Our provincial boards

Chair: Jon Faber

Jon Faber oversees a variety of responsibilities in his role as President & CEO of Pason Systems, including finance and accounting, risk management, investor relations, information technology, DevOps and supply chain. Prior to Pason, Jon worked in investment banking with National Bank Financial, with a dedicated focus on the energy services sector, and a predecessor firm, Wellington West Capital Markets.

Jon received a BBA from Brock University and an MBA from Purdue University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Business Valuator, and Chartered Professional Accountant designations. He has been recognized as a Global TopGun CFO by Brendan Wood International.

Jon is an active volunteer in his community participating in Heart & Stroke’s fundraiser Ski for Heart and serving as a section chair with United Way of Calgary and Area.

Past chair: Clayton Norris

Clayton Norris, CAFM, MBA, CPA, CMA, is the vice president of MNP's Indigenous Services. He leads the team across Canada, which currently provides services in consulting, accounting and tax in over 225 Indigenous Nations.

Based in Calgary, Clayton works closely with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities in an advisory capacity, assisting clients in the areas of business and strategic planning, human resource issues, corporate finance, training and economic development consulting. With his extensive experience working with Indigenous business and communities Clayton understands the unique requirements. He takes great pride in being a close professional advisor to the individuals and organizations that support development within the Indigenous community.

Clayton played a key role in the development of MNPs EASE cloud accounting services and Indigenous self-employment and management training programs. As a member of the AFOA Alberta board in 2005, Clayton was awarded the Deputy Minister’s Pride and Recognition award for excellence in leadership. He was a member of the 2008 Governor Generals Leadership Conference. He is a current member of the MNP board, and former treasurer of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and several First Nation economic development boards. Clayton is a member of the Cold Lake First Nations.

Wunmi Adekanmbi MSc, PMP 

Profile in progress

Dr. Jehangir Appoo

Dr. Jehangir Appoo is in a second career at the intersection of Finance, Medicine, & Impact. In 2020, he founded AIoT Health, Artificial Intelligence of Things Healthcare, a physician-backed syndicate Venture Capital fund focusing on how machine learning can make a meaningful improvement in healthcare. AIoT Health seeks to partner with founders using digital technologies to rewrite the boundaries of healthcare. In addition to being immersed in the healthcare start-up ecosystem, Dr. Appoo contributes to pushing forward academic frontiers and has an adjunct Associate Professorship at the University of Calgary where he leads international trials in cardiac sciences.

Dr. Appoo’s first career was as a cardiovascular surgeon with experience in healthcare systems in Canada, the US, and the UK. Whilst in practice at the University of Calgary, he helped establish the Artificial Heart Program, performed southern Alberta's first artificial heart device implant, and founded a multidisciplinary Thoracic Aortic Program focused on open, hybrid and endovascular interventions. 

Scott Birchall

Scott is Vice President, Corporate Development at Spur Petroleum Ltd., a privately-held oil company that operates in the Clearwater play in northern Alberta. Scott served in the same role at Spur Resources Ltd., which was sold to a publicly-traded energy company in 2017. He is also a Principal at Longbow Capital Inc., a private equity investment manager based in Calgary, Alberta that invests in energy, power, infrastructure, and technology. Before joining Longbow in 2009, Scott worked in the Corporate Finance group with Peters & Co. Limited and prior to this, Scott spent three years at the Calgary-based private equity firm ENTx Capital

Corporation, which focused on investments in the electricity and energy industry. 
Scott earned his law degree from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Bishops University, where he graduated with distinction. Scott is also a CFA Charterholder.

Scott has been active with Heart & Stroke since 2017. He also sits on the board of directors of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada, and is chair of the Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut Local Council.

Donna Gee

Profile in progress

Krista King

Krista (Wollny) King is a consultant with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Calgary. Prior to joining BCG, Krista was an associate professor (teaching) at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Nursing. Krista obtained her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Calgary in 2022, utilizing big data to predict adverse events in pediatric critical care. During her PhD, she volunteered as a consultant for the Alberta Health Services' COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group. She holds a Master of Nursing degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Queen's University.

