Freedom Quest is an agency that is made up of creative, knowledgeable, and skilled individuals who have backgrounds in child & youth care, social work, counselling, psychology, and related fields. What these individuals share is a passion for supporting young people in talking about what is going on in their lives, thinking about what they might want to do next, and empowering them to move forward.
Executive Team
Tina Tew - Executive Director
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Tina is guided by a passion for supporting young people and families through adversities relating to trauma, substance-use, family violence, mental wellness, and injustice. She naturally works from a place of unconditional positive regard in both her clinical work as well as in her relationships with colleagues and community members. She is warm, creative, and committed to collaboration. She is grounded in the belief that multidisciplinary teams with diverse experiences, knowledges, perspectives, and worldviews are vital to providing a community with the best services possible.
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Dailton Magnago - Financial Coordinator
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Dailton was born in Brazil and moved to Canada with his family in 2022. He loves to spend time with them talking about life, listening to music, or just watching a good movie. Dailton has a passion for world history, religion, and languages. He speaks Portuguese, Spanish and English.
He has a Bachelor Degree of Law, a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management (both earned from Brazilian universities), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (Selkirk College). In Brazil, he practiced law as a licensed attorney for 10 years. He also managed a law firm for about 8 years, where he enhanced his financial expertise, always keeping accounting best practices. He can work alongside worldviews that are not his own and is able to understand and respect different opinions. He believes that the fundamental freedoms of thought, belief, opinion, and expression are necessary for the happiness, growth, and stability of society. Honesty and integrity are some of the attributes that he treasures most. Dailton is a smiley person who is always willing to help his colleagues and make a difference in the workplace. He loves working at Freedom Quest and one of his goals is to make sure that the finance records are always accurate and impeccable! |
Kat Chong - Human Resources Manager
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Kat moved to the West Kootenays from Vancouver in 2019 and hasn’t looked back, she calls Castlegar her home now. Kat brings with her over 12 years of experience in Human Resources and is a people-first HR leader that is passionate about making a difference in the community around her. Kat brings a great passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion and is dedicated to ensuring that these practices are part of her life in all ways possible.
When not working you can find probably find Kat in the forest hiking and running, or cross-country skiing, but even more likely behind her sewing machine and at home spending quality time with her family. Kat’s door is always open, so feel free to drop by if you see her in the office and have a tea and chat! |
Leadership Team
Cindy Cropley - Day Treatment Coordinator & Youth Substance Use Counsellor Coordinator
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Cindy is proud to have been a part of the original group of Youth Workers who opened Freedom Quest in 2005.
Cindy has had many roles through her years at Freedom Quest and currently is the Coordinator of the Regional Alcohol and Drug Day Treatment Program (RADD) and is the Coordinator of the Youth Substance Use Counsellor team. Cindy loves working for youth and lives in appreciation and gratitude of their willingness to trust, share, learn and grow as they move through their desired changes while in our programs. Cindy provides support, education, and advocacy to youth and their supports. Cindy strives to create environments that are safe, caring, non-judgmental, empowering, and fun. Cindy believes in providing youth services that are as barrier free as possible which includes providing them respectful confidential services and meeting them where they are at mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and even geographically. Cindy is also proud to be a part of and a support to the team of Freedom Quest Counsellors who show up and give their very best to youth as they journey through change. |
Lynsey Souza - Regional Concurrent Disorders Clinician
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Lynsey completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Simon Fraser University, and a Master’s in Counselling (MC:AT) through Athabasca University, in conjunction with a Diploma in Art Therapy (DVATI) at Vancouver Art Therapy Institute.
