Team, Board & Network
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Y4Y Québec?
Meet our incredible team of movers and shakers!
The Team
Adrienne Winrow
Executive Director
A graduate of Concordia Political Science, Adrienne Winrow, Director of Y4Y, has been working in community outreach, volunteerism and non-profit organisations for many years. Her involvement in municipal politics led to her acceptance into the Cité Elles conference of 2017, an invaluable experience for young women who wish to know more about the intricacies of the political landscape in Québec, and use that knowledge to become leaders in their communities. A strong believer in continuing education, Adrienne recently attended the Workshops on Social Science Research at Concordia University, where she engaged with both youth and prominent Canadian leaders to discuss how current political realities intertwine with Canadian history, and affect citizens in their daily lives. As a parent, her commitment to ensuring positive outcomes for youth is absolute. As the Director of Y4Y, she is dedicated to the growth and success of the organisation, as it strives to support English-speaking youth across the Province.
Alexandre Pettem
(He/Him)
Director of Policy
Raised by a French-speaking mother and an English-speaking father, Alexandre has been navigating Québec’s two official language communities his entire life. He completed his BA in English at McGill University, then his MA in French at l'Université de Montréal, both in Political Science. As Director of Policy at Y4Y Québec, Alexandre wants to share his passion for civic engagement with the next generation, and make sure their voices are heard by those in positions of power.
Maria Mahdessian
(She/Her)
Director of Communications
Maria is a sucker for visual communication and tends to have an eagle eye for details. She received her MA in Design Research from Bern University of the Arts in Switzerland and her BFA in Design from Concordia University in Montréal. She is interested in using her creativity, design, and communications expertise to give voice to individuals, who feel left out of society, and to raise awareness on topics of disparities in rights, basic needs, and vulnerabilities. Born in Montréal and raised in Beirut with an English-educational background Maria recognises the challenges English-speakers face while living in Québec.
Samantha Restall
(She/Her)
Project Coordinator
Sam completed her B.A. in Honour’s sociology with a concentration in Gender, Diversity & Equity studies, along with a minor in psychology at Bishop’s University. She brings to the team a heightened understanding of social problems with a focus on community building, accessibility, and inclusivity from her experience in the non-profit sector. She is driven to always keep learning, and enjoys exchanging and analysing ideas.
Chloe Guan
(She/Her)
Research Assistant
Chloe is currently studying in the Arts & Sciences program at Marianopolis College and works as a research assistant for Youth for Youth Québec. Through her involvement in various youth councils at both the local and national levels, she has developed a strong passion for interdisciplinary work that extends beyond her studies. She currently serves as President of the Youth Advisory Board of Pointe-Claire, French Language Director for the Vimy Foundation Alumni Council, a Young Bilingual Leader with French for the Future, and a SHAD Program Ambassador. As a trilingual immigrant, she understands the importance of promoting language learning and raising awareness of the experiences of English-speaking youth in predominantly French-speaking environments. Her diverse experiences have fostered a lifelong love of learning, with languages serving as her gateway to connecting with people from around the world.
Milica Krainčanić
(She/Her)
Communications Assistant
Born in Belgrade and raised in Toronto, Milica holds a BFA in Electroacoustic Studies from Concordia University. She has been an active member of Montréal's arts and music communities for several years, most recently organizing concerts and workshops with Concordia's Electroacoustic Studies Students Association (CESSA) and co-facilitating the closing show of the 2026 Art Matters Festival. Milica is passionate about community building, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting open access to knowledge and information. She will be pursuing a Master of Information Studies at McGill University in the fall of 2026.
The Board of Directors
Benjamin-Taylor Sauvé
President
Benjamin is an undergraduate student majoring in History and Geography. Along with his studies in these subjects, he is also active in student governance and organising. Currently, he is the VP of Finance for McGill’s Borderless World Volunteers. He is also a former Dawson Foundation Board Member and former VP of Finance for the Dawson Student Union. In Dawson College, he studied international development, giving him the opportunity to go on a solidarity trip to Cuba. In his spare time, he likes to cook, read, volunteer, and make educational content for YouTube. As someone from a French Quebecois family who has mostly gone to English schools, joining Y4Y is the culmination of formative years and useful experiences.
Michael Lecchino
Vice-President
Michael Lecchino is a quadrilingual student from Montréal, Québec. He currently works for Parks Canada and volunteers as the president of his borough’s youth council. He was recently selected to represent Canadian youth as an Official Delegate and Communications Coordinator at the 2022 G7 Youth Summit (Y7) in Berlin, Germany. Passionate about youth advocacy, Michael is excited to address pressing issues and strategize possible solutions to ensure the future wellbeing of youth across Québec.
Laury-Layne Amanda-Myrtild
Treasurer
My name is Laury-Layne Amanda Myrtild, and I am a multidisciplinary artist, entrepreneur, and community leader. I founded Yntech Conception Agency, where I serve as artistic director, and I am currently VP Communications and External Affairs at MACES as well as Communications and Marketing Administrator at the Jeune Chambre de commerce des femmes du Québec. I am passionate about youth engagement, inclusion, and mental health advocacy.