In addition to her academic background, Krista has over a decade of experience as a pediatric ICU nurse and has worked at children's hospitals in Calgary and Toronto. She also taught Heart & Stroke’s Basic Life Support (BLS) program for healthcare providers.

Colleen Norris

Dr. Colleen Norris is a professor and associate dean of research with the Faculty of Nursing and holds appointments with the Division of Cardiology, the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Medicine, and the School of Public Health. She is the Cavarzan Chair in Mature Women's Health Research and a member of the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute. She is a founding member of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance, and the past Chair of the Health Policy and Services Working Group. Dr. Norris focuses on sex and gender factors that impact women’s heart disease, including under-diagnosis, treatment outcomes and health-related quality of life afterward. Dr. Norris is internationally recognized for her leadership in developing and disseminating evidence-informed strategies to transform clinical practice and impact public policy related to women’s heart health. 

Mike Tuff

Mike Tuff is Vice President Law Firm Business Development, Canada with Computershare. Mike and his family are native Calgarians, with strong family and community relationships in Calgary, and Alberta. 

On February 04, 2021, Mike’s wife Jen suffered the first of two strokes, and shortly after that day her incredible road to recovery began. Coupled with joining the Heart & Stroke, Mike also sits on the board of directors for the LUNA Child and Youth Advocacy Centre in Calgary.

Chair: Michael  Murphy, BA, MBA, MSc, ICD

Michael Murphy spent 14 years in the financial services industry with Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse in London. Upon return to Vancouver, he co-founded Torex Gold Resources, a TSX listed mid-tier gold producer. He is currently the president and CEO of Global Battery Metals Ltd., a junior exploration company. He is also on the board and a member of the audit committee of Ethos Gold. 

Michael graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts, from Saint Mary’s University with a Master of Business Administration, from the London School of Economics and Political Science with a Master of Science focusing in finance, and became a certified director through the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Vice chair: Candy Ho

As chief executive officer of The Cape on Bowen Community Development, Candy is working towards a future of balanced social-economic-environmental sustainability, with a vision for 350 contiguous acres of southwestern waterfront to become a global role model in innovation and collaboration. She is engaging residents and the municipality to participate in creating their future; directing a team of consultants in community design and planning, civil engineering, environmental engineering, traffic and transportation, financial analysis, and actively looking for impact investment from community builders and renewable resource partners.

At the same time, she is building a new venture to shift humanity towards mindful, compassionate and empowered living.

Prior to her current two foci, Candy co-founded Element Lifestyle Retirement. She conceived of and designed the intergenerational model for retirement living after she identified, assembled and facilitated the acquisition of OPAL lands. Her intergenerational vision was applied to all of Element's projects and earned OASIS, an international award over 950 projects assessed worldwide. She built Element's brand on vision, purpose and values; was responsible for community, investor and media relations, and led project sales, leasing and marketing.

In 2001, she joined CPAC Care Management. After CPAC was sold to Chartwell in 2005, she continued providing consultancy on the development of retirement housing to local and international groups. In 2005, she joined The Cape on Bowen and over the years on the project, played multiple roles: visioning; strategic planning; partnership negotiations; municipal relations; project management; community relations; branding, sales & marketing. As of August 1, 2019, she was appointed CEO of The Cape on Bowen.

Candy has a Bachelor of Science from UBC, where she was mentored in leadership under Dr. John Gilbert, Order of Canada and senior advisor for the World Health Organization. She is also an executive committee member of the Vancouver chapter of Young Canadians in Finance.

Past Chair: Devi Sangara

An accomplished interior designer, Devi has conceptualized and overseen the development of condos, apartments, and warehouses across the Greater Vancouver area and currently consults on a large project in Sechelt, British Columbia. 

With a focus on strengthening the community, Devi donated her time at Bumblebee Preschool (treasurer) Kerrisdale Soccer and Kerrisdale Baseball.  Moving on to West Point Grey Academy, she chaired the parent volunteer group and was committee member for six years, ensuring that the school had adequate funding and person power for enriched programs such as robotics, debate, Model UN as well as special purchases like athletic gear, uniforms, iPads, film and science equipment. After this time, she joined a group of dedicated moms for five years on the planning committee for PALS, raising $250K annually to fund operations for the only accredited school for Autistic children in BC.

