About Us

We are united in our mission to promote global awareness through local engagement in Canada.

About YouCount.ca

Our digital civic engagement platform is called YouCount.ca. When users enter their location into YouCount.ca, they are provided with profiles of their corresponding political representatives and information about their work. As a means to accommodate Canada’s multicultural and diverse population, YouCount.ca can be browsed in 109 different languages. We hope that YouCount.ca can be a one-stop website for Canadian citizens and residents to learn about the three levels of Canadian government and engage with their political representatives.

About Our Parent Foundation — GLOCAL

YouCount.ca is a project of GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, which is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that focuses on grassroots initiatives to facilitate local civic engagement and global understanding. As of July 2021, our GLOCAL team is composed of 90+ staff, consultants, advisors, and volunteers from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. GLOCAL and YouCount.ca are for all Canadians but have a focus on youth, seniors, marginalized groups (the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and BIPOC individuals), immigrants & refugees, Indigenous communities, and overseas Canadians.

Research and Data Driven

We are an official partner of The Consortium on Electoral Democracy/Consortium de la démocratie électorale (C-Dem), a network of researchers, electoral management boards, policy makers, and civil society organizations who investigate the well-being of Canadian democracy.

Meet The Team

Our team members are located across the country and speak over 20 languages.

Management Team Members

Faye Ying

Founder & Executive Director
Passionate about people engagement and social innovation, Faye has worked in Canada's Parliament, at the University of British Columbia (UBC), in the venture capital industry, and for the United Nations. Her diverse international and domestic work experience has taught her the importance of global understanding and local engagement, which led her to create GLOCAL, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to digital civic engagement and youth engagement in Canada. Faye received her B.A. from UBC and an M.A. from Harvard University. She is a proud mother who is constantly juggling the responsibilities of family, work and community services.

Faye respectfully acknowledges that she is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations.

Hunter Driggers

Research Associate
Hunter is deeply committed to promoting civic engagement through accessible non-partisan information. Appropriately, Hunter is responsible for leading GLOCAL’s efforts to produce original and high-quality research. This includes overseeing research design, supervising research projects, recommending research ideas, reviewing research-based content, and supporting Research Team members as they endeavor to better understand civil society in contemporary Canada. Hunter is also a PhD candidate at the University of Western Ontario, where he is currently completing his doctoral dissertation on recovering from episodes of democratic decay. When Hunter is not acting as the Research Team Manager, he conducts research for academic publication, enjoys video games and reading, and spends time with his wife and cat.

Hunter respectfully acknowledges that he is located on the unceded territory of the Attawandaron, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe peoples. Hunter is extremely grateful for the opportunity to live as a guest on lands that have traditionally been under Indigenous stewardship, and he recognizes the need for meaningful reconciliation and justice.

Carla Caruana

Research Advisor
Dr. Carla Caruana is a political scientist, author, researcher, educator, editor, and general knower of things political. She got her PhD in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario in 2016 and has published on strategic voting, negative partisanship and the behaviour of legislators. She has returned to GLOCAL for another opportunity to do research that helps the public get engaged with democracy, which is more important than ever.

Dr. Caruana does not reveal her location online, but since everywhere on this continent is someone else's land, she recommends getting to know whom those people and nations are, and behaving with the appropriate respect for their unceded sovereignty. It's up to us to uphold the promises made to them in our name.

Daniel Biel

Digital Project Officer
As a Digital Project Officer at GLOCAL, Daniel oversees the functionality and user experience of digital tools, such as onboarding platforms, learning systems, and support bots. He will be graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts. Outside of his professional life, Daniel explores overlooked parts of Canada, hunts for vintage atlases, and reading about geopolitical history.

Paula Andrea Perez Gomez

Compliance Officer
With a background in legal analysis, research, and civic engagement, Paula has valuable experience and a passion for helping others. She is a proud member of the Hispanic community and has contributed to an interdisciplinary social project, as well as managed cases as a Legal Analyst and Supervisor. Paula holds a Master's in Constitutional Law from Spain and a LLB from Colombia, demonstrating her commitment to learning. She is passionate about making a positive impact and looks forward to contributing to future projects.

Paula respectfully acknowledges that she is located in Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations.

Vicky Huang

Project Manager, Data
As a Project Manager at GLOCAL, Vicky oversees data-driven projects that enhance civic engagement and electoral transparency in Canada. She manages the development of the 'Find Your Political Representative' database, coordinates Canada Election Survey data analysis, and leads volunteer data teams in research and technical tasks. Vicky holds an MBA from a Canadian university and previously worked as an antitrust and IP lawyer in Beijing. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring data visualizations, engaging in community initiatives, and discovering new cultural experiences.

Vicky respectfully acknowledges that she is located on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

Krista Hem

Volunteer Engagement Officer and Event Coordinator
As the Volunteer Engagement Officer and Event Coordinator at GLOCAL, Krista is dedicated to fostering volunteer growth and maintaining strong engagement, while also managing the organization’s events. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Sociology from the University of Waterloo. In her free time, Krista enjoys diving into books, catching up on movies, and going for runs.

