2025/2026 Board of Directors

Angela Wiggins

Meet Angela, the Vice President of People & Culture and Chief Human Resources Officer at Georgian Bay General Hospital. With a background as a labour and employment lawyer and working toward micro-credential in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, she is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and belonging for all residents of Simcoe County.

Angela’s community involvement includes previously serving on the Barrie Public Library Board of Trustees and coaching Barrie Softball. Angela continues to enjoy spending time with a good book – from the library and playing softball. Mental health holds a special place in her heart, and she finds reward in supporting the work of CMHA SCB’s staff and ensuring accessible supports for Simcoe County residents.

Angela is eager to contribute her expertise in modernizing structures and enhancing governance practices to ensure the highest quality of care for CMHA SCB clients. Angela values working with the management team and continuing to grow and expand services in the region.

Angela’s vision aligns with enhancing mental health services in the community. Her dedication and expertise significantly contribute to CMHA SCB’s ongoing efforts to promote mental health and well-being in Simcoe County.

Natalie Conlon

Meet Natalie, a seasoned professional with over 32 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently serving as the National Business Manager for the Royal Bank of Canada. Throughout her career, she has held various roles, including Branch Management, Credit Adjudication, Commercial and Personal Lending, Human Resources, and Sales.

Natalie’s passion for giving back to the community led her to volunteer with the CMHA SCB.  In 2015, after a personal tragedy, she sought support from CMHA, which inspired her to become a mental health advocate, especially focusing on supporting youth.

With her expertise in leadership and finance, Natalie is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of others. Her vision is to support mental health initiatives in the community and foster a safe space for open, honest, and non-judgmental discussions about mental health. Natalie’s advocacy aims to break down the stigma surrounding mental health, creating a more compassionate and understanding environment for all.

Carrie Gater

Meet Carrie, a dedicated professional holding CPA-CA and CPA (U.S.A) designations. As a self-employed accountant specializing in healthcare, she brings extensive financial expertise to the CMHA SCB Board of Directors.

Carrie’s commitment to mental health goes beyond her profession. She chairs the CMHA Simcoe County Branch Finance Committee and is a Director on the Mental Health Programs Barrie Board. Completing the Collaborative Health Governance program highlights her dedication to effective leadership.

A devoted member of a non-profit independent elementary school, Carrie serves as Treasurer and previously chaired the board. Her unwavering motivation to support vulnerable citizens in Simcoe County drives her. She aims to enhance healthy and meaningful lives while increasing public awareness about mental health and the importance of community programs.

With her strong financial expertise and dedicated advocacy, Carrie is poised to play a pivotal role on CMHA SCB’s Board of Directors, advancing their mission of supporting mental health and well-being in the community.

Adam Kelly

Meet Adam, a highly experienced commercial executive leader, who has spent 25 years of his career involved in mental health. Adam is currently the Executive Vice President of Revenue and Customer Success at Homewood Health. With a background in economics and a career in working with private and public organizations across Canada, Adam brings a unique lens to the

Adam’s passion for mental health has come from not only his accomplished career in the field, but also from his own personal and family experiences. Experiencing firsthand the challenges of accessing and navigating appropriate resources for mental health has led him to continue to focus his professional and personal time on helping make it easier for those that need support. Having moved his family to Collingwood in 2020, serving residents of Simcoe County is an important part of his involvement in the community.

Adam’s career has led to involvement in many aspects of health, including leadership roles relative to occupational health & safety, disability management, and organizational health and wellness. However, mental health has been a consistent focus throughout. This experience in understanding broad systems of mental health, will contribute greatly to CMHA SCB’s ongoing position of support in the County.

Mishka Danchuk-Lauzon

Meet Mishka, a pharmacist who is the Pharmacy Services Manager at the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, where she leads both clinical and operational initiatives within the pharmacy department.

Mishka holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and a Master of Science in Community Health (MScCH) specialized in Health Practitioner Teacher Education, both from the University of Toronto. She also holds the Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency (ACPR) designation for completing the PGY-1 Ambulatory Pharmacy Practice Residency Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. After residency, Mishka worked at Sunnybrook Health Sciences as an Emergency Medicine and Antimicrobial Stewardship pharmacist prior to moving to Collingwood.

Her experience working in the Emergency Department exposed her to the challenges and complexities of providing care to patients with mental health needs. Observing these systemic challenges inspired her to join the CMHA SCB Board as an avenue to contribute to mental health advocacy, policy, and system-level improvements.

Mishka brings a strong foundation in healthcare leadership, patient advocacy, clinical pharmacy, and inter-professional collaboration/education to the CMHA SCB Board.

Chris McKean

Meet Chris, a progressive leader in Ontario’s health and safety system, Chris
McKean brings 25 years of occupational health and safety experience to his role as Vice President of Programs and Strategic Development at the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association.

Throughout his career, Chris has led the development and implementation of new programs that make Ontario a safer place to work. He helped the Government of Ontario set up its first Prevention Office, in which he carried out the recommendations from the expert advisory panel on health and safety, chaired by Tony Dean, to increase health and safety awareness in the province.

