Our Associates

Behind every great retreat and workshop is a community of people. These are the associates Sarah partners with—trusted colleagues who bring warmth, expertise, and heart to the work.

Emily Brown

Emily is an experienced events and communications professional with a passion for crafting meaningful, memorable experiences that bring people together. With a strong background in hospitality, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement, she thrives on building authentic relationships and delivering events that leave a lasting impression. Whether she’s curating a large-scale gathering or an intimate celebration, Emily brings creativity, intention, and heart to every detail. Outside of work, you’ll likely find her out on a run, exploring new destinations, or planning her next big adventure.

Jay Reid

Jay Reid (he/him) offers people tools to develop their adaptability with minimal fuss and maximal joy. He does this through The Making-Box, an organization he co-founded in 2013. Jay has led learning experiences for leaders at organizations across the globe including: Shopify, Google, University of Calgary, Rural Ontario Institute, Hands Family Health Network and hundreds more. Jay is one the first Canadian certified coaches with AQai (developers of the first workplace-geared adaptability intelligence (AQ) assessment). Prior to The Making-Box, Jay served as a National Trainer for The Canadian Improv Games (a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of youth through improvisational theater).

Meredith & Carlos

Meredith and Carlos are the co-founders of Purple Sector, a design shop that helps organizations cut through the noise with creative that’s practical, polished, and built for impact. With backgrounds spanning startups, global brands, and non-profits, they thrive on translating ideas into materials that support growth, spark connection, and move work forward. Known for their collaborative and no-nonsense approach, they bring clarity and momentum to teams that are often stretched thin. Outside of client work, they share a love of Formula 1, cooking, and spending time with their family.

Nicole
D'Souza

Nicole (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker, Trauma-Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator and Wellness Facilitator. Nicole works to create trauma informed spaces where folks can learn new skills to support themselves and connect to their body at their own pace. Nicole has run groups in private practice, as well as groups in the community with various populations around Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Stress Management, Mental Health and Exploring the Nervous System. Nicole is also a dog parent and enjoys taking care of her many houseplants.

Nicole Francoeur

Nicole Francoeur

Nicole holds a Master’s degree and is a Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. She is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience across the non-profit, government, healthcare, education, and edtech sectors. Her career has encompassed policy development, teaching, training, capacity building, coaching, and team development—all grounded in her commitment to fostering growth, inclusion, and authentic connection.

Deeply passionate about facilitation, Nicole is dedicated to creating safe and courageous spaces where people feel valued, included, and empowered to contribute in meaningful ways. She brings empathy, curiosity, and a collaborative spirit to every interaction, ensuring voices are heard and diverse perspectives embraced.

Outside of work, Nicole finds joy in the outdoors—whether hiking local trails or spending time in nature with her spunky Bichon, Piper.

Rob Horne

Rob is a Registered Professional Planner, who has spent most of his 34 year  planning career working  in the municipal sector. Approximately half of his work was at the Area Municipal Level, and the remainder Regionally and with a separated City. This provides Rob with direct experience in understanding two tier municipal government, and achieving healthy working relationships, based on role clarity and trust.

Rob retired in 2019 as the CAO of the City of Stratford. Previously, he served as the Commissioner of Planning, Development and Legislative Services for the Region of Waterloo, during which time we also  served as Regional Planning Commissioners of Ontario (RPCO) Chair for about 5 years. 

Rob also comes from a small business family, which gives him a solid grounding in understanding the needs of the entrepreneurial and investment communities.

Today,  Rob advises a number of municipalities as well as private sector clients, In 2021, Rob completed his appointment as Planner on Residence at the University of Waterloo. Rob has written for Municipal World and regularly practices Human Centred Design with his colleagues.