Jane Gillies - Operational Manager
Jane (she/her) grew up in Nova Scotia on the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi'kmaq. She undertook post secondary studies in both Human Services and Office Management, and prior to joining the Inclusion Yukon team, she worked in the customer service and retail sectors. She started at Inclusion Yukon as a support worker in 2019, and later became the Program Coordinator. She enjoys learning new skills, and being an advocate for inclusion and accessibility in the Yukon. Beyond the workplace, Jane is an amateur gardener, an animal lover, and enjoys cooking up all kinds of creations in the kitchen. She also doesn't miss an opportunity to get to the ocean, whether it's East or West coast.
Meriya Gmeiner-McPherson - Advocacy Manager & Support Worker
Meriya/Riya (they/she) is a Scottish/German settler born in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat (Toronto, Ontario). They moved to the Yukon 8 years ago and kept returning for the amazing community, the breathtaking land and love for their chosen family. They have been working at Inclusion Yukon since May of 2019 and have been passionate about trying to provide high quality care through support work and are a keen advocate for inclusion and accessibility in their community. Meriya believes that long term community care work can change lives for the better and is keen to continue learning about disability justice, deconstructing ableism and how to create equitable futures for all. Meriya works as a support worker and advocate at Inclusion Yukon. When you can’t find Riya at work they may be spending time with horses, roller skating, crafting or being told to take a nap.
Sharon Ulrich - Financial Manager
Sharon Ulrich is a long time Yukoner, who is not only Inclusion Yukon’s Financial Manager, but also the support worker that has been with us the longest, and the mentor of our social enterprise, Mallory’s Postering.
Sharon adamantly believes that fulfilling employment is an important component to developing a sense of community and belonging. She is a strong advocate for inclusion in the workplace, and she believes that with the right support, there is a perfect job for everyone. When not advocating for inclusion, Sharon can be found alpaca wrangling, hiking with her border collies in the beautiful Yukon backcountry, or fanatically cheering on her favourite basketball teams!
Reuben Wurtak - Respite Coordinator & Inclusion Program Support
Reuben (He/Him) is aboriginal part of the Crow Clan and has happily lived in Whitehorse all his life. Living in the beautiful land of the Yukon has given him all that he has needed and loves giving back. He volunteered at the elementary school he grew up in (ESES) for many months before he became part of Inclusion Yukon in 2019. He has continued as an Administrative and Program support as well as Respite Coordination. Through all his experience he has made it his priority to make Whitehorse a more supportive and welcoming place for the long term. Outside of Supporting the community you may see him sun basking by the river or flying kites on windy days. He has always shown to be ready to exchange stories and jokes.
Nik Potapenko - Communications Manager, Support Worker & LMF
Nik joined Inclusion Yukon in 2022 as a support worker, and loved it ever since. He is passionate about creating inclusive environment in the beautiful Land of the Midnight Sun, helping people achieve their work and life goals, bringing community together, connecting, networking, and engaging. He firmly beliefs in the world united by caring and empathetic people supporting each other and themselves.
Outside of workplace Nik spends time playing and hosting Dungeons and Dragons game nights, hiking and photography.
Lorraine Paddock - MentorAbility Hub Coordinator/Support Worker
Although Lorraine has lived from Coast to Coast and many places in between, she is a long time Yukoner and considers it her home. Her journey with Inclusion Yukon started in 2019 as a Support Worker doing mostly job coaching. You have probably seen her at Canadian Tire, Wykes Independent Grocers, Lumel Glass Blowing Studio, or any one of a number of other businesses in Whitehorse that make inclusive hiring a priority. In 2024 Lorraine took on the additional role of becoming the Yukon Hub Coordinator for MentorAbility Canada. Although she is still quite new to the program, she is very much enjoying the challenge and considers it an honour to be a part of this initiative. She looks forward to meeting, and working with, more and more Mentees and Mentors. For more information on MentorAbility, check out our website: www.inclusionyukon.org/mentorability
Emily Ross - Community Education and Mentorship Coordinator
Emily (she/her) is a settler of British, Danish, and Dutch descent who was born and raised on the territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. She is passionate about inclusive education that helps us cultivate supportive and sustainable communities. As a current graduate student in international education, Emily is grateful to be deepening her understanding of how to create spaces of learning where everyone can thrive. Over the years she has worked for different community non-profits in areas like community outreach, arts-based and outdoor education, and youth and climate advocacy. When she is not working on mentorship, learning, or advocacy projects at Inclusion Yukon, you can find her hiking, reading, or attempting (sometimes successfully) to knit socks.