Lynsey recognizes the importance of developing relationships with local services, and services beyond our local limits in order to work together to reduce barriers to youth accessing medical and mental health care. She looks forward to taking part in striving for continuity of care in the services available to youth and their families. She sees that this collaboration between service providers is integral to bridging the gaps that youth can face in accessing services. Honouring youth’s self-knowledge, and experience is central in the work that Lynsey does. She believes it is essential for youth to develop a sense of agency in making decisions for themselves, and to recognize their own power in that agency. Her role is to bring the resources to the table and invite youth to consider how they would like to use them in the context of their own lived experience. Supporting youth to identify how they see themselves engaging in support services, what they hope for, and what steps they would like to take in making change invites youth to develop awareness of their capacity to make intentional choices and take action in their own lives. Lynsey takes a youth-centered, relational, holistic and generalist approach to working with youth where the biological, psychological, social factors of their experience and life context are considered. |
Greg Cote - Therapeutic Recreation Programming Coordinator
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Having grown up the Alberta Rockies, with a father who is an ER doctor and an older brother who is an ACMG ski guide. Greg is no stranger to outdoor recreation and mountain adventure. By age 16, Greg had taken an Outdoor Leaders In Training program and was leading young people on outdoor adventure pursuits.
Greg attended College of the Rockies in Fernie B.C. where he was immersed in the hands on study of Mountain Adventure Skills Training. This program gave him the skills, knowledge, and certifications needed to confidently lead groups in many outdoor pursuits. Following this Greg continued with college to study Environmental Planning at Selkirk. Greg is ultra excited to be sharing his passion for outdoor adventure and environmental stewardship with youth in the community and to be helping community members break down barriers for accessing recreation. When not at work, you can often find Greg on the skin track pursuing his own backcountry ski adventures, or white-water paddling. Greg is a certified freestyle ski coach, snowboard instructor, whitewater raft guide, mountain bike instructor, and he is an all around stoked guy!! |
Mandy Root - Prevention Coordinator & Nelson Youth Substance Use Counsellor
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Bio & photo coming soon...
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Samantha Jackson - Residence Manager
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With many years of experience in residential care, Samantha is excited about her role as Residential Coordinator. She knows it is an amazing opportunity to provide youth in the West Kootenay’s with a stable, safe, warm, non judgmental, and caring home base. The home is where the day starts and where it ends, and Samantha will do everything she can to ensure youth living in Freedom Quest homes feel cared for and happy when they wake and when they go to sleep!
Samantha has been working with youth since 2012 and has had the privilege of working in many diverse roles throughout Canada and beyond. The majority of this work has been with youth aged 13-18 struggling with substance misuse, mental health concerns, sexual exploitation, and criminal involvement. Samantha also has a passion for recreation, especially outdoor recreation, and has been able to bring this into the work she does. She is excited to work with her team to make this a large part of daily life for the youth living in the home. Samantha feels privileged to work in this field and constantly strives to bring this gratitude to her relationships with youth. She sees all of the youth she works with as masters of their own destiny and endeavors to assist them in meeting their goals however she can. When she’s not at work, you can find Samantha on the side of a mountain, either skiing or mountain biking. Samantha loves to be outside, but also loves spending time indoors reading a good book. She is calm, funny, and comes with lots of fun quirks! |
Staff Team
Substance Use Services Team
Holly Hume - Grand Forks Youth Substance Use Counsellor
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Engaging, fun, and thought-provoking, Holly enjoys facilitating workshops and creatively assisting Boundary area youth meet their full potential. Previous to joining Freedom Quest, Holly worked with Community Futures Boundary for 10 years as an Employment Counsellor, Workshop Facilitator, and Boundary Youth Success Program Coordinator and Lead Facilitator. Holly completed her Social Work Diploma in Calgary where she worked with various social services agencies with individuals, families and youth. Holly loves the outdoors and incorporating recreation into her work with youth. Holly is passionate about empowering and supporting youth.
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Lisette McCracken - Kaslo Youth Substance Use Counsellor
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Lisette is a Metis woman from the Foothills of Treaty 6 and 7 territory who moved to Kaslo, BC with her family in 2021. As a trained Indigenous Art Therapist, Lisette graduated and received her post-baccalaureate diploma from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute in 2023 and is a professional member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. Lisette joined the Freedom Quest crew in 2022 and through her role as a Youth Substance Use Counsellor, she works with youth both individually and in group supporting a diverse range of needs. Her passion is creating safe and inclusive spaces for youth to gather, connect, slow down and be their whole selves.
