Who We Are

Angela Davidson has been a member of the Niagara Children’s Centre Board since 2019 and was appointed Chair in 2025.

As a long-term employee of the City of Niagara Falls’ business development department, Angela brings various expertise to her role as a board member, including business administration, entrepreneurship, strategic planning, small business consulting and government relations.

“I’m really proud of the work the Centre accomplishes every year and the work we do with families in the Niagara Region,” said Angela. “Children are our future and the staff here are extremely helpful and committed. Everything they do to help children and families contributes to a more sustainable community.”

Angela joined the City of Niagara Falls’ business development department as a small business advisor in 2009 and was promoted to her current role of economic development officer in 2013. She holds a bachelor of social science from the University of Western Ontario, a graduate certificate in international business management from Fanshawe College and a master of business administration from Niagara University.

Angela also serves on the City of Niagara Falls United Way Committee. She contributes her time and expertise to a variety of business groups, including the Niagara Economic Development Corridor Partnership and the Strategic Advisory Committee for the Niagara Region.

Angela was born and raised in Niagara Falls and resides in the city with her husband, Jason, and their dog, Zoe. In their spare time, Angela and Jason enjoy exploring the Niagara Region, particularly the South Coast in Crystal Beach, and taking part in outdoor activities such as golfing and hiking.

Lorne Gretsinger has served as a board member for Niagara Children’s Centre since 2021.

Through his role as principal of Central French Immersion Public School in Grimsby, Lorne provides a unique insight and perspective to his position as a board member.

“As a public school principal, I get to see firsthand the Centre’s positive impact on the lives of students with special needs and their families, and how Centre programs and services help children and families integrate into a strong and vibrant public school system,” said Lorne.

Additionally, Lorne uses his experience working with marginalized communities to find opportunities to continually improve and maintain the Centre’s strong emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion.

Lorne began his career in 1992, working as a teacher for several schools in the Niagara Region. He was promoted to vice-principal in 1999 and principal in 2001. Lorne holds a bachelor of education from Queen’s University, a master of education from Brock University, and is currently pursuing his doctor of education at Western University.

In addition to sitting on the board for Niagara Children’s Centre, Lorne serves as vice-president of the Ontario Principals’ Council, and has also contributed his time and expertise to United Way Niagara, the Silver Spire United Church, and musical theatre and arts organizations.

Lorne was born, raised and currently resides in Beamsville. In his spare time, Lorne enjoys spending time with his daughter and singing with gay and lesbian choruses.

Lynne Burnside joined Niagara Children’s Centre's Board in June 2023.

A senior marketing professional, Lynne has been building brands across a variety of industries for more than 30 years. Prior to retirement, she was the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Walker Industries, with previous positions at Andrew Peller Ltd., Coca-Cola Ltd., and Nabisco Brands.

A graduate of the Ivey Business School at Western University, Lynne has worked in marketing her entire career. She believes marketing is essential to the success of all organizations in order to garner awareness and achieve objectives. Based on this belief, Lynne is happy to provide her marketing perspective as a Board member to support the essential and important work of Niagara Children’s Centre.

Lynne is a native Torontonian who moved to Niagara by way of Brandon, Manitoba approximately 20 years ago. She has long been passionate about women’s and children’s issues having volunteered with Birchway Niagara, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and La Leche League. Lynne is happily married with two adult daughters and a new rescue pup, Sherman. 

Dolores Fabiano has served as a board member for Niagara Children’s Centre since 2021.

During her time on the board, Dolores has seen firsthand the Centre’s positive impact on children and families in the Niagara Region.

“Through my work on the board, I’ve come to realize there are so many families in Niagara that use the Centre’s services,” said Dolores. “You never know what someone is going through, and with the Centre, people feel they have support and can get meaningful resources for their children. Serving on the board has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me personally.”

Dolores began her career in 1990 as the executive director for the Welland/Pelham Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, she accepted the additional role of executive director for the South Niagara Chambers of Commerce (Niagara Falls, Port Colborne-Wainfleet, and Greater Fort Erie). Dolores holds a diploma in journalism-print from Niagara College.

In addition to her work as a board member for Niagara Children’s Centre, Dolores also sits on the boards for a number of community organizations, including the Niagara Foundation for Catholic Education, the Niagara Falls Tourism Association and Mapleview Charities.

Dolores lives with her husband in the Niagara Region. They have two grown daughters. In her spare time, Dolores and her husband enjoy walking their dog on the Steven Bauer Trail.

Natalie Ferraro is a healthcare leader with more than 20 years of leadership experience across pediatric, acute care, ambulatory, and community healthcare settings. She currently serves as Director of Nursing Practice and Corporate Education and Director of Laboratory Services at Niagara Health, where she leads strategic initiatives focused on professional practice, quality improvement, clinical excellence, education, and patient safety. 

Natalie holds a Master of Arts in Leadership (Healthcare) from Royal Roads University, a Healthcare Strategy Certificate from Cornell University, and is a Certified Healthcare Executive. She is recognized for her expertise in healthcare leadership, strategic planning, change management, quality improvement, and organizational transformation.

A dedicated advocate for children and families, Natalie has spent much of her career in pediatric healthcare, including leadership roles in Children's Health, Neonatal Intensive Care, Pediatric Medicine, Complex Care, and Pediatric Intensive Care. Her commitment to improving outcomes for children is rooted in both her clinical and leadership experience, where she has championed family-centred care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative service delivery.

Natalie also serves as an Accreditation Canada Surveyor, evaluating healthcare organizations across the country against national standards for quality, safety, and governance. Through this work, she contributes to advancing healthcare excellence and continuous improvement while gaining unique insight into leading practices in healthcare governance and organizational performance. Natalie is also an Adjunct Professor with the University of Toronto and Brock University Schools of Nursing, where she supports the development of future nursing leaders and strengthens partnerships between academic institutions and healthcare organizations.

