Brigid FitzPatrick

Executive Director

An accomplished organizational leader, Brigid FitzPatrick is a respected authority in community-based services and the non-profit sector. With more than 20 years’ experience, Brigid is a well-established expert in disability, youth, and mental health service sectors, Brigid adeptly leads agencies through change, growing and improving the delivery of innovative and successful client care programs. She strategically spearheads initiatives overcoming limited resources and systemic challenges. Brigid brings a new and fresh perspective to every engagement and is known for championing organizational agility.

By engaging community partners, government funders, clients, staff, and collaborators through trust, transparency, and clear accountability, she ensures organizations are building responsive solutions to complex issues that respond to the community and individual’s needs. Committed to developing internal teams, Brigid brings a relationship driven, participative leadership style. While engaging employees in creating a shared vision and strategic purpose, Brigid empowers employees to act with autonomy and creates an environment for professional growth.

Brigid completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Law in Society at the University of New Brunswick. Brigid also completed a Masters in Leadership from the University of Guelph. She also holds an International Certificate in Dual Diagnosis from Brock University and a Conflict Resolution and Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate from York University.

Kim Caron

Director of Operations

Kim was born and raised in Ottawa. Her interests were wide (accounting and business administration) but she had a special place in her heart for helping people, especially those with developmental disabilities. She cites the influence of two of her neighbours: each with developmental disabilities as helping her decide what she wanted as a career. Understanding this passion, Kim completed the Developmental Service Worker Program at Algonquin College in 1989.

Kim brings over 30 years’ experience to Ottawa-Carleton Lifeskills, having held a variety of positions including, direct support professional, management trainee, and Manager. In 2004, Kim became the Director of Operations. Kim is a skilled trainer and facilitator with core competencies in leadership, person-centered approaches and effective non-profit management. Kim is currently the lead instructor in Person Centered Approaches. Kim is passionate about cultivating the best in people, solving problems, and resourcefulness, along with leadership focused on working with teams to achieve goals. Kim has strong interpersonal skills and excels at building and maintaining strong relationships with everyone she works with.

Chris Kennedy

Associate Director of Operations

Chris is a forward-thinking individual with a desire to build successful and purpose driven teams. He has worked at various levels of the organization during his 13 year tenure with OCL; as a Developmental Support Professional, SIL case worker, Manager, Facility and Fleet Manager and Associate Director of Operations as of January 2023.

His experience working in various levels of the organization provide him with a breadth of experience in the Developmental service field. His passion for project management, coaching and mentoring team members and building self-directed goals make him an invaluable asset to the Team.

Chris holds a Bachelor degree in the Arts and a Degree in Education. He is a life-long learner and Team player who seeks to build up the people around him for a common goal to be an exemplary developmental support agency that empowers individuals with disabilities.