Our People

Bonnie Schroeder is a registered social worker, a lifelong learner and volunteer, and a mother of two. In her professional life, Bonnie supports four volunteer-led action committees on health, housing, transportation, and income security to advocate for improved city services that advance the wellbeing of Ottawa’s older adults. She is also a contract instructor with the Minor in Aging Studies at the University of Ottawa. As a registered social worker, Bonnie brings more than 30 years of experience developing, implementing, and evaluating community programs and policies for older adults and their caregivers in the community, mental health, home and community care, and public health sectors. She is a proud member of the Ottawa Social Workers in Aging and Gerontology (SWAG) Network. In her personal life, Bonnie has been volunteering as long as she has been working. She has sat on other Boards of Directors including as Chair of the Aladin Childcare Services and the Regional Director with the Ontario Association of Social Workers. She is also active with the Ottawa Disability Coalition and the Financial Literacy Network of Ottawa. As a busy mother of two young women, Bonnie enjoys filling her spare time by learning about new things, perfecting recipes of her favourite foods, playing online word games, and climbing mountains.

Mikayla brings a background in urban geography, community engagement, and environmental studies. They have a degree in Geography from Carleton University with a concentration in Urban Studies and a minor in Community Engagement, graduating on the Dean’s List in 2024, and a certificate in General Arts and Science with a focus on Environmental Studies from Algonquin College. They have worked with the City of Ottawa in several downtown community centres and more recently in the business support units of the Recreation, Culture and Facilities Department and the Planning, Development, and Building Services Department. Their work focuses on addressing urban inequities, with a focus on care-based services, affordable housing, and accessible public transit. As a queer person with lived experience of housing precarity and barriers to mental healthcare, these issues are personal to them and drive their commitment to building cities that are caring, inclusive, and accessible for all.

Mary is the Senior Director of Operations at Skate Canada, having already served the term maximum as a Director on the Skate Canada board. She has been volunteering in skating since she was a pre-teen. Mary is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA). She has worked in industry for three decades since completing her articling period at KPMG. Mary’s career gave her the opportunity to travel and live in Europe, where she worked on mergers and acquisitions for a Winnipeg-based manufacturing firm. She also worked for the Winnipeg Airports Authority as the Director of Finance, as well as its subsidiary, WASCO, as Director of Corporate Development. Working internationally has allowed Mary to see the world through a more diverse lens. She has been thrilled to be able to match her passion for volunteering with her professional expertise at CAWI.

Jenna is a policy professional committed to advancing inclusive climate solutions through community-driven and equity-focused approaches. She holds a Master’s in Global Governance with a specialization in feminist climate policy, as well as a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies. She currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor at the Forest Products Association of Canada and co-chairs Forestry Together, a national alliance working to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion across Canada’s forest sector workforce. Jenna is the founder of Clear the Air, an award-winning digital platform that empowers youth to take action on climate issues. As a dedicated community advocate in Ottawa, she has contributed her expertise and energy to organizations such as the Women’s Environmental Sustainability Network of Ottawa (WESNO) and Ecology Ottawa.

Darlene is from the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. Her first language is Ojibway. As a strong Indigenous woman, Darlene’s mission in life is to protect, preserve and promote Indigenous culture, traditions and language for those coming behind her, such as her three grandsons. Darlene works tirelessly to ensure Indigenous people are visible and their voices are heard. She currently works for the Gowling Law Firm on the Federal Indian Day School Class Action file. She’s the Board Chair for Photographers Without Borders (Canada & United States) and a member of its Indigenous Advisory Group, which brings awareness of Indigenous issues internationally through pictures. Darlene is also the Board Chair for Weengushk Film Institute’s Enaaknagezhig, Board of Directors.

Samrana Elahi is an accountant and CPA candidate with over seven years of progressive experience across finance, accounting, and nonprofit organizations. She currently supports financial reporting, budgeting, audit preparation, and funder accountability within the community health sector and has previous experience in international development, fundraising, and corporate finance. As a queer, racialized woman, Samrana brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her community involvement. Through her work with community-based organizations, she has developed a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and sustainable organizational impact. She is passionate about supporting organizations that amplify diverse voices, empower women and gender-diverse people, and create meaningful opportunities for underrepresented communities. She hopes to contribute thoughtful financial stewardship, collaborative leadership, and a commitment to building more inclusive communities while supporting CAWI’s long-term financial sustainability. team for civic engagement advocacy organizations. When she’s not working she enjoys traveling, reading, and attempting new hobbies.

Nene Salimatou Barry has been a CAWI activist for several years and has learned a lot from the great personalities she's worked with during her time at CAWI. As a board member, she intends to make her modest contribution to the smooth running of CAWI's activities and the well-being of it's participants.

Zoryana Cherwick (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist, tattoo apprentice, small creator, and communications professional based in Ottawa, living and creating on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. They are the creator behind House of Mess and Magic, a creative practice rooted in folklore, ecology, community, playfulness, and care. Zoryana brings a decade of nonprofit communications experience, including five years in strategic communications and government relations in environmental justice. A former union representative, they bring experience in advocacy, relationship-building, collective decision-making, and amplifying diverse voices. As a Ukrainian-Canadian, queer, non-binary, and neurodivergent person, their work is grounded in questions of identity, belonging, access, memory, and place.

Cyndi Mayhew is an Algonquin Anishinaabe woman and member of Temiskaming First Nation with a background in gender equality, law, communications, and community engagement. She holds a BA in Women’s Studies from McGill University and an MA in Legal Studies from Carleton University. Her experience spans political and public-interest work, including serving as Communications Director with Equal Voice Carleton, working in a Member of Parliament’s office, and participating in Indigenous community justice initiatives in Ottawa. She founded her own communications business, Onward Media, bringing more than a decade of experience in strategy, writing, digital media, advocacy, and public engagement. Cyndi is passionate about advancing gender equity, Indigenous justice, and creating more inclusive communities, and is honoured to serve on CAWI’s Board of Directors.