Meet The Team
Executive Director
Joanne Hopper
Start Date: 2016
Joanne oversees the day to day operations of the centre, under the guidance of the Board of Directors. She provides support and guidance to employees and maintains community relations.
Office Assistant/Laundry Supervisor
Melissa MacAusland
Start Date: 2016
Melissa oversees the operations of the laundry service social enterprise. She provides guidance and support to participants in the department with daily tasks and instructs them to learn life skills of completing laundry, ironing, cash and debit processing, as well as offering social and life skill sessions during down time.
Melissa also plans and organizes our annual Disability Pride events.
In 2022 Melissa became our Office Assistant 2 days a week.
Life Enhancement Supervisor
Valerie Trumble
Start Date: 1996
Valerie oversees the programming for the Life Enhancement program. She works closely with her participants to provide meaningful activities to improve social, life, and communication skills. Valerie also oversees the Bottle Drive fundraiser and maintains the beautiful flower beds in front of the building.
Bargains at the Bridge Supervisor
Cathy Smith
Start Date: 2011
Cathy oversees the operations of the thrift store social enterprise. She provides support and instruction to the participants within the department with stocking merchandise, customer relations, cash and debit processing, and creating displays.
Contract Supervisor
Tiffany Beckstead
Start Date: 2018
Tiffany oversees the programming and completion of contracts within the department. She provides instruction to clients as to the skills required for each contract and provides the structure necessary to complete the tasks. She also oversees donations and donation processing for the thrift store and online auction.
Job Coach
Erika MacGlashen
Start Date: 2016
Erika organizes and supervises on-the-job placements within the surrounding community. She ensures transportation is available, attends placements with clients when necessary and provides guidance in tasks required for their time on the job. She builds relations within local businesses to open up new avenues and build a more inclusive community.
Support Worker
Sonya Fury
Start Date: 2014
Sonya provides one-on-one support to a client in the Life Enhancement program through DCS funding. She provides meaningful programming that fosters positive social and communication skills.
Sonya also organizes our Online Auction that takes place twice a week on the dedicated Bridge Auction Facebook page.
Support Worker
Crystal White
Start Date: 2023
Crystal works as a support worker in the Contract Department assisting with the day to day operations.
Support Worker
Cathy St. Peter
Start Date: 1997
Cathy supports the laundry supervisor in operating the laundry department and providing support to the participants within. Cathy also organizes and instructs the cooking program for participants and is the Health and Safety Officer.
Support Worker
Dana Richard
Start Date: 2015
Dana provides one-on-one support to a part-time participant through DCS funding. Dana also provides support as needed throughout the building.
Support Worker
Norma Jean Watts
Start Date: 2018
Norma provides one-on-one support to a participant through DCS funding. She provides support throughout the building where necessary and organizes donations for the online auction. Norma provides art therapy instruction to clients as well.
Support Worker
Nancy Cunningham
Start Date: 2023
Nancy provides one-on-one support to a part-time participant through DCS funding. Nancy also provides support as needed throughout the building.
Support Worker
Samantha Heffernan
Start Date: 2023
Samantha is trained in every department as a relief staff.