Meet Our Board of Directors
Eleanor Smith
Chair
Eleanor Smith brings over 20 years of experience as an IT specialist in corporate Canada, alongside her work as an educational consultant and instructor in continuing education and diploma programs.
She holds a Master’s degree in Education, with research focused on the challenges learners face when developing coding and computational thinking skills. Eleanor is passionate about helping adult learners build their professional capacities.
She lives in downtown Hamilton with her spouse, Dan, their two daughters, Bridget and Aurora, and their three cats, Seeus, Boots, and Mittens.
Kaitlin Wharton
Director
Kaitlin Wharton is a professional in the nonprofit sector with a special interest in community engagement and development.
Passionate about connecting people with nature, she spends much of her free time exploring Niagara’s ponds, forests, and natural ecosystems with her two young children. Kaitlin is a strong advocate for nature-based learning and believes hands-on outdoor experiences foster curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong appreciation for the environment. Having grown up immersed in nature and caring for animals, she brings that same passion and perspective to her work and community involvement.
Lindsay Detta
Secretary
Lindsay is an educator, researcher, and artist. Her journey began as an actor and clown in children’s theatre across Canada. Her passion for working with children led her to a teaching degree with a focus on Drama in Education. Throughout this journey, she has also been practicing outdoor learning and Forest Schooling. It is her current passion to explore the juxtaposition of the Arts and Outdoor Learning and find innovative ways in which these two worlds foster holistic learning, benefit mental health and well-being, and reconnect children with the physical world in which they live.
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Lindsay specializes in program development, program assessment, and amplifying children's voices.
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She is thrilled to join the Wellchild group and help provide quality programming and resources for current and future children in Niagara.