Our Team
Joseph Naytowhow
Knowledge Keeper
Joseph’s name is kamiyo-kesikan-kesikaw-pimohtew (Spirit of the Day Guided Being). He comes from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Sucker River First Nation and on his English/Metis side, Manitoba and the United Kingdom. Meeting the youth from the G.Y.M. family is the highlight to his life. He is so proud of how G.Y.M. has blossomed tremendously over the years and is available for any youth wanting to have fun and grow in many directions. Click here to learn more about Joseph's connection with G.Y.M.
Brian
Lewis
Executive Director
Brian (Ph.D.) has taught in K-12 and post-secondary education over the past 24 years. His research interests include youth mentorship, leadership, high school completion, physical education and physical literacy. He has presented his research at international conferences and continues to facilitate professional development experiences for educators, recreation facilitators and community leaders throughout Western Canada. Brian's passion around youth development continues to drive his teaching and service commitments to the community.
Quinn
Anderson
Leadership Pathway Educator
Quinn (B.Ed.) teaches the mentors within the Leadership Pathway program and then works with them after school in G.Y.M. Prior to teaching at Scott, Quinn completed her Bachelor of Education at the University of Regina focusing on Physical Education and Mathematics. Currently, Quinn is completing a certificate in Inclusive Education. In her spare time, Quinn enjoys traveling, recreation sports, fitness and spending time with family and friends. Quinn loves working at G.Y.M. and enjoys playing fun games with the kids and mentors!
Sabrina
Odelein
Leadership Pathway Facilitator
Sabrina (B.Ed. B.Sci) is a teacher at Scott Collegiate and a facilitator with G.Y.M. She has a passion for Science and loves teaching many mentors about chemical bonds and reactions during the school day. At G.Y.M. she enjoys guiding the mentors to be courageous and independent leaders in their community. Sabrina loves engaging in sports and fitness for recreation, being outdoors, and spending time with her family and (dog) child Kona. Sabrina feels fortunate to be part of the G.Y.M. team and looks forward to sharing stories during snack time each day.
Ryan
McAleese
Leadership Pathway Educator
Ryan (B.Ed., B.Kin.) is a teacher in the Leadership Pathway at Scott Collegiate and a facilitator with G.Y.M. Ryan grew up in Cupar, Saskatchewan and enjoys spending time outdoors fishing, hunting and golfing. Recently, Ryan began graduate studies working at the University of Regina in Teaching, Learning and Leadership. For Ryan, G.Y.M. is an opportunity to engage with youth in a different way and a place where relationships can grow.
Marc
Nuevo
Mentor
Marc Nuevo is a Grade 12 student at Scott Collegiate. He was born in the Philippines and moved to Regina in 2009. As a mentor, he displays leadership skills, patience, and consistency. His passion is playing sports and is part of the Senior volleyball team at Thom Collegiate. He is a great role model for the school and G.Y.M and is running as his class valedictorian. He loves working at G.Y.M because he enjoys being active and adores the people he works with. Marc wants to be an entrepreneur after highschool and pursue barbering.
Lakota Kihew Ironchild
Mentor
Lakota is a Grade 12 student at Scott Collegiate. He is from Piapot First Nation. Lakota likes interacting with the kids and other mentors. So far, he has learned how to communicate better with people and is working on bettering his social anxiety. Lakota strives to get along with everyone and enjoys making people laugh. After he graduates from high school, he plans to attend university to pursue Social Work or Psychiatry. Lakota’s advice for the youth is to not do anything you will one day regret. Keep your chin up!
Dylan Owen Pelletier
Mentor
Dylan loves playing video games of the fighting genre. He enjoys swinging and listening to music while doing so. Dy dreams of making a comic that will get big. He would like to draw as a hobby job and find a side job that fits his needs. He comes from Cowessess First Nation, but was born in Saskatoon. He enjoys playing games with the children at G.Y.M. Dy doesn’t stand out, but when time comes he’ll shine like a star.
Jacob Derek Panipekeesick
Mentor
Jacob is a Grade 12 student at Scott Collegiate and is from Zagime Anishinabek First Nation. He is very passionate about basketball and is going to play for the Wolves alongside his fellow mentor Marc. Jacob is also running for valedictorian. He loves working at G.Y.M, it is one of the best things of his week. Jacob plans to go to university after high school and do something in business. One of Jacob’s dreams is to buy his mama a house.
