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.
Valérie Sagine Toussaint
(She/Her)
Operations Manager
She holds a bachelor's degree in law, political science, and immigration from UQAM and has just completed a master's degree in political science with a concentration in feminist studies. Since 2021, she has been working in the community sector, where she has held various positions, including community worker, program coordinator, communications officer, and project manager. She also sits on the Conseil des Montréalaises and has contributed to the academic community as a teaching assistant, teaching assistant, and student representative. As a yoga teacher, she is committed to making this practice accessible to marginalized communities.
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.
Stefan Gherman
(He/Him)
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Stefan completed his BA in Political Science at Concordia University, after which he worked as Project Coordinator and Community Organizer at Saint-Henri’s neighborhood roundtable. He later chose to pursue a Master’s degree in Political Science at UQAM, while volunteering as a French instructor and conversation workshop mentor for two community organizations, facilitating the integration of newcomers into Québec society and improving their French fluency. Passionate about social justice, political economy, pedagogy and community-driven initiatives, Stefan integrated the Y4Y team in the Spring of 2026, working as Volunteer Engagement Coordinator for the summer.
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.
Claire Dooley
(She/Her)
Website Communications Asssistant
A Vancouver to Montréal transplant, Claire graduated from Concordia University with a BA in English and Creative Writing in 2025. She has been an active participant in Montréal’s literary scene since she first arrived in the city, and she has a deep passion for uplifting marginalized voices in the arts. Claire cares most about finding a middle ground between differing ideas – open pathways of communication are her guilty pleasure.
Decio Cusmano
(He/Him)
Grants Development and Management Assistant
A born-and-bred Montrealer, Decio graduated from McGill University with an Honours BA in Anthropology and Philosophy. He has been involved in the city’s literary scene from an early age, working in publishing and as an editor for literary anthologies, academic publications, and cultural magazines. The grandchild of immigrants, Decio believes in uplifting all the voices in Québec society.
Sophie Semeniuk
(She/Her)
Documentarian
From the prairies, Sophie enjoys being inspired by the new sights, sounds, and people among whom she lives in Montréal. She has a BA Honours and MA in Art History from McGill University with a thesis funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Sophie has a particular interest in the way art acts as a current in social movements, both today and yesterday.
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.
Camélia Bakouri
(She/Her)
Research Assistant
Born to Algerian parents and raised in Montréal, Camélia developed a distinct experience of diaspora. Currently a political science student at McGill University and aspiring researcher, her work explores themes of migration, language, memory and identity, with a deep interest in how people carry and reconstruct their sense of home. She is passionate about observing, writing, and documenting stories in all their unique forms.
The Board of Directors
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.
Hayley Campbell
Secretary
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.
Caleb Owusu-Acheaw
Treasurer
Caleb is currently a graduate student at the University of Ottawa in Public Administration. A born and raised Montréaler, he holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in Political Science and Economics. His community and political involvement started at Vanier College as the treasurer of the CEGEP student association, held a few executive positions at undergraduate associations then with the Commission-Jeunesse du Parti libéral du Québec as a regional president. Although brief, Caleb has worked for various parts of the civil service such as Canada Border Services Agency and the Library of Parliament. He remains active with his ethnic Ghanaian Presbyterian church in Montréal as an administrative assistant. His interests include reading, writing, playing soccer and basketball, sustainable development, constitutional law and has recently taken up jogging. Caleb is proficient in English and French and comfortable in the Twi language. His desire to get involved with Y4Y comes with wanting to make young Anglophone Québecers feel welcome at home in the province while encouraging bilingualism in their lives.
Benjamin-Taylor Sauvé
Director
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.
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!
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.
Laury-Layne Amanda-Myrtild
Director
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.
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.
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.
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.
Osric Parry-Canet
Director
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.
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.
Funders
We would like to thank our funders for their generous contributions to Y4Y Québec.
Without them, our work would not be possible.
