I hold a MSW from Carleton U. I completed my undergraduate/honors BSW and Sociology at McMaster U.I have my ECE Diploma from Algonquin College and my Nursing Assistants Diploma from the Ottawa Civic Hospital School of Nursing. The Women's Ministries Institute in Guelph Certified me as a "Specialist in Women's Ministries". I am a life long learner. Keeping up to date with recent/effective interventions to assist clients to function to the best of their ability is vital for me in my professional practice. I worked at the Queensway Carleton Hospital for 19 years. I have worked in the ED, the ICU, Psychiatry, Medicine & Surgery. My last position was a community position with the Geriatric Assessment Outreach Team. I retired from QCH in Nov. 2017 to pursue other opportunities. I facilitate a 10 week course with the Ottawa Pastoral Care Training Program. I am also a Professor and On-Line Facilitator with Algonquin College for the past 15 years. I worked with the Ottawa CAS for 12 years as a Front Line Protection Worker. During my twelve years at C.A.S. I gained experience working with children from the pre-natal stages right through to adolescents. One can not "do" child protection without involving the whole family. Thus, I have worked with individuals and families, across the life span, from the pre-natal stage -to end-of-life. I have a myriad of professional experience in addictions, mental health, family violence, child/spousal violence, health care, criminal and family law...I have worked with people from many cultures, ethnicities and religions. I have learned that people are people; we all have a story to share. We like to be heard, respected, cared for and to belong. We need connections to family and community. More and more we live in a global community. What effects someone in one part of the world, is often relevant in another part. I endeavor to live my life being as human and as humane as I can be. I am grateful and cherish each day.