The Mobilize Team

The MobilizeYouth’s advisory and coaching team ensure that the delivery of the program is at a high level of skill, expertise and excellence.

The Founder

Dina Lieberman, Founder has spent the last fifteen years in senior management positions in the arts as Opera Atelier's Director of Development and on the University Health Network’s $400 million campaign as Senior Campaign Officer at Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation (Diabetes and Transplant Campaigns). She also produced and directed the first breast cancer documentary in Canada at the Montreal National Film Board and consulted on another award-winning documentary, “Exposures”, narrated by Olivia Newton John, linking the environment to breast cancer. A strong interest in health care with decades in organizational development and fundraising provide the impetus and background for this timely venture.

Advisory

Dr. Glenn Berall, Chief, Pediatrics, Canada’s leading clinical specialist in childhood obesity, Program Medical Director- Pediatric Nutrition,  North York General Hospital

Barrie Shepley, Olympic Triathlon Coach & President, Personal Best Health & Performance. Barrie has been Canada’s National Triathlon Team coach since 1991 (the year Personal Best was formed). In that time, Barrie has coached over 500 people to national championship titles, Pan American Games World Championship as well as successful completion of the Hawaii Iron man and the Boston Marathon.

George Dickson, Vice President, Personal Best. George has twenty years of senior management experience in the corporate fitness sector. He is involved in the area of facility design and management of Personal Best corporate fitness sites

Jackie Allen, Registered Dietitian. Jackie Allen is a Registered Dietitian (College of Dietitians of Ontario), Certified Diabetes Educator in Toronto. Jackie has focused most of her attention on prevention and management of diabetes, heart disease and weight management counseling, and has experience in many areas of nutrition including individual weight management, group counseling, food administration, health promotion, and clinical research.

Dr. E. Laura Cruz, Sport Medicine Physician, Pivot Sport Medicine and Orthopedics.

Nutrition Team:

Suzanne Bardos, Director & Executive Chef, Food & Nutrition Certified CSNM Member.
Suzanne is the Director of Equilibrium Nutrition in the Toronto-Halton-Peel Region.  Certified with the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management, Suzanne is a nutritional consultant and personal chef specializing in home services and private cooking classes for those diagnosed with chronic illness and their caregivers, in consultation with physicians and the Dietitians of Canada. Suzanne also works in a Long term Care Centre in Toronto, planning therapeutic menus, completing nutritional assessments, and training chefs and nutrition staff in in the preparation of nutritious meals for those with special dietary needs. She educates her clients following the guidelines on the importance of diet in disease prevention. All new families are assessed by Suzanne upon joining.

Annabel Zbogar, RHN, RNCP
Annabel is a registered holistic nutritionist and a graduate of the Canadian School of National Nutrition specializing in weight management and stress reduction. Her counselling on lifestyle, fitness and dietary changes towards disease prevention and the restoration of balance within the individua,l both supports and informs parents with an overweight youth on how to gain optimum health through natural eating leading to real change within the family.

Fitness Team:

Betsy De Boer, Head Coach.
Betsy is a graduate of the York University Kinesiology and Health Science program. She is a Kin Games Coordinator, Kids Come First Program Member, Peace by Peace Volunteer Teacher and Senior Member on the Bethune Athletic Council. She is also a Lifeguard & Swim Instructor teaching children with special needs and has been a swim instructor with the Bloorview Macmillan Children’s Centre.

Jenessa Doherty, Coach – Graduate, Phys. Ed. U of T
Jenessa brings extensive strength & conditioning experience (U of T athletic facility); fitness consulting (Esporta Health Club), strength & fitness supervisory position U of T Hart House and years of coaching soccer (Head Soccer Coach – Jarvis Collegiate). Her long list of certifications include YMCA Gym Instructor - Level 2, Lifetime Advanced Resistance Training, Lifetime Exercise for Seniors, Intelligence Fitness Science of Torso Training and Par-Q Administration.

Dina Dryden, Coach

Kristan Marquez, Coach
Kristan is in the Honours Kinesiology program at York University and is Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology certified. Her wide-ranging experience extends from teaching in the Learn to Skate program in Mississauga , supply teaching and private tutoring. Her fitness testing background encompasses the Firefighter job testing, NHL Entry Draft Combine fitness testing, Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Certified Personal Training Clinic, and Ontario provincial gold medalist for synchronized skating in 2001.

Lesley Suchter, Coach
Lesley has had extensive experience with youth as Head Counsellor at Camp in the Laurentians and teaching assistant at a day school in London , Ontario and presently with SportBall. Her strong athletic background on University of Western Ontario Varsity Lacrosse Team and special athletic achievements: Women's Lacrosse 1 st Team All Star and Female Athlete of the Year, brings inspiration and non- competitive sports skills instruction to the program.

Anne-Marie Tamburro, AquaFit/Cardio Swim Instructor.
Anne-Marie has worked for several years with City of Toronto Parks & Rec as Pool Manager and Head Swim Instructor. She is also a former fitness counselor for Kids in Action; Anne-Marie is also the Girls Unlimited Steering Committee representative for the Toronto Youth Cabinet meeting with Toronto Public Health to plan, structure and organize programs for girls aged 12-17. Anne-Marie has several years experience of working with youth.

Holly Reibeling, Coach, U of T, Faculty of Phys. Ed.
Holly's involvement with youth has been in the classroom as educational placement, teaching grade 4 students in Sunday School and coaching Midget level softball. Her athletic background as pitcher in provincial level fastball has won her an MVP at Provincials in 2000. Her enthusiasm in working with youth will bring that enthusiasm and team spirit and sports knowledge to Mobilize kids.

Amanda Tiberi, Placement Student, U of T, Faculty of Phys. Ed. Asst. coachAmanda brings her knowledge in weight training and a strong athletic background as Parks & Recreation soccer skills instructor and past referee with the Etobicoke Youth Soccer Club. She is a member ambassador for a local fitness club and her love of sports has her participating in ice, field and ball hockey, cheerleading squad and SBC band.

Sarah Wood, 3rd year Phys Ed & Health Education at U of T.
Sarah has extensive lifeguarding experience and was awarded the Eva Mcdonald Lifesaving Society Scholarship for contributions to aquatics and lifeguarding at U of T. She worked for the City of Peterborough aquatics program , competed at the provincial and national level in synchronized swimming with the Kawartha Trent Syncronized Swim Club an won a National gold medal in 2003. She participates in triathlons, running races and was a member of the U of T Triathlon team.

Special Instructors:

Kostas Balasis , Spinning.
Honors Kinesiology; Certified Fitness Consultant (CSEP/OASES) & Can-Fit-Pro Certified Fitness Consultant