Board Members

Frederick Dryden

Founder & Executive Director
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Combined with faith and a heart to serve Frederick spends his life assisting and redirecting hundreds of youth from a life of poverty, crime and incarceration to positive community living. Born in the big city of Montego Bay, Jamaica Frederick was the youngest of eight siblings. At twelve years old along with his family Frederick migrated to Canada where they settled in Collingwood, Ontario. Frederick later attained his education in entrepreneurship and business management at Seneca College and Economics at York University.

Community: Frederick has been involved with community youth organizations for the past 19 years. He has experience mentoring, tutoring, counseling in youth prisons, group homes and detention centres. Frederick also has a wealth of experience and an understanding of today’s youth culture (a world within a world). While adminstering a weekly bible study in the prison his passion for Liberty for Youth was founded. He noticed the anger, aggression, disregard for life, hopelessness and loss of direction many youth experience in our society. He knew that visiting the prisons and group homes wasn’t enough and was inspired to be more committed to this cause. Through countless hours and expending his personal resources, Frederick began Liberty for Youth. He, along with the dynamic Board of Directors, work vigorously to structure the organization and fulfill the mandate, “giving youth the liberty to choose”.

Passion: “I believe that young people are constantly in search of the truth, the right way to live and have the capacity to do so with proper guidance.”

view Frederick’s article in Canadian Living Magazine

Malene Stewart

Board Chair
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Education: Malene Stewart was born and raised in Cambridge, Ontario making Hamilton her home 11 years ago. At the age of 18 Malene became a single teenage mother determined to create a future for herself and her child.  After giving her heart to the Lord she pursued an education. Malene graduated from Mohawk College in the General Arts and Science Program and went on to University. After completing a year at Redeemer University College she transferred to the Social Work program at McMaster University. Malene went on to successfully complete her Bachelor of Social Work and Sociology degree with honours as a single parent.  Malene met and married her husband in 2002 and decided to continue on her educational journey. She went on to earn her Masters of Social Work degree with a focus on the re-settlement experiences of refugee women in Hamilton.

Community: Malene has been employed as a child protection worker for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton for the past 5 years. She currently works on a domestic violence response team and works with families affected by domestic violence.  Malene is a part of Children’s Ministries at Victory International Church where she has been a member for the past 4 years.

Passion: Malene is passionate about working with youth and families, helping them to re-build their lives and re-discover their dreams, maximizing their full potential.  As a mother and mentor of two boys, she recognizes the importance of community leaders who are willing to invest into the lives of our youth. She is committed and excited to embark on her new challenge as a volunteer for Liberty for Youth.

Maria Sedore

Community Director
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Maria was born and raised locally, and has lived in Hamilton for the past 20 years. She completed the General Business Program as well as a Computer Applications Certificate at Mohawk College.

Subsequently, she attended McMaster University where she attained a Bachelor of Arts, in Sociology.  Volunteering with the Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections as a volunteer Probation and Parole Officer for two years introduced Maria to community corrections, and she subsequently has been employed as a full time probation and parole officer for the past 7 years. In this role, Maria helps to ensure public safety by managing adult offenders sentenced to serve their sentence in the community.  Along with casework, this also involves preparing reports for both the Court and the Parole Board.  Maria strives to encourage persons who have come into conflict with the law to overcome their obstacles and promotes a healthier and pro-social lifestyle as well as facilitating various in-house programs that promote life skills.  She is currently on the Domestic Violence Court Advisory Committee and is interested in learning more about women and conflict with the law.

Plans: Maria would like to venture abroad to do some volunteering over the next couple of years.  She believes that traveling brings a new perspective, encourages respect and understanding for all cultures, and also reminds us not to take things for granted.

Passion: At times young people lack appropriate role models, and due to circumstance, can be living in unstable or unsafe homes. In these cases, it is imperative that the community provide support, guidance and encouragement in assisting young people to reach their goals and their full potential.

Millie Bruno

Treasurer
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Born in Trinidad, Millie immigrated to Canada at the age of 17, where she made Hamilton her hometown ever since.  As a teen growing up in a new country, new friends, new climate, was not at all easy.  However her strong personality helped her to overcome those difficult years.

Millie is presently employed with Environment Canada as a Systems and Communications technician. Presently she is also pursuing a Web design course at Mohawk College.  She aspires to show her creativity through becoming a Web design specialist.

Community: Millie has been actively involved with DCA Youth Organization where she volunteered as a Treasurer for over 5 years.  Maintaining bank accounts for the organization, and manages and reports to the Board of Directors and general membership on finances.  Through the programs and services (Tutoring & mentoring, Counseling, Workshops, and Youth Camps) provided by the organization.

