Our Team

As co-founder of Newgate 180, Peter’s extensive experience and background in program development have been molded over more than 36 years in residential treatment of addictions. A graduate of Algonquin College’s Substance Abuse Counselling program, Peter has developed and implemented many successful multi-module programs designed to meet the specific needs of individual clients. Peter played a lead role at the James Street Recovery Program, where he developed the relapse prevention process with continuing care components. He has also worked with the Rideauwood Institute in Ottawa in their Parent and Teen program.

Bringing awareness and transparency to addiction in the workplace has been a passionate quest for Peter as he created, delivered and implemented addiction education and training programs both publicly and corporately. Peter has demonstrated throughout his long-tenured career, an unwavering commitment to finding addiction solutions. His respectful and compassionate approach to treatment, which sits as the foundation for the Newgate 180 mission, is the result of Peter’s highly intuitive and nurturing nature.

“Substance abuse has become an epidemic that destroys individuals, relationships and families. It is the major cause of workplace accidents and deaths and domestic and child abuse, yet substance abuse treatment continues to be underfunded. Providing immediate treatment for people suffering and ensuring that they are being treated with dignity and respect is not only extremely important work, but it has been truly rewarding.”

Melissa has been on the Newgate 180 team for over 10 years and is often the first point of contact when first calling Newgate 180. With her background in counselling and her current position in management, she is able to help potential clients, and their loved ones, understand more about the program at Newgate 180 and answer any questions they may have.

Melissa holds an Addictions and Community Service Diploma. She also has up-to-date CPR and First Aid, ASIST Suicide Prevention and Non Violent Crisis Intervention training.

“After facing addiction in my personal life for many years, I decided to go to school to become an Addictions and Community Service Worker. Soon after graduating, I began working at Newgate 180 as an Addictions Counsellor and continued in that role for five years. I transitioned from a Counsellor to Office Manager. Although I decided to take a break from counselling, I have continued to work at Newgate for the past 10 years because I love the atmosphere, the staff and the amazing clients I get to interact with every single day. I truly couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Brian supports the Newgate 180 team by leading and working alongside them, to ensure a professional level of service for all clients and their loved ones. Brian has been in the addiction and mental health field for more than 20 years. His experience working with respected professionals, various roles and levels of responsibilities and the individuals he has been blessed to help along their recovery journey, empowers Brian to continue working in a profession he believes in.

Brian holds an Addiction and Mental Health Diploma, a Smith School of Business (Queens University) Management Certificate and is a Certified CPI Instructor.

“Working at Newgate 180 provides me with the opportunity to use my professional experience, knowledge and personal experience with addiction. My colleagues have a wealth of knowledge and experience that makes a strong and dedicated team. The holistic, non-judgmental and family-like atmosphere makes Newgate 180 an amazing place to work. I am grateful to be part of the long-standing and proven community that Newgate 180 is.”

Dale has an extensive background in personal and family-of-origin addiction and many years of volunteer work with youth and formerly incarcerated men in recovery working to re-enter the general population.

Dale is an Honours Graduate from the Addictions and Community Service Worker program at Everest College, as well as a Certified Canadian Addiction Counsellor. Dale continues her education in the addiction field by regularly attending workshops and webinars to stay current with recovery and mental health approaches and discussions. Dale is certified as an exam proctor with the FCB for CACCF exams.

“Over the years at Newgate 180, I have been able to turn the passion developed through a volunteer position into a highly rewarding career. Relapse prevention and continuing care are my main focus at Newgate. I work closely with a highly competent team of in-house case managers and support staff. I am able to develop long-lasting relationships with our clients, some lasting years. This is what drives my dedication to people who need a hand up, an encouraging word and some guidance on the journey of recovery. It is both an honour and privilege to be trusted enough by clients to share their stories, fears, pain, hopes, dreams and plans with us. Our work with the family and workplace of a client enables us to really know a person – each of whom is unique and of infinite value. Being able to walk alongside a person as they gradually regain a sense of empowerment, self-worth, self-respect and self-confidence is second to none.”

Michael joined the Newgate 180 team in 2022 as a Case Manager. Michael has a background working as a Case Manager and Community Outreach Counsellor in community treatment settings. Additionally, Michael served as an Outpatient Counsellor in drug treatment court, as a Program Facilitator and Coordinator for the Partner Assault Response (PAR) program and facilitated within the Back on Track program. Michael has also worked in the developmental service, mental health and harm reduction sectors for residential and community treatment.

Michael has a Child and Youth Work Diploma and continues to work towards a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. He has also completed ASIST Suicide Prevention training, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and is up-to-date with CPR and First Aid.

“I have had a passion to work in the addictions field since I began working in the social services over 10 years ago. Newgate’s holistic approach and positive reputation made it a clear choice for me to want to join the team. My colleagues at Newgate have a wealth of experience in the field and they all clearly care about each individual client and are passionate about the work.”

