Our Team

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Marnie Power
Executive Director

She/Her
MEd [in completion], BSW

Marnie Power is renowned for her work in outdoor, play-based learning. She’s a committed speaker and thought leader who founded and led several ground-breaking organizations in recent years.

Marnie is a registered social worker and is committed to children's mental health and supporting children and families who've experienced adverse childhood experiences. She loves working with children and their caregivers, as well as practitioners who work with and support children on the ground every day.

Marnie Power
Executive Director
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Shawna Babcock
Director of Community Relationships & Outdoor Play Support Facilitator

She/Her
BA, BEd
Shawna is the parent of three amazing kids and has raised them with lots of gratitude and learning on the rivers and land of unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory, surrounding the Madawaska Valley. She has a strong commitment to shifting how we think about and support healthy child development, education, community health, access to nature, multi-sector collaboration, equity and inclusion.
Shawna has contributed substantially to local, provincial and national outdoor play, and healthy community initiatives. Recently certified as a Cultivating Safe Spaces facilitator, she is focused on building relationships and environments where safety, inclusion, growth and reciprocity all co-exist. Working with children and adults on the land or on a river is where she thrives. As an educator at heart, she loves creating safe, inclusive spaces for children and adults to learn and connect.

Shawna Babcock
Director of Community Relationships & Outdoor Play Support Facilitator
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Liam Skinner
Outdoor Play Support Facilitator

He/They
Registered Psychotherapist
Liam currently offers counselling and psychotherapy services to individuals, families and groups in a variety of settings including private practice, community mental health organizations and social service agencies.

Liam is committed to anti-oppressive and intersectional feminist based approaches, and specializes in trauma and grief. Liam loves working with individuals, parents, as well as people who identify as LGBTQ2S+ and their families.

Liam is passionate about providing psycho-education, mental health and emotionally focused support to parents, caregivers and children to foster connected, loving and playful relationships throughout life.

Liam Skinner
Outdoor Play Support Facilitator
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Katie Rutledge-Taylor
Knowledge and Evidence Lead & Outdoor Play Support Facilitator

She/Her
RN, BScN, MPH
Katie is a parent, partner, health professional, artist and nature-lover.
In 2024, she began her studies in land-based art therapy with the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. Prior to this, as a registered nurse (since 2004) and epidemiologist (since 2010), Katie has held various roles relating to child and adolescent mental health, early child development and parenting support, guideline development, public health program design, and migration health. Katie is grateful to have worked across Canadian public health systems on outbreak response and applied epidemiologic research, with a commitment to knowledge mobilization and evidence-based practice.
In her art, Katie embraces creative play with a variety of media, combining function and beauty in a self-nourishing practice. Katie is a passionate advocate for art as a modality for healing and its capacity to extend us into new ways of knowing and being.

Katie Rutledge-Taylor
Knowledge and Evidence Lead & Outdoor Play Support Facilitator
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Caylin Gans
Outdoor Play Support Facilitator

She/Her
MSc
As a child, Caylin played outside (and mostly barefoot) in the lava fields and beaches of the Big Island of Hawaii where she was born and raised. These early experiences are what sparked Caylin’s passion for Nature-rooted, experiential, and holistic approaches to education and well being. After leaving Hawaii as an adult, Caylin has enjoyed working with people of all ages in a variety of outdoor settings, including national parks, nature centres, educational farms, and city parks - all while moving around within 3 different countries (USA, UK, and Canada).

Caylin has a MSc in Environmental Education, Forest School Leader qualification, and is the creator of Forest Schooled, a business that supports and deepens learning and professional practice for Nature educators all over the world through mentorship, workshops, and professional learning communities. She’s the author of blog turned book, Forest Schooled, The Book, and collaborates with organizations to develop and deliver programs and courses that are grounded in appreciation and respect for the natural world, and work towards ecological and social justice.

