Séanin Steele is the Digital Services Librarian for Elgin County Library. She coordinates the eResources for the library as well as connecting all 10 library branches with the wider community. She represents ECL on a number of community groups and is always looking for ways to help community members connect with the services they need. She is passionate about making sure everyone knows all of the great free things the library has to offer. She is committed to helping newcomers make connections within the community whether through STELIP, the library or other community-led organizations.

Dana Vanzanten is Manager, Advocacy and Community Development at St. Thomas Public Library (STPL).  She represents the library at a variety of community networking and planning tables, and is always looking for ways that the library can partner with other agencies to best meet the needs of our community members.  In addition to promoting the value of the library and all that it has to offer, she also coordinates programs and services that bring the library out of its downtown home into the city at large.

Prior to taking on her current role, Dana worked as both a Library Assistant and a Library Services Coordinator at STPL. Before entering the library world, she earned both and B.A. and an M.A. in philosophy.

Eddy Rempel is passionate about creating a welcoming community for all newcomers arriving annually, many of whom support the flourishing agriculture industry and small business sectors in Elgin County. He is especially committed to helping ‘his people’, the Plautdietsch speaking Mennonites, who have been settling in the area since the 1950s.

Mennonite Community Services addresses the needs of its clients through a variety of services provided by programs. Low German Mennonite and other newcomers are assisted through the Newcomer and Settlement Services to navigate the details of documents and processes, including support for immigration and citizenship. MCS connects its clients to public and private school systems, healthcare, and other social services. 

Jodi is the Executive Director of the Elgin St Thomas Youth Employment Counselling Centre. Jodi’s career has included helping all types of people find employment and training opportunities. Jodi is passionate about helping people achieve goals which includes newcomers arriving in Canada. She is a part of several forums that collaborate to build community capacity.

Juliane is the Manager of the YWCA’s Settlement Service program which assists newcomers to Canada make the transition into their new community and to become active members of Canadian society. In this role, she also manages the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada program which assists adult learners to gain confidence using English in everyday life and to prepare for Canadian citizenship.

As a member of the Council, Juliane is committed to STELIP’s efforts to strengthen St. Thomas-Elgin’s capacity to welcome newcomers and to promote their full and meaningful participation in community life. She is particularly interested in breaking down stereotypes and assumptions about newcomers and strengthening the services they need to make independent and well informed decisions.

Jennifer Grigg is the Community Engagement & Business Advisor for the Elgin Business Resource Centre. EBRC helps local businesses reach their full potential, whether they are a new or existing business. EBRC offers business counselling, business planning, business loans, and networking opportunities in St. Thomas and Elgin County. Prior to Jennifer’s advisor role, she was the Digital Main Street Service Squad lead for EBRC. Jennifer has a strong background in sales and marketing and is passionate about working with businesses at EBRC, whether a concept, start-up, or existing business.

Michael Tamasi

Thames Valley District School

Michael is the System Principal with responsibilities for ESL and ELD programming with the Thames Valley District School Board.  As an educational assistant, teacher, and school administrator, he has supported students at all levels of the education system. 

The Thames Valley School Board is committed to ensuring equitable learning environments in all of our schools. We strive to create spaces wherein all students, staff, families and community members feel welcome and accepted.  Together, our focus is on developing an inclusive system culture which is grounded in respect and reflected in our policies and codes of conduct, in addition to our curriculum.

Catalina Friesen

Central Community Health Centre

Catalina is a PSW working at the Central Community Health Centre on the East Elgin Outreach program. She mainly serves the Low German speaking Mennonites on a mobile unit she drives out to Aylmer every Thursday. There is a Nurse Practitioner that works on the mobile unit with her that rosters and extends free health care to any and all folks of the Mennonite culture. They are offered service free of charge with and without a health card. If they are requiring blood work or ultrasounds, CCHC pays for those services for them.

The Central Community Health Centre is a place for community members to access a team of healthcare professionals. The organization strives to empower clients and communities to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

Paul Jenkins is the CEO of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce.  He is the former Executive Director of the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation, Treasurer of the Central Community Health Centre, and active in charitable and community building causes throughout our community.

