Mandi Merkley

Certified child life specialist with 7 years experience as child life practice lead in a regional hospital.  Practice experience in inpatient, outpatient clinic, emergency, intensive care and palliative services with children ages 0-17 and their families.  Also 7 years experience in ministry regulated child welfare services, facilitating parenting programs, as well as children’s group programming regarding domestic violence and grief and loss.  I am engaged to be married to my partner of 10 years, and am a mother to our two boys ages 3 and 7 years.  I have a passion for photography and I love camping.  

Certified child life specialist with 7 years experience as a full time child life practice lead at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.  Practice experience in inpatient, outpatient clinic, emergency, intensive care and palliative services with children ages 0-17 and their families.  
Also 4 years experience providing ministry regulated child welfare services for Dilico Anishinabek Family Care As a fulltime case manager. 
Finally facilitating parenting programs for Huron Perth Children’s Aid Society, as well as children’s group programming regarding domestic violence and grief and loss for Faye Peterson House, KW Counselling and Hospice Northwest over a span of 15 years through various contract positions.

Graduated in 2009 from the Child Life Studies program at McMaster University and obtained certification as a child life specialist that same year.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from Lakehead University.

Graduated from Confederation College with a diploma in Early Childhood Education And became registered.