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Melodie Bissell Melodie Bissell is the President of Plan to Protect®, providing the highest STANDARD of abuse prevention and protection to organizations servicing the vulnerable sector globally. The company services 7,500 volunteer-driven organizations in Canada including care homes, sports clubs, churches, community clubs, etc. Melodie has received numerous national and local awards and grants recognizing her as an inspiring and innovative social entrepreneur.Prior to Plan to Protect®, Melodie attributes much of her professional growth to the many years she served in the not-for-profit sector as Executive Director of CEF Ontario, and as Director of Member Care and Editor of Excellence magazine with the National Quality Institute (Excellence Canada). Melodie is an active volunteer in Stouffville, Ontario where she lives with her husband, Scott who is a Pastor. She has three grown children. Melodie sits on the Board of Restore Canada. |
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| Josh Bissell, OCT Chief Operating Officer (COO) jbissell@plantoprotect.com Josh rejoined the Plan to Protect® team in January of 2018, as Chief . He is a graduate of Tyndale University College and Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy as well as a Bachelor of Education degree. Josh lives in the United Kingdom and lives in Leeds with his wife Esther. Josh is an avid reader and board-game enthusiast who uses his creative abilities to write games for his friends. Josh enjoys serving at his Church, leading the University Fellowship and teaching regularly. |
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| Teresa Lo Chief Financial Officer (CFO) tlo@plantoprotect.com Teresa joined Plan to Protect® in October 2016, as Chief Financial Officer. She was born in Hong Kong. After graduating from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, she continued a rigorous self-study program in governance, corporate finance, corporate law, corporate secretarial practice and strategy. She completed the program and became a chartered secretary shortly after moving to Canada in 1988. Teresa has over 20 years experience in managing budgets, financial reporting and financial analysis process for non-profit organizations. She is passionate about women's issues, children's well-being and education. Teresa is married with one daughter. She loves travelling, and has been to many places. In her spare time, Teresa enjoys reading and playing Sudoku. |
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| Charlie Smith-Brake Director of Policy, Consulting and Communications csmithbrake@plantoprotect.com Charlie joined Plan to Protect® in October 2020 upon returning from close to a decade overseas where he worked with Chab Dai Coalition, an anti-trafficking in persons organization in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as Operations Senior Manager. He spent two years in the Solomon Islands as a trailing spouse and stay-at-home dad. He merges his passion for protecting the vulnerable with a clear understanding of the pre-employment screening sector from his earlier work at BackCheck Canada. Charlie studied International Development at Canadian Mennonite University. He has two daughters, who he loves and protects fiercely, and is committed to winning the “best sense of humour” award at Plan to Protect®… even if he has to resort to puns. |
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| Marlene Hawley Director of Member Care and Recruitment mhawley@plantoprotect.com Marlene joined Plan to Protect® in October 2020 as Director of Member Care and Recruitment and is committed to helping people and organizations. She has gained experience in different roles throughout her career with Private and Non-Profit organizations. She knows she is truly blessed to be able to serve alongside committed colleagues at Plan to Protect® that serve and protect the most vulnerable with care and compassion by providing services towards building up people and communities. Outside of the office Marlene loves family life, quiet mornings reading with a warm cup of coffee as well as learning. Marlene attained a degree in Labour Studies and Sociology from York University, yet the greatest education and transformation of her life took place in 2012 which has provided her with eternal hope, peace and purpose. Marlene welcomes the opportunity to learn more about you and your organization and the people in your care. |
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| Taylor Scott-Reimer (Maternity Leave from Nov. 2019 to June 2022) Director of Training tscottreimer@plantoprotect.com Taylor joined Plan to Protect® in August 2019. Prior to coming on board as our Director of Training, Taylor worked in Youth Ministry at a large Anglican parish in Toronto and as Camp Director for day-camp programs around the Greater Toronto Area. Taylor holds an honours Bachelor of Arts, in English from Tyndale University. She is passionate about the safety of vulnerable individuals. Taylor and her husband enjoy cooking new recipes together and spending time with their dog Artemis! |
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| Amber Tompkins Lead Trainer atompkins@plantoprotect.com Amber is joining the Plan to Protect® team in December 2020 as Lead Trainer. She brings over 15 years of experience in the camping industry through her work at Muskoka Woods where she worked leading teams, training staff and ensuring program excellence in her various roles. Before Muskoka Woods, Amber held positions in marketing at World Vision and fundraising at the Muskoka Woods Youth Foundation. Her previous roles, and current participation on the Fluid Gathering Advisory Board, have fueled her passion for the development of young people and the creation of safe environments where they thrive. She is married to her husband, Chris, and has a teenage daughter. As a family they love to travel, spend time outdoors, play games and enjoy time with their dog, Wrigley. |
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| Cedric Wai On-line training support and Registrar cwai@plantoprotect.com Cedric joined the Plan to Protect® team in December 2019. With many years in various church ministries, Cedric is passionate about serving people. He has worked as an Intake Worker and Administator at a Salvation Army Family Services Unit in Toronto and served as Frontline at a Salvation Army Men's Shelter in the downtown core. He studied abroad for Worship Ministries, helped in planting a church in the heart of Toronto and worked as the Worship Arts Coordinator at The Peoples Church. Cedric is married to Nikki and enjoys spending time with his young daughter.
