About YAK
YAK Youth Services is an established, award-winning, not-for-profit charity that has been operating in the Perth and District Region since 1996. YYS is deeply committed to promoting the well-being and positive development of local youth, serving as a vital support network while providing protective conditions.
YAK Youth Services currently operates the Perth Youth Centre and manages the Perth Community Services Hub, both of which are located at 1881 Rogers Rd.
Vision
YAK Youth Services (YYS) is responsive to the changing needs of our youth and our community.
Mission Statement
YYS is committed to promoting and facilitating youth attachment to society and community, increasing developmental opportunities for youth and promoting their well being, ameliorating risk-factors and providing protective conditions for youth “at risk” and promoting public awareness of youth issues.
Purpose
YYS is committed to promoting the empowerment, well-being, and collective interests of local youth in a responsive and continuously adaptive manner. YYS provides a variety of supports that enable youth to elevate their skills, explore new opportunities, develop positive relationships, and get more involved in the community. YYS assists local youth in pursuing developmental opportunities by supportively providing them with resources, information, training, and encouragement. YYS also serves to strengthen the voice of youth in our community and promote awareness of local youth issues.
Value Statement
In its pursuit to improve the quality of life through the causes it serves, YYS is guided by the highest moral and ethical standards.
Principles
- To operate with integrity, honesty, truthfulness and conscience.
- To safeguard the public trust.
- To demonstrate concern for the interest of those affected by its actions.
- Treat all people with dignity and respect.
- Value privacy and freedom of choice.
- Foster cultural diversity and equality.
- Adhere to the spirit and letter of applicable laws and regulations.
Goals
- To create a wide range of developmental opportunities for youth of Perth and District.
- To provide youth with skills and abilities to succeed in life.
- To provide a safe, supportive and fun environment for local youth.
- To establish a permanent “one-stop shop” facility for the youth in Perth.
- To increase youth “attachment” to the greater community.
- To provide opportunities for isolated youth to get involved in community activities.
- To reduce negative and risky behaviour.
- To provide mentoring and tutoring for youth.
- To provide support to youth in distress and act as a referral service to appropriate agencies.
- To promote public awareness of youth issues and needs.
Board
- John Reid, chair
- Stephanie Drummond, vice chair
- Gilbert Rossignol, treasurer
- Nathan O’Neill, secretary
- Jackie Hart
- Sarah Deme
Staff
Executive Director: Rachel Roth
Rachel grew up in Perth and has worked as an Executive Director in the Not-for-Profit Charitable sector since 2006. She excels in financial management, implementing strategic plans, ensuring best practices, building a team environment and creating strong administrative frameworks.
Previous to her current role, she led Greenest City in Toronto. Here, she prepared and achieved national Accreditation with Imagine Canada, sat on the West Toronto Community Legal Services BOD. Prior to this Rachel was the Executive Director of BYTE Empowering Youth Society in Yukon Territory. In the Yukon, she also worked as an Education Officer for Kluane First Nation; taught in a grade 7 classroom and led an employment program through the operation of a commercial greenhouse for the town of Haines Junction and Champagne Aishihik First Nation. During this time, she was also the Co-Chair and the National Director for the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition – Climate Action Network.
She has sat and sits on several board of directors: Parkdale Neighborhood Land Trust, Earth Day Canada, Small Change Fund, UNESCO Youth Steering Committee, Toronto Urban Growers, Whitehorse Youth Coalition, TakingItGlobal, Canada Women’s Economic Council, National Addiction Awareness, Community Resources on Wheels, and the Otty Lake Association.
She has a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Social Science; she attended Lakehead University’s Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism Degree Program and has completed four Administration and Leadership Courses towards her Master of Education with the University of New Brunswick. Rachel is also a certified Organic Master Gardener and has a love for growing fruit, vegetables and lots of flowers.
Support Staff: Allison Graham
Allison Graham was born and raised near Perth. After graduating from high school, she studied psychology and drama at Queens University (Kingston, Canada). She then auditioned for, and was accepted to, The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts (Los Angeles, California), where she spent two years studying theatre. Following graduation she was asked to join the Academy ‘Company’, and in collaboration with nine other actors, enjoyed a challenging and rewarding third year performing theatre pieces. She finished her formal education at Pasadena City College, majoring in creative writing.
