Our Team
“In my experience, it is rare to come across a group of people so dedicated to finding potential in others, willing to grow and learn alongside the students they work with, and who model a way of being with others that communicates acceptance, safety, trust, and community. The Discover Year team members provide the type of support that fosters discovery, insight, and growth.”
– Kelly Tabor, parent of former Discover Year student and independent communication skills consultant
Staff
Our core staff are responsible for Discover Year’s program management, curriculum development and delivery, admissions, and marketing and communications.
Jay Gosselin
Founder & Program Director
Master of Arts (incomplete), Educational Counselling (University of Ottawa); Honours BA, Economics and Political Science (Queen’s University)
What is the single most important piece of advice to students leaving high school?
“Make time in your life for the things that pique your curiosity, regardless of how “practical” they seem. Curiosities lead to passion, and passion, combined with your unique talent, will create purpose. Purposeful people make a living doing things they would do for free. As they say, ‘do something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.'”
Alex Keenan
Program Manager
LL.L. in Quebec Civil Law (University of Ottawa); LL.B. with Certificate in Environmental Law (Dalhousie University); BA, Political Studies (Mount Saint Vincent University)
What is the career achievement you are most proud of?
“Walking away from a “safe” career in law to start my own business. It was scary, risky, and much harder than I expected it to be, but I’m proud that I believed in myself enough to do it, and that I was resilient enough to stick with it and build a life where I can use my social skills and creativity every day.”
Gesa Harmston
Outreach Manager
Certified Executive Coach (Royal Roads University); Conflict Resolution (Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution);
Diploma in Travel and Tourism (Algonquin College); Diploma in Ecotourism Management (Fleming College)
What activity or experience outside of your career has had the greatest impact on your life?
“My gap year which led to me travelling, living and working overseas for many years. As a result, I became fluent in another language, made connections all over the world and became super adaptable by experiencing other ways of living. I have been drawing on this international education in my personal life and for my entire career.”
Rachelle Janfield
Program Coordinator
What is the greatest lesson or skill you took away from your Discover Year?
“It’s important to be comfortable being uncomfortable. As humans, we tend to avoid doing things or avoid taking opportunities that are unfamiliar to us. I learnt how important it is to put myself in scenarios that make me uncomfortable, because that is where I can grow, where I can thrive and where I can reach new heights.”
Leslie Seiler
Facilitator
BA Theatre (Dalhousie University)
What activity or experience outside of your career has had the greatest impact on your life?
“Living in Los Angeles for eight years. It taught me so many things, but the biggest takeaway was that what you do for a living isn’t your entire life. It ultimately made me question if working in a certain job is worth sacrificing happiness in many other parts of your life. The answer I came to is no. It also made me reflect on why I was pursuing the things I was, and analyze if there were other ways I could feel equally fulfilled. In that case the answer was yes, there is.”
Jennifer Leach Hollander
Facilitator
BSc Occupational Therapy (University of Toronto); BSc Psychology (Trent University); International Baccalaureate (United World College – USA)
What is the single most important piece of advice to students leaving high school?
“When you think about what you want to do with your life, do not rule out what scares you. Get curious about it. Get excited about what you don’t know and see if it might be exactly what you are being called to do.”
Moyra McWilliam
Facilitator
Honours BA (Carleton University); Certified Executive Coach (Royal Roads University)
What motivates you most in your work?
“Feeling that I make a difference. Since we don’t always know the impact we have on others, I strive to make every interaction meaningful. A life mantra of mine is “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”
Serge Brissette
Facilitator
College Degree in Social Sciences & Mathematics
What is the single most important piece of advice to students leaving high school?
“If you are not having fun, you are doing it wrong! Get support, talk about your experiences with someone
you cares about you and learn to understand your thoughts and feelings.”
Mentors & Coaches
We have a diverse and passionate team of over 100 mentors and coaches who volunteer their time and expertise to support our students. From business executives, to software engineers, to firefighters, to filmmakers, our network of caring and successful mentors come from all walks of life and professions.
Here are just some of our incredible volunteers:
MARK SUTCLIFFE
Mayor of Ottawa
NATALIE ROWE
Assistant Director, Workforce Planning and Development, Canada Revenue Agency
AFTON MAINSONNEUVE
Senior Legal Counsel, Chantier Davie Canada Inc.
BILLY ANDERSON
Founder, The Courage Crusade
SCOTT URQUHART
Senior Manager of Merchandising, Converse
EMILY BEEKMANS
Lead Filmmaker, Sweetgrass Storytelling
NAOMI HAILE
Human Capital Strategist and Consultant, QuakeLab Co.
