Our Senior Leadership Team

Jamie is an experienced corporate and non-profit business professional who has recently worked for Scotiabank, Bobby’s Hospice and Family Plus. Before that she had 10 years in senior management in the contact centre industry .
She is a passionate and driven professional, who is adept at relationship building and revenue/business development. She has a proven track record in Sales, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Strategic Partnerships, Market Research, and Employee Management.
Jamie is the founder of the Compassionate Grief Centre and served as the Board Chair for one year in 2020 prior to becoming the CEO in 2021.

Sandy is a former registered nurse and a non-profit business specialist. She was the Chief Executive Officer of Hospice Greater Saint for 21 years, managing a $2.2M budget and leading a team of 30 paid staff and 150 volunteers. Her leadership established Bobby’s Hospice, a 10-bed community palliative care home, the first in Atlantic Canada and supported the development of others in the region.
Sandy is a passionate and driven healthcare and non-profit business professional and a social entrepreneur. She strongly believes in community programs and services that deliver high quality palliative care and comprehensive grief support that enhances our quality of life and supports our ability to cope with grief and loss.

Our Administration Team

Cheyenne is our dedicated Administrative Assistant at the Compassionate Grief Centre. With training in human service counselling, business, technology, and finance, Cheyenne brings a unique blend of empathy and expertise to our team.
Having accumulated over 20 years of valuable experience in the workforce, including seven years as an administrative assistant with Family Plus Life Solutions, Cheyenne is well versed in the supporting clients and colleagues in the mental health counselling field. Her compassionate nature and caring demeanor make her an invaluable asset to our Centre.
In her role, Cheyenne is responsible for managing all books and administrative tasks related of our counselling sessions as well as supporting the registration and delivery of our support and educational groups.
Thanks to Cheyenne, the Compassionate Grief Centre is well positioned to provide seamless, compassionate support and a quality experience for people reaching out to the Centre for grief and loss support.

Audrey brings over two decades of diverse marketing and sales experience to her role as Fund Development Coordinator at the Compassionate Grief Centre. With an impressive background that includes positions at Irving Lubricants, Xerox, Westjet, MBS Radio and Kent Building Supplies.
Audrey has honed her skills in marketing campaigns, branding, advertising, and social media.
A proud graduate of NBCC in St. Andrews, NB, Audrey holds certification in International Business-Latin American Studies, showcasing her commitment to a global perspective. As a member of the Fund Development Team, Audrey is an asset to the Compassionate Grief Centre who relies heavily on sponsorships, donations and fundraising to deliver our programs and services.
Her creativity extends beyond sales and revenue generation and includes skills in photography, videography, web design and social media marketing. Throughout her career and her work at CGC, Audrey has demonstrated strong communication and marketing skills, along with exceptional sales abilities.
Audrey is recognized for her kind, compassionate and caring nature. Her commitment to making a positive impact aligns seamlessly with the mission of the Compassionate Grief Centre ensuring that the organization continues to thrive with her work in fund development.

Elizabeth Murphy is a talented and skilled grant writing consultant with a proven track record of helping businesses and non-profit organizations secure the funding they need to deliver their specialized programs and services.
Prior to becoming a Vice President at Colum Consultants, Elizabeth worked at Ability NB and Inclusion BC in the field of fund development. Her professional journey reflects a deep commitment to making a positive impact on the world and she remains dedicated to empowering and supporting charities and non-profits to position themselves for success.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Communications from St. Thomas University, a testament to her academic prowess and the foundation of her expertise in the field.

Dr. Maria Murphy graduated with a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Pennsylvania and has graduate certificates in Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies and Cinema and Media Studies.
Prior to returning home to Saint John, NB in the summer of 2023, Dr. Murphy was Associate Director for the Centre of Research in Feminist, Queer and Transgender Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She now serves as the Vice President of Development for Colum Consultants.
Maria is a skilled and talented grant writer with a track record of success in identifying and procuring funding sources for innovative research and program delivery. As a passionate advocate for social change, Maria is deeply committed to making a positive impact on her community and the world at large.

