MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS 

Gary Bure

Mental Health Educator 

Gary Bure is a mental health educator and professional fitness trainer dedicated to eliminating the stigma associated with mental illness. His goal is to provide knowledge about mental health, mental illness and benefits of physical fitness to improving overall well-being. Gary received his Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto where he did his double major in Economics and Anthropology. Gary had an interest in the study of human societies which is why learning about mental health really sparked an interest for him.

Gary has been trained in Mental Health First Aid, and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training). He is a Certified Mental Health Works, Compassion Fatigue, and Rent SMART trainer. In addition, he has a certification in Adult Education from Sheridan College, and obtained his Personal Training and Fitness Instructor Certification.

The number of individuals that experience mental illness continues to grow, these individuals may walk among us everyday but we don’t know. Gary’s belief, that no one should have to go through the experience of recovering from a mental health issue alone, inspires him to continue to spread mental health knowledge and bring understanding and support to those in need.

Heather Burns Shillington MSW RSW

Mental Health Educator

Heather is a Registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience working in the field of mental health and adult education. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto with a Specialization in Mental Health and has worked with diverse populations and in a variety of settings, including hospitals, universities, and crisis response teams.

Heather’s experience with frontline social work motivated her to become a safeTALK and ASIST trainer. Her goal is to help as many people as possible learn suicide intervention skills and reduce the stigma people struggling with mental health often face when seeking help. Heather has a background in theatre performance, and loves facilitating workshops. She has travelled across Ontario presenting to youth and adults and is driven to share the message that the more communities talk about suicide, the more hope we have for preventing it.

 

Karyn Hand BSW MEd RSW

Mental Health Clinical Educator 

Karyn is a registered social worker and educator with 30 years of experience in the field of adult mental health and addictions. Karyn offers several perspectives on mental health and addictions as a front-line clinician, manager and someone who lives in recovery. Karyn has a Bachelor of Social Work from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Master of Adult Education from Yorkville University, and holds a Certificate in Advanced Health Leadership from the Rotman School of Management. Karyn is a certified facilitator in Wellness Recovery Action Planning, Compassion Fatigue, Wholistic Crisis Planning, Mindfulness for Emotional Regulation, ASIST, and The ASK! Workshop

Karyn’s passion is to educate those who are interested in developing a better understanding of mental illness and addiction. She is a dynamic and engaging facilitator whose goal is to create a world where those living with mental illness and addiction can thrive without stigma.

Karyn has presented to small groups, at conferences and at large corporate trainings of several hundred people. Karyn uses every opportunity to foster an environment where people can feel safe while learning. Karyn encourages people to challenge their ideas and values by embracing concepts that may feel uncomfortable yet honor the diverse communities where we live and work.

Maria Macias MSW RSW

Mental Health Educator

Maria Macias is a registered social worker with over 30 years of experience working in the field of human and social services. A well-trained, skilled, and motivated professional with extensive experience including clinical counselling, crisis intervention, group facilitation, safety planning and advocacy. Her professional practice has been complemented by significant experience in community development, outreach and public education, policy analysis, and risk management.

Maria’s clinical practice framework is informed by a strength based, brief solution focused approach to counselling which she applies to her work with diverse and vulnerable populations including women, youth, and children.

Maria’s main interest in the field has focused on issues faced by women who have experienced violence in their lives. Maria is originally from Chile. She arrived in Canada as a young adult after she and her family were forced into exile. Maria’s identity, as a woman of colour, has influenced her interest regarding the manner in which discrimination impacts people’s everyday lives, as well as how people of colour disproportionately face poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.

Throughout her professional career, Maria has excelled at building positive relationships with diverse clients and service providers, advocating for the elimination of systemic barriers faced by racialized and marginalized communities.

Rachel Lawrence

Mental Health Educator

Rachael Lawrence has over fifteen years of experience working in community mental health and education specifically, though has worked in various aspects of mental health. She has a passion for continuous learning, compassionate understanding,  and sharing to invite and empower others to foster a deeper sense of community and health.

Her diploma in Social Services Work along with her various training credentials (ASIST, SafeTALK, Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, etc.) has allowed her to work and serve as a community advocate and educator for change in various and dynamic arenas.

Rachael, a soon-to-be graduate with a Bachelor of Community Mental Health, offers unique perspectives in understanding mental health at micro and macro levels, creating a constant committed conversation around positive challenge for change.

