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Wendigo Lake Expeditions has an exceptional team of well-trained and highly motivated frontline staff selected from across North America for their skills and commitment to working with youth in an adventure therapy program setting. Our management and clinical teams are composed of highly skilled and experienced staff with well over a hundred years of combined experience working in our program (averaging over ten years each). Our internal expertise is also supplemented by externally contracted professionals who offer clinical supervision, aboriginal culture and healing, chaplaincy, and medical consultation services.
Senior Management Biographies
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Stephen Glass
Executive Director
(1996-1999, 2000- current)
Previous positions include: Regional Director of Northeast Region, Ministry of Community and Social Services (1999-2000); Program Supervisor with responsibility for oversight |
of Probation Services and a wide range of children's agencies providing child welfare, youth justice, children's mental health and addiction services (1990-1996); Coordinator of Community Services, Emmanuel United Church (1985-1990); Specialized Treatment Home foster parent (1986-1987). Stephen graduated cum laude from Laurentian University with an Honours B.A. Political Science in 1985 after being a Residential Counsellor for L'Arche group homes from 1976 to 1982. Email Stephen Glass.
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Gail Halford
Manager of Finance & Support Services (2000 – current)
Previously employed with the Ministry of Community & Social Services at Project D.A.R.E. (wilderness therapeutic program for male youth) program from 1974 to 2000, Gail has fifteen years |
experience in senior management with areas of responsibility including Finance, Food Services, Program Administration, Information Systems, Stores and Maintenance.
Email Gail Halford.
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Dejan Duric
Program Manager - Residential Services
Dejan began his career in the Ministry of Community & Social Services, Project DARE therapeutic wilderness program in 1988 as an Instructor before moving up to Chief Outdoor Instructor and |
eventually Program Manager in 2000. Dejan directly supervises three Program Supervisors who are each responsible for operating a residential program with seven to eight direct care staff. He graduated from Seneca College as an Outdoor Recreation Technician in 1987. Email Dejan Duric.
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Tracy Thrasher
Project DARE Program Coordinator
Tracy is the primary contact for more information about the Project D.A.R.E. program, bed availability and to initiate a referral. Tracy is available to help assist you in making a placement with our program and walking you through the referral process. Email Tracy Thrasher.
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Russell Becker
REACH Program Coordinator
Russell is the primary contact for more information about the REACH program, bed availability and to initiate a referral. Russell is available to help assist you in making a placement with our program and walking you through the referral process. Email Russell Becker.
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Curtis Cameron
REACH Program Supervisor
Curtis has been with Wendigo Lake
Expeditions since
the spring of 1994.
Curtis spent his
first 7 years as a Residential Care Worker working with the youth
in custody
programs. In 2001
he took on |
a full time Supervisory role working with the Youth in Custody programs. Curtis moved over
to the Supervisory position with the Osprey Youth at Risk
Program in January of 2006.
Curtis is a graduate of Seneca College Outdoor Recreation Technician
Program
(1986). Curtis has a strong
kinship with the out of doors
having been introduced to wilderness canoe travel, camping, and
cross
country skiing at a young age.
Curtis is married and the father
of two children. Email Curtis Cameron.
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Andrew Torrance
Custody
Program Supervisor
Andrew
began his employment with
WLE as a frontline, residential
care instructor in 2001.
He became the Custody Program
Supervisor in 2005. He is
a graduate of the Cambrian
College outdoor |
recreation program and he comes from a vast summer camp background. Email Andrew Torrance
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Abigail Matchette, MSW RSW
REACH Therapist
Abigail has a wide array of residential treatment and adolescent mental health experience. Coming from the United States, she obtained |
her B.S.W. (magna cum laude, 2001) from Indiana Wesleyan University in Social and Addictions Counselling. She has worked in various treatment centres focusing on wilderness and adventure therapy work, addictions intervention, psycho education, and community and school mental health. Abigail achieved her Masters in Clinical Social Work with children, youth and their families from the University of Michigan. Email Abigail Matchette.
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Chris Lamontagne, MSW, RSW
Project DARE Therapist
Chris Joins the WLE team from the
United States. His
approach to holistic
and sustainable change is as dynamic and eclectic as his background
and experience. He
holds a B.S. in Kinesiology:
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Outdoor Education (Magna Cum Laude) and a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire. He
has worked in a number of different
treatment and advocacy settings focusing on wilderness/adventure
therapy, individual clinical and
addictions counseling, family
therapy, psycho-education, as well as forensic and psychiatric social
work serving the needs of at-risk
youth and their families. He
also holds certifications as an EMT, Wilderness EMT and professional
white water raft guide. Chris came
into the helping profession
after an 18 year career as a professional stage actor. Email Chris Lamontagne.
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Jason Prichard
Supervisor
of Achieve Programs
Jason has extensive experience in the Adventure Therapy field. Jason comes from many years of Summer Camp management and involvement in Adventure based initiatives across the country. After completing a |
degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Concordia University, Jason began at WLE as an instructor in 2000. After several years, he returned to university and gained his Bachelor of Education. Upon his return to WLE, he took up the Student Services role and took a lead role in compiling the WLE Therapeutic curriculum. Email Jason Prichard.
Our Partners
We contract a handful of external sources to provide additional specialized services including clinical supervision, aboriginal culture and healing, chaplaincy, and medical consultation services. These partners include:
Judy Howitt, MSW, RSW
Clinical Supervisor
Vince Pawis
Aboriginal Healing Elder
Rev. Meg Purdy
Chaplain
Dr. Graham Wood
Consulting Physician
Web Links to Member Organizations
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