MAX Ottawa
Our team is made up of passionate and engaged guys into guys or allies, working as directors, staff or volunteers, contributing to our communities’ health and wellness.
James Demers
James Demers (He/Him) has worked for 10 years at the Executive Director level in the charitable sector, as well as a diversity, equity and inclusion educator across a variety of sectors including healthcare, social services, tech and government policy development. Active for many years in arts and cultural work, James is also a drag performer, show producer, public speaker, trans advocate and athlete in his spare time.
He has committed his life and career to uplifting LGBTQ voices to build bridges of understanding, eliminate stigma and develop actionable empathy in the communities around him.
ExecDirector@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
James Demers
Executive Director
James Demers
James Demers (He/Him) has worked for 10 years at the Executive Director level in the charitable sector, as well as a diversity, equity and inclusion educator across a variety of sectors including healthcare, social services, tech and government policy development. Active for many years in arts and cultural work, James is also a drag performer, show producer, public speaker, trans advocate and athlete in his spare time.
He has committed his life and career to uplifting LGBTQ voices to build bridges of understanding, eliminate stigma and develop actionable empathy in the communities around him.
Email: ExecDirector@maxottawa.ca
Phone: 613-701-6555
Matthew England
Matt is the Community Programs Manager at MAX. Born in Illinois, USA, he became actively involved with 2SLBGTQ+ community in Washington, DC, as a peer support volunteer, when he came out in 1994. Experiencing the coming out process during the height of the AIDS pandemic has informed Matt’s commitment to serving his queer community. In addition to his experiences in the USA, Matt has been fortunate to have lived and worked in Belgium, Hungary and the UK, prior to immigrating to Canada. Matt uses his skills to meet queer folx wherever they find themselves. He’s passionate about friendships, coffee, reading and queer arts.
m.england@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555 ext.106
Matthew England
Community Programs Manager
Matthew England
Matt is the Community Programs Manager at MAX. Born in Illinois, USA, he became actively involved with 2SLBGTQ+ community in Washington, DC, as a peer support volunteer, when he came out in 1994. Experiencing the coming out process during the height of the AIDS pandemic has informed Matt’s commitment to serving his queer community. In addition to his experiences in the USA, Matt has been fortunate to have lived and worked in Belgium, Hungary and the UK, prior to immigrating to Canada. Matt uses his skills to meet queer folx wherever they find themselves. He’s passionate about friendships, coffee, reading and queer arts.
m.england@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555 ext.106
Ahmed Muslimani
Ahmed (he/him) is the Manager of Partnerships and Strategic Development. He will be supporting the building of community partnerships and fundraising strategies. Ahmed began his career in community work nearly 12 years ago after arriving in Canada as a refugee claimant. His work has largely focused on newcomers and queer communities, anti-oppression, and sexual health education.
a.muslimani@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Ahmed Muslimani
Manager of Partnerships and Strategic Development
Ahmed Muslimani
Ahmed (he/him) is the Manager of Partnerships and Strategic Development. He will be supporting the building of community partnerships and fundraising strategies. Ahmed began his career in community work nearly 12 years ago after arriving in Canada as a refugee claimant. His work has largely focused on newcomers and queer communities, anti-oppression, and sexual health education.
a.muslimani@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Mohamad Altasseh
Mohamad is the Community Engagement Support Coordinator. Born in Syria, he has been actively involved with LBGTIQ2+ communities in Lebanon, Turkey and Canada since 2016. He has worked with new Canadians at the YMCA-YWCA and uses his translation skills to support queer refugee sponsorship groups. He’s passionate about friendships, running, reading and watching cinema.
mohamad@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Mohamad Altasseh
Community Engagement Support Coordinator
Mohamad Altasseh
Mohamad is the Community Engagement Support Coordinator. Born in Syria, he has been actively involved with LBGTIQ2+ communities in Lebanon, Turkey and Canada since 2016. He has worked with new Canadians at the YMCA-YWCA and uses his translation skills to support queer refugee sponsorship groups. He’s passionate about friendships, running, reading and watching cinema.
mohamad@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Khaled Kchouk
Khaled (He/Him) is the Communications Coordinator. Former Communications Coordinator at the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, he holds a master's degree in criminology and a bachelor's degree in advanced psychology. Khaled volunteers with FrancoQueer and is passionate about French/Francophone poetry.
k.kchouk@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Khaled Kchouk
Communications Coordinator
Khaled Kchouk
Khaled (He/Him) is the Communications Coordinator. Former Communications Coordinator at the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, he holds a master's degree in criminology and a bachelor's degree in advanced psychology. Khaled volunteers with FrancoQueer and is passionate about French/Francophone poetry.
