Staff

Rachel Crane, Executive Director

Rachel has found that the best ideas and outcomes emerge through nurturing healthy relationships. Facilitating authentic and collaborative connection is, therefore, central to her work.

Throughout her career in adult learning and human development, she has witnessed how one’s overall livelihood and wellbeing is positively correlated with essential skills, like literacy. She has personally been transformed by a path of lifelong learning journey— notably, during her time in business school, through a graduate program focused in leadership, and in parenting her two children (who are also her best teachers).

Rachel welcomes you to connect through email or LinkedIn and learn about her aligned work in workforce development through the Workforce Collective website.

Ashley Hoath-Murray, Interim 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.

Gay Douglas, Transitions Consultant

Gay retired from her role as Co-Executive Director of Literacy Link Niagara in March 2023. Gay is acting as Transitions Consultant for the 2023-24 fiscal year as LLN transitions into its next chapter of leadership.

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.

Julia Lillicrop, Operations Administrator

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as Operations Administrator. She has a varied and unique background as a teacher, public education volunteer and parent. An advocate of education for all, she embodies and promotes the idea that everyone should have equitable access to learning and literacy. She believes investment in both child and adult literacy is key to enable a healthy Canadian society.