Our dedicated Staff
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” - HELLEN KELLER
Marcy Amendt
options program DIRECTOR
Marcy, originally from British Columbia, is called to serve young women with love and encouragement and does so practically, but also with much investment behind the scenes in building and refining our programs and operations, volunteer management, training and more. Marcy has great vision, and an unwavering determination to offer the highest levels of care as well as a unique ability to draw out the strengths and talents of those she works alongside. As a mom of 6, with a background in healthcare, she inherently knows how to spin many hats at the same time!
Marcy is a part of the Montreal Youth Unlimited Leadership Team, and is also involved in helping with the start-up of Aide Grossesse, another Pregnancy Centre for all ages.
Marcy's compassion to serve young women came from experiencing her own unplanned pregnancy while she was a teenager. Through this, God has given Marcy a heart to love, help, guide, and support young women at a time in their lives when they could be experiencing confusion and hopelessness.
marcy.amendt@jslmontreal.org
Nataly Mejia
ABRITER PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Finding support and community were key tools for Nataly when, as an immigrant mother herself, she had to face many challenges with her family's integration to Quebec. This experience is what motivated Nataly to join the Options team, which she feels is a beautiful, God-given opportunity to give back to the community all the love and compassion she received and to help young families remain hopeful and confident to see their dreams and plans to reality.
Nataly directs Options' transitional housing program called Abriter (an action word meaning to protect, to shelter, to house) which offers temporary accommodation to pregnant youth and young parents in precarious situations, by providing personalized holistic support within a stable, safe, and dynamic environment, facilitating a transition into autonomy and long-term housing.
Nataly is a trained member and facilitator of the Parenting Under Pressure program piolet with McMaster University.
nataly.mejia@jslmontreal.org
Sue McVeigh
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Hailing from a background in design, marketing, management, and entrepreneurialism, Suzy has a varied skill set which she longs to use to make a positive impact on her community.
Highly creative and innovative, but also empathetic and caring, her work is multifaceted and touches on both sides of the bridge: directly with young women, as well as with essential community partners and city officials. Sue works with youth as they navigate pregnancy and young parenthood, adversity and autonomy. She heads early empowerment preventative outreach programs, family sponsorships, and in-house resources.
Sue helps define and develop program cohesiveness and communication strategies while managing marketing, press inquiries and community partnerships. She also heads communications for Montreal Youth Unlimited for the province of Quebec.
sue.mcveigh@jslmontreal.org
Gary Croft
MYU Director of Operations
Gary is the Director of Operations for Montreal Youth Unlimited and has been responsible for the Options ministry since 2017. He is part of the Montreal Youth Unlimited Leadership and management teams which shape the entirety of MYU. He sits on the BOD of Aide Grossesse Quebec, a startup pregnancy center that will open throughout Quebec.
Gary leads the Dad’s programming at Options; he is a mentor and confidante to young men stepping into and living out young parenthood. He champions fundraising initiatives, city coordination, encourages and facilitates Options staff, volunteers, and young dads to reach their full potential.
gary.croft@jslmontreal.org
Claudia Boudreau
ARK BOUTIQUE MANAGER
Claudia is passionate about serving her community by assisting young people to thrive in the face of challenges. Claudia and her husband served as missionaries in Hungary for 15 years, she has raised a large family, speaks four languages fluently, and is a life-long learner who pursues innovative opportunities for herself and those around her to reach their full potential.
Claudia manages the ARK Boutique (our free baby and maternity boutique located within Options) as well as a team of volunteers who pour their hearts into triaging, cleaning, organizing and most of all distributing items donated by our generous community!
Her warm, empathetic demeanour ensures that the ARK remains an inviting and non-judgemental resource for individuals in need.
CLAUDIA.BOUDREAU@JSLMONTREAL.ORG
Tabitha Wilson
CLIENT CARE COORDINATOR
Tabitha, being a young mom herself, has a passion to see young women her age thrive, even as they face adversity. She has a heart of service and a longing to see those struggling to find hope and peace through the care and community offered through Options. Actively involved in “giving back”, she works at a food bank and is always on the move.
Tabitha helps to connect Options’ clients to other services internally as well as within the community at large. She offers genuine care, compassion and resourcefulness to every relationship, and makes you feel at home. She is also a trained support worker, as her heart is to help women in crisis.
TABITHA.WILSON@JSLMONTREAL.ORG
Sarah Brooker Sorg
parenting program coordinator
Sarah has been working with Options since 2019 and has recently stepped into the role of parenting program coordinator as of 2023. Though she has been involved with many different programs at Options, Sarah has a keen desire to see young families thrive and feel equipped as they navigate their role as a parent.
Sarah’s unique creativity, desire to serve and her empathetic heart help her in the development and implementation of accessible parenting programs and curricula to meet the needs of Option’s clients and the community at large.
Be it through mentorship, events and workshops or through lending a listening ear, Sarah offers a non-judgemental source of support that is so crucial in these vulnerable years of early parenthood.
SARAH.BROOKER@JSLMONTREAL.ORG
Sian Horan
NURSE MANAGER
BScN, Nurse Clinician
Sian has been volunteering with Options since 2007, and has now stepped into a more official role in leading the development of our brand-new, client-centred healthcare model for Montreal Youth Unlimited [MYU] and Options. Based on current legislation and regulations related to the scope of services, Sian assists in the planning and the structure of care for future healthcare services to be offered to our community.
Sian is not only knowledgeable in her field, with a vast array of pertinent nursing experience and teaching, but also offers genuine care and compassion to all she interacts with and supports.
