Meet the Team!
Amanda Dore
Executive Director
Amanda first joined St-James as an intern during her final year in Special Care Counselling at Vanier College. What began as a student internship quickly turned into a meaningful journey when she then joined the Drop-In Centre team and spent nine years building strong bonds with the community. After a few months at another local organization, she returned to St-James as Executive Director, bringing her warmth, experience, and deep commitment to the centre’s mission. When she’s not working, Amanda enjoys being silly at home with her four children and her partner, Gabe. Her favourite pastime is connecting with her siblings and friends over tasty snacks, talking about life.
Luka Bolduc
Team Lead & Outreach (Community Worker)
Luka is a psychology graduate from Concordia University with a strong interest in community mental health and social advocacy. Before joining St-James, he worked in intervention at Entre-Toît, a centre supporting psychiatric outpatients with social reintegration. He believes resiliency stems from community, culture and connectedness, which are foundational to his approach to health and wellness. Along with fulfilling the duties of a Community Worker, Luka supports the team’s day-to-day operations, connects with like-minded organizations to develop community partnerships, and identifies resources that help members access the support they need. Born and raised in Montreal, Luka has a deep appreciation for the city’s music, art and food scenes. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, discovering new restaurants and spending time outdoors with his dog, Vinci.
Cassandra Psiharis
Wellness & Recovery Support (Community Worker)
Cassandra was born in Montreal and spent much of her life in Ontario and Orlando, Florida. An only child and proud introvert, she found her creative spark early through art and writing. Before joining St-James, Cassandra worked as a registered nurse in psychiatry and geriatrics. While she still has a deep respect for nursing, her true passion lies in supporting individuals living with addiction and mental health challenges—a path shaped by her own lived experience. At St-James, Cassandra draws on her experience to develop and facilitate programming around harm reduction, physical and mental health, addiction and recovery. She also leads biweekly recovery meetings, creating opportunities for members to share experiences and support one another in a welcoming environment. Cassandra brings honesty, compassion and a grounded presence to the community. Outside of work, she enjoys meditating, watching horror films and spending time with her beloved cat, Nyxie.
Mark
Kitchen Supervisor / Music Program Coordinator
Mark spent over six years cooking in renowned restaurants in Montreal and Bristol, UK, before returning home in 2022 to combine his passion for food with meaningful community work. Mental health and community-building hold an important place in his heart. At St-James, Mark leads the kitchen with care and creativity, ensuring everyone who walks through the door has access to a nourishing meal. He also brings his love of music into his community work, preparing the launch of St-James’ music program. Through rehearsals, individual lessons and songwriting sessions, Mark creates opportunities for members to explore their creativity, develop their musical skills and collaborate with others. He is also helping members bring their work to a wider audience through studio recording opportunities and a live performance. When he isn't in the St-James kitchen, Mark can be found playing guitar and writing music.