This combination of schooling provided her with an Associate Degree in Theatre Arts, and has enabled her to strike a fine balance of working both in front of, and behind a camera. Career highlights, as an actor, include: A Piece Of My Heart (Theatre), Look Back In Anger (Theatre), Rumours (TV Series), and The Line (TV Series). Writing endeavors that bring her the most pride are: Caterpillar Soup (Children’s Story), The Whistler Blower (Short Story), Scarlet Grace (Screenplay), and Gentle Bend (TV Series). Allison returned to Canada in 2000 and works in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, but still calls Perth home.
Youth Centre Coordinator: Aja Dixon
Aja is passionate about working in the non-profit sector and has extensive experience in program coordination, fundraising, and volunteer facilitation. She studied Canadian Studies and History at Carleton University. Aja has also recently completed many health and safety trainings and now holds certifications in Safe Food Handling, Trauma Informed Care, Standard First Aid and CPR along with ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention.
She lived in Ottawa for several years after graduating, where she worked for Public Outreach, Bank & Vogue, the NDP National Election, and the Broadbent Institute. She returned to her hometown of Perth following a stint teaching English as a second language in South Korea. In addition to her current role at YAK Youth Services, Aja also runs the marketing campaigns for Spark Books & Curios and the Academy of Musical Theatre in Perth.
She is also a volunteer board member for Blue Skies In the Community where she focuses on community granting. With her diverse background in community engagement and dedication to youth empowerment, she is eager to make a meaningful impact on the lives of local young people.
Youth Centre Activity Leader: Garrett Pipher
Garrett’s passion for working with children began during his teenage years, when he volunteered at a daycare centre and completed a co-op placement at an elementary school. This early experience solidified his love for teaching and helping youth develop new skills. In 2015, Garrett was introduced to YAK Youth Services through the Skills Link program, where he saw firsthand the vital role YAK plays in providing a safe and supportive space for local youth. Now, as part of the YAK team, Garrett is proud to contribute to that same nurturing environment that shaped his own professional path. An effective problem-solver and communicator, with certifications in First-Aid/CPR, WHMIS, and Safe Food Handling, Garrett is a dedicated and enthusiastic Activity Leader here at YAK.
Youth Centre Activity Leader: Jamie Smith
Jamie holds degrees in Liberal Arts & Sciences from Mohawk Valley Junior College and the University of Southern Maine, where he exceled as an NCAA varsity athlete in hockey, baseball, and lacrosse, winning All-American honours and leading his team to a New York State Baseball Championship. He later earned a degree in Business Administration from York University, after which he served as the National Sales Manager for Central Wire Industries. Jamie is also an experienced entrepreneur; he previously owned and operated the Perth Athletic Centre, and currently runs McEwen & Smith Court Services, as well as The Iron Chapel, a private elite training facility. He also concurrently works with Blair & Son Funeral Home and the Coroner’s Office, and has been a firefighter with the Perth Fire Department since 2017.
In addition to his role as Athletics Coach here at YAK Youth Services, Jamie is very actively involved in the community. He serves as Assistant Pastor at Asbury Free Methodist Church, volunteers as a coach with a local minor hockey organization and with Perth United Soccer club, and is a member of the Lanark Highlander Rugby Team. He also holds numerous certifications from the International Fitness Association, Schwinn, OT University, and is certified in firefighting, CPR, and first-aid.
Joint Hub Administrative Projects Coordinator: Michael Couchman
Originally from Toronto, Michael grew up in the Yukon and northern British Columbia. He holds a Master of Arts and a Master of Letters degree in Modern Historical Studies from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He completed his Ph.D. in History at Queen’s University, Kington, where he was awarded the Department of History Dissertation Prize for the most outstanding graduate thesis of the 2018-19 academic year.
After graduating, he worked as a freelance copywriter and web content editor, while continuing to present and publish his academic work as an independent researcher. Michael and his wife moved to Perth during the pandemic and quickly fell in love with the community.
He is currently a Board Member with the Perth & District Community Foundation, and volunteers at the Perth Wildlife Preserve, as well as with Barn Door Productions theatre company.
