About Us
Hard Feelings is an innovative mental health non-profit. We support a welcoming community of professional counsellors who provide low-cost services and support.
Our online store sells carefully curated books and resources to help build and sustain stronger mental health. Our products are reviewed and recommended by counsellors, and people who have first-hand experience dealing with hard feelings.
As a non-profit social purpose business, profits from the store go back into supporting the work we do. Every purchase at Hard Feelings helps us help others. Access to affordable counselling and resources can ease someone’s pain, make them feel less alone and support them as they move forward in all areas of their lives.
Our Team
Beatriz Gancedo
Online Practice Recovery Leader
Bea currently works with the community of practice building capacity to deliver online services. Bea completed her MA at the UNED in Madrid and worked as a Psychologist in the Hospital Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. In Canada, she has been working in the social enterprise sector, and most recently, she was the Director of Supply Chain and Operations at Me to We in Toronto. In 2020 she completed a Certificate in Applied Counselling Skills at the Kelowna College of Professional Counselling.
You can reach Bea at bea@hardfeelings.org
Taima Humbert
Store & Inventory Associate
Taima is the Store & Inventory Associate at Hard Feelings. She is very passionate about mental health and is committed to increasing access to helpful resources. This is one of the many reasons why she loves working at Hard Feelings, along with being surrounded by all the wonderful books we carry and the community that arises out of providing mental health awareness. Taima is also an artist who has developed her style throughout her own mental health journey. She’s currently completing her BA in Cognitive Science at the University of Toronto and hopes to pursue a career either in education or social work.
You can reach Taima at info@hardfeelings.org
Anisa Rawhani
Event & Store Associate
Anisa is the Event & Store Associate at Hard Feelings. Her best hits include the Mental Health Pop-Up Market birthday celebration and being a former Hard Feelings client turned staff member. She’s an artist and zinester passionate about supporting local independent creators, and exploring how art intersects with mental health, growth and healing. She’s worked as a writer, editor and designer for newspapers and magazines, including Broken Pencil Magazine, the Toronto Star, the Winnipeg Free Press and the Virginian-Pilot.
You can reach Anisa at anisa@hardfeelings.org
Kate Scowen
Founder, Acting Executive Director
Kate is the Founder of Hard Feelings. She currently manages the community of practice and oversees operations of the storefront. Kate has been working in the non-profit and community services sector for over 30 years. She has worked as a counsellor, program manager, writer and consultant for a variety of community-based organizations in Toronto. Kate completed her MSW at the University of Toronto in 2015. She has worked as a counsellor at George Brown College and Ryerson University, and is a member of the community of practice at Hard Feelings.
You can reach Kate at kate@hardfeelings.org
Board of Directors
Rona Abramovitch, PhD – Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto, Board member on several non-profits in Toronto
Claire Angus, CPA, CA, MSc (Co-Chair, Treasurer) – Director of Finance/Treasurer at several non-profits in Canada and the UK
Annabelle Bernard, BA, MBA – Finance for Social Enterprise, Frontline Workers Collective (Founder)
Maia Bessemer, BA, JD – Legal Counsel, Shopify Inc.
Maureen Carter-Whitney, LLB, LLM (Co-Chair, Secretary) – Member, Condominium Authority Tribunal/Immigration and Refugee Board, Refugee Appeal Division
Trish Cislak, BA, B.Ed – Head of Libraries – Crescent School, Director of Research – Crescent Centre for Boys’ Education
Saisha Guzder, BA – Digital Marketer & Brand Strategist for the Arts
Jean Hopkins, MSW, MSc – Policy Analyst, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
Advisors
Robert Barnard – CEO Decode
Dr. Lisa Berger, C. Psych. – Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
Maureen Fair – Executive Director, West Neighbourhood House
Janis Gillan – Small business owner
Cathy Mallove – Communications and Knowledge Exchange professional
Solomon McKenzie – Associate, McCarthy Tetrault
Iris Nemani – Chief Programming Officer, Harbourfront Centre
Neil Price – Dean, School of Justice and Community Development at Fleming College
Dr. Micheal Shier, PhD, MSW, RSW – Assistant Professor, U of T, FIFSW
Dr. Sarah Thompson, C. Psych. – Clinical Psychologist, Ryerson University & Private Practice
Our Founding and Ongoing Supporters
Diane Dale
Mary Anne McNally
