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 Members
Our core staff members 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.”
Julia Dostaler
Program Manager
Honours BA, Specialization in Communication, Minor in Sociology (University of Ottawa)
What is the single most important piece of advice to students leaving high school?
“Work hard and stay humble. Good things come to those who are patient and persistent.”
Emily Kathen
Communications Manager & Regional Program Manager (Toronto)
Honours BA, Specialization in Communication, Minor in Business Management (University of Ottawa)
What activity or experience outside of your career has had the greatest impact on your life?
“My gap year! My decision to take a year off after high school to travel and work overseas truly shaped me into the person I am today. My gap year taught me some of the most important lessons I may ever learn, altered the way I approach challenges and set-backs, and changed the way I see myself and the world.”
Alex Keenan
Program Manager (on sabbatical)
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.”
Kristina Beauchesne
Facilitator
BA with a concentration in Psychology (Trent University); Bachelor of Education (University of Ottawa)
What is the single most important piece of advice to students leaving high school?
“Life is a marathon and not a sprint. Don’t panic if you don’t know what you want to do. Be like a sponge and live life: be curious, explore your surroundings, try different things, learn from those around you, travel, learn about what interests you and find opportunities that make you feel alive and purposeful! Celebrate your mistakes and move on!”
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.”
Christine Riddell
Facilitator
Valérie Deveaux
Facilitator
MA in Counselling Psychology (Yorkville University); BA, double majeure ès lettres françaises et théâtre (Université d’Ottawa)
What is the craeer achievement you are most proud of?
“My proudest moments are found in the little drops of change I can see around me. Being a mentor is extremely fulfilling because I can see the personal growth in my colleagues, my students, and myself. I would say my proudest moment this summer was standing beside a teary-eyed mother who was extremely relieved their child would have access to my help during their university transition. In moments like this, I know that what I do matters.”
Arielle Gatotos
Discover Year Ambassador
What is the greatest lesson or skill you took away from your Discover Year?
“Life is an experiment, not a test. You don’t need to have everything figured out in order to move forward and be curious, so strive for growth and exploration instead of perfection! Overcoming these fears can lead to so many transformative experiences and opportunities you wouldn’t see otherwise.”
Reid ten Den
Discover Year Ambassador
What advice would you give a student considering taking a Discover Year?
“My advice for any student who is thinking of taking a Discover Year is do it! If you have a slight interest or curiosity in something, throw yourself into it, even if it is uncomfortable. You will build and have an amazing community to support you through every step of the way. I discovered that when I did that, I opened so many doors and opportunities I could have never imagined.”
Lukas Wirz-Endrys
Discover Year Ambassador
What is the greatest lesson you took away from your Discover Year?
“Do in life what feels true to you. Take on new things that excite you, push you, and better you as a person. Explore your interests but be yourself – for genuine character and active curiosity will bring you far.”
Rhys FitzGerald
Discover Year Ambassador
What is the greatest lesson or skill you took away from your Discover Year?
“The greatest skill I took away from DY was how to enjoy the present. I stopped worrying about what job I am going to have in 20 years, or what kind of house I will have and I started to really appreciate the present, and everything it has to offer.”
Volunteers
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 mentors:
MARK SUTCLIFFE
Mayor of Ottawa
NATALIE ROWE
Assistant Director, Workforce Planning and Development, Canada Revenue Agency
AFTON MAINSONNEUVE
Associate, Kelly Santini LLP
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
RENÉE MICHAUD
Art Therapist
ABENEZER ABEBE
Software Engineer, Epidemic Sound
IAN AFFLECK
Vice President, Plant Biotechnology, CropLife Canada
RYAN VAN ASTEN
Director of Sports Performance, Calgary Flames Hockey Club
TESSA FELIX
Culture and HR Lead, PWL Capital Inc.
LAUREN SKYE WALLIS
Psychologist and Owner, Lauren Wallis & Assoicates Psychology
TARA TENNANT
Business Consultant and Founder, WorkingWithTara.ca
STACEY-ANN MORRIS
Curriculum Consultant, Carleton University
DAVID KENEFORD
Chief Talent Officer, Mercury Filmworks
BRITT-MARI SYKES
Career Counselor and Founder, Integrative Career Counseling
ERMINIA LOMBARDI
Coach, StudySpot Educational Services
STEVE HARDING
Director, Xactly Design and Advertising
TAL POTECHIN
Career Educator, York University
MICHAELA KEALEY
HR Coordinator, Envolta Inc.
ANDREW KUTTAIN
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
JULIA MYER
Director, Public Engagement, Plan Canada
NATALIE BRETT
Manager, Indigenous Sport Unit, Sport Canada
DAN TROMMATER
Speaker, Coach, Fecilitator and Magician
JENIKA HEIM
EducationUSA Advisor, Fullrbight Canada
SPENCER MANDY
General Manager, Canadian Payment Systems & Banknote Operations
ALEXY TOUCHETTE
Parademic Student, La Cité Collégiale
GARRY TUTTE
Freelance Filmmaker and Owner, Morro Creative
ADAM KOURAKIS
Owner/Operator, Velofix Ottawa
KYLA DEVEREAUX
Senior Manager of Learning for Technology & Scotia Digital, Scotiabank
CHANTAL ST-DENIS
National Representative, Media Relations, Canadian Labour Congress
MARAIKA DE GROOT
Manager, Talent & Operations, Maven Consulting
SCOTT ROBERTSON
Associate, Nahwegahbow Corbiere LLP
DAVE URICHUCK
Certified Life Coach
MAGDA BADRAN
Psychologist-Psychotherapist
RACHELLE THIBODEAU
Coordinator of Academic Support, Program Evaluation, and Research, Carleton University
MIKE BIRD
Founder, CoachOiseau Career Coaching
MELANIE BERGERON
Leadership Development Advisor, Canada Border Services Agency
STEVE WILSON
VP Sales & Marketing and Co-Owner, Escape Manor
PAM COBURN
Owner, PDC Web Services and Author
JENEPHER LENNOX TERRION
MATTHEW PURDEY
Owner, Foresight Career Coaching and Career Advisor, Red River College Polytechnic
RICHARD LEFORT
General Contractor, SL Construction
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
MARK DUMALSKI
Partner, Deloitte
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 BRISSETTS
KRIS ZAWADKA
LAURA GIBSON
Senior Marketing Director, Medicom Group
DAVID CAMPBELL
Manager of Associates, RBC
DAVID LEFEBVRE
Chief of Regulatory Toxicology Research Division, Health Canada
JESSE PEREAULT
CEO/Partner, SOAP Media Inc
STEPHEN SHEPERTYCKI
BRETT DEAN
JESSICA SIMONEAU
TASNEEM DAMJI
ELISE ZARKADAS
ALEX LANGILLE
JOEL KAM
KATE GALLAGHER