Daven Seebarran

Executive Director

Daven Seebarran is a highly skilled leader who has worked extensively in the non-profit sector throughout Canada for the past 15 years.  He has over a decade of experience as an executive director with specific expertise in non-profit management, organizational development, fund development, and leadership coaching. As a prolific fundraiser, Daven Seebarran has raised more than $34 million for institutions across Canada.  This has been accomplished through grant writing, corporate engagement, individual giving strategies, and special events management.

Heather Lyall

Executive Assistant

Heather is entering her final year as a Graphic Design student at Algonquin College. She has a major passion for creation and pop culture. During her program as well as in her free time, she does freelance video and photo editing for local entertainers and events in Ottawa, Ontario. Some of her favourite activities include sketching, travelling and concerts.

Kylie Castro

Program Manager

Kylie has been working with children, parents, and educators since 2012. She graduated with distinction from the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology program, where she created and implemented supervised interventions using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Applied Behavioural Analysis principles. Kylie is passionate about providing strengths-based, inclusive programming that increases familial wellness and brings joy to those who participate.  Previous to joining the TCK team, Kylie worked with military families where she created, facilitated, and coordinated wellness programming with regional, provincial, and national partners.

Ivan Bocanegra

Program Coordinator - 2SLGBTQ+ Initiatives

Ivan is an accomplished administrator with over 6 years of work experience in designing and implementing healthy workplace wellness programs and management support. His experience in Operations, Human Resources Management and Executive Assistantship has allowed him to serve in many roles such as Wellness Coordinator for St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Operations Supervisor at Teleperformance. He currently works as a Program Coordinator for Corporate Health Solutions at Cleveland Clinic Canada for COVID-19 testing & Mass Vaccination programs in partnership with many Ontario regions and municipalities around the GTA and corporate clients. In addition to his work experience, his passion to help and support his community has led him to empower youth and young adults through dance at The Drag Academy by The Concerned Kids.

Emilybeth Enriquez

Program Evaluator

Emilybeth has supported students in academia, nonprofits, and Universities for more than five years. She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Culture and Philosophy and is completing a Master of Arts at the University of Ottawa. Her thesis work discusses the connection between programming in community organizations and refugees' conceptualization of feeling at home in Canada.  She is passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion in education and designed workshops that support visible minorities in achieving their academic goals. Her work with South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre has received national attention from the #itsdifferentforus project. The project brought to the forefront the pre-existing structural and racial inequalities connected to the impact COVID-19 has had on youth living in marginalized communities in Ottawa.

Shahara Gaznabbi

Program Assistant

Shaharah Gaznabbi (They/Them) is a young and enthusiastic creative up-and-comer. They are a huge advocate for inclusion and diversity. Shaharah has a history of programming and fundraising for the Trillium Health Partners hospitals, and volunteering with persons in extended and assisted living. Shaharah is a member of TCK’s Puppetry team, and performs musical ventriloquism in their free time! They also have special interests in writing, acting, and improvisation. Shaharah is very grateful to be working with The Concerned Kids!

Kathryn Palangio

Risk and Compliance Officer

Kathryn Palangio has devoted over 25 years of working with children and children’s causes. Now “semi-retired” from the not for profit sector where she worked most recently as an Executive Director, Kathryn has chosen to slow down and focus her full attention to the vison and mission of TCK and the important work of supporting and educating our youth.

Davrielle Salsberg

Content Creation Coordinator

Davrielle is a professional actor, writer and singer - songwriter. Davrielle has a decade of experience working with children and youth. Davrielle assists in developing programming and brings a vibrant cheer with their musicality and movement. Davrielle has won multiple awards from the Scholastic Writing and Art Awards as well as has their debut album on all music streaming platforms. 

Sania Xara

Director of Development and Communications

Sania is a passionate fundraiser, having worked with various charitable organizations in Canada, US and the UK she brings a wealth of fundraising and digital marketing knowledge. She is delighted to work with TCK and use her expertise to help raise the resources required to continue and grow this wonderful organization.