As a Metis woman, Lisette is a passionate advocate and ally for BIPOC and all marginalized peoples. She works diligently to create and hold safe, anti-oppressive, trauma-responsive, and inclusive spaces. Through her lived experience as a youth who struggled with abuse, poverty, homelessness, addiction, and displacement, she is dedicated to working with and supporting youth through a trauma-informed relational lens. While she maintains her professional/academic life, she is most importantly a mother of three children, is a self-taught artist/creator, and loves taking the path less followed roaming the natural world. |
Maggie herbert - Trail/Salmo Youth Substance Use Counsellor
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Having worked with a variety of social service organizations throughout the last five years, Maggie looks forward to providing accessible, non-judgmental and consistent support for youth in the community. She is a lover of nature, creativity and exploration, and prioritizes relationality and self-determination for those she works alongside.
Maggie holds Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Social Work from the University of Victoria, and is committed to lifelong learning and centering experiential voices. With training and lived experience in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, advocacy and outreach, Maggie looks forward to cultivating a space in community for youth to process, explore, share, and play without barriers. Outside of work, you can find Maggie skiing, hiking, and camping throughout the Kootenays, trying new crafts and hobbies, and reading a good book (recommendations always welcome)! |
AisHA Mulhall - Nakusp Youth Substance Use Counsellor (Currently on Leave)
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For the past 10 years Aisha Mulhall has worked with children, youth and families as an art instructor and therapist, behavioural interventionist and education assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, from the University of Waterloo, with a Teaching Specialization involving additional courses in educational sociology and psychology. Building relationships with youth, families and the community has been the building block of Aisha’s work. The kind of work she believes that is built on a foundation of kindness, trust, understanding, respect, and a genuine interest in improving quality of life.
Aisha brings her love of art as well as the passion she has always carried in providing support to those in need. She loves living in Nakusp and enjoying all that the Kootenays has to offer in outdoor adventure and vibrant community. |
Day treatment Facilitator - Vacant
CRAIG ORRETT - CASTLEGAR & Slocan YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELLOR
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Bio & photo coming soon...
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Mental Health Services Team
RIVER JONES - CASTLEGAR/TRAIL CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH COUNSELLOR
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River has a degree in social work from the University of Victoria and is currently completing her Masters of Social Work, also from UVic. She has worked in mental health and substance use since 2010 and joined the Freedom Quest team in 2012.
River is honoured to be someone youth trust with their stories and authentic selves. She is particularly passionate about walking alongside LGBTQIA+ youth in ways that are affirming and supportive - she also makes a fierce advocate. With a special interest in trauma, River has focused training in relational somatic therapy and movement-based therapy for trauma. River’s values are to practice in ways that are non-judgmental, relational, decolonial. Her theoretical approach is developmental, trauma-informed, attachment-based, and honours the bio-psycho-social-spiritual wellbeing of others. River prioritizes the autonomy, integrity, and self-determination of those she walks alongside, which in her role as Child and Youth Mental Health Counsellor, includes caregivers and families. River has an awesome sense of humour; she spends almost as much time laughing with youth as she does talking about the hard stuff. She values opportunities to share in moments of joy with those she walks alongside. River has a wide array of interests which she has very little time for because she also has two super awesome young kids. She enjoys music, dancing, reading, being in the mountains or near the water, and teaching her kids lyrics to Sir Mix a Lot songs. |
Residential Services Team
Residence Coordinators
Nicole Johnstone
Sierra Morehouse
Residential Child & Youth Workers
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Merope Chappell
Kaleigh Herald
Natasha Gould
Ernesto Realuyo
Coralie Drysdale
Candice Radtke
Sulba Sulba
Lydia Neuman
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Kyla Phillips
Tayo Olojede
Alex Stone
Mahendra Tomar
Chris Shortall
Minh Hoang
Jeffery Andrews
Mollie Jarrett
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Ma Charmagne Caling
Junie Moralda
Jayden Godkin
Kirandeep Kaur
Marijane Kruschel
Timothy Thibeodeau
Richard Okru
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