Contract Staff: Amica Hewitt
Amica is a dynamic and creative addition to the YAK team, whose wide-ranging professional background encompasses over 20 years of experience in marketing, operations management, event planning, and fundraising. Born in Perth and raised in Ottawa, Amica earned her diploma in Creative Advertising at Algonquin College. She began her career in Marketing at the National Arts Centre of Canada where she conceived a strategy to increase the NAC’s penetration of the 15-29 year-old market. As the Program Manager she designed a web-based program and led the team strategically and tactically in implementing Live Rush, which is a thriving program 20 years later and just rebranded as Under30.
Amica then shifted her career towards her passion in the culinary arts at Rainbow Natural Foods while also running her own catering service—a business she successfully operated for nearly a decade. She soon branched out into the marketing world once again, serving as a part-time professor in Algonquin College’s Advertising Program before becoming the Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator for the TYPS Youth Centre in Almonte. She eventually gravitated towards the film and television industry in Ottawa, where she was able to effectively combine her talents in marketing and the culinary arts.
After working as a script writer, researcher, and recipe developer for cooking television programs at Gusto Worldwide Media, she launched into the marketing world at Lee Valley and then WorldReach Software, where she planned, developed, and coordinated a wide variety of promotional campaigns and strategies. Following this, she simultaneously managed three concurrent contract positions at Watts Entertainment and 1Department Entertainment Services, fulfilling the varied duties of story editor, sous chef, culinary coordinator, food stylist, and shop lead for the arts department.
In addition to her extensive career, Amica has continuously pursued her passion for community development and youth advocacy through her volunteer commitments, which include Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month, Neighbourhood Tomato Community Gardens, The Mills Community Support Corporation, Mainstreet Almonte Attraction and Promotion, Perth Children’s House, and The Table Community Food Centre. She moved back to Perth with her son in 2023, and has brought her enthusiasm, collaborative abilities, and wealth of experience to our team.
Youth Worker – Activity Leader Support Staff: Casual On-Call
- Jessica Ducharme
- Nicholas Stein
Summer Day Camp Staff:
- Logan Noonan
- Shayne Service
- Emma Carroll
- Jenna Timmins
- Evan Carsley-Jones
Volunteer Staff:
- Ric Denis (Be in the Band Music Instructor)
2024 Student Placements:
- Seynabou Babiane
At YAK, we believe that everyone has the right to be treated with kindness and respect.
This Code of Conduct is in place so that everyone who visits YAK Youth Services feels safe.
Any youth, staff, or community member who violates this Code of Conduct is subject to discipline, up to and including removal from YAK Property.
What You Can Expect From YAK (staff & volunteers)
- To be treated with kindness and respect at all times.
- To have the Code of Conduct enforced consistently and fairly.
What We Expect From You(th)
- To treat other youth, staff and volunteers with respect.
- To treat the youth centre with respect.
- To follow the Code of Conduct as outlined below
The Following Behaviour is Prohibited Anywhere on YAK Property:
- Aggressive, threatening or violent language or behaviour.
- Making comments that are insensitive to other people or groups of people.
- Bullying or taking advantage of other youth.
- Failing to cooperate with staff or volunteers.
- Possession or use of alcohol or drugs.
- Smoking or vaping.
- Possession of dangerous materials such as weapons or explosives.
- Behaviour that endangers the health, safety or well-being of others or yourself.
Staff and volunteers have the right to enforce this Code of Conduct. For minors or first-time violations you will receive a verbal warning. For major or repeat violations you may be banned from YAK for a day, a week, or longer. Disputes will be resolved be the E.D. or Board Chair.
YAK partners with various youth service providers to offer a comprehensive network of support for local youth. In this community we are very fortunate to have the support of our local government and many organizations and individuals interested in promoting their well-being.
- Algonquin College Community Employment Services
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lanark County
- Canadian Federation of University Women
- Carleton Place and District Youth Centre
- Climate Network Lanark
- Community Living Association
- Cornerstone Landing
- Family and Children’s Services Lanark Leeds and Grenville
- Girl Guides Canada
- Lanark County Child and Youth Services Collaborative
- Lanark County Community Justice
- Lanark County Interval House
- Lanark Highlands Youth Centre
- Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
- Mississippi Mills Youth Centre
- Ontario Nonprofit Network
- Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth
- Otesha
- Perth Children’s House
- Perth and District Collegiate Institute
- Perth and District Public Union Library
- Planet Youth
- Queer Connection Lanark
- R.N.J. Youth Services
- Second Harvest Food Rescue
- St. John Catholic High School
- R. Leger School
- The Table Community Food Centre
- YouthHAB