Paige
Anaskan
Mentor
Paige is a Grade 12 student at Scott Collegiate High School. She was born in Alberta and moved to Saskatchewan at 2 years of age. Seeing the smiles on the little kids faces when they walk into the gym makes Paige’s day. Her goal after high school is to attend university to attain a business degree. Ultimately, Paige is planning to one day start her own interior design business naming it PLA designs.
Tyneesha Eaglechild
Mentor
Tyneesha is a Grade 12 student at Scott Collegiate who enjoys playing volleyball and basketball. She plays on the Senior Girls volleyball team for Scott. She enjoys being active and talking to people. She’s from Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation. After graduating from high school, she plans to take a year off to travel to learn more about herself. Tyneesha has learned more from the kids and enjoys spending her time with them as a mentor.
Kyra
Lerat
Mentor
Kyra Grade 12 student at Scott Collegiate from Cowessess First Nations. Kyra is very involved in sports - her favourite being basketball. In the future, Kyra’s life goal is to travel the world and live in different countries. She enjoys playing various games at G.Y.M. and making the children laugh. The feeling she gets from the laughter and knowing the kids look up to her makes her super happy. Kyra’s advice for the youth is that anything is possible, don't give up on your hopes and dreams when times get tough, remember that you must see the rain before you see the rainbow.
Tylan
Blind
Mentor
Tylan is a Grade 12 student at Scott Collegiate. He was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and is from George Gordon First Nation. He is interested in outer space and what it’s like to be a Veterinarian. He enjoys working at G.Y.M. because he likes the games they play with the kids and enjoys working with friends. Tylan wants to explore the academic world and see what catches his attention in the long run.
Hope Henderson
Mentor
Hope is a Grade 12 student at Scott Collegiate from Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. She strives to make strong connections with those around her and to improve her social skills through G.Y.M. Hope’s plan after graduation is to pursue her future career as an Ultrasound Technician. She also wants to end the cycle of intergenerational trauma not only for her future children, but her younger brothers too. Hope wants to spread awareness about Indigenous problems that are often overlooked and work with others to brainstorm how to act upon these problems and prevent them from continuing.
Emily
Webber
Mentor
Emily is a 16 year-old Grade 11 student who attends Scott Collegiate high school. She is Metis and was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. Emily enjoys being a part of G.Y.M. because it's a place where she feels good about herself. She enjoys seeing kids happy and making them feel like they belong when they come to the G.Y.M. space. G.Y.M. is somewhere where little kids get to look up to the high school mentors, and where mentors have the responsibility of being positive role models for others.
Ethan
Webber
Mentor
Ethan is a 16 year-old Grade 11 student at Scott Collegiate. Ethan enjoys most sports, in particular, basketball, volleyball and badminton. Sports and physical activity are a way for Ethan to support others and build positivity. He loves being part of GYM and helping others gain confidence in movement.
Niko
Messner
Mentor
Niko is a Grade 11 student at Scott Collegiate. He believes that G.Y.M. is a good program for the mentors and children but also for the community. It helps to boost the reputation of the school and the community as well as the students who work with the program. He is a two way lineman for Thom Collegiate football and also wrestles for them. He enjoys playing video games and taking his dog for walks in his free time.
Mason
Raaen
Mentor
Mason is 16 and lives in Regina Saskatchewan. He is a grade 11 student at Scott Collegiate. Mason is a green belt in Shotokan karate and has been doing it for 3 years at Midwest Karate. What Mason loves about G.Y.M. is that it is a positive, fun, and accepting learning environment for the kids and it has become a place where he can express himself in a positive way.
Christopher
Cyr
Mentor
Chris is a Grade 11 student in his second year of the Leadership Pathway. He has a passion for cooking and adjusting recipes to make them unique to his liking. For Chris, G.Y.M. is a place you can come to feel welcomed and included.
Grizzly-Ray Bellegarde
Mentor
Grizzly is an independent student who went to Scott Collegiate. He has a good understanding of self-discipline and being a good person. Grizzly is a motivated athlete with 4 brothers and 1 sister.
