Meet Our Team
We are so grateful to our whole team!
The Board of Directors
Abilities Ottawa benefits from the expertise and guidance of a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors that works all year around, behind the scenes to support the Abilities Ottawa team of staff, athlete ambassadors and volunteers/students in everything they do for our community!
Todd Nicholson M.S.C, PLY
Todd Nicholson spent 23 years as a player on the National Paralympic Sledge Hockey Team (Retired), including serving as Captain for 15 years. Todd competed in 5 Winter Paralympic Games, numerous World Championships and international tournaments. He has competed international for 6 sports in both summer and winter at the National and International Level. Todd is a former governing Board Member for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Chairperson of the IPC Athletes Council from 2010 to 2018.
For more than 30 years Todd has been a leader in the Paralympic movement nationally and internationally. Todd is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Queen's Golden and Silver Jubilee medals, Paralympic Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Disability Hall of Fame and received the Athletes Can Leadership Award to name a few. Todd is a past board member with Abilities Centre Whitby and past Chairperson for Own The Podium.
Collinda Joseph
Collinda Joseph has been working in the area of disability advocacy and accessibility to the built environment for over 25 years.
Collinda has been a volunteer at the local, provincial and national level. She is currently sitting as a full voting member of the Canadian Standards Association B-651 Technical Committee on Accessibility of the Built Environment. Outside of the area of the built environment, Collinda's committee participation has included the Algonquin College Board of Governors, the Celebration of People Steering Committee, the City of Ottawa Accessibility Advisory Committee as well as several others.
Collinda was awarded the Community Leader Award in Memory of Cathy Kerr in 2014 and in 2013 she was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Dr. Robert Glossop
Dr. Robert Glossop worked with the Vanier Institute of the Family as a cultural observer studying the dynamics of 'family'. The answers he found shed light on our nation's economy, social trends, culture and, ultimately, our prospects. His writings, speeches, and analyses have addressed a broad range of themes relevant to today's society. He is the recipient of the Lawson Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, Honorary Doctorates from the University of Guelph and Trent University and he was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2008.
Katie Richardson
Katie grew up in Stittsville, just outside of Ottawa. She attended Scared Heart High School. Following high school, she obtained her BBA with a concentration in Accounting and a minor in Mathematics from Bishop’s University. Katie currently works as a full time accountant at Kelly Huibers McNeely. Katie is currently working towards obtaining her CPA designation.
In her free time, Katie enjoys hiking, skiing and travelling with my family and friends. Katie is excited to give back to the community through her work with Abilities Ottawa.
Carol A. Theoret-Douglas
Carol A. Theoret-Douglas is passionate about providing exceptional care and experiences for children, adolescents, adults and their families. She worked in healthcare for 36 years providing direct services and administration, in both the private and public sectors.
Carol is well respected for her collaborative, inclusive, committed and innovative style. Throughout her career she was involved in research projects as well as collecting data and evaluating outcomes for informed decision making.
Carol is excited to participate in the development of an integrated system to advance the wellbeing of people of all ages and abilities.
Mark Byron
Mark Byron is a professional engineer, with over 30 years of experience in a variety of industrial sectors such as power generation, telecommunications, microelectronics, and renewable energy technologies. His primary interest was assisting to develop new technologies and products, and bringing them to successful commercialization. This required a unique set of skills to bridge the technology-market gap, and bring together a varied group of partners with diverse interests to form a committed and focused team.
Mark has been an active and enthusiastic participant and organizer in a wide variety of wheelchair sports for almost 40 years, competing both recreationally and competitively, nationally and internationally. He is a strong believer in using sports and physical activity to enhance our daily lives, regardless of any perceived disabilities or limitations.
Staff
Abilities Ottawa depends fundamentally on the contributions of its small but mighty team of passionate staff who care deeply about supporting the inclusive and para sport community while also building capacity within the National Capital Region to ensure quality participation for all!
Emily Glossop
Executive Director
Josie Edwards
Para Sport Education Facilitator / Research Assistant / ASAD Ottawa Program Facilitator
As the co-founder and Executive Director of Abilities Ottawa, Emily is dedicated to advocating for inclusion, quality participation and equal access for all. Emily is a connector and relationship builder focused on community capacity building to support the growth and development of inclusive and para sport programming in the National Capital Region.
Emily is a retired member of the Canadian Para Alpine Ski Team competing as a guide for one of Canada’s top blind skiers, former Recreation Therapist at CHEO and current Executive Director of Abilities Ottawa, Faculty in the Therapeutic Recreation Post-Grad program at Algonquin College, a True Sport Champion and the author of a children’s book called “Our Family is Grateful”.
Josie Edwards is a Recreation Therapist working in the National Capital Region. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Sports Psychology at Laurentian University in 2020. In 2023 she completed her post-graduate certificate from Algonquin College in Therapeutic Recreation. During this schooling, she completed her in-field placement hours with Abilities Ottawa.
Josie grew up as a competitive swimmer in Orillia, ON. She competed at the provincial level and was her home teams’ captain for several seasons. She continued her swimming career at Laurentian University where she was one of the female team captains for the 2019/2020 school year. Since retiring from her 16-year competitive swimming career in 2020, you can find Josie at the gym Olympic weightlifting or out in nature walking her dog.
Josie believes that play, recreation and leisure is for everyone and is dedicated to advocating for inclusion and accessibility for all. Josie has always had a strong passion for sport and people. Through her roles at Abilities Ottawa, she can share her passion and continually grow in the adapted sport world.
Staff
Abilities Ottawa depends fundamentally on the contributions of its small but mighty team of passionate staff who care deeply about supporting the inclusive and para sport community while also building capacity within the National Capital Region to ensure quality participation for all!
Emily Glossop
Executive Director
Emily Glossop dedicated almost 20 years of her career to the Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre and CHEO working as a Recreation Therapist with children and youth with multiple physical, developmental and associated behavioural needs.
She is a former member of the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team serving as guide skier to one of Canada's top vision-impaired skiers, (Retired) and winning many World Cup Medals. She is also a motivational speaker, giving talks locally, nationally and internationally on the importance of physical activity for all, overcoming obstacles and following your dreams.
Emily is the recipient of the Order of Ottawa, Paul Harris Fellow Award and the Growing Up Great Award for Stable and Nurturing Relationships. Emily is extremely excited about her new role as Executive Director of Abilities Centre Ottawa and is dedicated to continually advocating for inclusion and equal access for all.
Josie Edwards
Para Sport Education Facilitator / Research Assistant / ASAD Ottawa Program Facilitator
Josie Edwards is a Recreation Therapist working in the National Capital Region. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Sports Psychology at Laurentian University in 2020. In 2023 she completed her post-graduate certificate from Algonquin College in Therapeutic Recreation. During this schooling, she completed her in-field placement hours with Abilities Ottawa.
Josie grew up as a competitive swimmer in Orillia, ON. She competed at the provincial level and was her home teams’ captain for several seasons. She continued her swimming career at Laurentian University where she was one of the female team captains for the 2019/2020 school year. Since retiring from her 16-year competitive swimming career in 2020, you can find Josie at the gym Olympic weightlifting or out in nature walking her dog.
Josie believes that play, recreation and leisure is for everyone and is dedicated to advocating for inclusion and accessibility for all. Josie has always had a strong passion for sport and people. Through her roles at Abilities Ottawa, she can share her passion and continually grow in the adapted sport world.