Our Team
Laurel Boytim
Executive Director, Lead Facilitator
Laurel Boytim earned her Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) from Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, and a Certificate in Conflict Management and Mediation from Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, including extensive mediation and Circle training. Laurel has a background in Restorative Justice, Mediation, Conflict Coaching, Circle Keeping, and Teaching. Laurel’s experience includes facilitating workshops/trainings for Circle and for Transformative Mediation. As well, she has facilitated workshops in Anger Management/Managing Emotions and Substance Use. She teaches trauma-informed yoga, mindfulness, and meditation at Grand Valley Institute for Women, Federal Prison, as well as in other settings. Laurel is on the Leadership Team of Gather The Women Canada. She is a part time instructor at University of Guelph-Humber in the Faculty of Justice Studies, teaching her classes in Circle. Laurel has previously owned two small businesses and values innovation and creativity. Laurel has two daughters and a rabbit.
Emily Dorey
Manager of Programs, Lead Facilitator
Emily Dorey is a mental health and social justice advocate who enjoys learning about and working towards peace and justice through creativity, meaningful conversation, and community care. She is particularly passionate about destigmatizing mental health challenges, accessible healthcare, and community outreach. She received her Master of Arts in Social Justice and Community Engagement from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2019 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Communications & Public Policy from St. Thomas University in her home province of New Brunswick. Emily’s background consists of work in mental health peer support and psychoeducation, anti-oppression, digital communications, and supporting the work of anti-racism learning and unlearning through program administration and group facilitation. In addition to her work as Manager of Programs at TREE, Emily is a yoga and meditation teacher at various spaces in the community and loves opportunities to combine yoga and social justice. During her spare time, Emily can be found crocheting, reading, creating digital art, and hanging out with her two cats.
Katie Gingerich
Founder
Katie Gingerich is a social innovator and educator, and gets excited when the worlds of peace and innovation collide. She holds a BA in Peace & Conflict Studies from the University of Waterloo, a certificate in Conflict Management and Mediation from Conrad Grebel University College and a Master of Education from Wilfrid Laurier University. With her expertise in peace education and design and passion to give youth the tools they need to transform conflict and seek justice, she founded TREE in 2016, and led the organization to become a registered charity working with youth across Ontario. She was the 2019 recipient of the Kitchener Youth Action Council’s Youth Ally award, and the 2021 of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace’s Kim Phúc Award for Youth Peace Leadership. Connect with Katie.
Karen Goulden
Workshop Facilitator
Karen Goulden graduated from Conestoga College in 2020, with a Diploma in Educational Support. She then enjoyed two years as Assistant Teacher for Senior Kindergarten at the Kitchener-Waterloo Bilingual School. In the classroom, Karen would describe herself as calm, empathetic and playful, and believes that each of these traits is important in working with young children. Over the two years, she spent considerable time with her students stressing and modelling the need to be kind and work harmoniously with each other. Karen first observed a TREE presentation in her classroom on a placement in her college program. She was able to see the positive impact that this made on the students, and is delighted to carry on this work herself as a TREE Workshop Facilitator this year.
Zayna Shaikh
Workshop Facilitator and Program Assistant
Zayna is a second-year student in Environment and Business at the University of Waterloo, with a passion for education as the backbone of solving complex social issues. Zayna is also passionate about climate change education and holistic approaches to conflict resolution. She is a traveler, hiker, chef and artist in her free time, and strongly believes in empowering youth to follow their dreams and seek happiness. She is thrilled to be working with youth to improve our current education and social systems for the betterment of people and the planet!
Interested in joining our team?
Check out our current opportunities.
The Ripple Effect Education, 2020.
Charitable Registration: 789221736 RR0001