Steven Obey-Littletent
Mentor
Steven is a Grade 11 student that attends Scott Collegiate. Steven has a passion for sports. He loves that G.Y.M. is an organization that focuses on being mentors/role models for youth. Steven enjoys being a part of G.Y.M. not only for the activities but for the other mentors, the youth, and for the fun moments that the people of G.Y.M. make with one another.
Jada
Ballantyne
Mentor
Jada attends Scott Collegiate and is from Opaskwayak Cree Nation. She is very proud of her culture. The reason Jada wanted to work at G.Y.M. is because she loves to support and show that everything is possible to the children. Jada has a dream to finish high school and become a nurse to help others and she believes that it will come true.
Jessie
Blondeau
Mentor
When the kids of G.Y.M. are gathered each week, Jessie finds those who are quiet and prefer to be alone. Jessie looks to connect with all youth to help them build relationships with the rest of the G.Y.M. team. Jessie likes to listen to music and being outside playing games.
Adrian
Bitternose
Mentor
Adrian is from George Gordon First Nation and is also part of the LGBTQ+ community. He enjoys going to work, connecting with the kids he works with and making ‘little friends’. Adrian feels G.Y.M. is a great way for him to engage with his community while building confidence in the young people that attend.
Samara
Nepinak
Mentor
Samara is a Grade 11 student at Scott Collegiate. She was born in Yorkton but was raised in Regina. She likes her job because she gets to work alongside children. She loves teaching them new things and getting to know them better. Samara enjoys skateboarding and drawing but most importantly she loves music, listening to anything, as long as it sounds good to her.
Lorraine
Lavallee
Mentor
Lorraine is a Grade 11 student at Scott Collegiate and is from the Cowessess First Nation. She finds enjoyment in sports like volleyball, softball and much more. She enjoys working with G.Y.M. because she's learning new skills, games, making new friends, and working alongside children.
D'kin
Crowe
Mentor
D’kin is a Grade 10 student at Scott Collegiate. He’s a very outgoing character and loves to play sports, such as volleyball and basketball. He has practically grown up with the sport of basketball and has a natural ability to score, pass, rebound and has no plan to stop playing. D’kin has the ability to take on and overcome any challenges thrown his way because he's optimistic in any situation and passionate about anything that he loves to do!
Ava
Cyr
Mentor
Ava Cyr is a grade 10 student at Scott Collegiate. Ava enjoys sports such as volleyball and basketball. She is excited to start working at G.Y.M. and looks forward to meeting all the little faces. Ava is hoping that G.Y.M. is a chance for her to come out of her comfort zone and actually have the energy to go around and ask the kids about themselves or how their day was and play with them.
Terreign
Blind
Mentor
Terreign is from George Gordon First Nation. He loves to play games like Apex Legends or Overwatch. Terreign wanted to join G.Y.M. to be more socially active. After high school he is hoping to go to university for Engineering. If that does not work out he wants to join the Army.
Tia
Griffith
Mentor
Tia is a 15-year-old girl born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. She is a Grade 10 student at Scott Collegiate in the leadership pathway. During her free time she loves to draw, listen to music, read and hangout with her friends and family. Her favorite sport is volleyball. Tia really wants to be a therapist or a lawyer when she’s older. She enjoys being a part of G.Y.M. because Tia feels she is supporting youth and creating bonds with them.
Feather
Stonechild
Mentor
Feather is from Starblanket First Nation and attends Scott Collegiate. She likes to draw, bead, and play video games in her spare time. Feather participated in G.Y.M. when she was young and has always wanted to work as a mentor. When Feather finishes high school she sees herself supporting youth in some capacity.
Masma
Talal
Mentor
Masma is a Grade 10 Scott Police Academy student. Masma’s pronouns are she/her and she is 15 years old. Her favorite sport is badminton and Masma really likes to crochet. She also loves to read books. One thing Masma is looking forward to in G.Y.M. is making new friends.
Kaylee
Aisaican
Mentor
Kaylee enjoys helping others. She has grown up in the North Central community and feels working with G.Y.M. is a way to give back to the community she loves. Upon completing high school Kaylee wants to do something that involves working with children. In her spare time, Kaylee enjoys hanging out with friends and going for long walks.
CJ Drummelsmith
Mentor
CJ joined G.Y.M because she wanted the opportunity to work with children and have the chance to make a difference in the community. She is from Tillsonburg, Ontario and moved to Saskatchewan last year. CJ’s favorite thing I do is army cadets. Her goal is to become a medical officer in the armed forces upon graduation from high school.
