Our Board
Board of Directors
David Lee, Board Chair
David Lee, has been the Financial Director of the Trenton Military Family Resource Centre since 2004. He has many years of experience working within his current Not-for-Profit organization. David is a chartered accountant and a member is good standing with the Chartered Professional Accountants Association (CGA/CPA) since 1992. David brings strong financial and business experience.
David has come to our Board with the wish to contribute to the organization that assists youth with their mental health needs. He sees this as an important role within the community that he can contribute to.
David Lee
Peter Wright, Secretary
The Honourable Mr. Justice Peter Jeffrey Wright was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 2002. Peter has experience as an Official Guardian Representative, assisting children in conflict with the law.
Peter has demonstrated a commitment to public service both professionally and personally within our community. He is the recipient of 10 and 15 yr volunteer achievement awards from the Premier of Ontario for service to the community.
He has joined our board to help make life better for the youth within our community who need understanding and care.
Steve Goetz, Treasurer
Steve Goetz, Director of Performance Optimization at the South East LHIN, works closely with health service providers within the South East region. This includes managing, monitoring and evaluating the health service providers’ performance to ensure organizations are meeting standards set out within accountability agreements and reaching the goals defined by the Ministry of Health and the LHIN.
Steve holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Information Systems, as well as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation from the Institute of Management Accountants.
Susan Barberstock, Director
Susan Barberstock is from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Susan is the Director of Community Wellbeing in her home community. Her experience combined with her education, which is a Bachelor of Social Work from Ryerson University has assisted her in her career path working with the urban Indigenous population and the on reserve population. Susan has also been involved with youth sports in many capacities, participant, coach, manager, spectator and parent.
Kirsti Stubbs, Director
Kirsti began her career in non-profit and worked with new Canadians and women, helping them start and run thriving businesses. She has now been helping brands expand and companies hire for over 20 years.
In her current position she is a Talent Advisor for a national Wine, Beer and Spirits company with multiple vineyards, estate wineries, retail stores, well known brands and fine dining establishments. Much of her career was spent at Starbucks Coffee leading large progressive hiring strategies in global Recruiting and Employer Brand.
For the past 4 years she has managed her own consulting business, working with small business and entrepreneurs on hiring, growth, digital marketing, sales, brand, PR and social media presence. Her expertise has been recognized across industry, as she has been the recipient of awards including Best Social Media Strategy, Employer Brand and Top 30 Under 30 with the Ontario Hospitality Institute.
Beyond her professional accomplishments she enjoys real estate, writing (has published 2 co-authored books), is a coffee connoisseur and spending intentional time with family. She relocated to Prince Edward County in 2020 with her two kids, determined to embrace a more simplified and healthy life. In her role on the Board, Kirsti hopes to build awareness for the much needed services and support for children in her local community.
Kirsti Stubbs
Robert Waldon, Director
After almost 40 years’ working across Canada in major project management, negotiation, mediation, community engagement and non-profit boards, Bob recently “graduated to 100% volunteer status”. A husband, parent, runner and lifelong volunteer, Bob is collaborative, inquisitive and a relationship-builder who wants to draw on that experience to support progress in youth wellbeing, the environment and Reconciliation.
From personal experience as a mediator, parent and volunteer in youth restorative justice, Bob learned firsthand that the wellbeing of families is a pillar of healthy communities. He looks forward to being a part of Children’s Mental Health Services’ mission to help children, youth and their families cope with life’s challenges in the communities that they serve.
Kiyden Zachariah, Director
Bio Coming Soon...
Grace Whyte, Director
Grace is currently a student at Queen's University enrolled in psychology and gender studies. Grace was a student trustee on the Hastings and Prince Edward District school board, and a part of the Mental Health Leadership team and Equity and Inclusivity committee, which has given her some valuable experience.
Grace is extremely passionate about being involved in the community and providing youth perspective wherever possible!
Jeff Radford, Director
A recent graduate from The University of Ottawa. Jeff studied Criminology and Communications for 5 years while playing on the Men’s Varsity Rugby team. Jeff has since moved home and found employment with the Belleville Police Service.
As someone who was born and raised in Belleville, Jeff has a passion to give back to his community and get involved with the youth wherever possible to help them find their path in life. Jeff considers himself an open-minded individual who is always trying to listen and learn from individual and group interactions while contributing his ideas wherever possible.
In his spare time Jeff volunteers within other local organizations and enjoys spending time with his friends, playing sports, training mixed martial arts, arm-wrestling, and travelling.
Children’s Mental Health Services (CMHS) is seeking new Board Members with a passion for children and youth and who care about their mental health and wellness, within our communities.
We are looking for people with skills that can contribute to the organization and to the vision of building a better system of service for children and youth across Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (HPE).
Our Board supports the vision of collaboration with other not for profit Boards to help improve the overall system for children and youth within HPE.
If you are interested in joining our Board please complete the following Board Application Form and submit it to thanley@cmhs-hpe.on.ca
Meet the CEO
Susan Sweetman
Susan Sweetman, CEO
Susan has been the Chief Executive Officer at CMHS since 2015.
Susan came to CMHS with vast Human Service experience, spanning across the country and various field.
Susan’s initial background with children was as an Early Childhood Educator, studying at Loyalist College. She then shifted to the field of Child Protection, completing a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Regina in 1997. Susan held various progressive positions in Regina, North Bay and Ottawa, throughout her fifteen year career within Child Protection. She was also a trainer with the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, teaching forensic interviewing skills to police and social workers across the province.
Susan was also called upon to be an Expert Member of the Senate of Canada’s Roundtable on Sexually Exploited Youth in Conflict with the Law. As a result, amendments were made to Criminal Code sections related to the Age of Consent, Sexual Exploitation and a new section created related to Internet Luring of children.
Susan completed a Master of Public Administration at Queens University in 2004, pursuing her love of policy and leadership.
Returning to the Quinte area in 2005, Susan initially assisted the courts as a Family Court Clinic Assessor, then accepted the position as Executive Director at the Trenton Military Family Resource Centre and was seconded to DND to develop National Accreditation standards for all MFRCs. In 2013, Susan completed a Masters of Laws at York University.
In 2015, Susan joined the team at CMHS, wanting to return to her clinical roots in social work. Seeing the great need within the community and the challenge ahead for the Mental Health sector, Susan assumed the challenge of seeking Lead Agency status for CMHS within the first three months on the job. In 2017, Susan continued her education, completing the Public Sector Executive Leadership program at the Rotman School of Business.
As a lifelong learner, Susan is committed to always improving the work she does with children and youth because “kids deserve better!”