Our Team

Jennifer Appleby is a strong leader in program delivery at the local, provincial/territorial and national level.  She has experience working in the inclusion community and is committed to enriching the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Jennifer spent the last 11 years with the Prosserman JCC and the Schwartz/Reisman Centre, most recently as Vice-President of Programs and Outreach.  Before that she served for 12 years as the Director, Program Development for Special Olympics Canada and Special Olympics Ontario.  Her daughters are proud participants of the Best Buddies Canada program at their high school.

Shaneika is the Finance and Operations Manager at Best Buddies Canada. Since joining the company in 2020, Shaneika has enjoyed working with her team to help foster friendship and inclusion among persons of differing backgrounds nationwide. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree and graduated from Humber College with an Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Global Business Management. Shaneika is eager to work with her team to find additional meaningful resources to share with the Best Buddies community in the hopes of further enriching the lives of every member. Shaneika loves helping others, so please reach out if there is anything she can assist with!

Anna is the Grant Writer and Office Admin at Best Buddies. She has received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Studies from York University, as well as a certificate in Business Administration. Throughout her career in the non-profit sector, Anna has been actively involved in assisting various youth groups in Ontario, tackling issues such as gender equality and providing affordable education, with a particular emphasis on diversity and inclusion. As a part of the Best Buddies team, she is eager to help find new ways to increase opportunities and accessibility for individuals living with an IDD.

Eden is the Social Media and Program Advisor at Best Buddies Canada. Originally from Sarnia, she earned a Bachelor of Arts, Honours degree from Queen’s University and a Master of Arts degree – both in English Literature – from Western University before relocating to Toronto. Eden amplifies the Best Buddies’ mission statement through social media channels and works closely with the Best Buddies team and Chapter Leaders to provide support, foster meaningful connections, and create inclusive spaces. She is thrilled to be part of the Best Buddies team.

With an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Western Ontario, Katie brings a unique perspective to her work in the non-profit sector. Her deep understanding of historical contexts and diverse perspectives enriches her approach to education and advocacy. Katie loves working with youth and has seen firsthand the challenges faced by individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). She has hopes of becoming an educator and is currently preparing to pursue teacher’s college. Through her work with Best Buddies Canada, Katie is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and making a meaningful difference for others.

Melanie brings with her over 30 years’ of experience with charitable organizations; working and living in both Eastern and Western Canada. While most of Melanie’s time has been in Toronto and Edmonton, she has made tracks across the nation, training and supporting implementation of signature peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. Melanie brings innovative ideas and veteran leadership; proven through the large number of programs and teams she has led to achieve significant revenue growth. For the past decade, Melanie was focused on building Walks and Community Events programs at a national autism charity and was successful in more than doubling the number of Walks across Canada as well as developing a new innovative peer-to-peer fundraising campaign for the organization. In her spare time, Melanie loves to travel the globe with her husband and spending time with her Irish Setter. She believes in “kindness” which fuels her passion to help others. Melanie is very excited to be a part of Best Buddies Canada team and working on Friendship Walk!