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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
Every child deserves comfort during difficult times. 💙 In partnership with the Children`s Aid Foundation of Canada and the Ted & Loretta Rogers Foundation, the NB Youth in Care Network provides Comfort Kits to children entering care in New Brunswick.
Each personalized backpack is filled with essentials like food, gift cards, books, toys, and a stuffed animal—small but meaningful items to bring a sense of security. Every year, we distribute over 65 kits across the province, ensuring children know they are not alone.
#NBYICN #ChildrensAidFoundation #PartnersForYouthNB #PFYNB #NewBrunswick #YouthDevelopment #CommunitySupport #YouthPrograms #MakingADifference #NonProfit #GivingBack #YouthLeadership
Meet Pam Lynch, a dedicated volunteer and valued member of PFY’s Board of Directors for the past five years! 🌟
A longtime Fredericton resident, Pam built a successful legal services business before making history as the first female MLA elected in Fredericton in 2010. With a passion for community service, she has volunteered on numerous boards, committees, and charitable organizations, always striving to give back. Now retired, Pam enjoys politics, reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband, Pat, and their two dogs, Bella and Lenny.
Thank you, Pam, for your unwavering commitment to PFY and the community!
#VolunteerSpotlight #PartnersForYouthNB #PFYNB #NewBrunswick #YouthDevelopment #CommunitySupport #YouthPrograms #MakingADifference #NonProfit #GivingBack #YouthLeadership
Meet Alec Lepage, our Director of Government and Community Partnerships! 🌟
Alec wears many hats at PFY, from coordinating the NB Youth Council to facilitating SPORT3 and supporting initiatives like PFY Connect. His journey has taken him from teaching and small business consulting to kayaking tours and financial work—bringing a wealth of experience to his role. Now based in Fredericton with his partner and their Belgian Malinois, Maple, Alec enjoys kayaking, climbing, woodworking, and making almost never hilarious dad jokes. 😆
Passionate about inclusion, individuality, and lifelong learning, Alec’s curiosity and humor make a lasting impact.
#PartnersForYouthNB #PFYNB #NewBrunswick #YouthDevelopment #CommunitySupport #YouthPrograms #MakingADifference #NonProfit #GivingBack #YouthLeadership