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| Jessica Debanne French Office and Support jdebanne@plantoprotect.com Jessica joined the French office of Plan to Protect® in 2013, and has been a National Trainer since 2017. Born and raised in Montreal, she graduated from McGill University in International Development with minors in Communications Studies and World Religions in 2019. Her studies and practical experience have focused on the prevention of violence and abuse against women and children in the Global South and Canadian context. This led her to internships at an anti-trafficking organization named Dressember in 2018, and at UN Women in 2019. Today she acts as administrator of the French office of Plan to Protect, and helps with communications and training activities. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. |
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| Laura Garg Spanish Translation and Support lgarg@plantoprotect.com Laura is originally from Leon, Gto. Mexico and moved to Canada 10 years ago. Laura has a Bachelors Degree in Communication and Marketing. Laura moved to Stouffville in 2013 with her Husband and her young son, who she will often refer to as her "little prince." She is a devoted mother and is passionate about the protection of children in her community and around the World. She has previously worked with her local school board and in daycares. |
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| Victoria Bissell, OCT PROTECT magazine Editor Tori worked with Plan to Protect® as our Director of Training for 6 years before moving to Kenya, where she works at Rift Valley Academy providing Child Protection Supervision to over 500 students. She graduated from Wilfred Laurier University and Nipissing University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Education. She loves children and has worked with kids as a Day Camp Director, Assistant Children's Pastor and Teacher. Tori loves traveling and has travelled extensively across Canada, USA, Italy, Bolivia and the UK. She is creative and loves photography and scrapbooking. |
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| Sarah Chaudhery Disabilities Coordinator schaudhery@plantoprotect.com Sarah, M.Sc. (O.T.) is a registered occupational therapist with a passion for helping people of all abilities excel in everyday activities. She is committed to helping organizations ensure they never have to turn people with different abilities away because of lack of supportive programming, training or facilities. After spending 6 years competing with the Canadian National Rowing Team at the World Championship and Olympic level, Sarah is particularly interested in enabling people to participate in active pursuits. Sarah’s experience includes development of inclusive camps and programs, as well as providing 1:1 support for kids with different abilities while they participate in these activities. Sarah also uses her athletic ability to serve as a sighted guide for tandem cycling and running. |
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| Kate McCullough Marketing and Communications Associate kmccullough@plantoprotect.com Kate joined Plan to Protect® in late 2018 as a part-time marketing and communications associate. Prior to this, she worked as the recruitment and training manager for Canadian non-profit, Partners for International Development, and has been based in Peru for the last few years. She also works as an editor for a web content company, owns a surf shop, and runs a surf club for girls from low-income neighbourhoods in Trujillo, Peru. Kate holds a B.A. in political science and Latin American studies from the University of Toronto, and a diploma in print and broadcast journalism from Humber College. Kate has a passion for politics, environment, and women's empowerment. When not working, she can be found with reading, running, surfing, or playing stick with the dogs. |
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| Advisory Council | |
| Carol Wiebe Senior Advisor Abuse Prevention Carol has served as a Children's Pastor for more than 20 years. She is currently on staff with Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna, B.C. Carol is passionate about protecting children. She also finds great joy in her husband Steve and their two sons. |
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Jane Cates Jane has worked both an educator and a children's pastor. She is married and has joined her husband Bob in Comedy in Motion, www.comedyinmotion.com. Jane knows the challenge of implementing a safe environment for children, it requires commitment to juggle many tasks at once. She has become quite the pro! |
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Diane Roblin-Lee In her remarkably transparent style, Diane engages hearts, encouraging readers to find life lessons through their own challenges.
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Don Hepburn, MSW Don Hepburn has 37 years experience with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, working in various capacities and positions from child protection worker to supervisor to senior manager, until his retirement in May 2007. As a senior manager, he was the Director of Branches in North York, Toronto and Scarborough. During his career at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, Don always found time to work collaboratively with other community agencies to provide needed services for children and their families. In June 2007 he was the recipient of the Toronto Child Abuse Center’s “Making a Difference Award.” This award is presented each year to a person who is committed to the well being of children and families and who demonstrates on a daily basis his commitment to the elimination of child abuse and neglect. Since his retirement Don and his wife have spent time working with refugees in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya and in August 09 they lead a team from their church to Rwanda to help build a school. Don was also the Camp Coordinator for a church baseball camp in 2009. This is a partnership of the Birchmount Baseball League, the Church at the Centre and Su Sportz. |
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