Caylin Gans
Outdoor Play Support Facilitator
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Sarah Doyle
Outdoor Play Support Facilitator & Art Therapy Student

DTATI candidate, BHSc-Midwifery
Sarah Doyle grew up in a small hamlet in the Ottawa Valley, where she spent most of her childhood exploring the surrounding forests, streams, and lakes. This early connection to nature sparked a deep appreciation for play, creativity, and the ways both can support healing. Now an art therapy student at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute, she offers individual art therapy sessions and facilitates grief groups for adults in Ottawa.
Prior to her career in art therapy, Sarah worked as a midwife for 17 years, providing prenatal, birth, and postpartum care to families. Her passion for supporting people through life's transitions—including grief, healing, and new parenthood—continues to inform her work.
Sarah believes in the healing power of creativity and approaches her practice with curiosity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to anti-oppressive, culturally humble care.

Sarah Doyle
Outdoor Play Support Facilitator & Art Therapy Student
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Kesha Mukobelwa
Project Coordinator

She/Her
BSW
Kesha is a dynamic and personable project coordinator with a robust background in community development, project management, and mental health support.
Kesha began her career in the social work sector, focusing on the homeless population and mental health field. Throughout her career, she has undertaken various roles such as front-line support worker, case manager, and community developer. She has since transitioned into administrative and project management roles, gaining valuable experience in developing community programs.
Kesha holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Carleton University and is fluent in English, while also pretending to be fluent in French. Her passion for fostering connections and supporting community growth drives her to bring energy and dedication to her role at Playful Mindset.
Outside of work, you can find her exploring new coffee shops, despite disliking the taste of coffee, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Kesha Mukobelwa
Project Coordinator
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Grace McCaffrey
Tech Support

She/They
BA
Grace has a degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Dalhousie University. A proud bricoleur, she has spent the last decade or so working with and for a variety of not-for-profit orgs and small creative businesses in a multitude of capacities – think of a position, she has probably done it!
She now specializes in tech and web development support, combining her love of service with creative problem-solving. Grace loves to take fiddly problems off plates, so folks doing good work can better direct their energy towards what they’re truly passionate about.
Grace is honoured to be working alongside the Playful Mindset team to help bring such an important and meaningful project to life.

Grace McCaffrey
Tech Support

Wise Counsel

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Freya Struthers
Director

Freya Struthers currently leads WaterAid Canada’s Philanthropy Department, while proudly supporting its mission of clean water access for everyone, everywhere. Prior to WaterAid, Freya contributed to Canada’s National Arts Centre’s fundraising efforts for 9 years following a career roadmap of serving youth leadership, development through sport, and multiple and diverse NGO’s, while living in and outside of Canada. Freya’s steadfast enthusiasm for community connectiveness and engagement is currently demonstrated in her volunteerism with CityFolk and Bluesfest music festivals through board membership and DEI work. Additionally, Freya supports local arts organizations through fundraising consultancy and mentorship of next gen female leaders within the fundraising sector. For Freya, play involves contemplative spaces in nature, turning her kitchen into a culinary test lab, corralling her free-range children, and making time for darn good live music.

Freya Struthers
Director
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Rusty Keeler
Director

Rusty Keeler is a natural playscape designer who has worked with communities around the world for over 30 years to design and build natural play environments for children and families. Creating a sense of place and playful connections to the natural world are at the heart of Rusty's designs. Described as a cross between Fred Rogers and Jerry Garcia, Rusty is also a frequent keynote speaker and author of multiple books on play and playscapes. He is the co-founder of the social justice initiative called the "Just Play Project" in Ithaca, NY which works to support all children’s right to play. Rusty is the current vice president of the USA chapter of the International Play Association.

