Our Staff

Allison Holder

Allison was born and raised in Muskoka, spending her youth living on a farm in Barkway. She moved to Halifax after high school to pursue a double major in International Development and Social Anthropology at Dalhousie University. 

During her time out east, she worked as a case worker for the Immigration and Settlement Association in Nova Scotia, assisting newcomer women and children in their homes with the development of Canadian cultural currency and English proficiency. She then returned to Toronto to pursue a Master’s and thesis in Immigration and Settlement Studies at Ryerson University. 

During her Master's degree, she completed a placement at The 519, a grassroots organization in the Church and Wellesley village which supports the needs of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Allison facilitated weekly programs for newcomer refugees who had fled their country of origin based on persecution over their sexual identity. 

Allison is so happy to be back living in Muskoka close to her family once again with her wife, two dogs and cat. She brings her education and facilitation experience to youth programs, Women in Business, and small business coaching at the YWCA Muskoka while also running her own wedding floral design business called Flower Child.