Office Team

Geoff Eaton

Geoff is a two-time cancer survivor and the founder and Executive Director of Young Adult Cancer Canada. He has first-hand experience attending support groups with people who are closer in age to his grandparents than to him. As a result, he has taken on the responsible for the strategic direction of the organization he recognizes that Young Adult Cancer Canada's vision is important and essential for young adults dealing with cancer.

Geoff is currently serving on the National Survivorship Working Group, a Canadian Partnership Against Cancer initiative, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Cancer Control Advisory Committee.

He spends personal time riding his motorcycle with his wife, Karen; playing "jungle-gym Daddy" with his daughters Adia and Mira; watching Penguins games with baby Kane; staying healthy with weight training and hockey; and chasing that sometimes elusive state of "balance."

Recent posts by Geoff
10 years, 10 thank yous (Geoff's blog)
50/50 gets a 70/30 (Geoff's blog)
Beautiful Dangerous Ambition (Geoff's blog)
Top 10 of 2010-11 (Geoff's blog)
What it means to YACC (Geoff's blog)

Lesley Morrissey

Lesley is a graduate of Memorial University's Bachelor of Commerce (Co-operative) program. She has been happily employed at Young Adult Cancer Canada since January 2007, first as Program Director and now as Managing Director. Lesley is responsible for the internal operations of the organization and for keeping Geoff focused – this is a full time job in itself. Lesley is very proud of the YACC’s work and is looking forward to the future in this very exciting position.

Recent posts by Lesley
Take a minute to meet Stacey and Juanita (Organization blog)
YACC welcomes new Director of Fund Development (and another boy!), Frank Healey (Organization blog)
Transparency is our way of life, not just a necessity (Organization blog)
YACC volunteer Kristina Roche shines! (Organization blog)
YACC is growing… again! (Organization blog)

Karine Chalifour

Karine is a graduate of Universite du Quebec a Montreal in Social Work and Psychology. She manages the delivery of the organizations key programs: Retreat Yourself, Survivor Conference, young adult workshops, and the public education program. Karine is outgoing, loves music, a good meal with friends and family, and never gets tired of looking at the ocean! She also loves to travel and is dreaming of a Safari in Africa and a road trip in the Grand Canyon. She feels privileged to be part of the YACC team and mission.

Recent posts by Karine
Happy anniversary…to me (Organization blog)
Book launch in Montreal (Organization blog)
41 weeks, really? (Organization blog)
Retreat mode (Organization blog)
What is out there for young adults? (Organization blog)

Beth Cranston

Beth is a graduate of Mount Allison University’s Bachelor of Arts and Memorial University’s Performance and Communications Media programs. She started at YACC (then RealTime Cancer) as Communications Coordinator in May of 2007. Now as Director of Special Events and Initiatives, Beth leads fund development and third party events, including the Shave for the Brave and The Climb, in cooperation with other staff members. She coordinates the Touch Yourself, Trust Yourself public education program, works on various communications initiatives, and provides administrative support for the YACC team.

While not working, Beth sings and plays for various choirs in the area. She keeps busy working on her new house, playing with her kitty Mannie, and seeking outdoor adventures whenever and wherever possible!

Recent posts by Beth
YACC gets it, even when “it” isn’t cancer (Organization blog)
New Shave site coming soon! (Shave for the Brave News)
Shaving Levi’s Mullet (Shave for the Brave News)
“Get Ready to Feel Like a Real Life Superhero!” (Shave for the Brave News)
Welcome to the office, Jessica! (Organization blog)

Duncan de Young

Duncan de Young is a graduate of Memorial University's Bachelor of Arts (History) and Bachelor of Commerce (Co-operative) programs. He's been connected to Young Adult Cancer Canada in one way or another since Geoff first spoke at Prince of Wales Collegiate in 2000. He's the guy that works on the website, designs some of the materials, and generally fills in the gaps. In Duncan's spare time... he loves hiking, travel, photography & cooking.

Recent posts by Duncan
Launch times three (Geoff's blog)
Our website is back online (Organization blog)
Touch Yourself, Trust Yourself realigned (Organization blog)
Another successful Darryl Gorman Memorial Walk (Organization blog)
Thank You Mobile (Shave for the Brave News)

Angie Barrington

Angie is a graduate of Memorial University’s Bachelor of Arts program where she studied English and Folklore. While at university, she worked at the Muse, Memorial University’s student newspaper, and as the Atlantic Board Director for Canadian University Press. These experiences uncovered her affinity for sharing information and getting to know people—two skills that are very useful for Young Adult Cancer Canada’s Communications Coordinator/Storyteller.

At YACC, she is responsible for managing blogs, distributing promotional materials, producing videos, and anything else involving the public’s awareness of YACC. She is always looking for ways to share stories from our young adult survivor community in order to help decrease feelings of isolation, build a stronger peer support network, and celebrate one another.

Contact her if there’s anything you would like to share with the class, from the story of how you rehabilitated your body, to lifestyle decisions you have made (like eating better or doing yoga), to ways you’re trying to help connect young adult survivors in your area, and she’ll work with you to get the best message out to the right people.

Recent posts by Angie
We’re hiring: Fund Development Coordinator (Organization blog)
We’re hiring: Office Manager (Organization blog)
Christian is the Genie Hero of the Year! (Organization blog)
Get your Shaver and Mane Mama badges! (Shave for the Brave News)
The first 2012 Shave is on the books! (Shave for the Brave News)

Frank Healey

Frank is a graduate of Memorial University's Bachelor of Commerce Honours program.

He brings with him a great big mixed-bag of work (and life) experience spanning not-for-profit, television, radio, night-club, software, wine, and other assorted and random industries. Frank’s role at YACC is also a mixed-bag including the management of Fund Development initiatives, growing Shave for the Brave across Canada, and spreading his dry and sarcastic humour.

When not working, Frank spends his time driving his wife Nancy crazy, and brainwashing and corrupting the minds of his two young children, Kate and Jonah. He also collects records (vinyl) which has helped lead to the development of his workplace nickname "Dino."

Recent posts by Frank

Juanita O’Neil

Juanita is close to completing her BA at Memorial University of Newfoundland and has completed a diploma in Computer Studies. She joined YACC in late April 2011 as an Administrative Assistant and considers it one of the best choices she has made to date.

In her spare time, Juanita loves spending time with her two boys, Zac and Logan (and her husband of course). She also loves walking; campfires; reading; and travel, with Disney World and the Azores as the next two places on her travel list.

Shali Manuel

Shali is a two-time cancer survivor and the Eastern Program Coordinator for YACC. She has a Master's in Health Promotion from Dalhousie University and has been involved in young adult cancer research, education, and advocacy for several years. Shali spent her early 20s teaching English in Taiwan and backpacking throughout Southeast Asia and Central America. While she's happy to be back on Canadian soil, she still dreams of perpetual summers. She enjoys camping, potlucks, moonlit bike rides, and listening to live music. Lucky for her, her husband is an indie-folk musician so there's lots of live music to enjoy! Shali also loves to talk astrology and the meaning of life and is inspired by people who think outside of the box.

Recent posts by Shali
Meet Shali, YACC’s new Eastern Program Coordinator (Organization blog)