Senator Patti LaBoucane-Benson is a Métis from Treaty 6 territory in Alberta. Her 30-year career has been dedicated to serving her community in Alberta, across Canada and around the world—as the director of a Boys and Girls Club in St. Paul in 1990, through 23 years of service at Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA), and Conference Director and Lead Facilitator of the Nelson Mandela Dialogues in Canada, an international gathering of freedom fighters that took place on Enoch Cree Nation in 2017.

Patti’s lifelong work has become an extended conversation about healing from historic trauma. Patti brought her PhD research to life through a work of creative non-fiction, an award-winning graphic novel—The Outside Circle (House of Anansi, 2015)—that tells the story of an inner-city Aboriginal family who transcend poverty, gang affiliation, and hopelessness. Her teaching materials are used in classrooms across Canada and in training sessions for professionals. 

Appointed to the Senate in October 2018, LaBoucane-Benson continues to share her knowledge of healing from historic trauma with educators, healthcare professionals, lawyers and policy makers, as well as Indigenous communities.

Shelley Williams has been with HIV Edmonton since 2011 and has worked as a leader in the not for profit sector for over 35 years. Her work has included Edmonton Women’s Shelter WIN Houses, YWCA of Edmonton and Bissell Centre. At HIV Edmonton, she has been the Chair of the Alberta Community Council on HIV, Chair of the Edmonton harm reduction agency Streetworks, and Chair of the coalition to ensure Access to Medically Supervised Injection Services Edmonton (AMSISE).

Recently, Shelley spoke to the House of Commons Justice and Human Rights Committee on the criminalization of non-disclosure of HIV status. Shelley is also a certified executive coach and has numerous recognitions including; an honorary doctorate from St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta, YWCA of Edmonton Woman of Distinction Lifetime Achievement and a Muttart Fellowship.

Eileen Bona is a Registered Psychologist who has specialized in working with people of all ages with a variety of brain impairments for more than 25 years. She founded her organization, Dreamcatcher, and began working with animals in a natural setting 16 years ago. Eileen has worked with people with complex needs for the majority of her career and Dreamcatcher is well known for helping this population to gain functional living skills regardless of their level of functioning upon coming to Dreamcatcher.

Eileen created and taught the first Animal Assisted Therapy Course in English-speaking Canada and has now helped to create the first certificate in Animal Assisted Wellness at a College level for helping professionals. She provides the only certification in Canada for Animal Assisted Therapy and the Dreamcatcher Academy is home to formal canine and professional trainings.

Detective Ryan Ferry is a 12 year member of the Edmonton Police Service. He has worked in patrol, Whyte Avenue Beats, Public Safety Compliance Team, Hospitality Policing Unit and has been newly promoted where he is working as a detective in Downtown Division Criminal Investigations Section. All of these roles have required a high level of community engagement which Det. Ferry has embraced by investing himself in the community to break down barriers and stereotypes. Det. Ferry has organized several projects that involved outreach to high risk youth and providing resources to the homeless.

Sgt. Michelle Horchuk is a 16 year member of the Edmonton Police Service and is currently assigned as the Supervisor of Hospitality Policing Unit. She has been a detective in the Institutions Investigations Unit and a supervisor of a patrol squad in Downtown Edmonton. Prior to her supervisory experience, Sgt Horchuk has worked in Downtown Division Beats, Hate Crimes Unit, Spousal Violence Unit and was a member of the Sexual Exploitation Working Group (SEWG). Sgt Horchuk also coordinated a program for high risk youth and remains committed to working with high risk populations.

Jerry Cordeiro is a self-taught photo-journalist, artist, and poet that documents the lives of the people he meets. Taking photos of all photographic genres including abstract, still life and landscape, however, his passion is Street Photography. Here he is able to make connections with those he photographs and shares their stories. Jerry is the creator of Humans of Edmonton Experience, a street photography blog documenting the diversity of Edmonton streets.

Jerry is currently involved in a global photography movement called the Inside Out Project where artists highlight a social issue in their city and display large-scale portraits in the streets. He will be featuring Edmonton’s less fortunate. Jerry’s photography has taken him to cities around the world such as East Hastings, Vancouver, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Haiti.

Evan Westfall is the Education Coordinator for the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services (ISMSS) housed at the University of Alberta. As and Educator, Evan offers guest lectures to several colleges and universities.

Additionally, he runs fyrefly in schools, an education program for primary and secondary education, where he and a team of educators offer instruction pertaining to issues of sexual and gender diversity.

Constable Chris Clemens has been with the Edmonton Police Service for 6 years and in the Gang Portfolio for 4 of those years. For the past 2 years, he has been a member of the Stony Plain Road Beats team.

Constable Gord MacDonald is a 10 year member of the Edmonton Police Service. He has been involved in the Graffiti Portfolio for 4 years and the Gang Portfolio for 7 years. For the last 3 years, he has been a member of the Stony Plain Road Beats team.

Kirsty Prasad is a counsellor with AHS Addiction and Mental Health the Enhanced Services For Individuals and Families. She has worked in this program since its inception in 2002 which was formerly known as Enhanced Services For Women. Prior to working with addictions, Kirsty worked with Streetworks and the Mental Health Unit at the Boyle Street Co-op. Her career has focused primarily working with individuals who need an enhanced level of support.

Questions?

Conference Secretariat
BUKSA Strategic Conference Services
Suite 307, 10328 81 Ave NW | Edmonton, AB | T6E 1 X2
780-436-0983 ext.226 | gspady@buksa.com