Meet the Team
Chalmers is supported by over 100+ volunteers who are guided by a team of 4 staff and 8 board members.
Find out more about us below.
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Our Staff
Crystle Avery
Executive Director
Pronouns: She/Her
Languages: French, English, Hindi
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Crystle Avery is a retired French Immersion Teacher. She founded The Indian Village Poverty Relief Fund which provided an education to thousands of Indian students for 17 years. She was a founding member of Interval House in Brockville. Crystle is dedicated to volunteering at Chalmers and helping those in need.
Find Crystle on LinkedIn here.
Sana Taha
Program and Volunteer Manager
Pronouns: She
Languages: English, French, Arabic
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Sana has more than 10 years of experience working with vulnerable communities and refugees. Happy to be serving the community in Guelph and looking forward to learning more!
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Dakota Kersting
Donation and Communication Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her
Languages: English
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Dakota is a student at the University of Guelph, and is passionate about studying topics related to Industrial-Organizational Psychology. In her spare time, Dakota enjoys hiking, dancing and cooking.
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Find Dakota on LinkedIn here.
Mary Heyens
Custodian
Pronouns: She/Her
Languages: English
As custodian, I enjoy the work I do at Chalmers and try hard to maintain a clean and safe work space for staff, volunteers and guests.
David Chiswell
Bookkeeper
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Royal City Bookkeeping Services
Board of Directors
Janet Wood
Chair of the Board
Languages: English
Janet Wood is a biochemist and a University Professor Emerita of the University of Guelph. Her social justice activities have included initiating the human rights office at the University of Guelph, co-chairing the local Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee, tutoring at Action Read Community Literacy Centre and volunteering at Chalmers.
Lucy Mutharia, Ph.D
Director
Pronouns: They
Languages: English, Gikuyu, Swahili
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Lucy was born, raised and educated in Kenya. They worked as a professor at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, then at the University of Guelph's Microbiology department. Retired in 2020, Lucy joined Rotary and is volunteering their time in support of social justice causes in the community.
John Benham, B.A. & M. DIV.
Director
Pronouns: He/Him
Languages: English
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John Benham is a United Church of Canada minister serving at Trinity United in Guelph. John enjoys working for social justice with Anishnabeg Outreach and Indigenous reconciliation at Trinity for two years. John has also supported North End Harvest Market at Waverly Public school for almost a decade. John is looking forward to working with Chalmers Community Services.
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Rhondda Lymburner
Director
Pronouns: She/Her
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​Rhondda Lymburner is a social worker. She was employed by the Government of Ontario and Conestoga College working with individuals requiring accommodations to support education and employment. Community involvement has been with Canadian Mental Health Association, Chalmers since its inception and Second Chance Employment.
Gaylyn McLean
Director
David Parr, CFP
Director
Pronouns: He/Him
Languages: English
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David has been living and working in Guelph for 40 years. He has been active in the community through Rotary, Dublin St United Church and the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital. David was instrumental in getting Tour De Guelph off the ground. Together with his wife Rose, they have raised 4 children in Guelph.
Bruce Ryan
Director
Languages: English
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Retired Professor of Family Relations, University of Guelph. Long time Guelph resident with previous board experience with Guelph Community Health Centre and Family and Children's Services among others.