Plans: To become actively involve with Liberty for Youth.  Millie knows first hand the pain and anxiety families of troubled youth go through. She plans to be a part of the solution as Liberty For Youth provides sincere and effective support to youth and their families.

Ted Kocznur

Education Director
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Ted has been a teacher and administrator in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board for the past twenty-five years.  During the past two years, he was a national finalist as “Canada’s Outstanding Principal”, received the provincial “Brown Award” for his work with Down syndrome students and received numerous “Profile of Excellence” awards from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School board for his work with teenage children. Currently he is the principal of Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School.

Education: Ted has two Bachelor of Art degrees in Political Science and History from
the University of McMaster. He received his Bachelor of Education Degree from Queen’s University and has earned numerous additional qualifications and certifications in education from Toronto and York University.

Community: Ted has dedicated his life serving the young people of Hamilton.  He has been a Sunday School teacher and youth group worker. He has been a football, hockey and baseball coach.  Ted delivered food to families in need, as a worker with “Operation Blessing” and sat on the Board of Directors for a local Christian school in Burlington. Ted and his wife Stacey have been foster parents and strong supporters of City Kids.

Plans: In the near future, Ted would like to continue to serve the people of Hamilton Mountain in a political capacity.   Ted lived on the Hamilton Mountain for fifteen years and worked as a teacher and administrator on the Hamilton Mountain for an additional fourteen years.  Public office has always been a goal he has set for himself.

Passion: Ted believes that there is no higher calling than to serve others, and that all children are a gift from God. It is Ted’s wish that all children have the opportunity to fulfill the plan that God has for them in their lives. He believes it is the duty and obligation of everyone to uplift, encourage, support and provide for the young and most vulnerable people of our community.  To this end he has dedicated his life.

Tony Guther

Policy Director
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Tony Guther was raised in east Hamilton where he attended Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School. After being an electrician for several years, Tony came to realize his desire for a teaching career. He earned certification as a technological education teacher at the University of Western Ontario in 1985. With very few jobs in teaching available at that time, Tony rode the construction boom of the late 1980’s into the early 1990’s. He began his teaching career in 1994 and has continued as a full time teacher since then. While facing the challenge of downsizing in teaching in 1995, Tony was able to fall back on his electrical trade for a year until a position became available again at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. Since then he has been a full time Cooperative Education teacher at an inner-city high school.

Community: Tony’s investment in the community is largely through being a cooperative education teacher. His focus is on establishing connections with community partners and employers that are willing to help coop students become responsible and reliable workers through self-respect and respect for others. Tony is intentional on advocating for employment of today’s coop students. He strives to build capacity in students through workplace safety awareness, teaching life and social skills as well as through character building, education and parental involvement. Giving students the opportunity to find both success and the freedom to try again, is part of the differentiated program/instruction Tony delivers in this coop/special education environment.

Passion: “With the diversity of students in various workplace settings, each is enabled to experience real life success with both their individual strengths serving to their advantage and their needs as next steps in opportunity for growth. Through the influence of a cooperative education experience, students are better prepared to transition into the workplace once they have finished high school.” In his spare time, Tony can be found throwing the football around with his son, playing pick-up soccer as well as spending time with his family. He finds pleasure in watching football, soccer and playoff hockey. He enjoys political science, history and current events. He believes in lifelong learning and enjoys writing as well. He holds to a biblical worldview and believes that the most meaningful life is one of service to others in the various ways life can be found to present itself.

Matt Gagnon

Fund Development Director
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Background: Matt grew up in Mississauga Ontario where he played competitive rep “AAA” Baseball and “AA” Hockey while completing his studies.  He has golfed since a young age and in 2002 was offered several athletic/academic scholarships to US Colleges to play NCAA Golf. Rather than pursuing the offers, he decided to stay local and attend McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Business.

Education: Matt attained his Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University in 2006.  During the summer after his third year of studies he began a co-op placement with Deloitte & Touché LLP in Burlington.  Subsequent to graduating from University, he began articling with Deloitte in Burlington and studying for his Chartered Accountancy designation.  In February 2009 he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and continues his career as a Senior Accountant with Deloitte’s audit practice. In February 2010 Matt represented Deloitte & Touche LLP as a corporate volunteer at the Vancouver Olympics.

Community: Matt has been involved with the local community for several years.  As a teenager he got involved in Mothers Against Drunk Driving “MADD” car wash campaigns.  In 2007 he was offered a position and continues to serve on the Growth and Development Committee of the Burlington Community Foundation.

Plans: Matt has recently purchased his first home in Burlington and plans to continue working with Deloitte in their audit practice.  He plans to continue to be involved as much as possible with the community; specifically not-for-profit organizations serving the South Western Ontario region.  In March 2010 Matt began his role on the Liberty For Youth Board as Director of Fund Development.