The importance of giving back was instilled in Devi by her father, Sawarne Sangara, who survived heart problems and multiple myeloma for over 17 years. Upon discovering that the Vancouver General Hospital had no funding to operate the photophoresis machine for stem cell transplants that the family donated, Devi and her father privately organized two galas, three executive length golf tournaments and a fashion show that together raised over $1 million. 

With commitment and purpose, Devi turned to volunteering for the planning committee and chairing the ‘Night of a Thousand Stars’ gala, the main fundraiser of the year for VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation. During her tenure, the totals raised by this evening went from $280K to over $3 million. For her efforts, Devi was the 2015 recipient of the Giving Hearts Award bestowed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the outstanding volunteer fundraiser of the year. 

Born and raised in Vancouver, Devi majored in Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia, graduated with a diploma from Vancouver Community College of Design, and is the mother of three wonderful sons.

Troy Abromaitis

Troy Abromaitis is a member of Lytton First Nation, one of the communities of the Nlaka’ parnux Nation. He currently works as the Director of Development with the Bucci Group of Companies.

Mr. Abromaitis’ portfolio of work includes successfully managing over 30 development projects throughout Western Canada. He has over a decade of community service with his commitment to charitable causes, volunteerism and preserving local heritage. He currently sits on the Canadian Home Builder’s Association of BC Fraser Valley and the National indigenous Affordable Housing Corp.

Mr. Abromaitis is also the President of the Rotary Club of West Vancouver and the is on the West Point Grey Community Centre Association and the Sto:lo Business Association.

Ken Carrusca, P.ENG.

Ken Carrusca, P.Eng., works with the Cement Association of Canada, as its western region’s vice president of environment and marketing. He worked for many years in the areas of recycling, waste management and alternative fuels. He has worked at a Petro-Canada refinery, the BC Ministry of Environment, Metro Vancouver, and consulting before joining the Cement Association. His work has offered him the opportunity to speak with and present to a wide variety of audiences across BC, Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Brazil.

His focus at the Cement Association has been addressing the impacts of climate policy and carbon pricing in the BC and Alberta markets, with a strong focus on transitioning from conventional to lower carbon fuels. This role offers him the opportunity to connect with non-profit groups, industry, and municipal and provincial governments.

Ken has played recreational hockey since his late teens, and for over ten years he volunteered as an assistant coach with his sons' Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey teams. In January 2018 he was shocked back to life with an AED, after collapsing on the ice from a sudden cardiac arrest in the middle of a men's league hockey game. Forever grateful to his quick-thinking teammates and on-ice officials, he was saved by bystander CPR and one of thirteen AEDs at the ice arena complex. Following cardiac surgery and recovery with the support of his wife and family, he is honoured to have the opportunity to serve on the provincial board of Heart & Stroke, BC & Yukon. His passion is for the wide distribution of AEDs in schools and promoting the value of bystander CPR.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Ken holds degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering from UBC and is a registered professional engineer. He and his wife Susan are parents of two sons currently studying at university.

Karin Humphries, MBA, DSc, FAHA

Dr. Karin Humphries, associate professor emeritus in the faculty of medicine at the University of British Columbia, is passionate about improving the care of women with heart disease. Throughout her career her research has focused on two key areas: sex and gender differences in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of subjects with ischemic heart disease and the use of information technology (IT) to facilitate the translation of evidence into practice.

Karin continues to serve as the program head of the cardiovascular health program (ICVHealth) at the Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, a UBC research centre located at St. Paul’s Hospital. In this role, she is able to focus on improving the quality of cardiovascular care by developing patient-centred and evidence-based approaches to treatment. She is currently leading a randomized controlled trial, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, that will evaluate the impact of using sex-specific cut-points in the assessment of patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected myocardial infarction (heart attack). The study seeks to demonstrate that using diagnostic levels appropriate for females will improve the diagnosis and treatment of women with myocardial infarction.

Karin is also co-chair of Heart & Stroke’s Women’s Heart Health Research Steering Committee where she advises on the use of $5 million in federal funding to support research in women and cardiovascular disease.