Chris Comeau

Graphic Designer

Globally minded, locally sourced. Chris is an artist from the Maritimes who moved to Toronto after spending some time abroad. Never losing those hometown sensibilities, he works very hard, and passionately hones in on whatever task is set before him. With a background in education, finance and design, Chris brings a wide range of skills to the table. Travelling, drawing and design are some of his favourite activities.

Joshua Kanhai

Social Media & IT Support

Josh is a media student at the University of Guelph-Humber with a passion for marketing and graphic design. He is in the fourth and final year of the program. Josh likes working with people and creating new connections. Josh enjoys basketball, hiking, and photography. 

Kristy Piper

Lead Puppeteer & Puppetry Academy Instructor

Kristy Piper (better known as 'Piper') is our Lead Puppeteer and has been a part of the family for years. In fact, her first introduction to The Concerned Kids was when she was a student in elementary school and TCK came to her school for a performance!

Piper has trained and performed internationally in children's entertainment and emceeing for over 15 years. With a BA Honours Degree in Theatre from York University and a specialty in puppetry, she left Canada for a life at sea. During her time abroad she was lucky enough to perform with Fisher Price® Live, Dreamworks™, Nickelodeon™, and the blacklight puppet show Imaginocean (John Tartaglia). 

Trevor Porath

Threatre Program Coordinator

Trevor is a graduate of Seneca's Gaming Animation program and Complections College of Makeup Art & Design. With strong eye for design, and a penchant for details he strives to bring creativity and originality to his designs. Armed with an overactive imagination, and a deep love of interesting characters, concept art for characters and creatures comes easily to him.

Nicky Nasrallah

Theatre Program Co-Coordinator

Nicky Nasrallah been working as a comedian, drag queen, and musical theatre performer for the last 20 years. He spent several years traveling Ontario doing musicals and puppetry with the children’s theatre company Little Red Theatre. He was also the visionary behind the dance class craze Beyography, which has swept the nation. Nicky is a former member of the Second City House Company and Second City’s Puppettown Theatre, and a writer and performer in the Canadian Comedy Award winning show A Sketch Comedy Eleganza Extravaganza. He has headlined Just For Laughs Montreal, Toronto Sketchfest, and the We’re Funny That Way festival as both Nicky and his drag persona Selena Vyle. His sketch work with Panacea and musical improv troupe with Songbuster have landed him on several Top 5 Comedy Shows and Artists To Watch lists. His next project is as a voice actor in Ubisoft’s upcoming Far Cry 6.

Jessi Hartig

Child and Youth Program Coordinator

Jessi is a skilled painter and sculptor who has dedicated herself to using art to help others. She is pursing a master's degree in art therapy and will be Canadian Art Therapy Association accredited upon completion of her program. Jessi currently teaches for Paint Nite by Yaymaker and has experience using art to work with adults, though she developed and coordinated an arts education program for children prior to this. Jessi has been awarded the American National Scholastic Silver Medal for sculpture, as well as regional accolades for sculpture in Ohio.

Karin Foulds

Expressive Artist Facilitator: Golden Years Visual Arts Project

A painter who meditates and practices mindfulness, Karin is a graduate of The CREATE Institute. She plays with others to explore what is possible through the arts with a beginner's mind. 

An elder herself, she celebrates the wisdom that comes with life experience and promotes the importance of sharing this exchange of knowledge lovingly, with youth, elders and the community at large.

She is delighted to work with TCK Charity to create, make and share art and legacy.

Ramje Uthayakumaar

Summer Student Camp Counsellor

Hey everyone, my name is Ramje Uthayakumaar and I am the new Summer Student Camp Counsellor for TCK! I am super excited to be working with this amazing organization and help create some fun activities for everyone. I am dedicated to ensuring a fun time for all the families with TCK. Thanks for having me!

Michaela Mar

Illustrator

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Rajesh V & Chaman Agarwal

Bookkeepers

Rajesh and Chaman provide bookkeeping services for the organization.  They have extensive bookkeeping experience in the non-profit sector.