Therapeutic Supports
Cheryl Maguire
Cheryl is a Certified Canadian Counsellor and Professional Art Therapist from Whitehorse, Yukon. She was born and raised in the Yukon and is a proud member of Tr'ondëk Hwëch’in. Her spirit name is Nanh Vigii, which means Her child of the land. She has a Master of Counselling Psychology – Art Therapy from Adler University, and an undergraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Regina. Cheryl has experience working with children, youth, adults, older adults, and families dealing with various social issues and life transitions. She takes a trauma-informed, person-centered, positive psychotherapy and holistic approach to help people reach their goals. Cheryl offers art therapy and counselling focusing on the creative process and expressions of thoughts, feelings, and belief systems. This journey can lead to problem-solving, insight, self-awareness, improved self-esteem, lower stress, and enhanced interpersonal skills, improving well-being emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually
Gordon Tentrees
Gordie is a world renown musician. He has worked for over 20 years with children, specifically ones with disabilities in the Yukon education system, as a teacher and support worker; he is currently working with families and children, in a farm program which focuses on support families with addictions and trauma. His approach to therapy centers around providing a grounding experience through music connection and creation. Gordie has an innate ability to connect with children with neurodiversities because of his own challenges in the “system” growing up. Personal experience allows Gordie to see these students from a differed perspective and music is the medium to which he communicates with them.
Megan Hajash
Meghan Hajash is a member of the Teslin Tlingit Council, and a born and raised Yukoner. She grew up in the small community of Dawson City. Seeing first-hand the effects of residential school, Meghan dreamed of being a helper one day when she moved away to complete her schooling. She went on to follow through on her dream of helping people by becoming a certified expressive art therapist with a Masters of Social Work emphasizing Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency. Meghan has been working in this capacity for over ten years, as a therapist and for the past eight years as a family therapist, specialising in child play therapy.
Robyn Collins, M. Sc., RCC
Robin is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and the owner and practicing clinician of Collins Wellness Services Inc. She holds high standards of moral and ethical practice when working with clients and animals. Robin’s focus has been primarily working with clients through Equine assisted therapy and would bring a great deal of expertise and experience to this a therapeutic farm school program in the north. Robin possesses a Master’s of Science in Counselling with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health and Concentration in Equine Assisted Mental Health; also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from TRU with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. Robin is passionate about the connection between animals and individuals and uses this connection to create a therapeutic opportunity for her clients to learn regulation strategies, grounding and working through emotional trauma or resilience.
Tina Jules, MEd, B.Ed, PhD Candidate
Tina is a born and raised Yukoner and a member of the Teslin Tlingit Council. Tina has over 30 years of experience working in the felid of education as a teacher, principal, curriculum designer, as well as a First Nations Language and Culture developer. In addition to her formal education, she has taken many other trainings centered around the acquisition and transmission of First Nations language & culture programs. Her previous roles include Director of First Nations Programs & Partnerships at the Department of Education, school principal and teacher in many Yukon Schools. She wrote the YFN languages fluency assessment in 2003-4, as well as the YNLC Strategic plan. She also wrote the JEAP in 2014, and was the YNTEP Coordinator at Yukon College from 2015-2017. Tina is passionate about language and culture revitalization and works to promote this in all areas of her life, including with her children, grandchildren and community. She brings an extensive knowledge and expertise on how to ensure education programs integrate First Nations language and culture throughout the programming. She will play a vital role, as a consultant for the team, to ensure that our First Nations language, culture and values are represented and incorporated into the ways of teaching and learning during the therapeutic farm program.
Evie Allen & Boreal Team
Evie is a registered Speech-Language Pathologist with nearly two decades of experience. She has a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Studies. Evie is a private practitioner with nearly two decades of experience working with adults and children in educational and health-care settings as well as private practice. She is personable, ethical, honest, and dedicated to providing evidence-based and individualized assessments and therapeutic interventions. Evie is the owner of Boreal Clinic in Whitehorse offering speech and language, audiology, literacy and Floor time services. Evie and her team travel throughout the Yukon to provide services to children and adults. Evie is passionate about helping children with complex needs to reach their potentials. Boreal Speech Clinic is available to provide speech and language therapy to children at the proposed farm school as well as to provide training for staff in how to support children with complex communication and learning needs.
Joy Val & Team
oy was born and raised in rural Saskatchewan on a mixed farm. She spent most of her childhood and youth on horseback and is familiar with most farm routines and practices. She is comfortable with any type of livestock. She left Saskatchewan to pursue an education in Alberta and graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.A. Special in Psychology and then a Bachelor of Science with specialization in Occupational Therapy in 1990. Joy is a strong advocate for the importance of providing culturally safe care and is dedicated to the practice empowering communities and people in their health journeys. She seeks to ground herself in relationships and her specialty lies in treating children holistically, with an emphasis on assisting children in self-regulation, executive function, sensory processing and motor skills to manage their daily occupational performance demands regardless of the underlying reason. Certifications related to Occupational Therapy include: C.A.O.T. Certification, July 1990; NBOTC Certification, March 1993; ACOT Certification.
Organizational Team Partners
First Nations School Board (FNSB) - Melissa Flynn - Executive Director
The FNSB was established in February 2022, through a series of school-attendance area referenda, enabling Yukon First Nations to assume shared authority with Government of Yukon in the delivery of public-school education in the territory. Board-run schools continue to follow the BC Curriculum, but tailor the programming, lesson delivery and assessment methodology to reflect Yukon First Nations worldviews. These schools are for all Yukon students and promote reconciliation by enhancing a Yukon First Nations model that puts the student first, through a strengths-based, community-centered approach. The First Nations School Board aims to authentically work with the community to make student-centered decisions, utilizing Community Committees and Parent Advisory Committees, that are currently in the process of being established. Building neuro-diverse, inclusive classrooms is a responsibility that we hold strong. We strive to ensure that inclusive learning environments are developed for all of our learners and that students are able to access the tools they need to ensure they can learn and grow to their best potential.
Yukon Government, Department of Education - Shanna Epp - ADM
Under the Education Act, the Department of Education is responsible for delivering accessible and quality education to all Yukon learners. We work closely with our partners in education, including Yukon First Nations, and school communities to develop and improve our programs and practices. Each child is unique with their own strengths and challenges. We strive for an inclusive education system that ensures students can succeed at school when learning suits their unique learning style and needs. Some students have diverse abilities or special education needs. They may need more specific supports, modifications or adaptations to their learning. Student Support Services works with school teams to provide a range of supports, so that students can succeed at school and reach their goals. Support may be different for each student.
The Yukon Parent Advocates Alliance (YPAA)
The Yukon Parent Advocates Alliance (YPAA) is a registered Yukon non-profit society. YPAA was created to provide a collaborative, parent-run organization that assists other Yukon parents in advocating for access to the resources, which will support their children's educational, social, and emotional well-being; some of these supports include access to cultural, recreational, therapeutic, and/or other programs and services, which may not be currently available in the territory. All children have the right to access a fair and equitable education, as well as the resources and supports that they need to develop their full potential as contributing members of society. In addition to providing advocacy supports, our society also strives to provide parents with opportunities to gain the tools and knowledge needed to effectively advocate for the needs of their own family in the future.