Yoyoe Lu

Yoyoe is a dynamic founder, entrepreneur, CEO, and content creator with extensive experience in the real estate industry. As the visionary behind Claridge Real Estate Advisors, a leading commercial real estate brokerage focused on development land sales, she has demonstrated her ability to transform traditional models. With a commitment to innovation, Yoyoe has spearheaded the integration of media production, marketing, and research into her firm's operations, elevating it to a modern real estate powerhouse.

In parallel, Yoyoe has successfully expanded her family's construction business into a thriving real estate enterprise. Her adept management has led to the establishment of multiple autonomous companies, spanning construction management, property development, and influencer media marketing and sales agency. Yoyoe's strategic oversight ensures each entity maintains its unique business philosophy while achieving exceptional results.

Committed to community and industry advancement, Yoyoe's leadership shines through her involvement in the St. Paul’s Foundation Future Leaders Committee and her role as the founding president of the Chinese Cultural Preservation Federation Society. Her dedication extends to serving on the board of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Fraser Valley, as well as the Public Relations Chair of the Rotary Club of West Vancouver. Yoyoe's passion for animals is evident in her unwavering support for the BCSPCA. 

Further, Yoyoe’s father and grandfather have undergone heart surgeries, which has further fueled her commitment to healthcare causes. Yoyoe brings her diverse background and commitment to excellence to support the activities of the British Columbia & Yukon provincial board.

Greg Martin

Greg Martin has worked in B.C.’s mineral resources sector for over 25 years, most recently as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of SSR Mining Inc. Born and raised in BC, Greg’s family and in-laws reside in British Columbia. He studied Civil Engineering at University of British Columbia and completed his MBA at the Ivey School of Business. Greg is a Chartered Professional Accountant, CGA.

In the early days of the COVID pandemic, Greg’s wife suffered an unexpected stroke caused by an arterial dissection of the carotid artery. Quick identification of the situation, rapid response from paramedics and the care received at the VGH stroke unit has enabled her to make a full recovery. The event was a reminder on how important it was to identify the signs of stroke and take immediate action to save a life.

Greg is the proud father of daughters at Langara College and Kitsilano Secondary; and a son at Trafalgar Elementary. He enjoys coaching baseball and stays active on the Peleton, hockey rink, golf course, ski slopes and surf waves. 

Leon Ng

Leon is an innovative business leader and entrepreneur in the proptech industry, championing a synergetic group of companies focusing on creative media, real estate visualization, and emerging technology. Leon has a passion for innovative technologies like VR and AR and upholds it as a core value for LNG Studios and their projects. Leon was awarded the Business in Vancouver (BIV) Top 40 under 40, 2015 and Business in Vancouver (BIV) BC’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders, 2021. With a background in broadcasting and film, Leon is a strong supporter of minority representation in cinema and sits on the advisory board for the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. In 2021 Leon spearheaded the Pixel Moments campaign, a micro-philanthropy activation focusing on mental health awareness. Leon is a strong community leader, sitting on several boards such as St. Paul’s Foundation Future Leaders, SUCCESS Foundation, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation, BC & Yukon.

Michael Scott

Michael Scott is a lawyer in the Estates & Trusts group at Clark Wilson LLP. 

Michael works regularly with executors and trustees to assist with their responsibilities through the course of estate and trust administration. Michael assists clients with probate, addressing ambiguous wills, carrying out the various reporting and disclosure obligations of executors and trustees, distributions and all other matters that may arise in the administration process.

Michael works closely with his clients and their professional advisors to help implement effective plans for transfer of wealth, business succession, incapacity, charitable giving, disability or other needs. This is typically done through the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements and various forms of trusts.

Michael also works with donors to implement charitable giving strategies and advises charities in connection with their rights as beneficiaries of estates and trusts. Michael is a member of the Vancouver Bar Association, the Law Society of British Columbia and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.

Chair: Robyn Stewart

Robyn Stewart is an 18-year veteran accomplished event director, currently holding the role of executive director and CEO of the Western Canadian Music Alliance. Having started her career as a theatre stage manager, among other roles in the cultural industries, she is passionate about the creative process and the role culture plays in communities. Her experience reaches all areas of event management and talent buying, with her strongest skills lying in financial management, complex logistics, government relations and fund development and partner relationship building.

