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Moorelands Staff

Patricia Jacobs – Executive Director

A visionary leader skilled at renewing organizations, Patricia Jacobs joined the Moorelands team in 1999. She brought with her more than 25 years of experience in planning and delivering social and community services in the Greater Toronto Area. In an earlier role as the Program Director of the Social Planning Council of Peel, Patricia brought a new understanding of the social issues affecting the quality of life within Peel Region. Her ground-breaking reports on Youth Unemployment, Homelessness, The Feminization of Poverty and others, lead to her success in planning, establishing, and leading the Region’s first Youth Shelter, Our Place (Peel), as its first Executive Director. She is a passionate advocate of providing the best possible environment for children and youth in order to help them reach their full potential. Patricia is a Registered Social Worker and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Robert Pierre Tomas, CFRE - Director of Development

Robert arrived at Moorelands with 15 years of experience in the fundraising profession, and having worked at charities that ranged from social service organizations, to the arts (Artword Theatre), to health (Canadian Diabetes Association), to education (York and Ryerson Universities) and broadcasting. It was as a broadcaster, at CJRT-FM (now Jazz-FM), that he first tasted the joys and heartbreaks of connecting donors with worthy causes. The sense of purpose proved to be irresistible. Born and educated in Europe, Robert is by now as Canadian as maple syrup and his law degree and broadcasting career are but distant memories. His personal motivation for joining the Moorelands team is the wish to help kids reach their full potential. Robert is an active member and a volunteer with Association of Fundraising Professionals and Canadian Association of Gift Planners. Since 2003 he has held the international designation of Certified Fundraising Executive.

Lynda Tilley – Camp Director

Lynda Tilley brought over 16 years of experience working with children and youth at risk to her position of Camp Director of Moorelands Camp when she joined Moorelands in 2000. Prior to joining the Moorelands team, Lynda was the Residential Centre Manager of Our Place I, a long-term residence for disadvantaged and homeless youth in Peel Region. Lynda sees camp as a place to provide opportunities for children to develop positive relationships with adults and peers and to learn core values of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Lynda is a graduate of the American Camping Association’s Camp Director Course.

Katie Wright– - City Programs Manager

Prior to joining Moorelands in 2007, Katie Wright spent 6 years developing and implementing programs for children and youth. She coordinated summer camps, an after-school program and community center events for the City of Toronto and a summer camp at COSTI Immigrant Services. She spent six months teaching at an elementary school in Ghana and in 2006 worked for Right to Play in Northern Uganda evaluating, designing and implementing health, recreational and youth leadership programs in partnership with UNHCR at a Refugee Settlement. From her diverse experiences, Katie developed a strong belief that quality recreational programming plays an essential role in the healthy development of children and youth and creates stronger and safer communities. She remains excited that she joined an organization that shares that belief.

Michael Kim – City Programs Assistant Manager

Michael Kim first became involved with Moorelands Community Services in July 2005 when he was hired as a Section Head for Moorelands Wilderness Camp. He spent two challenging and rewarding summers at Camp before joining the City Programs team as Assistant Manager in 2006.

Michael has a Bachelors degree in Social Work from Ryerson University. While at Ryerson, he honed his skills doing placements with the Toronto Catholic School Board with limited expelled and at-risk youth. Michael is passionate about working alongside children and youth to provide a stable and consistent environment in which they feel a sense of safety, security, and community. In his spare time, Michael likes to go to the local community centre and play basketball or hockey with his childhood friends.

Nellie Austin – Controller

Nellie Austin joined Moorelands in 1991 and brought invaluable skills acquired through an accomplished business career in corporate accounting and operations management in the financial services industry to the organization. In her various positions prior to joining Moorelands, Nellie was responsible for the design, development and operation of accounting and administrative functions such as budgets, computer systems, payroll, personnel and general office administration. Nellie loves working in a not-for-profit environment and sums up her commitment to donors like this: “We owe it to the people who donate to us to operate in absolutely the most efficient and cost effective way we can”.

Cheryle Pollock – Administrative Coordinator

Cheryle Pollock first became involved with Moorelands Community Services through Moorelands Camp. Since joining Moorelands in 1979, she has been a Cabin Leader, Camp Nurse, First Aid Instructor, and Camp Registrar. Her current position Administrative Coordinator means that Cheryle wears a number of hats including that of Baby Bundles Coordinator. Her commitment to young people has also led her to volunteer with Girl Guides of Canada and Scouts Canada. As Moorelands Camp Nurse for many years, Cheryle was instrumental in developing our health centre manual and physician guidelines. She trained at the Edith Cavell Regional School of Nursing and is a Registered Nurse.

Tanya Hayles – Development Associate

Tanya Hayles, a graduate from the University of Ottawa comes to Moorelands with a variety of volunteer and work experiences. From Kids Help Phone, Big Brothers Big Sisters of York, to The Ottawa Food Bank and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – she has an passion for special events and fundraising in the non-profit sector.

When not spending time at Youth basketball tournaments or Fundraising galas – you’ll catch Tanya cheering on the Toronto Raptors (or whoever is playing!) during basketball season, and checking the final scores in the sports section during football season!