Professionals Delivering Programs for Youth

Founded in 1960, the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) is one of the largest and most comprehensive non‑profit agencies serving youth in this community. More than 350 caring professionals work from 20 locations across the city to deliver a vast range of programs and services that support at‑risk youth and their families.

YSB is a registered charity (#10822 8545 RR0001). We receive funding from the Province of Ontario, the City of Ottawa, and generous private donors. In 2023-2024, our annual operating budget was just over $34 million.

Our Strategic Priorities

The purpose of the YSB Strategic Plan is to provide a 3-year roadmap to strengthen our capacity as an exceptional leader and partner in responding to the needs of youth and families in our community. Click here to read the full document.

RESOURCES AND CAREERS

Media Kit

With more than 60 years of supporting youth in the Ottawa area, YSB is valued for its expertise in the areas of homelessness, housing, mental health, youth justice, employment, health, diversity, and youth engagement.

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Library

Get access to resources developed specifically for the YSB community.

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Careers

At YSB we offer you the opportunity to play a meaningful role in creating lasting, positive change in young people’s lives, as well in the lives of their families and communities.

FAQ

Find answers to frequently asked questions by our community.

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Our Vision: IMPACT TOMORROW TODAY

Our mission

We are committed to providing a safe, non-judgmental and accessible environment where individuals 12 years and older can pursue their life goals and be encouraged in making informed decisions.

Our mandate

YSB is a multi-service agency that provides services in French and English in employment, health and housing, mental health, youth engagement and youth justice. We work in partnership to develop, deliver and advocate for better conditions, services and opportunities for youth and families.

Through our services we:

Value our clients’ strengths
Believe in empowering youth and families
Value diversity
Believe in making our services accessible
Value accountability for our clients & ourselves
Believe in meaningful youth engagement as core to our practice
Value the continuous review of the quality of our work
Believe in collaboration

Our Blog

January 8, 2025

Now Open – YSB Employment Services’ New Service Centre in Beacon Hill Mall!

We’re thrilled to announce the recent opening of the YSB Employment Services’ newest location in Beacon Hill Mall, Gloucester! This new centre allows us to better serve and empower job seekers across Ottawa by providing accessible, high-quality employment services in both official languages. Where to Find Us: YSB Employment Services – East Ottawa 2339 Ogilvie […]

Board of Directors

YSB’s Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization. Its role is to articulate our mission, set our strategic direction, define our goals, and measure and report on our performance.

YSB Senior Management

Nina Gorka CEO
(She/Her)
Kim Fenn Director of Quality Assurance
(She/Her)
Bob White Director of IT
(He/Him)
Mike Wade Assistant Director, Community Services
(He/Him)
Amber Costello Director of Employment Services
(She/Her)

Andrew Ballantyne Assistant Director, Operations, Youth Justice
(He/Him)
Darren Graham Director of Community Services
(He/Him)
Willis Bengnwi Assistant Director, Mental Health Services
(He/Him)
Vanessa Alvarado Assistant Director, Community Justice
(She/Her)
Josh Torres Assistant Director of Programs and Services, Youth Justice
(He/Him)

Ryan McKay DIRECTOR, YOUTH JUSTICE
(He/Him)
Tadiwa Muradzikwa Director of People, Culture, and Belonging
(He/Him)
Bonnie Graham Acting Director, Mental Health Services
(She/Her)
Patti Murphy Executive Director, YSB Charitable Foundation
(She/Her)
Stacey Lauridsen Assistant Director of Community Services
(He/Him)

Rui Medeiros Assistant Director, Employment Services
(He/Him)
Wes Richardson Director of Finance
(He/Him)
Suzanne Fraser Director of Communications
(She/Her)

About YSB