Pleo invites you to join us on April 18 for Prepared & Positive, a community event designed to support parents, caregivers, families, and their children and youth.
Hosted by Pleo, this free community event will bring together experts, parents, caregivers, and community organizations for a day of workshops, presentations, and a
resource fair for parents and caregivers to explore strategies and discover resources to help support the mental health and well-being of their children and youth, while also supporting their own.
Get your tickets: https://ow.ly/sPmM50YuH4v
The event will feature:
- Expert Speakers: Hear from professionals working in the field of child and youth mental health. Gain valuable insights and practical knowledge to help support your child’s mental health and well-being.
- Workshops and Presentations: Participate in interactive workshops and informative presentations led by expert speakers who will share practical strategies, tools, tips, and resources to support your child’s mental health and well-being—while also supporting your own as a parent or caregiver.
- A Resource Fair: Explore information tables from participating community organizations at the Resource Fair. Discover valuable programs, services, and resources that are available in the community to help support your family.
The event will be held on Saturday April 18, 2026 from 9:00am – 1:30pm at Saint Paul University (110 Hazel Avenue, Ottawa), and is graciously sponsored by Rotary Club of West Ottawa.
As spaces are limited and registration is required, we encourage parents and caregivers to get tickets early. Reserve yours today.
Join us for a day of learning, connection, and support, where you can explore strategies and discover resources to help support the mental health and well-being of your child while also supporting your own, and connect with other parents and caregivers — in a welcoming space.
Presentation & Workshop and Speaker Lineup
Keynote Presentation
Topic: “Shameless Love”
Keynote Speaker: Caitlin Morrison, Executive Director of the Matthew Perry House
This presentation will explore how parents and caregivers can sometimes feel—or be made to feel—that they’ve done something wrong when acting out of love for their child. The session will touch on how language like “enabling” can create guilt and shame, and emphasize that acting out of love should always be honoured.
Speaker Bio:
Caitlin Morrison is the Executive Director of the Matthew Perry House, a national initiative carrying forward her brother Matthew Perry’s legacy by advancing dignity-focused, stigma-reducing approaches to recovery. With a deep commitment to improving access to long-term support, she leads efforts to expand community-based services for individuals navigating life after treatment. Caitlin is recognized for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and commitment to building systems that honour the humanity of every individual seeking support for substance use challenges. She brings both professional expertise and a personal understanding of the realities faced by individuals and families. Outside of her professional role, Caitlin is also a mom, bringing strong skills in crisis management, negotiation, and resilience. She is also a devoted Coke Zero enthusiast—some might even say it fuels her leadership.
Breakout Session 1 – Presentations & Workshops
Breakout Session 1 – Option 1
Topic: “Kids Do Well If They Can: An Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving”
Speaker: Carol Jager, Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre
Speaker Bio:
Carol is a senior child and youth worker with over 28 years of experience at Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre. She specializes in collaborative problem solving (CPS), school-based support, single-session counseling, and intake services. Currently working with the 1Call1Click program at CHEO, Carol supports families in accessing compassionate mental health care. She brings a warm, strengths-based approach grounded in the belief that “kids do well if they can.”
Breakout Session 1 – Option 2
Topic: “Walking Alongside: Supporting Someone Through Mental Health and Addictions”
Speaker: Pascale Hough, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre (SHCHC)
Speaker Bio:
Pascale Hough (she/her/elle) has over 25 years of experience in community health. She began her career in sexual and reproductive health and has spent the past decade focusing on mental health and addictions. For the past 8 years, she has worked at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre (SHCHC) providing social service assistance, facilitating groups and navigating clients towards mental health and addictions supports. She is driven by a passion to support families, friends, and caregivers navigating the challenges of mental health and addiction. She describes this journey as a ‘roller coaster of emotions’—an experience she understands deeply, both personally and professionally. Pascale is the mother of two exceptional young people and a long-time volunteer in schools.
Breakout Session 1 – Option 3
Topic: “Recognizing/Responding to Stress and Anxiety in Children and Youth”
Speaker: Dr. Kristin Schaub, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Kristin Schaub is the Program Manager of Psychological Services and Behavioral Analysts at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). She earned her graduate degree from McGill University’s School/Applied Child Psychology program, where her research specialized in non-suicidal self-injury. Since joining the OCDSB psychology department in 2009, Dr. Schaub has gained extensive experience working across both elementary and secondary school levels. She is deeply passionate about promoting mental health initiatives within the school system and is the proud mother of a 14-year-old.
Breakout Session 2 – Presentations & Workshops
Breakout Session 2 – Option 1
Topic: “Facing Suicide Together: Supporting Youth and Those Who Care for Them”
Speaker: Beth O’Halloran, LivingWorks
Speaker Bio:
Beth O’Halloran is a Registered Nurse, coach, and co-founder of Trellis Mental Health Support Strategies, a community-based practice in Almonte, ON. With over 15 years of experience in community health, Beth has focused on mental health, harm reduction, and supporting people through complex life challenges. She is also an ASIST trainer and experienced facilitator, known for creating spaces where people can have honest, meaningful conversations about mental health and suicide. Her work is grounded in compassion, practical tools, and a deep commitment to supporting healthier, more connected communities.
Breakout Session 2 – Option 2
Topic: “Unraveling the Moment” – Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ Children and Youth
Speaker: Elizabeth Snyder, Queer Connection Lanark
Speaker Bio:
Elizabeth has been an out lesbian for over 45 years and has dedicated her life to advocacy and social change. She represents Queer Connection Lanark on multiple advisory groups focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and 2SLGBTQI+ visibility.
Breakout Session 2 – Option 3
Topic: “What to Know About Your Child’s IEPs: Advocating for Your Neurodiverse Child”
Speaker: Dr. Emily Ellwood, Ed.D., M.Ed., B.Ed., B.A. (Hon.), OCT, CCPA (The Second Nature School)
Speaker Bio:
Emily earned her Doctor of Education in 2023, where she focused on barriers experienced by students with special education needs at the K-12 level. She continued her work as an accessibility counselor at the post-secondary level, where she found her mission: a combination of service and advocacy. She aims to challenge and remove barriers, both administrative and academic, for students. She has experience teaching all grades from kindergarten to college to post-graduate in a variety of subjects. She currently also works as a professor at the University of Ottawa in the education faculty, in addition to working as the director of Second Nature Consulting, a neuroaffirming, wraparound private school and clinic.
Closing Presentation
Topic: “Choose to Rise: from Pain to Purpose”
Closing Speaker: Angèle Lamothe, Empowerment Coach, Best-Selling Author, and TEDx Speaker
Speaker Bio:
Angèle Lamothe is a TEDx Speaker, multi-time #1 Best-Selling Author, empowerment coach, and gratitude enthusiast who helps people reclaim their energy and master their mindset to create extraordinary lives. Her message is grounded in lived resilience shaped during some of the most challenging moments of her life, supporting her son through critical hospital stays. In those uncertain and defining times, she didn’t just endure—she transformed. She discovered that energy and mindset are the true drivers of how we experience life, no matter the circumstances. Today, she empowers audiences to turn challenges into breakthroughs, guiding them to move beyond survival, unlock quantum leaps, and lead extraordinary lives rooted in strength, clarity, and deep gratitude to create lasting transformation in every area of their lives.