Meet out team

Who we are

We continuously strive to improve the professional status of the Personal Support Workers of Ontario through advocacy for excellence and consistency in training, services, working conditions, and value to those we serve.

Biography

Miranda Ferrier was born in the Kitchener/Waterloo region and spent her childhood in Toronto. Ferrier has worked internationally in both the US and Holland and returned to Canada in 2004. In 2006 Miranda graduated from the Mohawk College, Hamilton Campus Personal Support Worker Program and began her life’s work in Ontario healthcare. Ferrier worked as a Personal Support Worker in Long Term Care, Home Care and Hospital settings until retiring from the field 8 years ago to dedicate her time fully to The Ontario Personal Support Workers Association and the Canadian Support Workers Association.

President and co-founder of both the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association and the Canadian Support Workers Association, Ferrier is the go-to expert for national and local media covering stories about front-line health care and has been called upon by governments and Crown inquiries to provide insight and testimony to improve care to vulnerable populations. In recognition of this work, Ferrier was recognized by her alma mater Mohawk College by being bestowed the Distinguished Fellow Honorary Diploma and was nominated for the Premier Award in Ontario. Ferrier sits on many Federal and Provincial Committees with such stakeholders as Canadian Nurses Association, Canadian Medical Association and Mental Health Commission of Canada, as well as Provincially committees such as the BSO Committee and Unity Health Toronto.

Ferrier has appeared on CTV’s W5 and CBC Marketplace as their Expert Guest on PSWs, CBC Radio One, CBC news now, Zoomer Radio, CTV National news, CBC National, CTV News, The Toronto Star, Macleans Magazine, Global National, The Canadian Press, Reuters and many local newspapers.

CEO and Provincial President

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Biography

Born in Toronto, Ian has extensive experience in working in the private, non-profit and governmental sectors in both strategic planning and policy development. Since 2018 Ian has worked with the Canadian Support Workers Association and the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association to oversee associations operations. Ian holds a BA in Political Science and History from the University of Toronto and lives with his family in Whitby.

Committees

Northeast Regional PSW Steering Committee – Northeast Local Health Integration Network
Wellness Hub research and support program Steering Committee – St. Michaels Unity Health Toronto
CARE+ Steering Committee -St. Michaels Unity Health Toronto
PSW Curriculum Committee – National Association Career Colleges
Project Advisory Panel – Canadian Standards Association
Quality Mental Health Care Network – Steering Committee, Mental Health Commission of Canada
COVID-19 Supply Chain Communications SCANH: Supply Chain Advancement
Network in Health, Odette School of Business, University of Windsor
Earn As You Learn Advisory Committee Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Center
Flagging for Medication Review Committee – Bruyere Research Institute

Director of Operations

Biography

Rachel Estok is a graduate of the Health, Aging, and Society Master’s program at McMaster University, and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph in Sociology. Rachel is extremely passionate about advocating for personal support workers (PSWs) and has completed a thesis and major research project focusing on PSW’s.

Her research has explored PSW perspectives on ethnic-specific long-term care homes and has also examined transportation reimbursement for personal support workers in the home care field. Rachel has outlined policies for improvement to home care delivery, hoping that changes can be made to impact both clients and workers positively.

Rachel is very excited to begin volunteering with OPSWA and looks forward to all the positive changes to come!

Contact Rachel @ restok@canswa.ca

Senior Policy Researcher

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Biography

Debbie has been a PSW in Home Care since 2012. Debbie is OPSWA’s hands-on PSW and brings real-time information on what is occurring in the PSW field. Debbie’s insight and involvement are essential to OPSWA’s continued success as she still works in homecare. Debbie is also OPSWA’s Liaison Officer.

Make sure to say HI to Debbie as she is active at all our events!

Manager of Human Resources & Membership Services

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Biography

Taylor joins the OPSWA as our English media spokesperson. Taylor is a 2016 PSW Graduate and true COVID 19 Warrior. Taylor has years of experience being a PSW within several settings including community care, homecare, retirement and Long Term Care. Through the first few waves of COVID 19, Taylor worked tirelessly in Long Term Care protecting our most vulnerable and even caught COVID herself. After recovering from COVID, Taylor went to work in ICU at an Ontario Hospital, where she works still.

OPSWA Spokesperson – English

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Biography

Monique joins the OPSWA as our French media spokesperson. Monique is a 2016 PSW Honours Graduate. She is an independent PSW who has had the privilege to work in homecare, retirement and long term care. Not only did Monique work through the onslaught of the COVID in Long Term Care, but also battle COVID 19 herself, making her a true COVID 19 Warrior.

OPSWA Spokesperson – French

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Biography

Thia Stephens joins the OPSWA as their Event Coordinator. Thia worked with OPSWA previously and has returned excited to bring some fun to PSWs and new opportunities.

Have a question about OPSWA events? Please get in touch with Thai at tstephens@opswa.com

Event Coordinator

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OUR VISION

RESPECT & RECOGNITION FOR PSWs! OPSWA is currently advocating the Ontario Government for Self Regulation of Personal Support Workers. Through the standardization of Personal Support Workers, all Ontarians can receive the quality of care they are entitled to.

Meet out team

Who we are

We continuously strive to improve the professional status of the Personal Support Workers of Ontario through advocacy for excellence and consistency in training, services, working conditions, and value to those we serve.

OUR VISION

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