IN MEMORIUM

Alex Barangraduated from Western University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, where he played on the varsity wrestling and football teams. Alex worked for Union Carbide at their Eveready Battery plant in Toronto for 9 years then transferred to the Walkerton Energizer plant  where he held a number of different management positions until retiring in 2011.

Alex is open- minded and has strong problem solving and decision making skills. He loves sports and played flag football, golf and curling for many years while coaching a summer swim team. He was on the building committees for both the indoor pool and the new hockey rink in Hanover. and currently sits on the Brockton Environmental Committee and the Economic Development Committee.

Program CoOrdinator

We are here to serve you.​
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secretary

VICE CHAIR

Board members are volunteer, who reside in our service community and who share the vision and goals of our programs. Our staff are paid employees who administer the office tasks and monitor the programs and activities of our clients and volunteers. 

Executive Director

board member

Trudy Baran  ​​is a career volunteer; starting from when she was a stay at home mom she became involved in several organizations. Currently, she is involved with CFUW Saugeen, Saugeen Toastmasters, and BGM. Her work career has included writing for the Hanover Post and owning Balloons Plus in Hanover where she became known as "the Balloon Lady". Trudy has been most passionate for children with special needs. For 25 years she has been advocating for children and their unique needs. She volunteered with BBBS as a in-school-mentor and saw first hand the importance of mentoring in a child’s life. Trudy served on the Special Education Advisory Committee for the Bluewater District School Board for 11 years (6 as Chair) representing Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario. She believes that all children deserve to be treated with respect and to be given a chance to thrive.

Our staff and Board 

Shane Herman is our Programming Coordinator. He comes to us with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Waterloo where he studied Recreation and Sport Business with a minor in Event Management. During his time there he played on the Varsity football team and learned how fierce Canadian geese can really be as the campus is overrun by them. He was raised locally in Hanover and loves Sports. It doesn't matter if it's a ball, racquet, paddle, etc., if it gets you moving and is competitive, he'll likely enjoy it. He has coached several youth sports including football, basketball, volleyball, track and field and Karate. Additionally, he's also a big animal lover who loves to watch movies and can always get behind a nice beach or cottage trip.

Kaylee Pletsch has a diploma in Office Administration-Executive, from Sheridan College,  as well as certificates in Managing Customer Service and Empowering Students With Disabilities in partnership with Conestoga College. Kaylee served as the first self-advocate on the Board of Directors for Community Living Hanover for five years.  Kaylee was born with Spina Bifida and seeks to mentor children with disabilities.  As a co-founder of Resolution Advocates she supports and promotes the rights of persons with disabilities.  She also volunteers with the Hanover Community Players and the Hanover Public Library.  She enjoys playing piano and singing and has been a member of Grey Bruce Singers since 2014. 

board member

On Saturday October 10, 2020, Melanie Craig passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.

Melanie was the owner of Craig McDonald Reddon Insurance Brokers Ltd. in Hanover. As a former teacher and in-school Mentor with the former BBBS program, Melanie, understood the need for good positive mentors in our community. She served on our Board from 2016 to 2020 to help ensure children in need received the support we provide. Her service to the community and to our program was greatly appreciated. She will be missed. 

Greg Dow is our Consulting Director​. Greg worked in the camping industry for 24 years, with a focus on adventure programming and served 13 years as the Director for a local Agency-based camp. Greg has a degree in Youth work and Counselling and has completed a 10-month outdoor leadership program. He has a passion for working with kids and youth; impacting them positively and helping them to develop their self esteem. Greg Serves on the board of the local YFC youth Drop in Centre and on the RISE Committee supporting a Syrian refugee family. He is both an artist and musician as well as an avid outdoor enthusiast . He loves to bike, hike, canoe and camp. He is married and has 2 children. 

William (Bill) Revington: retired in 2019 from the position of General Manager – Farm Operations at New-Life Mills, where he had worked for 29 years. There, he looked after a number of farm production sites and oversaw about 55 employees. Bill became involved in refugee resettlement in 2015 as part of the Refugee Integration and Support Effort (RISE, in Hanover, ON) and has worked with a Syrian family since their arrival in early 2016 until the present. He is currently involved with HARC (Hanover Area Refugee Committee). HARC has just welcomed a second Syrian family to the Hanover area. Bill also serves on the Skills Committee of the Private Refugee Sponsor Network (Ontario) and has served on the Board of Directors of Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis. Bill and his partner Gwen have three adult children and one grandchild. They live in Walkerton, Ontario, in scenic Bruce County.

Kayla Beren is a current student at Queen’s University, working towards completing a degree in Health Studies and Disability and Physical Activity. Kayla is originally from Durham, and attended school in Hanover. Kayla is open-minded, passionate about promoting equity, and an avid volunteer. Currently, Kayla volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Society, Durham Fitness Centre, St. John Ambulance (as a Medical First Responder), and Grey County Secondary Academic Mentorship (where Kayla is the director/founder). Kayla loves the outdoors, reading and any sort of physical activity! If she is in Grey County, you can find her kayaking down the Saugeen.

board member

treasurer

Mallory Hutcheson Mallory Hutcheson works at South East Grey Support Services as a Team Coordinator. Mallory has been working in Developmental Services for approximately 15 years. Mallory received an Arts degree at Wilfred Laurier University with Post-grad studies in Social Work. Mallory also worked at the YMCA Kitchener Waterloo in a variety of Youth Coordinator roles during her years at Wilfred Laurier. Since working at South East Grey Support Services she has extended her education to many certificates regarding Applied Behaviour Therapy and Behaviour modification. Mallory has also been the Hanover Walk Coordinator for Alzheimers Society Grey Bruce for 10 years. Mallory lives in Durham with her husband John and her children Alexander and Ainsley. Mallory is most passionate about nurturing positive role models. Mallory enjoys camping and spending time in her gardens. 

  Mission:To match children and youth, who will benefit, with mentors who will help them build confidence and self-esteem.

board chair

Jenna Elvidge works at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) of Grey Bruce as a Concurrent Disorders Counsellor. She has been working in the field of Mental Health and Addictions since 2009. She earned her psychology degree from Wilfred Laurier University, followed by a Post-Graduate Certificate in Addictions Treatment and Prevention at Georgian College. She finished her Masters Degree in Social Work at The University of Windsor. Jenna grew up in Hanover and currently resides locally with her partner, Josh. She is passionate about supporting her community. In her spare time, she volunteers at the Durham Fitness Centre, enjoys traveling, gardening, hiking, kayaking and walking her wiener dog, Jeffrey.