Eli’s Place is pleased to welcome Janis Lemon to our Board of Directors. Her path to Eli’s Place is one shaped by timing, shared values, and a strong belief in building something meaningful for future generations.
A Career Rooted in Long-Term Thinking
Janis has spent her career working with numbers, risk, and long-term financial sustainability. As an actuary, her work has focused on pension plans and financial stewardship, ensuring systems are built to remain stable over time. After many years in consulting, she recently transitioned to an in-house role, continuing her focus on responsible planning and governance.
Her professional background brings a thoughtful, analytical lens to the work of Eli’s Place, supporting the organization’s ability to grow in a way that is both intentional and sustainable.
When the Mission Became Personal
Janis first learned about Eli’s Place in a moment that immediately stood out. Seeing the name appear on LinkedIn caught her attention, particularly because her son shares the exact same name: Eli Cooper. The coincidence sparked a sense of curiosity and kismet, prompting her to learn more about the organization.
As she did, the mission began to resonate more deeply. With lived experience of mental health challenges within her family, Janis felt a strong connection to the purpose behind Eli’s Place and the need for long-term, meaningful support for young people and their families.
A Serendipitous Path to the Board
Around the same time, Janis reconnected with Erin, a former colleague and then Treasurer of Eli’s Place. With Erin’s encouragement, Janis decided to join the Finance Committee in 2020. Janis was excited to contribute while also learning more about the organization. Although she had advised boards throughout her career, being part of one felt different and meaningful in a new way.
From Finance Committee to
Committee Chair and Board Member
As her involvement deepened, Janis stepped into the role of Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair, an executive board position. Her experience and comfort with financial oversight became an essential support to the organization’s growth. For Janis, strong governance and financial stewardship are not just operational necessities, they are what allow a mission like Eli’s Place to exist and thrive over time.
She credits the dedication of Eli’s Place leadership, particularly Deborah and David, for inspiring her continued commitment. Their long-term vision and persistence reinforced her belief that this work truly matters.
Why This Model Matters
Janis is particularly drawn to Eli’s Place’s therapeutic community model, inspired by Gould Farm. She believes strongly in long-term, outcomes-focused care especially for transition-aged youth, whose needs often fall between systems. In her view, Eli’s Place fills a critical gap and has the potential to become a national model, demonstrating what thoughtful, sustained mental health care can look like.
She also sees value in building partnerships and exploring pathways that could make care more accessible in the future.
Planting Trees for the Future
At the heart of Janis’s involvement is a belief in building something that will outlast her; a belief she often reflects on through a proverb she holds close:
A society grows great when people plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
For Janis, Eli’s Place embodies that idea: an investment in hope, dignity, and healing for generations of young people to come.
Emma Little | Eli’s Place Peer Advisor
“I’ve chosen to volunteer with Eli’s Place because I wanted to ensure young people had a voice in the development of the program, and more importantly, I believe that Eli’s Place is going to transform the mental health system for young adults in Canada.”
Emma Little graduated with her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2022. Her focus was on Social Change and Innovation. She is working at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto as an Organizational Development Specialist.
- Emma Little | Eli’s Place Peer Advisor
- Emma Little | Eli’s Place Peer Advisor
- Emma Little | Eli’s Place Peer Advisor
