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Our Mission
Partners For Youth Inc. engages youth who are facing challenges in their lives and assists them in becoming capable, connected, and contributing members of their communities. We achieve our mission by developing innovative programs and services that promote experiential learning in safe, supportive, and rewarding environments. Our work is done in collaboration with public, private, and not for profit partners.
History
Partners for Youth Inc. was founded in 1994 by the Hon. Jim Ross. Appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1990, Mr. Ross served almost three years before resigning his seat to begin the task of building our organization. His goal was to create a provincial, non-profit, community-based organization tasked with developing pragmatic and effective support programs for youth and youth at risk. Over 20 years later, our programs help young people make healthy lifestyle choices, find and grow their strengths, and build important leadership skills.
In 2000, Mr. Ross was awarded the Order of Canada for his work in creating our organization. He continues to provide us with active support and holds the position of Founder and Chairperson Emeritus on our Board of Directors. In 2009, Mr. Ross was inducted in the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame. He is a three time Rotary Club Paul Harris Award recipient and received the Learning Partnership Champion in Education Award in 2012.
Founder and Chairperson Emeritus
The Hon. Jim Ross
Special Advisor
Bernard Richard
Former Child and Youth Advocate of New Brunswick and British Columbia respectively
Our Board of Directors
President
Jessica Melanson
Past President
Mike Joyce
Vice Presidents
Lynne Lenihan
Steve Holland
Treasurer
Michel Landry
Directors
Bev Gaudet
Andrew Lockhart
Pam Lynch
Amy Ross
Folusho Iyaniwura
Staff
Executive Director
John Sharpe
Program Manager, Camp Tippy Canoe / Youth Works
Suzanne Laver
Director of Government and Community Partnerships, Dots NB / PFY Connect, New Brunswick Youth Advisory Council
Alec Lepage
Bookkeeper
Ellen Fitzsimmons
Project Coordinators & Youth Workers
Sport 3, Youth Works
Tom Carney
Youth in Action for Mental Health, Youth Works, Camp Tippy Canoe
Brittany Florjancic
PFY Connect, Mindful Kids
Josée-Anne Fournier
Housing Specialist – NB Rent Bank Support Project
Allison Brown
Youth Worker, New Brunswick Youth Advisory Council
Mandy Perley
Making Waves, Youth Works
Lydia Lanteigne
Making Waves
Rochelle Sealy
Francophone New Brunswick Youth in Care Network, Youth Works
Lianne Comeau
New Brunswick Youth in Care Network, PFY Connect, Mindful Kids
Brittany Tabor
Sport 3, New Brunswick Youth Advisory Council
Lily Warner
Latest Social Posts
Let music be your guide on the journey to mindfulness. Music has a unique power to soothe, uplift, and transport us—making it a profound tool for mindfulness and inner peace. 🎶✨
Through mindful listening, creative expression, and deep engagement, music helps us connect to the present moment, cultivate emotional intelligence, and strengthen our bond with ourselves and others. By embracing the full spectrum of emotions that music evokes, we foster empathy and self-discovery.
#MindfulKids #SunLifeBrightFutures #PartnersForYouthNB #PFYNB #NewBrunswick #YouthDevelopment #CommunitySupport #YouthPrograms #MakingADifference #NonProfit #GivingBack #YouthLeadership
Mindful Kids is an engaging program that helps children develop mindfulness skills, giving them tools to navigate life with clarity and composure. 🌿✨ One key concept is using "anchors"—focal points that ground us in the present moment, away from distractions. Anchors can be anything from breath and body sensations to sounds, visuals, or affirmations. By practicing mindfulness, children learn to stay centered and calm, even in life’s turbulent moments. 💙
#MindfulKids #SunLifeBrightFutures #PartnersForYouthNB #PFYNB #NewBrunswick #YouthDevelopment #CommunitySupport #YouthPrograms #MakingADifference #NonProfit #GivingBack #YouthLeadership
The New Brunswick Youth Advisory Council (NBYAC) is a youth-led, government-supported initiative designed to amplify young voices on key social issues. A collaboration between the Department of Health and Partners for Youth, the council plays a vital role in shaping public policy, with a strong focus on youth mental health, the provincial stepped care model, integrated youth services, and government service delivery. Made up of 25 youth from across New Brunswick, the NBYAC actively engages with communities through various platforms, raising awareness and empowering youth to drive positive change.
#PartnersForYouthNB #PFYNB #NBYAC #NBYouthAdvisoryCouncil #NewBrunswick #YouthDevelopment #CommunitySupport #YouthPrograms #MakingADifference #NonProfit #GivingBack #YouthLeadership #CommunitySupport