Together Elizabeth Murphy and Dr. Maria Murphy form a dynamic team of consultants united by their passion for communications, writing and their commitment to social impact. They have a proven track record of securing essential funding to help businesses and non-profits bring their programs and services to life, ensuring the sustainable delivery of their impactful initiatives.

Our Counselling Team

Kelly is a Certified Grief Specialist with over 20 years’ experience counselling individuals, families and leading Grief Programs. She has received a Certificate in Children and Youth Grief and Bereavement from Toronto SickKids Community Mental Health Centre to help children and their families find meaningful ways to cope with the pain of grief. Kelly also has Palliative Care and Hospice experience, helping individuals and families engage in communication about their hopes, beliefs and values as they approach the end of life.
Kelly is a Clinical Spiritual Care Practitioner and the Manager of Spiritual Care the Horizon Health Network, Saint John Regional Hospital. She is trained in Mindful Self-Compassion and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction from the Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto and includes the components of Mindful Self-Compassion: Mindfulness, Self-Kindness and Connectedness in her grief programs and counselling.
Kelly brings a presence of compassion, mindfulness and empathy in her counselling. She believes that therapeutic counselling can be defined by Brene Brown’s quote: “It’s simply listening, holding space, without judgement, emotionally connecting and communicating the incredibly healing message of “You are Not Alone.” Kelly knows that message brings hope … and hope changes everything.

Shira has her Masters in Science in Psychosocial Care from McMaster University and certification in Grief, Loss and Palliative Care through Pallium Canada.
As a Certified Child, Youth & Family Psychosocial Specialist, she worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown for eight years prior to joining the Grief Centre’s Counselling Team.
Before moving to the Maritimes from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Shira founded the “It’s a Child’s Life Program ”, a community service to help children and families overcome life’s challenges.
Shira serves as the Clinical Coordinator for the Child, Youth & Family Program at the Grief Centre. Her passion is to “help children, youth and families live well while facing life’s challenges.”
In addition to her work at the Grief Centre, Shira is a Board Member of Dying with Dignity Canada.

Melanie has over 20 years of experience in health care and social services., including 10 years at Ridgewood Addiction Services as a Clinical Social Worker and 4 years as the Regional Lead and Acting Area Manager at Horizon Health’s Addiction and Mental Health Services. Melanie is currently employed full-time as an Instructor at New Brunswick Community College.
Melanie is proud to join the professional counselling team at the Compassionate Grief Centre on a part-time basis. She has extensive experience providing one-on-one therapeutic intervention and is skilled at building effective relationships within the professional counselling environment.

Katarina - more commonly known as “Kat”- obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology from the University of New Brunswick in 2018. Kat also received her Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University in 2021.
During her schooling and practicum, Kat worked with individuals in coping with anxiety, depression, and grief. Her therapeutic approach is person-centred, trauma-informed, and emotion-focused. Mental health has been a critical component of Kat’s life and serving her community by giving back and helping those in need has been her lifelong passion.
Born in Toronto and raised in Saint John, Kat quickly grew to love the friendliness of the Maritimes. Her gentle, empathetic nature and her love of connecting with people allow her to build authentic, lasting relationships with others. She can often be found sharing a smile or a good laugh with those around her.
Although relatively fresh to her field, Kat brings her love for helping others and her love of learning to the Compassionate Grief Centre. She is eager to help those in need begin their healing journeys and to provide care, support, and compassion wherever she can.
Kat’s mission is to “help lives grow.”

