The individuals that make up the team at The Nightingale Centre have extensive experience in supporting children, youth, and their families through grief, death and dying. Coming from diverse backgrounds in psychology, organizational governance, thanatology and more, each member of The Nightingale Team shares a passion for supporting our community through significant and devastating loss.
Jodi Pereira
Jodi has worked in, and with, Community not for profits for over 30 years. Jodi was a director at one of the largest Community Hospice in Ontario for 9 years. She was the creator of the HUUG (Help Us Understand Grief) Program, a one to one/group support program for children and families living with illness, grief and death; a program model which has been adopted by other hospices across the province. Jodi initiated a regional grief collaborative called the Children and Youth Grief Network (CYGN) which became the catalyst for the development of a national collaboration – the Canadian Alliance for Grieving Children and Youth.
In all of her past and current roles, Jodi has seen the benefit that connection has especially in grief. In one of her current roles as the Director of Camp Erin Toronto, she is honored to have witnessed the transformative impact that results when children and youth living with the death of a significant person in their life are connected, supported and given the space to talk about their experience.
Jodi has always been a volunteer sharing her time with organizations that have intersected with different stages of her life. She is currently a volunteer on two boards and also with a number of local sports organizations.
Jodi is a long-time resident of Georgetown, the town that she and her family call home.
Allison de Ruiter
Ally de Ruiter is the Grow in Grief (GiG) Family Counsellor here at The Nightingale Centre. With over 10 years of experience in grief and bereavement, Ally comes with extensive experience working in homes, schools and communities with children, youth, caregivers, and professionals living, and working with grief. Ally is a certified child life specialist, early childhood educator and holds a degree in children’s studies and advocacy with a master’s in education. Ally also works as a professor at Conestoga College in the Early Childhood Education program. To stay grounded and balanced, Ally enjoys spending time outdoors and with her husband, son, daughter and dog.
Janessa Swanson
Janessa is the Grow in Grief (GiG) Group and Event Coordinator at Nightingale Centre.
She completed a health specialization Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at the University of Waterloo, with a focus on grief and bereavement, and is a registered member of the College of Social Workers of Ontario. During her employment in hospice palliative care, Janessa developed extensive knowledge in relation to grief and bereavement where she provided individual and group programming for children, families, and adults. She also worked closely with community members to facilitate grief programs in local elementary and high schools. In addition, Janessa has had extensive experience supporting individuals and their families who are navigating the process of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).
Janessa enjoys spending time in nature, baking, and being around family.