Madison Keller-Rogers
Mentor
Madison is 16 years old and currently in Grade 10 at Scott Collegiate. She was raised here in Regina, Saskatchewan. This is her first year working with G.Y.M. Madison is looking forward to being able to hang out with the little humans. Madison likes to longboard in her free time.
Aspen
Brass
Mentor
Aspen is a 15 year old non-binary student that attends the police academy at Scott Collegiate. Aspen likes when it’s rainy, loves thunderstorms but dislikes the cold. Their favourite time of the year is winter because it’s Christmas time. Their favorite colors are red and black and they also play basketball and badminton. Aspen was born in Regina but lived most of their life out on The Key First Nation and in Kamsack.
Alyssa Rosnes-Bryson
Mentor
Alyssa is 15 years old and grew up in Regina. She spends her time reading novels and drawing. Alyssa has been playing the highland snare drum for 8 years in a youth pipe band and has now moved to the Regina Police pipe band. This year, Alyssa is looking forward to gaining job experience and becoming a better leader and role model.
David
Crowe
Mentor
David is a Grade 10 student at Scott Collegiate. He was fortunate to have worked with G.Y.M. as a grade 9 student and loved the opportunity to get to know the young movers and get to be a role model. Basketball is his greatest passion and will again play for Scott this season. David aspires to be a lawyer one day.
Romen
Bigsky
Mentor
Romen is 15 years old and from Kawacatoose First Nation. He was born in Regina, then migrated to Vancouver when he was an infant. Around the age of 3 he was sent to Minneapolis where he grew up until he was around 8 where he moved back to Saskatoon. His interests include skateboarding, drawing, nature and cooking. Romen sees G.Y.M. as an opportunity to open new doors and experience new things, meet new people and help as much as he can.
Lena
Goforth
Mentor
Lena is a Grade 10 student at Scott Collegiate. She is from George Gordon First Nations but was born and raised in Regina. She is 15 years old and enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with her cats. When she finishes school Lena wants to apply to university to become a lawyer. One thing she looks forward to at G.Y.M. is coming out of her comfort zone and working with the youth.
Kai
Nickel
Mentor
Kai is a Grade 10 student that attends the Police Academy at Scott Collegiate. Their favourite sport is volleyball and they play for the Junior Girls Team. She likes listening to music and spending time with family and friends. Kai wants to be a paramedic when she’s older. They believe that G.Y.M is a great learning opportunity for all involved. She loves working with kids because she believes that all kids deserve a childhood and she wants to create a safe environment for them.
Nicholai
Bunnie
Mentor
Nicholai is from Onion Lake Cree Nation and is a Grade 10 student at Scott Collegiate. He enjoys listening to music, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. He loves to play basketball and practices every day to improve. He also played for Scott’s Junior Team. Nicholai wanted to join G.Y.M. to get out of his comfort zone and to be more social.
Tyler
McNabb
Mentor
Tyler is a 15-year-old Grade 10 student from Peepeekisis Cree Nation. Tyler likes playing Rainbow 6 Siege and Escape from Tarkov. Tyler also enjoys all things outdoors such as camping, fishing, and hunting. Tyler views the G.Y.M. program as a means to gain future job experience and a way to become more socially active. He plans to attend university to get a degree in Paleontology and hopes his experience with G.Y.M. can tie in with educating children about Prehistoric Life.
Michael Dubnewick
Michael Dubnewick(Ph.D.) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Regina in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies and a Research Associate with G.Y.M. Michael’s work is rooted in narrative inquiry and he is interested in learning from people’s stories of experience as they engage in recreation, leisure, and wellness. His research focuses on leadership, community development, and understandings of living in relationally ethical ways in the many places we reside.
Tristan
Hopper
Tristan Hopper (Ph.D.) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Regina in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies and a research associate with G.Y.M. Youth Development. With a particular interest in youth development, he uses a meaning-oriented and strengths-based approach to recreation, sport, and wellness. Tristan’s work primarily draws on the use of community-based participatory research methods (including youth-led participatory action research, YPAR) and aims to build thriving communities and provide an effective support system through co-creating and co-implementing people-centered solutions through a social justice lens.
