Governance


Board of Directors

Lesley Fisher, President/Chair

Born and raised in Sudbury, Lesley Fisher is Superintendent of Schools with the Rainbow District School Board.

In addition to responsibilities for teaching and learning, Lesley serves as the Early Years Lead for Rainbow District School Board.  In this role, Lesley has partnered with the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Social Services Board, the Children’s Services Section of the City of Greater Sudbury, and childcare providers to support the seamless transition of infants, toddlers and pre-school children into Kindergarten in Rainbow Schools.

Lesley joined the Board in 2021 and currently serves as the Vice-President.  She brings strategic advice, leadership, and an educational lens to the Board.  She is grateful for the opportunity to work with CCN to support families in our community.


Kylie Klym, Vice President

Kylie Klym BMT, RP, MTA, NMT is a Registered Psychotherapist, Certified Music Therapist, and the owner of Kadence Music Therapy. KMT provides professional music therapy services with a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) to individuals and organizations in the Cities of Greater Sudbury and North Bay and is celebrating 10 years of services in 2023.

She joined the CCN Board in 2015 and provided a therapeutic service perspective to the CCN Board. Kylie has lived across Northern Ontario and has lived in Greater Sudbury for most of her life.


Melanie Assiniwe, Treasurer/Secretary

As an Anishnaabe-kwe, Melanie strives to live by the Seven Grandfather Teachings in all aspects of her life, as they guide her decisions on implementing and informing finance and governance decision-making.

Melanie brings a wealth of experience in accounting and leadership to the Children’s Community Network from working as an external auditor with KPMG, a Director of Finance with a First Nation Administration, and a Director of Capacity Development with an Indigenous-led organization.

Raised in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, she understands Indigenous traditions and values and incorporates these teachings into her daily work.


Alice Barnett, Director

Alice Barnett is a Professor in the Centre of Access, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Lifelong Learning department at Canadore College. She joined the Board in 2022 and, in addition to her strategic insights, provides CCN with a critical regional perspective.

Alice has worked in education for over 15 years in Canada, South Korea, and Australia. She is passionate about providing access to quality education by creating collaborative spaces to foster transformative learning and works with community agencies to create and deliver individual education plans for students who thrive best outside of a regular classroom setting. Alice is a life-long learner and holds a BA in Psychology, BEd, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Resources, and is in the process of attaining her Master of Education in Adult Education.

Outside of teaching, Alice enjoys traveling, participating in triathlons, and going on adventures with her three children.


Jonathan Laderoute, Director

Jonathan Laderoute is a Communication Specialist with Vale Base Metals Canada. He joined the Board in 2023 shortly after moving back to Greater Sudbury after living and working in eastern Ontario in public education.

Jonathan brings a communication and governance perspective to his role on the Board and has over 16 years of experience in strategic outreach and legislative and policy work within the private sector, government agencies and not-for profits. He is committed to ensuring that CCN can deliver on its mandate to ensure that children, youth, and families can access essential services across the region.

Jonathan enjoys coaching soccer and hockey, running, and keeping up with his three children and Bassett Hound, Rosy.


Emily Samuel, Director

Emily Samuel is a system principal with the Near North District School Board and holds portfolios in Safe Schools, Early Years and Leadership Development. She is passionate about supporting children and families through community organizations and public education. She is grateful to have held a wide range of positions throughout her career including respite worker, teacher and principal. Emily was recently named as Member-at-Large to the Executive of the Ontario Principals’ Council for the 2024-2025 school year. She feels most excited about her work when creating individualized pathways for students who may have previously struggled to experience success in the traditional classroom setting.

Emily is a lifelong learner who recently completed a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She enjoys trail and road running, four-season camping, fishing and reading. Emily is excited to bring both her professional expertise and life experiences to the director role with the Children’s Community Network.


Annual Reports

The Children’s Community Network’s Annual Report features an article from the Executive Director and the Board President, service reports and statistics, as well as financial statements. By reading the Annual Report, you can learn more about CCN’s goals throughout a given fiscal year and monitor the development of specific programs and initiatives.

"[The worker] always went above and beyond when I had any concerns and ensured they were addressed immediately."