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, the United Way, and generous private donors. In 2010, our annual operating budget was over $24 million. Extremely efficient, we spend just 9.5% of our budget on administration, leaving the remaining 90.5% for program delivery.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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Nina Gorka CEO
(She/Her)
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Michel Guilbeault Interim CEO
(He/Him)
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Kim Fenn Director of Quality Assurance
(She/Her)
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Bob White Director of IT
(He/Him)
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Amber Costello Director of Employment Services
(She/Her)
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Vanessa Alverado Assistant Director, Community Justice
(She/Her)
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Josh Torres Assistant Director of Programs and Services, Youth Justice
(He/Him)
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Tadiwa Muradzikwa Director of People, Culture, and Belonging
(He/Him)
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Bill Fenn Assistant director, Youth Justice
(He/Him)
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Patti Murphy Executive Director, YSB Charitable Foundation
(She/Her)
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Stacey Lauridsen Assistant Director of Community Services
(He/Him)
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Heidi Nichilo Director of Mental Health Services
(She/Her)
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Rui Medeiros Assistant Director, Employment Services
(He/Him)
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Wes Richardson Director of Finance
(He/Him)
Partners
- David Smith Treatment Centre
- Eastern Ontario Youth Justice Agency
- École Le Transit
- Équipe psychosociale pour enfants et adolescents
- Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
- Family Court Clinic
- Humane Society
- John Howard Society of Ottawa
- La Cité Collégiale
- Maison Fraternité
- McHugh School
- Multicultural Arts for Schools and Communities
- Northern Lights CDA
- Ontario Works
- Ottawa Police Services
- Ottawa School Boards
- Conseil des écoles catholiques de langues française de Centre-Est
- Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
- CDSB
- OCSB
- Phoenix Centre for Children and Families
- Probation Services
- Radha Yoga
- Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services
- Roberts Smart Centre
- Royal Ottawa Hospital
- St. Lawrence College
- Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
- Social Housing Registry – Ottawa Community Housing
- The Ottawa Food Bank
- University of Ottawa
- Vanier Community Health Centre
- Wabano Centre
- YM/YWCA
- YOUCAN