Our People

Rae (she/her) is a white, queer settler of Irish and Scottish descent, living on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabeg territory. As a nature-based therapist, she works alongside children, youth, and adults to co-create spaces of healing that honour all the parts of who we are — our stories, identities, and connections to the land and one another.

Grounded in justice and liberation, Rae is committed to collective healing and amplifying the voices of those most impacted by systems of oppression. She believes in the power of community, queerness as creativity and resistance, and the wisdom of the land as a teacher and co-therapist.

When not working, Rae can often be found wandering forest trails, in the garden, or sharing slow meals with loved ones.

Paul Parker (He/They) is a Partner in an international service design firm and focuses on building solutions for people living with complex care needs or rare disease conditions. Past experience in the not-for-profit sector included lead fundraiser for a Greater Toronto Area youth advocacy charity and President and Chair of a daycare in the city of Toronto. Identifying as gender queer and bisexual, 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy is close to Paul’s heart and he hopes his lived experience and knowledge can help make a better world for Ten Oaks youth and families. He loves the outdoors, is a dedicated cyclist and is proud to be a part of the Ten Oaks board and community.

Alice (she/her) is a proud Black francophone lesbian (and so much more!), a Ten Oaks parent, and the daughter of longtime after-school programs and camp director—finding original ways to make life more fun has always been part of her DNA. She brings lived experience as a queer parent raising children with diverse identities and complex needs, alongside a deep commitment to intersectional justice.

With a background in project management, adult education, and community advocacy, Alice specializes in the intersections of race, gender, disability, and family. She has worked extensively on issues of equity, access, and systems change, especially for marginalized communities. Whether she’s strategizing for change, organizing families, or cheering from the sidelines at community events and activities, Alice brings heart, purpose, and lived wisdom to everything she does.

In her spare time, she loves playing with her kids, movie nights, writing, cooking and playing her favourite video games, including Zelda and Mario Party!

Courtney (she/her) grew up in Carp, Ontario on a hobby farm, where she developed a lifelong appreciation for nature, curiosity, and community. She is a Director of Restorative Services at a foster care agency, where she advocates for children and youth with complex needs through trauma-informed, relationship-centred, and anti-oppressive practices.

Courtney was drawn to the Ten Oaks Project because she believes deeply in its mission of creating spaces where 2SLGBTQ+ children, youth, and families feel safe, celebrated, and connected. Growing up, she wishes a community like Ten Oaks had existed: a place where she could have explored who she was, found belonging, and known she was accepted exactly as she was.

Today, she is passionate about helping create communities where every young person feels seen, valued, and free to be their authentic self.

Outside of work, Courtney loves travelling, experimenting with new recipes, spending time with her partner and their cat, Taquito, and embracing her favourite pastime: happily spending hours flipping over rocks and logs in search of frogs, salamanders, snakes, and other tiny critters while her endlessly patient partner cheers her on.

Nicole (she/her) is a fundraising professional passionate about 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy, youth accessibility, and local arts and culture. Identifying as bisexual, Nicole recognizes the importance of having organizations like Ten Oaks do the work they do for youth and their families.

In her spare time, you can find Nicole with a film camera in one hand and most likely a sweet treat from a local business in the other! She also enjoys reading, cooking, video games and exploring thrift stores and flea markets with her friends.

A proud lesbian, Kaitlin lives with her wife, son, and loveable goof of a poodle. Originally from the GTA, Kaitlin moved to Ottawa in 2016 after living in London, England, for three years and travelling through 30+ countries as a freelance journalist for 18 months. That journey involved writing articles and producing short videos on social justice issues including 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, women’s rights, refugee issues, and environmental causes.

Professionally, Kaitlin is the Director of Communications and Advocacy at Women’s Shelters Canada, a national non-profit that supports over 600 domestic violence shelters across the country. She was previously on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity and Fertility Matters Canada. She volunteers with the Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network in Ontario, providing peer support on infertility and pregnancy loss as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Kaleb (he/him) is a transgender man born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. He began his transition journey in 2021 and later discovered Ten Oaks and all the amazing things they do. His own experiences inspired him to become involved so that 2SLGBTQIA+ youth today have the support that every young person deserves.

Kaleb spent several summers working as a day camp counsellor, a role that sparked his passion for helping young people build confidence, connection, and community. Today, he works at Canadian Blood Services, where he supports governance and strategic initiatives that help advance the organization’s mission.

Outside the office, Kaleb can usually be found hanging out with his many pets, including cats, dogs, lizards, frogs, and even some fish!

Phil has worked professionally in the field of stakeholder engagement and public outreach across various sectors since 2005. Her experience includes working with Indigenous, NGO, municipal, provincial, federal, and international partners on air quality, climate change and energy issues. She has been working in her current position with the federal government, as Senior Program Advisor on environmental health outreach and engagement, since 2011.

As a volunteer, she enjoys working with refugees and newcomers as it provides so many opportunities to learn and broaden her perspective on the human experience of our planet. Joining TOP Board is an exciting and complimentary opportunity she’s keen to take on.

She is a queer parent of two kids who attend Camp Ten Oaks, and has been raising funds for Ten Oaks since her kids were babes. In her spare time (what spare time) she enjoys swimming in lakes, hiking in forests, and cross-country skiing.

Steve (he/him) is a Ten Oaks parent. He brings over 20 years of involvement in Ottawa youth sporting organizations, including multiple board roles. When he’s not volunteering you often find Steve cycling, canoeing, or skiing on the endless trails and waterways around Ottawa.