Huron House Boys’ Home in Bright’s Grove names new executive director

Mike McGill, who started out as a relief worker in 2007 at Huron House Boys’ Home, has been appointed executive director of the children’s mental health live-in treatment center in Bright’s Grove.

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McGill officially took up the post this month at Huron House in the lakefront neighborhood of Sarnia, filling a vacancy left when former executive director Brett Gatt left for a job in London.

“I just love the place,” McGill said. “It has been a long road, but it’s exciting for me.”

McGill added he has a “deep” commitment to the center’s mission of supporting boys ages 12 to 18.

“Mike has worked at Huron House for over 17 years and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, plus strong leadership skills that will contribute to the continuing success of Huron House,” board president Bert Phills said in a news release.

Currently, there are eight boys at the center which dates back to 1970 and is funded by the province, along with community fundraising and donations.

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There are approximately 40 employees.

McGill grew up in Watford and attended Lambton College.

“When you’re young, you’re very unsure exactly what you’re going to do,” he said. “I certainly always had a passion for working with kids, whether it was coaching hockey or volunteering at schools.”

He attended what was then known as the child and youth worker program at Lambton and had a co-op placement at the boys’ home.

“I started as a relief worker and worked my way up,” McGill said.

He eventually became program manager-supervisor, overseeing day-to-day operations, developing and implementing mental health programs and collaborating as part of the team on assessment and treatment for residents.

The father of three moved to Sarnia 11 years ago and outside of work he’s active in sports, hunting and fishing.

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Once he joined the Huron House staff, McGill said, “I realized the good things that we’re doing with these youth; the consistency and the structure, just the guidance that we can provide pointing a kid in the right direction.”

McGill said he’s looking forward to working with the community to find new opportunities and partnerships to help “strong youth” become “strong adults.”

“I want to really build relationships, reinforce our community bonds,” he said. “I think it’s the only way to help enhance services across the board.”

Huron House has a “strong foundation and I think we have done a great job for 54 years working with countless youth to try and provide stability and structure,” McGill said.

[email protected]

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