CAIRN’s Directors

CAIRN’s Co-Directors

Chantal “Match” Jackson

Chantal Jackson has been involved in camping since 1999 and has been working at Cairn for the past eight years. Prior to taking the role of Co-Director at Cairn, Chantal filled many roles on the Cairn staff, such as a Counselor, Adventure Programmer, Dance Director, Head Counsellor, and finally the Outdoor Centre Director.

Chantal graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Recreation and Leisure. She spent five years at the University and in that time, pursued many interests. One of her main interests was dancing and she got the opportunity to be on the university dance team for 5 years, being Captain for two. She also was highly involved in residence life during her time at Waterloo. Her responsibilities stemmed from being a faculty frosh leader for two years, the Recreation and Leisure Mentorship Programme director for two years and finally a Residence Life Don for her final two years at school. Being a Don at the university was an incredible leadership opportunity for Chantal as it allowed her to bring camp-like programming to the university. Her training from camp, and her understanding of community allowed her to create an inclusive and a welcoming residence “home-life” for first year students.

Chantal has experience in leadership training, group facilitation and adventure programming. She currently sits on the OCLW (Ontario Camping Leadership Workshop) Executive and is in the process of aiding to develop a new type of conference, run out of the OCLW for Camp Directors entitled THINK CAMP. She is excited about all of her new responsibilities and another great summer at Cairn!

Rebecca “Palais” Jess

Rebecca Jess started coming to Glen Mhor Camp as a camper in 1992. For 13 summers in a row, Rebecca attended Glen Mhor, first as a camper, then, Leader in Training, Counsellor, Arts and Crafts Director and Programme Director. Even when no longer on staff, Rebecca continued to visit camp each summer to volunteer and fill in where help was needed. She says “It is one of my greatest joys to have been a part of camp’s amazing growth and evolution over the past 18 years”.

Rebecca holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen’s University in Drama and English. She also holds a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s within their Artist-in-the-Community Education program, where she focused not only on providing education in the classroom, but on creating and bringing arts-related education to non-traditional school settings in a variety of communities. While at Queen’s, Rebecca spent most of her time performing in musicals and sewing costumes in wardrobe.

Acting is one of Rebecca’s favourite things: she has performed in touring children’s theatre shows, university performances and community theatre, and has taught drama classes and workshops with the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People in Toronto. Rebecca also loves to sing and has sung in a wide range of choirs over the years; most recently, she joined the Canadian Stage Company’s choir in Toronto.

Rebecca owns her own small clothing design business, called Palais Designs. The business name is derived from her camp name because the first t-shirt design she ever did was for the Glen Mhor staff uniforms back in 2002. Rebecca’s focus is on silk screening, applique and machine and hand embroidery done on t-shirts and tops. You can find her clothing line in Kensington Market in Toronto in a shop called, Fresh Baked Goods.

Rebecca is extremely excited to be working as Co-Director of Cairn! Camp is one of her greatest passions and she can’t wait to jump in with both feet!

CAIRN’s Administrator

Bridget Tilly

Bridget spent her childhood summers in Muskoka but her family moved to the UK when she was 7. She grew up in Scotland and worked in London, England in continuing education and training prior to moving back to Canada 10 years ago. She now lives in Baysville (a short drive to work!) with her husband and young son who is fortunate to accompany her to work every day in the summer and he loves it.

Bridget is a graduate of the University of Glasgow and is also qualified in Personnel Management and Psychometric testing. Her interests include traveling, entertaining and drawing portraits. She is also involved locally in the Lake of Bays Skating Club, Bayville’s Fire Station 40 and the Horticulture Society.