Rylie McFarlane, BSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker

Rylie started at Nova's Ark in June 2026 and has a huge passion for working with individuals of varied abilities. Rylie was immediately drawn to Nova’s core values and mission, such as community, inclusivity, and the environmental ties to therapeutic approaches.

Rylie graduated from Trent University with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2025. During this time, she completed a placement at a community centre for autistic adults. She immediately fell in love with this area of practice. Rylie started working in a transitional group home for adults with varied abilities during university and still works there part-time. This experience only deepened her love for the field. Her fourth-year placement was at an all-girls school where she had the opportunity to support the emotional and social development of many young people through individual counselling and group sessions. This created her passion for working with children and youth.

As a registered social worker who works with many of our Ontario Autism Program (OAP) guests, Rylie conducts daily one-on-one sessions catered to individual interests and the needs of our participants. She collaborates with caregivers to help create unique goals while creating strategies and plans to help our participants meet their goals.

Rylie loves working with individuals of varied abilities and with children and youth, so Nova’s Ark is the best of both worlds. She loves the strong, lively, and supportive community that is so apparent here. Nova’s Ark has an amazing mission that she is glad to be a part of with values that strongly align with her own.

Participant smiling with bouquet of flowers.

Unlike everywhere else I’ve been, at Nova’s Ark, I do not feel out of place. It gives me something that I feel like I can’t find anywhere else. I meet people that I otherwise wouldn’t meet and I feel like a lot of those who have helped me through my struggles I’ve met here.
Bridget, Participant since 2010

Nova’s Ark is special to our whole family. When Daniel first started here, he could only speak one-word sentences. Now, he can talk your ear off and is very independent. Daniel being at Nova’s Ark takes a lot of pressure off of our family because we know he is safe, happy and learning. No matter the weather or if he is tired, Daniel doesn’t want to miss a day.
Daniel’s Mom, a participant since 2014

From the moment our son started attending Novas Ark, we felt such positivity, hope and inspiration. Everyone in the Nova’s Ark family has been so caring and accepting of our whole family. Nova’s Ark has gone above and beyond to help us on our family’s journey and we are beyond thankful. We are so lucky to have found such a supportive environment for our children and our family.
Parent, Shannon K.

Rylie McFarlane, BSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker

Everyone Can Make A Difference

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