Samantha has been with Newgate 180 for over six years working with families and individuals through the first year of recovery in her role as a Relapse Prevention and Continuing Care Counsellor, Family Support Facilitator and through delivering psychoeducation and group therapy during residential treatment to clients and families of Newgate. Previous to her work at Newgate, Samantha worked in the child welfare field working with adolescents in foster and group care. Samantha has experience in the domestic violence sector and has participated in student placements in federal correctional facilities.

Samantha is a graduate of the Community and Justice Services Worker program at Loyalist College and has a Post-Graduate Studies Certification in Victimology from Algonquin College. These educational components qualify Samantha to work with those who are vulnerable across many populations including victims of crime and circumstance, trauma, domestic violence survivors, those with addictions and those experiencing homelessness. Samantha is a Certified ARISE Interventionist (CAI) utilizing ARISE Comprehensive Care and Invitational Intervention.

“One of the many reasons that I love working at Newgate 180 is because we take care of the whole family system. Not only do we actively plan and consult with the person in treatment, but we also work with their family, their employer and sometimes even their friends. We provide education that helps the support network to better understand addiction and the struggles their loved one experiences. We provide tools to better assist their loved ones and themselves and resources that can further the healing process. What we recognize is that addiction is a family disease, and as the loved one recovers, the family must also make changes in recovery to foster resiliency and strength for all within the family system.

I am fortunate to work with individuals with varied lived and professional experiences that allow us to work together for a multidimensional and comprehensive approach. My colleagues at Newgate 180 bring unique specializations but meet commonly in their empathy, compassion and integrity in helping those seeking recovery to move forward. Continuing education is such an important part of staying current in addiction treatment, and I am fortunate to work in an environment where we are encouraged and supported in further learning opportunities and attendance to weekly webinars pertaining to addiction, trauma and counselling.”

Emily’s lived experience is what helped her in making the decision to help people who are struggling with addiction and mental health. Emily’s story of early recovery is a difficult one, trying to get where she knew she was supposed to be. While in school, Emily co-founded a nonprofit organization called The Lost and Found Society in Brockville, ON., where she held the role of Chief Operations Officer, as well as the Board Secretary. This organization was designed to create a safe place for people in recovery, to be able to have a sense of community with like-minded individuals. She left the organization to be able to focus on her studies and continue her goal of becoming an Addictions Counsellor.

Emily graduated with distinction from the Addictions and Mental Wellness program at St. Lawrence College. Emily is knowledgeable in relapse prevention, autonomy and motivational interviewing. Using a strengths-based approach, she believes the holistic model, focusing on all aspects of a client’s well-being, is of the utmost importance. She has a high level of empathy and compassion and understands the importance of meeting people where they’re at as being pivotal in helping someone get to a place of contentment and acceptance from substance use.

“I thoroughly enjoy coming to work every day. I get the opportunity to meet people from all different backgrounds and experiences and help show them there is hope in being able to live a life free of substances.”

Matt has an extensive background working in residential treatment. He believes in a holistic approach to client care and strives to help improve the client’s well-being and experience during treatment and recovery.

Matt is a Canadian Certified Addictions Counsellor and a member of the Canadian Addiction Counsellor Federation. He has a degree in Psychology from Carleton University. He continued his education at Canadore College, graduating with honours from the Mental Health and Addiction Worker program.

“As part of the Newgate 180 team, I am surrounded by professionals with a multitude of different skills and backgrounds. I am fortunate to work in an environment where every team member genuinely cares about each client’s individual recovery process. Working alongside such a passionate and dedicated team has given me a deep understanding and appreciation for holistic, client-centered care. I have been at Newgate 180 since April 2019, my time at Newgate 180 has been a wonderfully rewarding experience and I feel extremely grateful to be a part of such life-changing recovery processes.”

Kelly has experience in addiction counselling, with over 12 years in the field of mental health and addictions. Her previous work environments include both institutional and residential treatment centres, in gender-specific, co-ed and indigenous-specific treatment programs.

Kelly is a Certified Addiction Counsellor with CACCF and holds an Addictions and Community Service
Worker Diploma with Honours, from Everest College, TEACH Certificate in Intensive Tobacco Cessation
Counselling accredited through the University of Toronto, ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention Skills and Training and Mental Health First Aid.

“I find it very rewarding and feel privileged to be able to help people empower themselves to achieve a healthier and happier future. It is my privilege to assist individuals on their recovery journey, as they begin to first identify and then navigate through their personal barriers, challenges and adversities – away from addictions and towards wellness. With compassionate care, I endeavour to impart knowledge and practical skills to clients and their families, to help prevent the return to addictive behaviours and the often-devastating consequences that follow.

