We are very proud of our Club team:
Jackie Rivers, General Manager
Jackie Rivers is our General Manager. Jackie has been with Club for almost 15 years, helping to grow and shape the programming by developing the Day Programs, Drop In Clubs, and summer camps. Jackie started as a volunteer, and moved her way up through Club from Session Leader, to Program Director, and now leads the organization. Jackie has many years of experience and a wide range of skills and training including Grant Writing, Managing Challenging Behaviours, Mental Health First Aid, First Aid, Trauma Informed Care and Cultural Diversity Training. Jackie Rivers is a winner of the Bhayana Awards for her dedication to Club Inclusion, and her creative excellence for developing and delivering fun inclusive programming for all. Jackie was proud to be selected to attend the Canadian Leadership Institute in 2020 as part of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities.
Justin McGarragh, Supervisor of Skills Development
Justin is our Supervisor of Skills Development for our Business & Recreation Day Program programs and Theatre Club. He has a background in Theatre and a degree in Sociology and Theatre from Dalhousie University and many years experience in supporting persons with complex disabilities to access cultural and social programs. He combines his theatre skills with a love for activity and inclusive fun! Justin began volunteering with Club Inclusion, and has worked everyday since to make Club Inclusion a fun place to be. He is trained in First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Managing Behaviours that Challenge, Abuse Prevention, Personal Care Training and along with Justin Eweka, was a winner of the Bhayana Awards for his commitment to The Club, including creating and producing two professional theatre productions as part of the Stages Festival. Justin brings energy and light to our programs by developing and providing a personalized experience for each of our members. If you are looking for information about our Day Programs or skill development, Justin is your man!
Linnea Sinclair, Supervisor of Youth Initiatives & Opportunities
Linnea is our Supervisor of Youth Initiatives & Opportunities, overseeing and coordinating our Drop In, Volunteers, and our Youth Day Program. She first joined Club Inclusion as a volunteer in 2015 and soon transitioned into working as a part of the Program Team, and is now a Coordinator. She has a strong background in supporting those with complex disabilities, including working as a Personal Care Worker for the past several years- specifically with adults and seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Linnea is also a Head Coach of the Adaptive Abilities cheerleading team, New Edition, an inclusive allstar cheerleading team comprised of athletes with and without disabilities. This team was recently chosen as Team Canada, and will represent the country at the World Championships in April 2023. Linnea is trained in Standard First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Safe Sport, Behaviour as Communication, Personal and Intimate Care, Trauma Informed Care, and Abuse Prevention. Any questions about joining Club Inclusion, Drop In, Volunteering, or the Youth Day Program can be directed to Linnea!
Hasti Ataye, Special Projects Coordinator
Hasti is our Special Projects Coordinator and a senior staff with Club Inclusion. Hasti heads up our fundraisers, merch sales, online Pop Up Shop store, and manages our social media platforms. She first started as a volunteer in 2018 and later transitioned into working as a part of the Program Team at Day Program and Drop In. Hasti is currently completing her bachelor degree in Social Work at Dalhousie University. Hasti is trained in Standard First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Abuse Prevention, Personal and Intimate Care, Supported Decision- Making, and Trauma-Informed Care.
Rafaela Muriel
Rafaela recently completed her master’s degree in Child and Youth Studies with a focus on disability understanding and has a background in Sociology and Psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. After volunteering at the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, she realized she wanted to work towards making our society more inclusive and help empower people with disabilities, which is what led her to Club Inclusion. Rafaela is trained in Mental Health First Aid, Suicide Intervention Skills Training, and in Aboriginal and Cultural Diversity. Rafael is a winner of the Invisible Champions Award through the Bhayana Family Foundation Awards for her incredible support and dedication to Club Inclusion as both a staff and volunteer.
Tamara Peltekian
Tamara began as an inclusive program facilitator with Club Inclusion in September of 2021. She completed her Recreation and Leisure Services program in 2015, where she focused her education and experiences on inclusive recreational therapy programs for individuals with disabilities from youth to older adults. She went on to complete her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2020 from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, where she majored in Sociology and women and gender studies with a psychology minor. During her time in University, she volunteered her time with a performance based dance program called “Feel the beat” that allowed individuals with a disability the chance to learn a dance routine and perform on stage. This fostered her passion for recreational therapy based programs that she hopes to continue through her career at Club Inclusion. Tamara has many years of experience in supporting persons with complex disabilities and a wide range of training including Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Safe Talk, Understanding and Managing Aggressive Behaviours, NVCI and First Aid.
Stephanie Josselyn & Heartsparks Music Therapy
We are lucky to work with Stephanie and the team from Heartsparks Music Therapy in our online, Halifax, and Dartmouth programs. Trained music therapists with specialist skills working with people who have disabilities, Stephanie, Brandon, Rachel, Kaitlyn, and Lilly always brings a smile to the faces of our members and staff.
DJ Ace
DJ Ace has been bringing his awesome DJ skills and passion for marketing to The Club since 2012. Winner of the 2015 Mel Hebb Award for Exceptional Service, he is keen to share skills and support others, leading DJ skills workshops at The Club and inviting other local DJ’s and artists including hip hop artist Classified.
Adam Johnson
Adam is our Choir Director, leading The Club’s Inclusive Choir online and at Grace United Church, Dartmouth. Adam brings with him many years of experience as a pianist, Choir Director and Music Teacher, leading us in a wide repertoire of music and songs every week.
Other valued members of the Club Inclusion team include:
Henry Bryden
Fernanda Montenegro
Annika Sinclair
Josephine De Leebeeck
Hajung Kim
Alexus Millington
Hannah Somerville
Victoria Howells
Jordan Xidos
Rachel Saunders
Ben Burchell
Kieran Price
Cory Meister
Kyle Clarke
Executive Director and Co-Founder: Alice Evans
All our staff have up to date First Aid and Training Specific to The Club Inclusion Programs. We use Open Future Learning training to ensure continuous learning for our whole team.
