Meet our Newest Board of Director Members

Bradley Hickman

Brad Hickman is a seasoned frontline pre-hospital emergency healthcare manager who supervises and manages frontline paramedics in a dynamic system. He is currently a Superintendent, Paramedic Operations for the Regional Municipality of York. Through a series of progressively more responsible senior positions within York Region Paramedic Services, Brad has been involved in strategic planning, project management, and committee work with other healthcare partners such as Hospitals.

Passionate about paramedic wellness Brad led the development of the first ever Paramedic Wellness Strategy and the introduction of mental health literacy and resiliency training for paramedics and their supervisors. He earned a certificate in Workplace Mental Health Leadership from Queens University.

Brad first attended MCC Toronto in early 2005 and became a Member of the Church several months later. In 2010, Brad became a dedicated volunteer with the Worship Coordinator Ministry and then the Anointer and Communion Server Ministry. He has been involved in all aspects of worship and has been the lead of the Worship Coordinator Ministry for several years. Brad joined the Men’s Retreat planning committee in 2016 and has been the registration lead ever since.  Also, in 2016 Brad represented MCC Toronto as a lay delegate at the General Conference of Metropolitan Community Churches.

 

 

Susan Leslie Berkis

Susan grew up in Belleville, Ontario, received a B.A from the University of Guelph, started her career in Windsor, Ontario and has enjoyed living in Toronto for the last 42 years.

Susan was introduced to MCC Toronto in 2008 and became a Member one year later. After attending her first Service at MCC Toronto, she knew she had found a safe spiritual place where she would feel peace, respect and acceptance. She knew she was home.

Wanting to give back to this amazing church, Susan volunteered for many years working the Information Desk after church and taking up collection during the Service. She found volunteering was a wonderful way to meet amazing people.

Susan’s entire career has centered around ensuring the emotional well being for children and youth. Her career started as a Front Line Youth Worker with emotionally challenged children and their families. Then for 26 years she was a Professor in the Child and Youth Worker Program at Humber College where the focus was on teaching students how to work with children and their families who were in need of emotional support. During this time Susan sat on three Boards where her experience with children was a great asset. For six years she was a Board Director for Kinark Child and Family Centre, Youth Without Shelter and Etobioke Children’s Centre. During her time on these Boards, Susan actively participated in committees and was Chair of the Board for Youth Without Shelter.

After leaving the College in 2006, Susan spent several years as a consultant where she would work with agencies building and/or mending staff teams. She also developed and lead workshops designed for teachers and Principals within the Toronto, Halton, Northumberland and Renfrew Boards of Education with the theme of understanding and supporting children with emotional and behavioural challenges. This led her in 2008 to Canada’s National Ballet School where she worked full time as the Residence Manager, taught Life Skills and when needed supported families and students with emotional support. In 2017 Susan retired from this full-time position in order to spend more time with her ailing Mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s. Currently, in addition to enjoying retired life, Susan works part-time with children who need a little extra emotional support.

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