k.kchouk@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Josh
Josh (He/Him) is the Strategy Support Coordinator for male sex workers. With lived experience in the sex industry, 9 years as a pro Drag Queen and with the title of Miss Capital Pride 2015 under his belt, he brings a unique and intimate peer perspective to the sex work program. He is working to build an intervention to support male sex workers by incorporating the concerns collected through a community needs assessment he built in fall 2019.
josh@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Josh
Strategy Support Coordinator
Josh
Josh (He/Him) is the Strategy Support Coordinator for male sex workers. With lived experience in the sex industry, 9 years as a pro Drag Queen and with the title of Miss Capital Pride 2015 under his belt, he brings a unique and intimate peer perspective to the sex work program. He is working to build an intervention to support male sex workers by incorporating the concerns collected through a community needs assessment he built in fall 2019.
josh@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Jasmine Ahmed
Jasmine (She/Her) is the Social Media Support Coordinator. She has experience volunteering for various health organizations since she was ten years old. Her volunteer work stems from a passion to build her community and inspire younger generations to give back.
social@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Jasmine Ahmed
Social Media Support Coordinator
Jasmine Ahmed
Jasmine (She/Her) is the Social Media Support Coordinator. She has experience volunteering for various health organizations since she was ten years old. Her volunteer work stems from a passion to build her community and inspire younger generations to give back.
social@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Torin Sollows
Torin (he/him) is the Harm Reduction Distribution Worker. He has worked in prevention as an educator, talking about such topics as sexual health, identity and substance use. He is dedicated to providing tools, knowledge, and support to all community members. To him, It doesn’t matter what walk of life, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. He believes it is extremely important to meet people where they are and try to understand their diverse perspectives.
t.sollows@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Torin Sollows
Harm Reduction Distribution Worker
Torin Sollows
Torin (he/him) is the Harm Reduction Distribution Worker. He has worked in prevention as an educator, talking about such topics as sexual health, identity and substance use. He is dedicated to providing tools, knowledge, and support to all community members. To him, It doesn’t matter what walk of life, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. He believes it is extremely important to meet people where they are and try to understand their diverse perspectives.
t.sollows@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Oliver Burns
Ollie (He/Him “It’s I-dent-it-y not “You-dent-a-me”) is the Office Support Coordinator for MAX Ottawa. He looks forward to serving our community by using the 10+ years of administrative experience he gained through working and volunteering, in both For and Not-For-Profit Organizations. His internal cup is filled when he is helping others meet their goals. He has been involved with INSIGHT Theatre, a youth-empowering-youth program, The Heart and Stroke Foundation, where he learned the impact that administrative support had on the well-being of the community, and, most recently, with MAX Ottawa’s Peer Support Program. He is a music nerd, an ugly-sweater enthusiast, and Human Rights and Social Justice student.
office.support@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Oliver Burns
Office Support Coordinator
Oliver Burns
Ollie (He/Him “It’s I-dent-it-y not “You-dent-a-me”) is the Office Support Coordinator for MAX Ottawa. He looks forward to serving our community by using the 10+ years of administrative experience he gained through working and volunteering, in both For and Not-For-Profit Organizations. His internal cup is filled when he is helping others meet their goals. He has been involved with INSIGHT Theatre, a youth-empowering-youth program, The Heart and Stroke Foundation, where he learned the impact that administrative support had on the well-being of the community, and, most recently, with MAX Ottawa’s Peer Support Program. He is a music nerd, an ugly-sweater enthusiast, and Human Rights and Social Justice student.
office.support@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Noah Anderson
Noah (she/her - he/him) Noah is the Office Administrative Assistant. Originally started as a volunteer with Max's harm-reduction program, Noah is a drag performer promoting queer sexual education. He is also a deeply passionate advocate for queer youth, having experienced homelessness as a young queer person himself.
n.anderson@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Noah Anderson
Office Administrative Assistant
Noah Anderson
Noah (she/her - he/him) Noah is the Office Administrative Assistant. Originally started as a volunteer with Max's harm-reduction program, Noah is a drag performer promoting queer sexual education. He is also a deeply passionate advocate for queer youth, having experienced homelessness as a young queer person himself.
n.anderson@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Ella Lake
Ella (they/them) is the Health Navigator at MAX. Ella has been active in activism since their early teenage years and has worked as a Facilitator for Support And Education For Trans Youth (SAEFTY), organizing events such as trans-centered sex ed and accessing critical services for community members. They have also been deeply involved in disability activism as a disabled individual. They eventually dropped out of high school as a result of worsening chronic illness, and this solidified their passion for disability justice and its intersection with the LGBTQ+ community.
