of two boys who found the support she needed from Parent’s for Children's Mental Health (PCMH) while navigating the system with her oldest son. As a dedicated advocate for child and youth mental health and wellbeing, she brings a wealth of lived expertise to her many roles. Chrystal is a Peer Support Chapter Lead for Burlington PCMH, secretary for All Abilities Allstars and is training with Grandmother’s Voice to learn more about Indigenous wisdom in trauma recovery.

Angela is an award-winning Indigenous fashion designer, artist, entrepreneur and mentor. She unveiled her first major public art installation, ‘All Our Relations’ on Hamilton’s waterfront on September 30, 2023 – the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Angela has also worked with traditional Indigenous medicine people and knowledge keepers for decades and is passionate about bringing Indigenous healing practices into mainstream healthcare for everyone’s benefit.  

Sarah is a single mother of two young girls. She became passionate about advocating for children’s mental health when her eldest daughter received a diagnosis at a young age. In her extensive journey through the mental health system, Sarah has encountered many obstacles and barriers, especially after moving from a large city to a small town. She now sits on various committees through many provincial mental health organizations and is a parent support group leader through Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH).

Louise Murray-Leung is the family engagement lead at the Lynwood Charlton Centre. With a passion born of lived experience caring for loved ones with mental health challenges, Louise has played an important role in amplifying the family voice in child and youth mental health in Ontario. Notably, she was part of the advisory group that helped develop the quality standard for family engagement. She is also a volunteer peer leader with her local chapter of Parents for Children’s Mental Health.

Shannon McGavin is a system change leader dedicated to increasing wellness in rural communities across Canada. She has worked to enhance outcomes for children, young people and families in education for over 25 years. Throughout her own mental health challenges and supporting those she cares for, Shannon shamelessly advocates for mental health and substance use transformation on several local and provincial advisory boards, community health organizations, local integrated youth service organizations and in her own organization, The Well Community Collective.

Vicki is a parent of two boys with exceptions who have required constant advocacy and support throughout their childhood. She is also a Child and Youth Worker with over 20 years of experience in child welfare working closely with many vulnerable families to advocate for their needs and support them in navigating systems. Vicki is the Family Partnership Program Manager for Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO), leading the volunteer peer support program, Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH). She is passionate about family engagement and the value of peer support being integrated into healthcare systems. 

RoxAnne is a Parenting Mental Health Support Worker in Rainy River District. As a parent and certified caregiving support facilitator, she is passionate about bringing the community of caregivers together to support them, hear them and create safe spaces. RoxAnne has been a National Skating Coach for over 44 years, working with skaters of all ages and abilities to share her love of figure skating.

Cheshmak is a mom who has had to learn how to navigate very complex medical, school and community support systems to access the supports and services for her four adopted children. As a lifelong peace, human rights, and women’s rights activist, Cheshmak has applied her experience and skills to advocate for system level change for all children in these networks. She is delighted to be able to bring her lived experience, her commitment to equity, her passion and her voice to the child and youth mental health and addictions space. 

She has worked as a Senior Policy Advisor at Public Safety Canada and Global Affairs Canada on the counterterrorism Policy team, and most recently on the Women, Peace and Security team at the Department of National Defence until a workplace injury rendered her unable to work for the time being. When Cheshmak isn't working on systems level change, you can find her reading, doing her exercises, making art, hosting friends and soulful conversations at her home.