Staff

Gay Douglas Broerse, Co-Executive Director

Over the past 25 years, Gay has worked in not-for-profit management and fundraising for a variety of causes – The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Big Sisters Association of Ontario, and the Recycling Council of Ontario.

Since 1996 she has served as the Executive Director of Literacy Link Niagara, coordinating, planning and facilitating a complex service system of adult upgrading programs, and serving as an advocate for adult education. Twice nominated for a Premier’s Award, Gay served as convocation speaker at the 1999 and 2010 Niagara College convocations. She was presented with an honourary graduate certificate in event management.

Gay was recognized as a 2010 YWCA Woman of Distinction in the category of Training, Education and Development.

Ashley Hoath-Murray, Co-Executive Director

Ashley believes that many community issues are tied to low literacy levels including unemployment, poverty and political apathy.  A graduate of Leadership Niagara, Ashley feels that leadership means inspiring people to dialogue about community possibilities, not problems.

She holds an undergraduate degree in Politics and Women’s Studies with an emphasis in Law & Policy from Trent University.  She also has a Post-Graduate Certificate in Event Management from Niagara College.

Karen Schmidt, Partnerships Coordinator

Building community-based partnerships have been Karen’s focus since joining Literacy Link Niagara in 2010. Bringing together professionals working in employment, literacy, education and entrepreneurship, she works to provide them with opportunities to network, participate in professional development and learn more about the services that we all provide and how we can work together in ways that will benefit our clients.

Karen coordinates quarterly Niagara Employment Network meetings which provide an opportunity for networking and professional development at various host locations in Niagara. Karen also researches, writes and edits Niagara Works – a publication produced by Literacy Link Niagara to provide an information starting point for unemployed adults in the Niagara Region.