CHRIS BISON
Owner, Escape Manor
JOEL HILCHEY
CEO & Executive Producer, Beanstalk Creative
JEN FRASER
Author and Founder, The Bullied Brain
LAUREN SKYE WALLIS
Psychologist and Owner, Lauren Wallis & Assoicates Psychology
RYAN VAN ASTEN
Director of Sports Performance, Calgary Flames Hockey Club
IAN AFFLECK
Vice President, Plant Biotechnology, CropLife Canada
TARA TENNANT
Business Consultant and Founder, WorkingWithTara.ca
PAUL LEMELIN
Real Estate Broker, eXp Realty
STACEY-ANN MORRIS
Curriculum Consultant, Carleton University
DAVID KENEFORD
Chief Talent Officer, Mercury Filmworks
BRITT-MARI SYKES
Career Counselor and Founder, Integrative Career Counseling
SABRINA MCTAGGART
Career Coach
STEVE HARDING
Director, Xactly Design and Advertising
JP MICHEL
Author and Founder, SparkPath
MICHAELA KEALEY
HR Coordinator, Envolta Inc.
ANDREW PHILIPS
Specialist, Public Engagement & Diversity, City of Ottawa
CARL MICHAELSON
Co-Director, Westlake Bourget College Hockey Academy
RUSSELL WILLIS
Regional Campus Director for Adult Programs & Support, Brenau University
SARAH LIVERANCE
Parter, Sklar Wilton and Associates
JENIKA HEIM
EducationUSA Advisor, Fullrbight Canada
DAN TROMMATER
Speaker, Coach, Fecilitator and Magician
KYLA DEVEREAUX
Senior Manager of Learning for Technology & Scotia Digital, Scotiabank
SPENCER MANDY
General Manager, Canadian Payment Systems & Banknote Operations
MARAIKA DE GROOT
Manager, Talent & Operations, Maven Consulting
GARRY TUTTE
Freelance Filmmaker and Owner, Morro Creative
ADAM KOURAKIS
Owner/Operator, Velofix Ottawa
DAVE URICHUCK
Certified Life Coach
CHANTAL ST-DENIS
National Representative, Media Relations, Canadian Labour Congress
MAGDA BADRAN
Psychologist-Psychotherapist
SCOTT ROBERTSON
Associate, Nahwegahbow Corbiere LLP
PAM COBURN
Owner, PDC Web Services and Author
MIKE BIRD
Founder, CoachOiseau Career Coaching
RACHELLE THIBODEAU
Coordinator of Academic Support, Program Evaluation, and Research, Carleton University
MATTHEW PURDEY
Owner, Foresight Career Coaching and Career Advisor, Red River College Polytechnic
MELANIE BERGERON
Leadership Development Advisor, Canada Border Services Agency
STEVE WILSON
VP Sales & Marketing and Co-Owner, Escape Manor
SARAH CROWE
ADAM MOWREY
Vice President, Risk Management, Marsh Canada
DANIEL LAVOIE
Executive Director of Public Affairs, RCMP (Retired)
LISA ROY
Further Education Advisor, Wilfrid Laurier University
NICK ARSENAULT
Deputy Director, The Boundless School
SHAWN SMITH
Founder and CEO, Don’t Dis-My-Ability Consultation Services Inc.
SANDY RITA TANNOURI
RICHARD LEFORT
General Contractor, SL Construction
MARIELLE METRAILLER
Leadership Coach and Founder, Clarivia
CATHY HOLUK
Consultant, Relative Solutions, LLC.
ANDREW WATSON
JESSICA LONDEI-SHORTALL
BILLY ROGERS
MICHAEL KING
Accountant, MNP
NEIL SCHWARTZ
Business Lawyer, Mann Lawyers LLP
KARA STONEHOUSE
CHRIS WRIGHT
COREY MACDONALD
Coordinator of Student Support, University of Ottawa
ELAINE USKOSKI
Coach for Video Gaming Addiction, INTENTA Canada
SERGE BRISSETTE
KRIS ZAWADKA
LAURA GIBSON
Senior Marketing Director, Medicom Group
DAVID CAMPBELL
Manager of Associates, RBC
BRETT DEAN
TASNEEM DAMJI
STEPHEN SHEPERTYCKI
SHARMILA KHARE
JESSICA SIMONEAU
KATIE DUARTE
ELISE ZARKADAS
ALEX LANGILLE
JOEL KAM
KATE GALLAGHER
STEPHANIE BAILEY