Meet our Team!
Our Steering Team meets regularly with local board officials, politicians, trustees, child and youth mental health resources, and professional anti-bullying resources to educate ourselves and influence positive change. We host family support events, provide advocacy for families in crisis, and bring together resources for help.
You are invited to join your voice with our Voices Against Bullying to bring positive change
You are invited to join your voice with our Voices Against Bullying to bring positive change
Julie Schaafsma
Julie Schaafsma is the inspiring founder of Voices Against Bullying. Without Julie, none of the rest of us would be here. She is a parent with one child in an Hamilton Wentworth District School-board school. She has a strong commitment to leading positive, constructive change in the school system, as well as being a positive support to other parents whose families are experiencing bullying. She has a passion for empowering the voices of the students, parents and the community that supports them. She has studied grief support, jurisprudence, and ethics courses.
Rev. Ryk Brown
Rev. Ryk Brown is a United Church minister who has worked as a leadership coach and is trained in suicide intervention. He is a single parent with two teenage sons in an Hamilton Wentworth District School-board school. His family roots go back 180 years in Hamilton. He has 25 years experience in community service organizing and leadership. Ryk was severely bullied as a child and uses that experience to motivate interest in bringing positive change for students today.
Kathleen Hilchey
Bringing along with her two decades of work within schools and recreation, Kathleen is an Anti-Bullying & Harassment Specialist. She works with individuals, families, workplaces and schools. She teaches her program, “The Third Way” for anyone wanting to learn an effective way to find resolution in bullying, conflict and harassment. Kathleen’s business is based out of Dundas, Ontario but help is available globally as she is able to work remotely.
Holly McAllister, RN
Holly is a Registered Nurse with a Social Work background. She has worked throughout her 45+ year career with a passion for people & Mental Health. She has experience working with persons from elementary school age to seniors over 100 years. She has been privileged to work with Mental Health Crisis & Counseling within the Wellington, Grey, Bruce and Perth counties, in schools with children from Kindergarten to Senior High School, and at Homewood Sanitarium with Addictions and Intensive Care. She is currently working in Senior Care with a focus on those with Dementia Challenges. Holly is a proud mother and Gramma!
Amy maclachlan
Amy MacLachlan is a freelance storyteller and content writer. She holds a bachelor of journalism and has been in communications for more than 15 years. Whether it’s writing feature articles, pulling together PR materials or crafting the perfect Instagram post, Amy has always felt led to work on projects that are meaningful and make a difference. She has volunteered at 541 Eatery in Hamilton, and an organization in Toronto that supports people in the sex trade. As a mother of two girls, she also cares deeply about what’s happening in our schools. In her downtime, you can find her tackling one of Hamilton’s outdoor staircases, drinking coffee, watching Schitt’s Creek, or, her pandemic project, learning beginner piano.
Tracey Stewart
Spending many years filled with experience in dealing with bullying, Tracey has always been involved in her children’s schools within the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board advocating for change. She has studied child psychology, is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and has worked extensively with behavioural children.
Julie Gushul
Working for many years within a union powered career, Julie understands the inner workings of how policies and procedures are created and enforced. She is passionate about making changes within our schools and communities. Julie represents the Halton Voice for the Voices Against Bullying as she is a parent with children within the Halton District School Board.
Emerson Edwards
Life experience has brought Emerson amazing strength to become a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advocate. He is currently in Post-Grad at Waterdown District Highschool and has been working hard to make a difference within the high school with hopes to expand his ideas to help other schools. Emerson is the winner of the 2020 Spirit of Hope Award in the Youth Category. Emerson has been sharing his story to give a voice to those who may need one and to help strengthen those on the journey to healing.