More recently, Chris was recruited by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to develop the Health and Safety Excellence program. Using his agile and collaborative approach to leadership, he leveraged the expertise of both the WSIB and a network of external program providers to create this program.

At the IHSA, Chris and his team successfully implemented the Certificate of Recognition (COR®) standard in Ontario. In 2024, this program boasts more than 700 certified companies.

Chris continues to lead the modernization of safety programs to improve their integrity and customer experience. Through these programs, he also helps buyers of construction services, including municipalities,
navigate new procurement requirements that use the COR® standard to keep the occupational health and safety of Ontario workers at the centre of every project.

Aaron Schuler

Meet Aaron, an experienced Information Technology leader with a strong background in strategic planning, project management, leadership, governance, and organizational transformation. Over the course of his career, with the the City of Richmond Hill, County of Simcoe, and the Canadian Armed Forces, Aaron has led large-scale digital transformation initiatives, advanced cybersecurity readiness, and overseen multimillion-dollar project portfolios. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and inclusivity, with a focus on empowering people and building resilient systems and processes.

Aaron brings to the CMHA SCB Board a passion for advancing mental health services and supports, grounded in his experience leading IT initiatives across health and emergency response-related portfolios, including Paramedic Services, Fire Services, and Long-Term Care. His training in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, alongside advanced studies in business administration and change management, reflect his commitment to creating accessible, people-centered solutions.

Aaron holds a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Institute of Business, management and business operations from York University’s Schulich School of Business, and maintains certifications in change management and LEAN methodologies.

With a career spanning public service, national defense, and municipal government, Aaron offers data-driven insights, financial and risk management expertise, and a strong understanding of organizational governance. He is dedicated to supporting CMHA SCB’s mission to promote mental health for all and to ensure individuals have access to the care they need.

Lara Sigurdson

Meet Lara,  a registered Clinical Psychologist in Ontario. Her career began in the business sector, with her first steps into mental health involving work with children. She went on to establish Psychology Matters, part of Sigurdson Psychology Professional Corporation, which has expanded to a team of twenty-three skilled and compassionate staff members. Based in Barrie, Ontario, the practice provides psychological assessments, training and treatment. Lara oversees all business operations and offers clinical supervision to the registered therapists at the practice. Her expertise in both business and psychology enables her to mentor others in psychological practices regarding business practices and use of self.

Clinically, Lara focuses on working with first responders and individuals dealing with cumulative trauma. She is actively involved in first responder mental health and has been featured on CBC’s Fifth Estate. A strong advocate for her profession, Lara participates in research initiatives on posttraumatic growth, resilience, and early detection of mental health issues. She provides training programs for public safety services to prevent operational stress injuries, designing programs that support first responder resilience and early identification of mental health concerns. Additionally, Lara co-led a taskforce for the Ontario Psychological Association that developed supervision guidelines to improve access to licensed mental health support in rural areas with limited psychology professionals. She is committed to early prevention in mental health, striving to enhance community resilience, offer psychoeducation, and reduce suffering.

Tamara Tschop Mclaren

Meet Tamara, a passionate advocate dedicated to enhancing the well-being of children and youth. Serving as a Special Education Consultant at the Simcoe County District School Board, Tamara’s commitment shines through. Her academic journey includes a Masters of Education in Adult Learning & Teaching Methodologies from Lakehead University, along with an Advanced Degree in Education, B.Ed., and B.A. from Nipissing University.

Tamara’s profound impact extends to various realms, including facilitating English Language Learners and guiding Indigenous adults through the Navigating Employment Pathways program. Her history of executive roles within nonprofit educational associations highlights her proactive approach.

Now a valued member of the CMHA SCB Board of Directors, Tamara champions the cause of vulnerable citizens, striving to nurture their journey toward resilience and fulfillment. Her genuine aspiration to make a positive difference in the lives of those facing mental health challenges exemplifies the spirit of CMHA SCB’s mission.

Sarah Banbury

Meet Sarah, the CEO and Secretary of the Board of Directors at CMHA SCB. With over 20 years of experience in the health sector, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Most recently, she served as Director of Surgical and Ambulatory Services and Outpatient Rehab at William Osler Health System. Prior to that, she held the position of Director of Mental Health and Patient Flow at Southlake Regional Health Centre, where she developed strong leadership in healthcare management. Sarah’s clinical expertise as a radiation therapist adds to her comprehensive understanding of the healthcare system, particularly in mental health and addiction services.

As a proud resident of Simcoe County, Sarah is committed to improving mental health care and advocating for better service delivery. Her passion lies in making a positive impact in the community, addressing the complexities of the healthcare system, and ensuring the delivery of optimal care. Sarah looks forward to advancing CMHA SCB’s current strategic initiatives and setting the course for the organization’s future growth.

In addition to her extensive experience, Sarah holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Radiography. She also holds certificates in the areas of Indigenous cultural safety and mental health law, reinforcing her leadership with a deep commitment to compassionate, inclusive, and effective healthcare.