Heidi Bernhardt
President & Executive Director

Heidi is the mother of three young men with ADHD. She has a background in psychiatric nursing, was the Executive Director of the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA), a national not-for-profit organization of the leading clinicians and researchers in ADHD in Canada and a founder of CADDAC. Heidi is presently the President and Executive Director of the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC). In the past 18 years Heidi has helped educate parents, educators, medical professionals, industry, the public and government about ADHD through her presentations, conferences, advocacy work and media interviews.     

John Tucker
Chair

John Tucker is a trained personal and adult ADD coach in Toronto, ON, Canada and has been working in the health care field for 15 years. Until October of 2102 John was the Director of Government & Interprofessional Relations for the Canadian Chiropractic Association since 2001. Prior to his joining the chiropractic profession, John spent 25 years in education in Newfoundland as a teacher, department head and principal. He focused much of his activities on advocacy and support for students who need special help or consideration. In 1995, John pursued graduate studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto where he earned his Ph.D. in 1998. His primary research interest was centered on students’ transitions from high school to post secondary institutions.

For decades, he has been actively interested in diet, nutrition and research in education and health. John believes in his clients’ potential and assists them in identifying strategies to overcome life challenges. His transition into ADD/ADHD coaching was a natural progression in his career. He loves coaching to help clients to live the life they want to live.
 
Ally Ladak
Vice Chair

Ally Ladak is a 5 year Scarborough Hospital member, 2013 academic adjudicator, science fair judge and international professionals mentor.

He has a particular interest in health care, hospital, mental health, education, community building,housing, poverty and environment issues, as well as the services and issues of the disadvantaged. He has over 15 years of volunteer experience including current affiliations with Green Living Show, Luminato, 2012 Ontario summer games, Playing for keeps ambassador, The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Social Services Net, and The Arts and Culture Committee. Ally's interests include Technology for Learning Disabled Children, Education-related Legislation and Children's Mental Health.

Ally is passionate about de-stigmatizing and removing myths surrounding ADHD. Interests include educating teachers on new approaches to teaching children with ADHD/ADD. In his role as National Vice Chair of the CADDAC Board, Ally's goals are to promote awareness and provide support to others navigating the everyday challenges of ADHD, as well as address the importance of understanding individual behaviours, tempers and learning styles of each ADHD student.


Shelley Mines
Secretary

Shelley has an M Sc from Dalhousie University and has been working in the Healthcare industry for the past 23 years. She is an award winning sales and marketing professional and her roles have ranged from sales and marketing to business development in the Pharma and Medical Devices arenas.  

Shelley has been an active member of her local PTA for the past 8 years and joined the CADDAC board a year ago.  Shelley’s passion for ADD comes through the experience of her teenage son, who was diagnosed in his formative years with severe ADHD with impulsivity disorder.  Her interest in CADDAC is to help raise awareness and to help support others who are currently navigating the maze that she and her son have mastered.  Through advocacy, persistence and diligence, her son has gone from being suspended 16 times in grade 1, to a grade 12 student that plays sports and holds down a part time job while he achieves honor role standings at school.

Cheryl Paige
Treasurer

Cheryl is personally and professionally familiar with ADHD and the effects it has on children's and adolescent's achievement and success in school and life. Cheryl has a Masters of Education in Special Education (U of T) and is currently a Principal in Toronto District School Board. Cheryl has been a Special Education consultant, has chaired IPRC's and has been an advocate for children and adolescence ADHD through presentations to principals, teachers and parents amount managing children with this disability. Cheryl also has an interest in integrating technology to support achievement and her school has won national awards in this area.