He currently hosts a show on Rogers TV that highlights small local businesses, and previously hosted “We Are St. Thomas/Elgin,” a program that celebrated new Canadians.

Paul has a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability from the University of Toronto; a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communications & Public Relations from Centennial College; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Canadian Studies & American History from McGill University.

Paul lives with his wife, Sandra, and dog, Joanne, in Port Stanley.

Shelley is the Director of Education and Settlement at the YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin with the responsibility of overseeing Adult Education, Settlement Services, English Language Classes,  the St. Thomas-Elgin Local Immigration Partnership (STELIP), Skills Connect Employment Project. She was the 2013 provincial winner of the Council of the Federation Literacy Award and supports client-centred programming.

She began her career in Northern Ontario working with Aboriginal learners and has worked with individuals living in poverty, women’s groups, newcomers, and multiple barriered learners.

The YWCA has a long and solid history of leadership in community building and Shelley embeds this spirit throughout her programming.

Shelley is the mother of three beautiful daughters and a grandmother. She enjoys watching them discover their gifts, talents, and individual paths.

Samantha is the Corporate Communications Coordinator for the St. Thomas Police Service representing the verbal, visual and digital voice of the Executive Office. Samantha issues thousands of messages every year in print, on social media, TV and radio.  Daily communications consist of media releases and social engagement however, it’s not unusual to see Samantha maintaining close ties to the Community Engagement Unit attending events in the city or at the scene of a major incident to liaise with the media and ensure citizens receive accurate information in a timely manner. In addition to her job, Samantha sits on the Chief of Police – Community Inclusion Council, is the Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Elgin St. Thomas and is in the 1^st year of her 2^nd term as a Director of the Board for the Elgin Business Resource Centre.

Teresa Sulowski is the Supervisor of Children’s Services for the City of St. Thomas-Elgin with the responsibility of planning and managing licensed child care services and early years programming. She represents St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services on the STELIP Council. Teresa has worked in various areas of Early Learning Programs including 20 years at the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario, 9 years with the London District Catholic School Board, and most recently with the City of St. Thomas-Elgin. In addition to working full time, she works part-time teaching in the Early Childhood Education diploma program at Fanshawe and Conestoga Colleges. Teresa holds a B.A. in Adult Education from Brock University, and a M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Athabasca University.

Mr. Zeeshan Ejaz. Syed moved to St. Thomas in February of 2021 and is currently working for Entegrus Powerlines Inc. as Engineering Manager and is also a part of the Media Outreach team of St. Thomas Islamic Centre (STIC). Mr. Syed by profession is a Professional Engineer and holds Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Karachi, Pakistan and a Master of Engineering Degree from University of Western Ontario specializing in Electrical Power Systems. Mr. Syed came to Canada as a student back in 2014 and since then have moved across Southwestern Ontario from East to West. Mr. Syed also actively participates in different initiatives within the community representing the Islamic Centre, ranging from organizing Educational Sessions for the community, to keeping the community engaged with the Islamic Centre. Mr. Syed’s goal under the direction of the management of STIC is to ensure that STIC is not just a place of worship but a valuable contributor and an engaged member of the community.

Carly MacArthur is the Team Lead of Mentorship with WILL Immploy. Carly has an undergraduate degree in International Development and a graduate degree in Global Governance. Throughout her education, Carly focused her major research efforts on topics related to labour rights, corporate social responsibility and ethical business. Additionally, Carly has over five years of experience working in the settlement sector in different capacities to support newcomers to Canada. In her current role, she is able to bring these two fields of interest together as she connects newcomers with mentors in their field – ultimately supporting greater diversity, equity and inclusion, and thus social responsibility among our regional workforce.

Melanie Neerhof

Fanshawe College, St. Thomas/Elgin Regional Campus

Melanie is the Associate Dean of the St Thomas Elgin Regional Campus, Fanshawe College and works to build community connections to unlock potential for students and the communities the College serves.  Fanshawe College St Thomas offers a variety of post-secondary programs, graduate certificates and apprenticeship opportunities.  Fanshawe College’s mission is to provide pathways to success, an exceptional learning experience and a global outlook to meet student and employer needs.