Their aim with this position is to be able to put into use the skills gathered from being a youth activist turned community organizer and from years of personal experience navigating the healthcare system as a disabled trans youth.
navigation@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Ella Lake
Health Navigator
Ella Lake
Ella (they/them) is the Health Navigator at MAX. Ella has been active in activism since their early teenage years and has worked as a Facilitator for Support And Education For Trans Youth (SAEFTY), organizing events such as trans-centered sex ed and accessing critical services for community members. They have also been deeply involved in disability activism as a disabled individual. They eventually dropped out of high school as a result of worsening chronic illness, and this solidified their passion for disability justice and its intersection with the LGBTQ+ community.
Their aim with this position is to be able to put into use the skills gathered from being a youth activist turned community organizer and from years of personal experience navigating the healthcare system as a disabled trans youth.
navigation@maxottawa.ca
613-701-6555
Rémi Samson
Rémi Samson (he/him) worked for 22 years as a lawyer with the Supreme Court of Canada. He studied law, queer theory, and language, and taught at the University of Ottawa. Over the last six years of his career at the Court, he took on leadership and executive roles in the chambers of the Chief Justice of Canada. With roots in Northern Ontario, Rémi grew up in Québec City, and has called Ottawa home since 1999. He is fluent in French and English, and passionate about the ways law, language and power intersect.
Rémi Samson
Chair
Rémi Samson
Rémi Samson (he/him) worked for 22 years as a lawyer with the Supreme Court of Canada. He studied law, queer theory, and language, and taught at the University of Ottawa. Over the last six years of his career at the Court, he took on leadership and executive roles in the chambers of the Chief Justice of Canada. With roots in Northern Ontario, Rémi grew up in Québec City, and has called Ottawa home since 1999. He is fluent in French and English, and passionate about the ways law, language and power intersect.
Allen Chen
Allen is a passionate volunteer for social issues, especially for community building for guys into guys. Previously, he has worked with campus queer student groups at UBC and McGill. Currently, he works as a civil servant with the government during the day, and in his downtime he is a consummate video and board gaming enthusiast.
Allen Chen
Treasurer
Allen Chen
Allen is a passionate volunteer for social issues, especially for community building for guys into guys. Previously, he has worked with campus queer student groups at UBC and McGill. Currently, he works as a civil servant with the government during the day, and in his downtime he is a consummate video and board gaming enthusiast.
Brent McRoberts
Brent McRoberts (he/him) is the founder and President of BMCR Associates Inc., a leader in management consulting and executive coaching. Prior to establishing BMCR Associates Inc., Mr. McRoberts had an extensive career as a seasoned executive with a passion for public service. Mr. McRoberts’ roles and responsibilities during his career spanned a number of organizations, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Solicitor General of Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada and Canada Border Services Agency,and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. In 2005, Mr. McRoberts joined the Public Health Agency of Canada where he was the Executive Director for the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPR) and the Acting Director General of CEPR from October 2009 to September 2010. He provided national/ international leadership and technical expertise for the coordination of public health security issues, including: the development and maintenance of national emergency response plans; the monitoring of outbreaks and global disease events; and general security for Canadians in collaboration with other federal and international health and security agencies; laboratory safety and security, quarantine issues and travel health advisories; and being the lead authority in the GOC on emergency response.
Brent McRoberts
Brent McRoberts
Brent McRoberts (he/him) is the founder and President of BMCR Associates Inc., a leader in management consulting and executive coaching. Prior to establishing BMCR Associates Inc., Mr. McRoberts had an extensive career as a seasoned executive with a passion for public service. Mr. McRoberts’ roles and responsibilities during his career spanned a number of organizations, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Solicitor General of Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada and Canada Border Services Agency,and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. In 2005, Mr. McRoberts joined the Public Health Agency of Canada where he was the Executive Director for the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPR) and the Acting Director General of CEPR from October 2009 to September 2010. He provided national/ international leadership and technical expertise for the coordination of public health security issues, including: the development and maintenance of national emergency response plans; the monitoring of outbreaks and global disease events; and general security for Canadians in collaboration with other federal and international health and security agencies; laboratory safety and security, quarantine issues and travel health advisories; and being the lead authority in the GOC on emergency response.
Teilhard Paradela
Ty (they/them) works as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Secretariat at Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE). They have completed their PhD in History from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. They are also involved in LGBTQI+ advocacy, HIV-AIDS prevention, and community organizing and archiving work in their country of origin, the Philippines, and in the Filipinx/a/o diaspora in Canada. They enjoy reading, jogging, watching television, and traveling the world.
Teilhard Paradela
Teilhard Paradela
Ty (they/them) works as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Secretariat at Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE). They have completed their PhD in History from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. They are also involved in LGBTQI+ advocacy, HIV-AIDS prevention, and community organizing and archiving work in their country of origin, the Philippines, and in the Filipinx/a/o diaspora in Canada. They enjoy reading, jogging, watching television, and traveling the world.