Joseph Ong

Project Manager, Digital Products and Services
As a Project Manager at GLOCAL, Joseph is responsible for overseeing the project throughout the entire lifecycle. He graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Enterprise Management. In his spare time, Joseph enjoys curating recipes, playing video games and exploring Web 4.0 business applications.

Joseph respectfully acknowledges that he is located on the traditional territories Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabeg peoples.

Robina Hamdard

Community Outreach Manager
Robina has over 15 years of extensive experience in development, gender equality, and peace and security programming. She holds a BA in Law and Political Science from Kabul University and has also studied international relations at the master’s level. Throughout her career, Robina has worked across a wide range of fields, including women’s rights, gender equality, grant management, advocacy, proposal writing, event management, monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, and project management. She has held key roles at organizations such as the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, The Killid Group Media, Afghan Women’s Network (as Advocacy Manager), UNDP, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the U.S. Ambassador’s Small Grants Program, and UN Women Afghanistan.

Sophia Jiang

Compliance and Administration Officer
Sophia Jiang is the Compliance and Administration Officer at GLOCAL, where she supports organizational governance, operational processes, and policy implementation. She is also a second-year law student in the Common Law program at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. Sophia’s academic and professional interests include employment law, not-for-profit law, and disability rights, with a focus on advancing equitable and accessible legal systems. She welcomes opportunities to connect with fellow students and prospective applicants seeking law school advice.

Sophia is located in the unceded territory of the Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabeg, Seneca, Chippewa, and the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Joe Shi

Product Manager
Joe Shi is a Product Manager at GLOCAL, where he focuses on product design and programming to support digital civic engagement and volunteer participation. In this role, Joe works closely across teams to design user-centered features, translate community needs into product requirements, and help build scalable platforms that connect people with meaningful civic and volunteer opportunities. Joe holds a Master of Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He previously worked as a Product Manager intern at Tencent and Kuaishou, where he gained hands-on experience in large-scale consumer products. During his undergraduate studies, Joe also built a platform dedicated to stray animal protection and volunteer connections, an experience that shaped his long-term interest in social impact, technology, and community-driven design. Outside of work, Joe enjoys playing the Chinese bamboo flute, reading and writing detective fiction, and playing detective games. He also likes hiking, city walks with friends, and spending time with pets.

Joe respectfully acknowledges that he is located in Scarborough, on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. He is grateful to live and work on these lands and recognizes the importance of ongoing reconciliation and respect for Indigenous communities.

Rohil Sharma

Project Manager, Outreach
As a Project Manager of the Outreach Team, Rohil supports GLOCAL's external communications with legislators, academic institutions, and other community partners. He holds a B.A. from the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Rohil respectfully acknowledges that he is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations.

Liliane Mu

Participant Success Manager, Compliance
As a Participant Success Manager in Compliance at GLOCAL, Liliane is responsible for screening, onboarding, and managing volunteers in the compliance track, as well as coordinating compliance-related research and documentation tasks. She graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts, with a Sociology Major and Law and Society Minor. In her spare time, Liliane likes to go on hikes and cook for her family.

Liliane respectfully acknowledges that she is located on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Socheatta Hem

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As the Volunteer Engagement Officer and Event Coordinator at GLOCAL, Krista is dedicated to fostering volunteer growth and maintaining strong engagement, while also managing the organization’s events. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Sociology from the University of Waterloo. In her free time, Krista enjoys diving into books, catching up on movies, and going for runs.

Alejandra Soto

Project Manager, Knowledge Mobilization
Alejandra is committed to advancing sustainable development and making research accessible and meaningful for diverse communities through collaboration, thoughtful communication, and creative approaches to knowledge sharing. She is a member of the Hispanic community and brings an international perspective shaped by living and studying abroad. She completed her MSc in Political Economy in Lisbon, Portugal, where she learned Portuguese, fed neighbourhood cats, and volunteered at an equine therapy centre supporting children and young adults. Outside of work, she enjoys playing video games and exploring the arts, often integrating creativity into research processes to help make information engaging, inclusive, and accessible to all.

Alejandra respectfully acknowledges that she is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and The Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations.

Liddell Hastings

Participant Success Manager, Research
As a Participant Success Manager for Research, Liddell Hastings is completing his Ph.D in Canadian and Comparative Politics with a research focus on political behaviour and social movements. Liddell has a passion for teaching and mentorship, extending even in to his personal life where he is the organizer and captain of an amateur e-sports team.

Liddell recognises the need for Indigenous reconciliation and empowerment through inovative forms of indigenous self-governance as a pathway towards correcting systemic inequalities.

Make a Donation

Every dollar counts. Even a $1 or $2 donation helps support YouCount's goal of encouraging civic engagement and political involvement in Canada. We appreciate your support!