Elise has significant experience creating and implementing treatment plans, providing emotional and practical support and teaching individuals with unique learning styles. At her residency at the Center for Addictions and Mental Health, she facilitated a variety of groups such as The Incredible Years Parenting program, Addressing Behaviour & Treatment Effectiveness Coping Power program, CATCH (day program for children with clinically significant emotional, behavioural and learning complexities), REACH Youth Day Treatment program (for youth ages 16-21 participating in earning school credits while receiving treatment for addiction and concurrent disorders) and the Dual Diagnosis program where she assisted clients with developmental disabilities and emotional or psychiatric difficulties. Elise is committed to meeting clients where they are “at” and is dedicated to learning as many therapeutic approaches as needed to help assist in one’s unique and individual recovery process. She is trauma-informed and is currently earning her Neuro-linguistic Programming Certificate (NLP is a therapeutic approach focusing on the relationship between neurological processes, language, and behavioural patterns learned through experience).

Elise has been living a clean and sober life for nearly a decade, completed the 12 steps to recovery, and has travelled globally to share her knowledge, strength and hope at worldwide recovery conventions. She devotes her free time to facilitating emotional support groups within her community that specialize in breath-work meditation and somatic healing experiences within the body.

In 2013, Elise graduated from George Brown College with an advanced Child and Youth Work Diploma. Her education specialized in group facilitation and developmental psychology. In 2019 she completed a year of Addiction Counseling studies at St. Lawrence College before transferring to Queen’s University, where she is currently completing her degree in Psychology.

“What I love the most about Newgate 180 is the diversity amongst our team of staff. Everyone here comes from different backgrounds and has something unique to offer. Diversity is key to a successful recovery as every person has their own unique experiences and requires tailored approaches to their healing. Here, there is a true sense of unity and teamwork as we all care deeply about the welfare of our clients. I believe this creates a tightly woven support network that is strong enough to help anyone in need. There is always someone here to help you with a genuine glad heart.”

Dr. Shawn Yakimovich ND studied Human Nutrition at McGill University before earning his Naturopathic Doctor designation at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2006. He has been in private practice ever since, first in Ottawa and since 2010, in Kemptville, Ontario. In his general family practice he confidently blends herbal medicine, hydrotherapy, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture and nutritional counselling to help people feel better as gently and quickly as possible. He has been offering his services at Newgate 180 since September 2018.

“Dr. Shawn”, as he is known to Newgate 180 residents and staff, brings a holistic approach, acknowledging the importance of sleep, stress reduction and nutrition for health and recovery. Every week, he presents a discussion on a unique aspect of health, with topics including restorative sleep, aromatherapy, demonstrating how to make a herbal healing salve and teaching general principles of immunity and detoxification. Participants then have the option to experience acupuncture or cupping therapy, which are very effective for pain relief, stress reduction, emotional balancing and sleep promotion.

During these sessions there is also the opportunity for more individualized one–on–one discussions where residents can receive additional naturopathic treatments and guidance for acute and chronic health issues. It is Dr. Shawn’s goal that Newgate 180 residents return home feeling better, with some practical skills to take charge of their own health and with a greater awareness of healthcare options available to them in the community.

“I began working at Newgate in 2018 and loved it immediately! I enjoy the warmth and enthusiasm of the clients there, and especially love it when a client has a good response to cupping or acupuncture, resulting in less pain, better sleep or reduced anxiety. I really like the questions I get when teaching about topics such as liver health, stress reduction or aromatherapy. I am always amazed at the amount of camaraderie and laughter shared by the clients, despite the challenges they are experiencing. In my work at Newgate I hope I can play a small role in helping clients take a proactive role in their healthcare and help them feel better as they begin the next steps in their recovery journey.”

Beverley has been teaching yoga and meditation at Newgate 180 for several years. She has always appreciated Newgate’s holistic approach to recovery and has seen many clients embrace yoga and meditation as important supports for their recovery. This approach inspired her to continue her education in order to better serve our clients.

In October 2022, Beverley graduated from Willis College with an Addiction and Support Work Diploma. She is a 500-hour Kripalu yoga teacher and has taken training courses in restorative, yoga nidra, yin, power and gentle practices. In February 2021, she completed the two-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certificate program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. She is a Reiki Master and has certificates in sound healing and positive psychology. She is currently completing a certification in clinical hypnosis at the University of Toronto and is beginning a program in compassionate inquiry.

“It is an honour to be part of such a committed, well-rounded team. As a continuing care counsellor, I see and appreciate the importance of providing support for clients after they leave the in-house portion of the program. I strive to improve my knowledge and skills by joining professional seminars and studying alternative ways to support our clients in their journeys.”

Sherri-Lyn joined the Newgate team in 2015 and is responsible for creating nutritious and delicious recipes for clients. This involves ordering all supplies, maintaining inventory and preparing three meals a day for clients with whom she works with very closely. Sherri-Lyn holds a Dietary Aid Certification and a Food Handlers certificate.

“I believe so much in the Newgate 180 program because I know it works. To see people come in and then see the difference in them when they leave… It is such a good feeling. I have never worked anywhere that has such a strong sense of community, of family, as Newgate 180 does.”