Meet Angie

I bring with me a range of personal and professional experiences that have shaped my social work practice. 

After my companion pet and best friend Montey passed away in 2004, I began to use my training to work in the area of pet loss bereavement and compassion fatigue.  As a profession, social work in Canada has done little to address issues related to pet loss bereavement.  I have found numerous ways to use my years of experience and education to address a valuable but undervalued need.

 

I began volunteering with the Halton/Peel Pet Loss Support Group and had the chance to meet many inspirational people and learn from others’ experiences.  I have worked with the Canadian Centre for Pet Loss Bereavement providing support to people anticipating/experiencing the loss of their animal companions, as well as providing professional development support to veterinary staff.  I have also coordinated a Pet Loss Program with Pet Vet Hospitals, providing a range of pet loss supports including counselling, support groups and workshops for both clients and staff. Now, as part of New Wave Consulting, I provide specialized training to those working in the animal care community.

 

In addition to the area of pet loss bereavement, I am also passionate about working with organizations in the non-profit sector.  Having worked in them for over ten years, I’ve seen their strengths and struggles.  I have worked in both the violence against women and settlement sector in both front-line and community development positions.  Some of my experience includes working with: Herizon House, Council of Agencies Serving South Asians, Woman Abuse Council of Toronto, Ministry of Attorney General and Springtide Resources: Ending Violence against Women.  While I currently teach with Humber College and Seneca College’s Social Services Worker Program, I remain closely involved in the non-profit sector through my consulting practice. 

 

I am able to use my past and current experience to inform the work I do with New Wave Consulting.  Some of my clients have included the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre, Woman Abuse Council of Toronto, Canadian Centre for Pet Loss Bereavement, Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, Interval House Hamilton, and the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses. 

 

I have learned the importance of practicing from an integrated anti-oppression framework and incorporate this into my practice.  I received my Bachelor of Social Work degree from Ryerson University with a minor in Public Administration and Master of Social Work at York University where I completed a research study examining shelter service delivery to immigrant women impacted by family violence. I completed the Bereavement Education Certificate Program with Toronto Advanced Professional Education and am a Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist with the Traumatolgy Institute.

I’ve talked enough about myself; I look forward to learning about you and your organization!