Natalie is honoured to serve on Niagara Children's Centre Board of Directors and to support an organization dedicated to helping children and youth achieve their fullest potential. Drawing on her experience in healthcare leadership, quality improvement, and pediatric services, she is committed to advancing excellence, fostering innovation, and strengthening outcomes for children and families across Niagara.

Larry Kent joined the board of Niagara Children’s Centre in 2019.

Larry spent his entire career with TD Bank, holding a number of progressive management positions, and working throughout southern Ontario – primarily in the Niagara Region. Larry retired from TD in 2015.

Larry says being a board member for the Centre has helped to educate him about the needs of children and families in Niagara.

“There are presentations made to the board on a monthly basis from children, parents, Centre therapists and social workers,” said Larry. “With each presentation, your eyes are open to the challenges these children face and the important work the Centre does to help children and their families.”

In addition to serving on the board for Niagara Children’s Centre, Larry has also been a member of the Rotary Clubs of Welland and St. Catharines, and has served on the boards of United Way of South Niagara and Family and Children’s Services Niagara. He has also volunteered with the YMCA for a number of fundraising initiatives.

Larry lives in Grimsby with his wife, Eleanor. Larry and Eleanor enjoy spending time with their two sons, and three granddaughters.

Dr. Jorin Lukings has been a family doctor in Niagara since 2013, after completing medical school and his family medicine residency locally through the Niagara Regional Campus of McMaster University. His practice in St. Catharines is currently focused on mental health care. He also provides services to Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario, Pathstone Rotary House, and Brock University Student Health Services.

Dr. Lukings is an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University, where he has held various leadership and directorship roles. He has served as the chair of the board for the Niagara North Family Health Team and has provided leadership for the Niagara Family Health Centre and Garden City Family Health Network.

Dr. Lukings and his wife, Jacqueline, live in St. Catharines with their three wonderful children and two dogs, enjoying the community and numerous outdoor activities the region has to offer.

Funmilayo Olatiregun has been the Director of Kings Heritage Christian Child Care in St. Catharines since its founding in 2019. With over a decade of experience as an Early Childhood Educator, she has dedicated her career to the childcare industry. Funmilayo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Contemporary Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford, and a diploma in Early Childhood Education from St. Lawrence College.

As both an educator and a mother, Funmilayo has frequently collaborated with Niagara Children’s Centre, referring children for various services, including speech and occupational therapy programs from which two of her children have benefited. Passionate about supporting children's growth and helping families achieve similar success, she resides in Thorold with her husband and three children.

Kate Wiley joined the board of Niagara Children’s Centre in 2022.

Kate has worked at Niagara College since 2019 as an accessibility consultant and an educational developer. In her roles, Kate works with staff and students to make education accessible to all students with disabilities. Kate’s professional and personal experience inspired her to join the board.

“I have three kids and my youngest was born with a disability,” said Kate. “We have received services through the Centre for years. The building has become like a second home and the staff like a second family. I joined the board because I wanted to give back in any way I could and I felt that my work experience and lived experience would bring a unique perspective.”

Kate is passionate about supporting equity, diversity and inclusion and has worked with people of all ages in the field of mental health and disabilities for her entire career. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Ottawa, a certificate in addictions counselling from McMaster University, and continuously pursues professional development in the field of inclusion and accessibility.

In addition to sitting on the board for Niagara Children’s Centre, Kate is also a member of the City of St. Catharines’ accessibility advisory committee and is council chair for Jeanne Sauvé French Immersion School.

Kate lives in St. Catharines with her husband, their three children, and their many pets. In her spare time, Kate enjoys spending time outdoors with her children and coaching her kids’ softball teams.

Barb Van Der Heyden joined the board for Niagara Children’s Centre in 2022.

One of Barb’s grandchildren is on the autism spectrum and this personal experience helped inspire Barb to join the board.

“I truly want to have a better understanding of the challenges faced by children with special needs and their families and to understand what we can do to better their lives,” said Barb. “With my interests and skills sets, I believe I can help make a difference.”

Barb retired in 2020 as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters South Niagara, a role she held for nearly 11 years. Barb held many other roles in her career including executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Simcoe, executive officer for the Greater Barrie Homebuilders’ Association, instructor at Georgian College, and entrepreneur, owning and operating two businesses.

In addition to serving on the board for Niagara Children’s Centre, Barb is also the current treasurer and past president for the Ladies’ Niagara Peninsula Shrine Club, past high priestess of Bokhara Court #22, and an honorary aide of the Ladies’ Oriental Shrine of North America. Barb has volunteered throughout her adult life, with an affinity for children’s charities. In her career, Barb has volunteered for more than one dozen charitable organizations as a board member, fundraiser and organizer.

Barb lives in Niagara Falls with her husband. They enjoy spending time with their three grown sons and three grandchildren.

Noella Klawitter joined Niagara Children’s Centre as Chief Executive Officer in October 2025, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience in children’s development and rehabilitation.

Before joining the Centre, she served as Director of KidsInclusive at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Chair of the Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) Leadership Council, advancing family-centred care and system collaboration across Ontario. Known for her collaborative and strategic approach, Noella is committed to ensuring children and families feel valued, supported, and included in shaping services that meet their needs.

Noella draws on her lived experience as a person with a disability and former Canadian Paralympian, grounding her leadership in resilience, teamwork, and inclusion. She holds a Master of Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Prince Edward Island.

She lives the leadership philosophy, “Sometimes the greatest things in life are not what we ourselves accomplish, but what we help others to do.”