About Us
In 2007 the Province of Manitoba announced a commitment to bring child advocacy centres to Manitoba as part of Tracia’s Trust: Phase 2 of Manitoba’s Sexual Exploitation Strategy. The first phase of developing Manitoba’s centre included creating a space for child victims and their parents/caregivers, including a child-friendly interview room, family room, and waiting room, as well as an independent, highly trained forensic interviewer.
Toba Centre for Children & Youth (formerly Snowflake Place) opened in 2013, offering this safe, neutral, family-friendly setting and in 2015, two forensic interviewers began conducting interviews of children and youth.
Since that time, we have conducted over 2,500 interviews and been witness to the challenges that children and families face when attempting to navigate the systems responding to child abuse. We are currently evolving our centre into a fully functioning child advocacy centre for Manitoba.
With over 2,500
interviews of children
from 58 communities
in Manitoba, no
matter what corner
of our province a
child resides, we are
here to listen.
Our Mission
It is Toba Centre’s mission to restore the health and wellbeing of those affected by child abuse through a coordinated, community response.
Our Vision
It is our vision that every victim of child abuse, and every child witness to violence, is heard, helped, and healed.
Our Values
At Toba Centre, we believe:
- Freedom from abuse and exploitation is a basic human right
- Every child has a right to feel safe and protected
- Child abuse is both a community problem and community responsibility
- Children and families can heal from abuse
Our team:
- Personifies inclusivity and diversity
- Prioritizes the highest standard of care above all else
Our Board
DON SMITH
Chair
CHRIS THORNE
Treasurer
LORI DUNCAN
Secretary
SHEILA NORTH
Director
PAUL KRESTANOWICH
Director
JOHN DOUGLAS
Director
LEILANI KAGAN
Director
DAVID EGGERMAN
Director
Our Strategic Leadership Team
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Our Team
Christy Dzikowicz
Executive Director
Christy leads the team at Toba Centre, implementing the organization’s strategic plan, overseeing program and funding development, and working collaboratively with service providers involved in the response to child abuse throughout Manitoba. Christy is spearheading the evolution of Toba Centre to a fully functioning child advocacy centre where the recovery needs of children and families take precedence over systemic processes and system outcomes.
Christy has worked in the area of child maltreatment for over 20 years, both for mandated services and within a charitable organization.
Karen Chymy
Director of Operations
As the Director of Operations, Karen oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization, policy and program development, and interagency collaboration. As the organization transforms, Karen is responsible for managing the internal growth, internal system development, and assessing both the service needs and the outcomes of service delivery.
Prior to joining Toba Centre, Karen worked at a charitable organization focused on child exploitation and within mandated services responding to child abuse.
Jennifer Wood
Culture and Inclusivity Advisor
In her role of Culture and Inclusivity Advisor, Jennifer provides guidance on cultural programming, gatherings, and ceremonies, with a particular focus on Indigenous culture. Toba Centre staff, board, and volunteers benefit from her cultural mentorship. This position is vital in ensuring Toba Centre is welcoming, culturally competent and inclusive in our operations, as well as in our service to the community.
Jennifer is Ojibway and comes from Neyaashiinigmiing First Nationin Ontario. She has organized some of the largest and most important Indigenous conferences in Canada. Jennifer has also been involved in initiatives that seek women’s equality, including the National Inquiry into Murdered, Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. She is also a member of the Canadian Review Tribunal Panel.
Dr. Sarah Heath
Research/Evaluation
In her role as an Instructor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Winnipeg, Sarah provides research and evaluation guidance to Toba Centre staff. She is the Principle Investigator on a research project run in partnership with Toba Centre entitled Understanding Delays and Duplication: An examination of child abuse case processing in Manitoba, which is funded by the Manitoba Law Foundation. Sarah holds a PhD in Education with a specialization in program evaluation from the University of Ottawa. Her dissertation focused on the involvement of youth in collaborative program evaluation.
Prior to joining the University of Winnipeg, Dr. Heath conducted research and evaluation in the field of criminal justice as a Public Servant at Public Safety Canada, Correctional Service Canada and the Department of Justice. She has also collaborated on research and evaluation projects with The eQuality Project, St. Leonard’s Society of Canada, the University of Ottawa Centre for Research on Education and Community Services and the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity.
Rizza Tongco
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Amanda Meikle
Project Coordinator
Emily Richard
Intake Coordinator/Case Navigator
Jessica Huzyk
Case Navigator
Kelsey Todd
Case Navigator
Latoya Gaude
Case Navigator
Stephanie Levesque
Case Navigator
Mike Chiborak
Forensic Interviewer
Theresa Pickering
Forensic Interviewer
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