Mallery Sylliboy is the Youth and Caregiver Engagement Coordinator, she shares the role with her colleague, Nicole Hankinson. She divides her time between Integrated Youth Services and the broader Mental Health and Addictions Program at the IWK.
Mallery is a Mi’kmaq woman from Eskasoni First Nation, she is the youngest of 5 children. At a young age, she had a passion for helping people and became a peer helper in Jr. High. It wasn’t until 2005, when she lost a brother through suicide, where her passion became her mission to help not only her peers but anyone that needed it. As a survivor of suicide, she wants to encourage others that things do get better with time.
Mallery worked at Eskasoni Mental Health for 10 years, during this time she went back to school to finish her Bachelor of Arts at Cape Breton University. Her work in Eskasoni included crisis work and youth support work. She had the privilege of being part of the Access Open Minds team that offered walk-in mental health supports and services to the youth of Eskasoni. Access Open Minds was the precursor to Integrated Youth Services.
She changed careers and went into Capacity Development for First Nations, where she gained experience in proposal writing, needs assessments and strategic planning. In those 5 years of working with the five Cape Breton First Nations bands she felt as if something was still missing which led her back to the Mental Health field.
When Mallery is not working, she is home playing with her two young sons. During her time off, you will find her out on adventures, boating around the Bras d'Or Lakes, camping or travelling with her family.
