Our Leadership Team

Sara Linden is the Executive Director of Thornhill Child Care Society, providing leadership across the organization’s child care Centres, day home programs, and family services. She works closely with leadership teams and staff to ensure programs are well-run, responsive, and focused on children’s well-being and learning. Sara oversees program quality, day home operations, administration, human resources, and financial management. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration and strong relationships, with a focus on building supportive environments where educators can thrive. She is committed to ensuring Thornhill’s programs are safe, inclusive, and aligned with best practices, while creating welcoming spaces where children and families feel a strong sense of belonging.

As our Financial Controller, Craig is responsible for overseeing the Society’s financial operations. His work includes budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, and compliance management of our funding agreements. His work plays an important role in keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes and supporting the long-term sustainability of our Day Care Centres, Day Home Agency, and ECS program. Craig completed his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Okanagan College in Kelowna, BC. He also obtained his CPA designation while working as an external auditor, primarily serving not-for-profit organizations, municipal organizations, and post-secondary institutions. He also has experience supervising, coaching, and providing leadership to young professionals. Outside of work, you can find Craig playing hockey, running/biking along the Bow River, or reading good sci-fi/fantasy novel. He also enjoys spending time with his friends, family, and his dog Vela.

Michelle thrives on being a part of a supportive team and has been with Thornhill Child Care Society since February 2022. She serves as the Payroll, Benefits and HR Specialist across the whole Society. With a background in human resources and a focus on data integrity, she manages full-cycle payroll, benefits administration and HR information. Michelle provides guidance to staff and leadership, helping to make policies and procedures clear, consistent and accessible. She believes in workplace transparency and strives to ensure everyone has the information they need to make empowered, informed decisions. Michelle loves a good joke and a well-placed pun and believes that laughter is maybe not the “best” medicine, but is definitely an important part of overall health and wellness!

This section of the website is still being prepared. We’re making sure everything is clear, helpful, and up to date. Please check back soon!

My name is Amber MacDonald and I am one of the ECS Directors. I have a Bachelor of Education and have taught preschool to grade 8. My favourite grade to teach was Kindergarten. I have also worked in the daycare field for 12 years as an assistant and as a director. I love that I can now put these two careers together in my role as ECS Director. In my free time I like to go mountain biking and spend time with my family.

Stephanie has over 13 years of experience working with children, families, and educators. She holds an Early Childhood Education Diploma from Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, and she is a Level 3 Certified Early Childhood Educator with the Government of Alberta. Stephanie has also completed the Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework course through MacEwan University and earned the Early Childhood Education Leadership Development Certificate from Red Deer Polytechnic. Stephanie is passionate about supporting children, families, and educators. She strives to create a welcoming, positive, and safe environment. By collaborating with educators and families, she builds strong relationships that foster children’s development and help them become confident, mighty learners.

Prabh joined Thornhill Child Care Society in June 2025 as the Program Director. She has been working in the early childhood field since 2018 and holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Bow Valley College, along with a Hospital Unit Clerk certification. With a strong passion for early learning, she believes that children learn best through play. She is deeply committed to creating a nurturing, inclusive, and engaging environment where children feel safe to explore, grow, and achieve important milestones in their development. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, watching Netflix, and spending time in the mountains. Her love for learning, creativity, and community shines through both her professional work and personal interests.

Casey originally is from a small town in Newfoundland and have been living in Calgary since 2017. She graduated from the Early Childhood Education program in 2008 and currently hold a Level 3 Certification through the Alberta government. Over the past 18 years, Casey has worked closely with children and families in a variety of roles, from educator to her current position as Program Director at the Dover location of Thornhill. Much of her experience has been in an Early Learning Centre supporting children of diverse abilities, with a strong focus on trauma-informed care. This work quickly became her passion, and strive to create inclusive environments that honor each child’s unique identity and individual way of learning. Outside of work, Casey enjoys crafting, thrifting, and listening to music.

Brooke hold an Early Childhood Education Diploma from Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario, and she is a Level 3 certified Early Childhood Educator with the Alberta Government. She has also completed Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum: Play, Possibilities, and Participation (FLIGHT) through MacEwan University. She has worked alongside children, families and educators for over 20 years in a variety of capacities. Her passion is creating welcoming, open-ended environments where children feel safe, valued, and free to follow their natural curiosity through play. She finds deep joy in watching children explore, ask questions, and make sense of the world in ways that are meaningful to them. She is equally passionate about supporting educators in their own learning journeys. She believes in the power of reflection, collaboration, and relationship-based practice, and she loves walking alongside educators as they grow in confidence, curiosity, and connection with children and families. Outside of work, she enjoys crafting, exploring new places and trying new cuisines.

Paula is a Level 3 Educator who graduated from Mount Royal University in 2012 with a diploma in Early Learning and Child Care. In 2018, she received a certificate in FLIGHT from MacEwan University. Paula has been a part of Lumino team since its opening in September 2017 and became Program Director in 2024. She continues to upgrade her learning through workshops and conferences as it provides her with new insights in the ELCC sector. When she's not at work, Paula enjoys cooking, baking, and watching movies with her family. She is an avid sports fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Stampeders, and Seattle Seahawks. "Being in this field had made really examine and expand my own values and beliefs. Advocating for children, families, and Educators is what drives me to learn and become an effective leader to strive for a better early childhood experience for everyone involved."

Kamal is an early childhood educator with over eight years of experience supporting children, families, and educators across three provinces. She holds an Early Childhood Education Diploma from Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, and have completed Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum: Play, Possibilities, and Participation (FLIGHT) through MacEwan University. Kamal is passionate about creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children feel safe, valued, and empowered to explore their curiosity and potential. She believes in play-based, child-centered learning that honours each child’s interests, ideas, and unique ways of understanding the world. Equally, she is committed to supporting educators by fostering safe, strength-based spaces where voices are heard, differences are celebrated, and professional growth is continuous and collaborative. Building strong relationships with families and communities is central to my approach. Kamal strives to create partnerships where families feel respected, included, and engaged in their child’s learning journey. Outside of work, she enjoys listening to music, drawing, writing, and exploring nature—practices that inspire her creativity, curiosity, and presence as a leader.

Tamara Wood was born in Calgary, Alberta, and moved to Okotoks in 1996. She has been working in the Early Childhood Education field since 2002 and earned her Early Childhood Education Diploma in 2008. Throughout her career, Tamara has served in a variety of roles, including classroom educator, educational assistant, and owner/operator of multiple childcare centres. Since 2018, she has been the Program Director at Thornhill Child Care – VIK Academy, where she provides leadership, mentorship, and oversight to ensure high-quality early learning experiences for children and families. In 2019, Tamara completed the Alberta FLIGHT Curriculum Framework, strengthening her commitment to responsive, play-based learning rooted in Alberta’s early learning principles. Tamara is more passionate than ever about early childhood education and the impact it has on children, families, and communities. She is deeply committed to continuing her full-time career while supporting and mentoring her team, sharing her knowledge with others in the field, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of children as an educator, mentor, and leader. Outside of her professional life, Tamara enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, her three grown children, and her grandchildren.