Rusty Keeler
Director
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Erin Flynn
Director

Erin Flynn (BA Geography concentration in Environmental Studies, BEd in Outdoor Ecological & Experiential Education) is a community builder, educator and arts administrator. Her passion for people and the arts have led her on a winding road of discovery. With a long history as Station Manager at CHUO 89.1 FM, Ottawa-Gatineau’s community driven, independent radio station, she has connected deeply with the arts and culture community. Most recently, she has worked with the Ottawa International Writers Festival and Being Art Studio to launch their respective podcast series.
With a background in Environmental Studies and Experiential Learning, Erin is constantly looking for new ways to deepen her knowledge and explore new ways of doing things. Her volunteering experience includes serving as Executive director for Camp Misquah, serving on the Board Of Directors of DARC, Apt613.ca, House of PainT, and currently as a music writer for earSHOT! She is a juror for FACTOR and former with the Polaris Music Prize.

Erin Flynn
Director
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Jordi Jacko
Director

Jordi Jacko is from a small community of Whitefish River First Nation. Jordi still resides in the Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory, which is his traditional territory. Jordi comes with 10 years of implementing, developing, and facilitating youth-focused programming for indigenous communities in Ontario and Canada. He has also been in the non-profit world for the past 9 years, helping develop strong relationships with communities and organizations. If you can’t get ahold of Jordi, he is walking his puppy Stevie in the bush or canoeing on the lake.

Jordi Jacko
Director
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Joanne Doucette
Director

Joanne Doucette (MSW, RSW) has 25 years of experience as a social worker and therapist, with a focus on supporting children and families. During her years at CHEO and Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice, she provided individual, family and group therapy within inpatient mental health and Palliative Care, including the development and facilitation of support groups for bereaved parents. Currently, in her private practice, Joanne continues to provide grief therapy and to create support groups and workshops. These group experiences for both youth and their parents confirm how creating meaningful connections with others, in a supportive environment, is often the most powerful way for healing to take place.

Joanne is a also a Mom to two teenagers and loves spending time on hiking trails in the summer or cross-country skiing in Gatineau in the winter.

Joanne Doucette
Director
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Dominique Jean
Director

Dominique Jean is a passionate social worker with 20 years of experience working in community non-profits, working to support and facilitate housing, mental health, and employment programs. Dominique has a deep respect for the healing power of nature, which was cultivated during his 16 years spent at summer camp as a child. This experience shaped him, providing a safe place to take risks and grow into the person he is today. He often takes on challenging multi-day canoeing and hiking wilderness excursions, continuing to find solace in nature.
With a background in horticultural therapy, Dominique has worked with youth, using plant-based approaches to encourage personal growth and healing. Additionally, Dominique is a filmmaker, bringing creativity and storytelling into his professional work. He finds joy in the restorative power of nature, whether through adventure, warm fires, or a round of disc golf.

Dominique Jean
Director
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Dr. Elizabeth Cawley
Director

MSc, PhD
Dr Elizabeth Cawley is one of Canada’s leading experts in youth mental health. She is currently the Chief Clinical Officer at PlaySpace, a company focused on bringing digital play therapy to clinicians to support children, youth and neurodivergent adults.
She was one of the expert authors of Canada’s National Standard for the Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students, the first of its kind in the world. Dr. Cawley is a strong advocate for youth mental health across the country and has worked extensively in service design and policy reform.
In her spare time, Dr Cawley enjoys yoga, running, and exploring the East Coast Trail across Newfoundland.

Dr. Elizabeth Cawley
Director
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Hannah Renglich
Advisor

Hannah Renglich joyfully works as a facilitator, curriculum developer, consultant, and a coach for community organizers, leaders, and practitioners. Addressing the intersections of personal, social, and systemic approaches to leaving this place better than we found it, Hannah has enjoyed accompanying people in non-profits, public policy institutes, start-ups, global social movements, foundations, and grassroots organizations. With her uniquely gentle ability to engage with difficult questions, behaviours, and patterns around power and privilege, Hannah supports people to discern goals, make plans, and take values-aligned actions in order to achieve lasting change and impact. Her ethic of care underpins Hannah's conviction that kindness, playfulness, and connection are medicines we can all create and share in these times.

hannahrenglich.ca

Hannah Renglich
Advisor