Who We Are
Children's Centre Thunder Bay leads the way for children and youth to improve their quality of life.
We are an accredited team of respected professionals working in collaboration with families, caregivers and partners to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and youth.
Under the governance of a volunteer Board of Directors, our Management Team provides leadership to more than 150 professionals from fields such as social work, psychology, early childhood education, speech and language, developmental services and nursing.
As a team, we have a shared commitment to service excellence in prevention, treatment, research, and educational programs that improves the quality of life for children and youth.
Meet our Management Team:
Diane Walker
Chief Executive Officer
dwalker@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5006
John Friday
Vice President
- Risk Management
- Health and Safety
- Human Resources
- Finance & Accounting
- Information Services
- Property & Maintenance
jfriday@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5069
Terra Lofts
Director, Service Planning and Developmental Services
tlofts@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5018
Joni Nelson
Director, Child and Youth Mental Health Services
jnelson@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5088
Fred Schmidt
Director, Clinical Development, Evaluation, & Research
- Performance Measurement
- Program Evaluation
- Research
- Psychology
- Learning Assessments
fschmidt@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5016
Chris McCarthy
Director, Data, Information Technology, and Communications
cmccarthy@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5044
Tanya MacLeod
Manager, Human Resources
- Human Resources
- Hiring
- Employee Wellness
tmacleod@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5050
Darlene Niemi
Manager, Engagement, Planning, and Quality
- Quality Assurance
- Family Engagement
- CYMH - Community Planning
dniemi@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-626-0308
Manager, School Services
- School Social Work
- Day Treatment
dvillella@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5039
Renee Monsma
Manager, Infant & Child Services
- Preschool Mental Health Services
rmonsma@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5076
Lisa Joubert
Manager, Youth Services
- Intake
- Access Network
- First Connection (Brief Services)
- While You Wait
- Youth Mental Health (Counselling & Therapy)
ljoubert@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5047
Marinna Read
Manager, Adolescent Services
- Adolescent Mental Health (Counselling & Therapy)
- Youth Engagement/New Mentality
- Youth Justice
- U-TURN
- Oshkiniikidjig Miikanens (Cultural Group)
mread@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5027
Laura Meisner
Manager, Healthy Child Development & Autism Services
- Pre-School Speech & Language
- Blind-Low Vision & Infant Hearing
- Autism Assessment
lmeisner@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5094
Scott McBean
Manager, Child Care Services and Coordinated Service Planning
- Special Needs Resource Program
- Pre-School Assessment & Consultation
- Coordinated Service Planning
- Complex Special Needs
smcbean@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5019
Angela Hill
Manager, Live-In Treatment Services & Supervised Access
- Short Term Assessment and Treatment Unit
- Supervised Access Program
- Walk-In Clinic
ahill@childrenscentre.ca T: 807-343-5008