 

Steve Lister

Mental Health Educator

"Candid, honest, authentic and skilled at creating a safe space to share complex thoughts and emotions.”  These are some of the words that people have used to describe Steve after having participated in one of his professional workshops.

Following a successful career as a passionate Special Education Specialist, Social Studies Teacher and Department Head in Toronto, Steve spent 8 years teaching and spearheading important school system improvement initiatives on the Island of Bermuda. Upon his return to Canada a decade ago, he focused on creating and facilitating a variety of highly engaging and thought-provoking workshops.  Steve is very proud to have obtained his certification as a Facilitation Leadership Professional (FLP) through the Institute of Cultural Affairs International.

Tina Gandhi MSW RSW

Mental Health Educator

Tina Gandhi, Registered Social Worker with over 20 years experience, in the areas of mental health and disability. Currently also working at Surrey Place, counselling diverse families, couples, siblings and individuals and leading parent support groups for parents and family members of children with autism. She values interdisciplinary teamwork and community collaboration to support clients and families. She was selected as the Inspirational Leader and Distinguished Social Worker Award winner by the Ontario Association of Social Workers (2022). Her commitment and dedication for the clients and the staff is evidenced by being chosen as the Health and Safety Award winner at Surrey Place (2022). She brings a passion for mental wellness and innovation to her work, by creating various workshops and groups to best meet families’ needs.

She is a Master Level ASIST trainer and a Mental Health Ambassador for Surrey Place. She is a speaker and advocate for social work and autism in the community. She was selected as the keynote speaker for the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers on the importance of social work in autism (2021).

Tina’s passion for helping youth, individuals and families in mental wellness is demonstrated by her advocacy in the local community. Her engaging and interactive presentation style is described by attendees as inspirational, motivational and capturing the client experience.

Tali Aikenhead MSW RSW

Mental Health Educator

Tali Aikenhead is a Registered Social Worker and educator with over 15 years experience supporting youth, adults and families in the Greater Toronto Area. Tali holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) with a double major in psychology and women’s studies from McMaster University, and both a Master of Social Work degree and Leadership and Management Certificate from Wilfred Laurier University. She is a proud daughter, sister, partner and parent. 

Tali has served in a variety of roles in the public education sector from front-line to system leadership, with a focus on working upstream to build mentally healthy classrooms, schools and education systems. From her clinical experience offering individual and group therapy to her leadership in program and policy development, Tali brings a systems-thinking, equity-focused lens to her work. 

A reflective and engaging facilitator, Tali is experienced in capacity-building across a wide range of stakeholders. She is a certified trainer in SafeTALK, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (Master level), Restorative Practices (International Institute for Restorative Practices), and Violence Threat Risk Assessment (Centre for Trauma Informed Practices). 

Tali believes that mental health is a community responsibility and is passionate about highlighting the connections between mental health, mental illness and experiences of equity/inequity. She strives to co-create learning communities that are as safe and affirming as possible, so participants feel empowered to share their voices, are open to new learning and diverse perspectives, and are equipped with meaningful skills and strategies. 

 

Nancy Bratkovic

Director, Clinical Support Services

Privacy Officer

 

Nancy has built her career in Mental Health as a clinician and Manager in various capacities of direct services. She joined the Senior Management that includes services as Mental Health Promotion, Communications, Housing and Homelessness, Resource Development and Fundraising, Quality Improvement and Planning, Health Information Management and has been serving int eh capacity as CMHA Peel Dufferin’s Privacy Officer since 2016.

In her various roles throughout the years she has worked closely with many other Human and Social Service Organizations including Planning Tables in Peel Region that were instrumental in responding to the needs of those with Mental Health and Addiction by advocating for the development of cross sector services such as crisis response and service coordination, youth addictions groups and transitional aged youth service resolution.

More recently Nancy completed her Certificate in Advanced Health Systems Leadership Program at Rotman, Certificate in Healthcare Privacy Law and Information Management in Healthcare with Osgoode/York U and the Information Privacy Professional Canada Training through the International Association of Privacy Professionals.   Having developed the Privacy Program at CMHA Peel Dufferin, she continues to expand her skills and knowledge in the ever changing healthcare landscape adapting privacy practices throughout the many expansions and developments to ensure privacy practices and protection. 

Headshot of Nancy Bratovic; Woman with lob hair smiling at camera