Ruth Anne is a highly skilled and compassionate social worker, bringing over 25 years of invaluable experience to our team. As a dedicated professional with a passion for helping others navigate life’s challenges, Ruth has extensive experience in a variety of mental health concerns.
Ruth Anne holds both a Master of Social Work and a Master of Divinity, showcasing her multidimensional approach to holistic care. Her unique educational background and extensive experience equips her with a comprehensive understanding of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of individuals, allowing her to provide well-rounded support to her clients.
Her career has been marked by a dedication to individual counselling where she has supported countless individuals in navigating personal and emotional challenges. In addition, Ruth Anne is highly skilled in leading groups, and helping to foster a sense of community and shared understanding among participants.
Another one of her notable strengths lies in crisis intervention. She is very adept at handling high-stress situations, providing immediate support and comfort to those in need.
Ruth Anne is known for her kind and compassionate approach to supporting others when they need it the most. Her soft and caring nature creates a safe and nurturing environment for clients to freely express themselves. Her commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others is evident in the genuine care and support she provides and significantly enhances the quality of mental health care we provide to our community.
Ruth Anne and her family have recently relocated from Ontario to New Brunswick and have been thoroughly enjoying the beautiful and serene countryside and laid back and friendly lifestyle of the east coast.

Olga is a licensed counselling therapist with a Masters in Education in Counselling Psychology and over 25 years of experience working with clients on a diverse range of issues. Her expertise includes addressing grief, depression, anxiety, PTSD, illness, relationship challenges, violence, and sexual assault/abuse.
Additionally, she possesses experience in handling workplace-related issues such as harassment, stress, and burnout. Olga is qualified to work with adults and couples, providing support and guidance tailored to each individual or couples unique needs.
Helping clients who have experienced trauma in various ways has always been of primary interest to Olga. As a trained trauma therapist offering EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that is designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.
Olga has always been deeply committed to assisting clients who have experienced trauma in various ways. As a trained trauma therapist specializing in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), she offers a psychotherapy treatment designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Olga recently moved to New Brunswick after residing in Nova Scotia for many years. Having spent a significant portion of her life kayaking along the Atlantic Coast, she has developed a deep appreciation for the stunning kayaking and hiking destinations in New Brunswick, including the Bay of Fundy and Fundy Parkway.
With a gentle, client-centered approach, Olga provides care and support characterized by empathy, kindness, and a commitment to creating a safe environment for clients to explore their emotional challenges at their own pace.

Sherry is a dedicated radiation oncology professional at the Saint John Regional Hospital with two decades of experience. Having dedicated her career to providing compassionate care and support to people facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis, she has often found herself providing mental health supports to both patients and their families in her care.
With her commitment to holistic care, Sherry recently pursued a Master of Arts in Counselling through Yorkville University. Now, as a counselling intern with the Compassionate Grief Centre, she brings a unique blend of medical knowledge and empathetic counselling skills to our team and a passion to help others live their best lives.
Prior to becoming a radiation oncology professional and now a counselling professional, Sherry received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and a post graduate diploma in palliative care.
With a deep understanding of the complexities of grief, Sherry is passionate about creating a safe and nurturing space for clients to explore their emotions, find resilience and foster personal growth. Her rich background in radiation oncology uniquely positions her to offer specialized support to those navigating the emotional challenges associated with illness and loss.
Sherry is a kind and compassionate healthcare professional who is dedicated to helping others find strength, hope and healing as they navigate the difficult terrain of grief and loss.

Mathieu received his Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Moncton in 2009. He has worked as a Clinical Social Worker with Addictions and Mental Health in Charlotte County and in Saint John providing case management and crisis services.
Before finding his niche in addiction and mental health adult services, Mathieu gathered experience in the field of social services working in different roles serving children and youth. He worked for two years at the child and youth advocate office in Fredericton where he reviewed complaints about a multitude of provincial services aimed at young people and promoted children’s rights through advocacy and the participating in the planning of sensibilization events.
Mathieu currently works full-time at the Ridgewood Addiction Treatment Center in Saint John, providing private counselling and group sessions to adults dealing with substance abuse. Matt joins the Compassionate Grief Centre as a part-time, fully bilingual, licensed counsellor. Matt is an experienced and compassionate counsellor with a passion to help people dealing with grief, loss and life's challenges.