About Us

British Columbia Team     • Alberta Team     • Toronto Team     • Ottawa & Upper Canada Team     • Eastern Canada Team     • National Team

Michelle Linnane Ottawa We first got to know Michelle and her family as hosts. She is naturally warm, energetic, interested in different cultures and has a gift of being able to make people feel at home. She supports our adult program, including local colleges and universities, in addition to recruiting and interviewing new hosts, and managing student and host relationships, all while running a web-based small business and raising her two children. E-Mail Michelle

Brenda St. Jean Ottawa Based on our successful experience over almost ten years with the international student program of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, Brenda now directs our national best practices team on high school students in our academic year programs (AYP). Brenda's previous commercial experience includes writing, editing and property management. We first got to know Brenda and her family as hosts. She and her husband Raymond have three children. E-Mail Brenda

Mélanie Turcotte Ottawa Mélanie joins our team as a relationship manager in Ottawa. We first got to know Mélanie and her family as hosts, welcoming CHI students to the National Capital Region over the last eight years. Mélanie has over 15 years of experience in the communications and linguistic field. She is actively involved in her local community through volunteer work with organizations such as the National Gallery of Canada. E-Mail Mélanie

Jennifer Mackie Ottawa Jennifer MacKie came to us in 2011 directly following completion of a diploma in Food, Nutrition and Risk Management. She also holds a degree in Psychology from Lakehead University, and has spent six years teaching E.S.L. to people of all ages in South Korea. Her experience overseas, degree, and diploma in 'Foods' give her a broad knowledge and experience base from which she can support hosts, students and families as a Relationship Manager. She lives just outside of Ottawa with her young son. E-Mail Jennifer

Hilary Rust Ottawa Originally from the UK, Hilary arrived in Canada in 2004 with her husband and two daughters on a posting to Ottawa. They loved Ottawa so much, they decided to stay, and are now proud to have Permanent Resident status. Having worked at the British High Commission in Ottawa as the Community Liaison Officer, Hilary dealt with families before they left the UK en route to Canada, hoping to make the transition as easy and pain-free as possible. Having relocated herself many times, Hilary understands how important it is to have a sympathetic ear at the end of the phone when things aren't going quite as you had planned! Hilary knows that moving from one country to another is exciting, but that it can be stressful too! Having studied French and German as a student, Hilary participated in exchange programmes and has first-hand experience with the rather daunting prospect of moving in with a host family. She has also experienced how great it can be when you meet that perfect family, and Hilary is happy to report that she still keeps in touch with the family she stayed with in Hamburg in the late 1970s. It was this aspect of CHI's work that appealed to Hilary - being able to contribute in some way to making a student's stay a memorable and happy one; being that sympathetic, helpful person at the end of the phone, and ensuring that no one feels abandoned or forgotten about. E-Mail Hilary

Linda Russell Ottawa We first met Linda as a host. She has come on board our staff team as a host interviewer, and enjoys meeting prospective new hosts. E-Mail Linda

Beth Keogan Ottawa Beth is working part time as a Host Family Interviewer in the Ottawa area. She has been a hosting international students for more then 12 years. She enjoys other cultures and loves to travel. After 32 years as a Day Care Teacher, she has recently retired and is enjoying her new role as a grandmother. E-Mail Beth

Kim Devlin Ottawa Kim has recently joined CHI as part-time Host Family Interviewer. She has lots of experience working with students and families as a Primary School Teacher working for a Private School in Ottawa. She lives with her husband and two children who are at University. Kim is looking forward to working with the experienced team at CHI and meeting our host families. E-Mail Kim

Melanie Smith Ottawa Melanie supports our Ottawa hosts, particularly those in the south end. In addition to her role as Relationship Manager, Melanie coordinates CHI's popular groups program, providing on the ground support for our short term tours in the Ottawa area. E-Mail Melanie

Amanda Sauvé Ottawa Amanda supports our Ottawa team as a Host Interviewer. She has lived in South Korea and Scotland giving her the ability to understand the unique feelings of students and the challenge of adjusting to a new country and culture.  Along with her husband she has been hosting students since 2009.  She loves travelling and has been to a number of countries including Mexico, Ecuador, Ireland, France, Italy and the Dominican Republic.  Amanda and her husband are proud new parents of a beautiful baby girl. E-Mail Amanda

Nelson Williams Brockville Nelson leads our Client Service Team for the Upper Canada District School Board, based in Brockville. In addition to managing our day-to-day relationships with hosts and their students, he plans and manages all aspects of our groups programs in the Thousand Islands. Prior to his work with CHI, Nelson graduated from McGill University with a certified management accounting degree. He has since been involved with international students for 20 years. His work in this field includes being a House Master in an independent boarding school in Quebec, and founding The Fulford Academy in Brockville. Nelson and his wife Diane have three sons. E-Mail Nelson

Brenda Manning Cornwall Brenda manages our student and host relationships in Cornwall and the small communities nearby Cornwall in Eastern Ontario. We first met Brenda as a host, who remains very interested in other cultures and has traveled extensively. Before joining our team, she had many years experience in day care and more recently developed and managed her own business in women's health and fitness. Brenda has one adult stepson, who now lives abroad. E-Mail Brenda

Sandy Lirette Almonte Sandy joins our Upper Canada Client Service Team to provide support to students in the Lanark County and Carleton Place areas. She supports Nelson and Brenda and is looking forward to increasing the profile of her area as we welcome more groups of students to this beautiful part of Ontario. E-Mail Sandy

• Toronto Team     • Ottawa & Upper Canada Team     • British Columbia Team     • Alberta Team     • Fredericton Team     • National Team