Building On Threads

Merissa Mills

Merissa Mills is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, changemaker, and Registered Social Worker from North Bay, Ontario. Guided by community care and courageous leadership, she founded a grassroots nonprofit addressing homelessness, poverty, housing, and food insecurity after earning her BSW from the University of Windsor. Her work continues to centre on advocacy, social impact, and relationship-based care.

Beyond social work, Merissa is a photographer who captures real,

unscripted moments and heartfelt portraits that honour connection and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Through both her advocacy and her art, she embodies the spirit of the Universal He-ART—meeting people with compassion, authenticity, and a commitment to meaningful change.

Who We Are:

There is a massive, untapped wealth of skill, wisdom, and grit in the people of Northern Ontario. We live in a place where the landscape is vast, but our stories are even deeper. Building On Threads was created to be a comprehensive, one-stop shop for our region—stitching together a podcast, a magazine, and a speakers bureau to ensure these voices are heard, connected, and celebrated.

While our focus is firmly on Northern Ontario, we believe that the journey of the human spirit is universal. We aren’t exclusionary; if you have a story that fits our mission of triumph, growth, and healing, we want to hear it.

Why We Started

This mission is deeply personal. For me, the catalyst for everything was the loss of my nephew. That heartbreak sparked a series of life-altering changes and led me to a realization: my story needed to be told. In finding my own voice through the grief, I realized that so many others are carrying stories that are just waiting for a place to land. Healing is an art shared by all, and we are here to make sure those stories find their way to the people who need them most.

Get in Touch

Whether you have a story to share, a skill to offer our volunteer team, or you’re interested in booking a speaker, we’d love to hear from you.