Executive Director

Deborah Lehmann is a resourceful community leader with a proven track record of leading change in the non-profit charitable sector. Deborah joined the Ottawa based Parent Resource Centre (PRC) with a passion for the organization’s vital mission and a strong understanding of the community’s need for the services it provides. With a focus on child development, parent support, training and research, the PRC aims to have a lasting impact on the well-being of children. Deborah’s vision for the organization is to create communities where all children discover and develop skills to live the best life possible. In her role as Executive Director, Deborah encourages a culture of creativity and innovation and ensures PRC continues to provide best practices to support each child’s unique processes and circumstances.

Prior to her arrival at PRC, Deborah spent 10 years focused on end-of-life services in British Columbia. In 2009, Deborah had the vision for a leading edge campus of care and large scale partnership in Abbotsford. She was one of the founding members of an integrated health-care development; a single location with a range of services and support networks for children, youth, adults and families. During her career, she worked diligently to change the paradigm that hospice care is only for seniors and advocate for more funds to be allocated to children and families for grief and loss support services. Deborah is an exceptionally engaging public speaker on topics including; family dynamics at end of life, children and grief, grief in the workplace and adjusting to life after loss.

Her many volunteer roles include service as a member of the Adoption Council of Canada’s Board of Directors, a member of Habitat for Humanity’s Family Partnering Committee, and more recently, a member of the Ottawa Association of Fundraising Professionals Board of Directors. In British Columbia, Deborah was a devoted Rotarian and her other community work included membership on the Abbotsford Police Board and the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Of particular interest to Deborah was her involvement with the Social Development Advisory Committee that provided advice to City Council on social issues, to help guide the City’s social planning, including its most vulnerable and marginalized citizens.