Osric Parry-Canet
Secretary
Hello! I’m Osric, a 21-year-old born in New Zealand to a French mother and a Kiwi father. I’m currently the Science and Education Manager at the Percé UNESCO Global Geopark and in my final year of a bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Territorial Development at Laval University. Through my work, I am working with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO to build the Canadian Youth Declaration for UNESCO Designated Sites.
Hayley Campbell
Director
Hayley is a graduate of the business administration program at Bishop's University and is a member of the board of directors for Youth for Youth Québec. She has a strong sense of belonging to her community and hopes that with this group, other English-speaking youth will feel more engaged with Québec Society. She is involved with the Pontiac Agricultural Society and Alpha Phi. She was previously the Ambassador of the Shawville Fair. In 2018, Hayley was honored with the QCGN Young Québecers Leading the Way award for her extensive record of community service.
Giovanni Casale
Director
Hello, my name is Giovanni. I have been an active member of Y4Y Québec’s Policy Committee and Youth Advisory Committee, where I’ve had the opportunity to address policy issues directly impacting Québec’s English-speaking community. Currently, I work as a Policy Analyst with the Government of Canada in the Canadian Forest Service, as part of the Policy Analyst Recruitment and Development Program. My work primarily focuses on the annual State of the Forest Report. Outside of work, I enjoy staying active through jogging and CrossFit, and I’m always looking for new opportunities to grow personally and professionally.
Alicia Buffit
Director
Alicia is an Anglophone from the Côte Nord Region. Originally from the Lower North Shore, Alicia has been living in Sept-Îles for 18 years. She is passionate about all things youth mental health, and has been an advocate for the English community since she was a teen. She is currently employed at the North Shore Community Association as the Projects Coordinator for the Youth Mental Health Initiative, and many other projects. She hopes to bring the realities of the isolated eastern Quebecers to the Y4Y and continue to bring awareness of English speakers across her region!
Layla Kosara
Director
I am a second-year Accounting student at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University. I immigrated to Canada in 2019 and have since become actively involved in youth advocacy, leadership, and community engagement across Québec. I recently completed my term as a National Youth Advisory Council member with White Ribbon, where I contributed to initiatives focused on preventing gender-based violence and youth engagement. I have also been involved in Model United Nations, where I served as Vice President for the 2023–2024 academic year. For the upcoming academic year, I was selected to represent Concordia University as part of the Taxation delegation at Jeux du Commerce. I am passionate about creating inclusive spaces where youth feel heard, supported, and empowered to engage in their communities.
Lucas Witvoet
Director
Raised in Pointe-aux-Trembles, where English was spoken at home while French shaped the world outside, Lucas experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating between two cultures. He holds a Bachelor’s in Management and Project Management from HEC Montreal and has organized Québec’s largest student-run entrepreneurship competition, represented youth leadership in Colombia, and earned recognition in national business contests. Through community involvement with Make-A-Wish and Montréal's Youth Chamber of Commerce, Lucas has built experience in governance and collaboration. He is eager to contribute where it counts—both in strategic planning and process efficiency, and as a reliable, engaged voice for Y4Y’s governance and mission.
Paul Ye
Director
Paul is a law student at McGill University and currently works at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. A former federal public servant, he places particular importance on bilingualism and building bridges between Québec's linguistic groups. As vice president of the LaSalle Youth Council, Paul actively contributes to initiatives that encourage civic engagement and facilitate communication between youth and decision-makers in his borough. Through his involvement with Y4Y, Paul seeks to promote mutual understanding and build lasting connections between communities, convinced that dialogue and collaboration are essential to an inclusive and cohesive society.
Member Organizations
Vent Over Tea
Description
Vent Over Tea is a youth-created organization that offers a free and confidential active listening service to all members of the local community ages 14+ to promote mental wellness and connection. Their mission is to let no voice go unheard and foster a community that speaks openly and listens without judgement.
Coasters Association
Description
Coaster’s mission is to empower Quebec’s Lower North Shore communities by leading positive change in partnership with community leaders, organizations, and stakeholders while enhancing the region’s cultural and natural resources. The organization’s goals are to nurture and enhance community vitality and leadership, promote the social development of vulnerable groupings, and encourage the development, diversification and sustainability of the LNS economy. They engage in strategic partnerships to reduce service gaps for the unique geographic, linguistic, and socioeconomic challenges faced by their population.
Scattered Automatic Expression Association
Description
Scattered’s vision is to empower youth and individuals to harness their inner strength and take charge of their mental wellness. Their mission is to create a mental wellness community through psychoeducation, artistic platforming events and wellness workshops across Canada, acting as preventative measures to combat rapidly declining mental health.
Monteregie East Partnership for the English-Speaking Community
Description
The Montérégie East Partnership for the English-Speaking Community (MEPEC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the interests of the ESC in the Montérégie-Est region. MEPEC works collaboratively with public, community and private organizations as well as citizens in relation to the needs of the English-speaking population.
Funders
We would like to thank our funders for their generous contributions to Y4Y Québec.
Without them, our work would not be possible.
In partnership with
Y4Y is a member of