Among the projects she is most proud of are; celebration sites coordinator for the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2010, entertainment buyer for PanAmerican Games 2015, and her current role above, which allows her to support developing artists and engage in passion projects including working towards gender parity in the music industry on an international level.

A travel enthusiast herself, Robyn is incredibly driven by her work supporting artists to showcase and develop business in international markets. Robyn holds board positions on the Polaris Music Prize (national) and KeyChange (international) boards of directors. Robyn is an extreme supporter of the music industry and emerging talent in Canada and brings this passion to every project. 

On a personal level Robyn has a large family, including her two amazing boys, Jasper and Ty, who are the centre of her greatest joys in life. It is because of the importance of family life that Robyn became a lived experience volunteer with Heart & Stroke,  following her own open heart ASD repair surgery in 2016 at the age of 37. She hopes her support of Heart & Stroke will inspire others to care for themselves and their loved ones and to get the support needed in managing heart health.

Past chair: Olive McDonald

Olive McDonald was born and raised in Winnipeg where she grew up in Fort Garry, attending Vincent Massey Collegiate and University of Manitoba. She is very proud of her Icelandic heritage and family.

Olive has been with RBC Financial Group for over 40 years, holding a variety of roles. She obtained her Certified Financial Planner designation in 2009 and Letter of Accomplishment for the Institute of Canadian Banking along with other professional certifications and licenses in the financial area. A longtime volunteer for RBC events, she was also a mentor for Indigenous employees within the RBC Royal Circle early in her career. Olive held one of the first job-share partnerships in Manitoba and was promoted to a manager in this capacity over 25 years ago.  

Olive’s main passion is to serve others. She has volunteered for Heart & Stroke for 35 years. She has also volunteered for many other organizations and events such as: Relay for Life, CIBC Run for the Cure, ALS and MS Society. While her passion has always been to help others succeed, Olive enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and maintains an active and healthy lifestyle.

Kimberley Levasseur Puhach

Kimberley is the vice president of People, Culture and Growth at The Canadian Museum for Human Rights. She is a strategic leader with expertise in human resource management, organizational development with specialization in inclusion, diversity and equity. Kimberley has worked in private, public and non-profit sectors and in a variety of industries. Most recently, she worked as associate vice president, People & Culture – West Region for Gallagher, a global insurance provider, risk management and human capital consulting firm. Prior to that, she was with the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology as the director of People Services and Indigenous Inclusion.

Kimberley serves as chair of the Mayor’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, sits on the board of directors for End Homelessness Winnipeg, co-chairs the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council and acts as a member of the United Way of Winnipeg’s Circle of Indigenous Relations. She is past chair of an Indigenous-led community organization, Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. and past chair for the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation.

Levasseur Puhach – Bezhik Binese Ikwe or Lone Thunderbird Woman, is a proud First Nations woman. She is a member of the Sandy Bay Anishinaabe Nation. Her mother and several other family members are Indian residential school survivors. Kimberley is passionate about Indigenous social justice efforts and is committed to making a difference.  

Lorraine Maciboric

Lorraine is a very active and dedicated community connecter, fundraiser, and mentor. Even though Lorraine will say she is retired, she is busier now than ever before. She has many years of experience as executive director raising funds and awareness for many children/adolescent charities. She recently sat on the Capital Cabinet of the Toba Centre for Children in Youth, which opened its door late summer, 2023. Lorraine works tirelessly in connecting her diverse and extensive client list in helping causes she is extremely passionate about. Lorraine is very excited to bring her skills to support the Manitoba Provincial Advisory Board. 

Lana Maidment

Lana Maidment is the president and owner of Komana Financial Inc. Lana specializes in group benefits, life insurance and all insurance-based products to meet her clients’ needs. She currently serves as a board member with Ronald McDonald House, Manitoba Opera, Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Heart & Stroke. Lana also volunteers and supports fundraising events for Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, Seven Oaks General Hospital, as well as several charity events across Manitoba. Lana is excited to bring her passion and energy to Heart & Stroke to work in collaboration with the team to advance Heart & Stroke’s vision: Life. Uninterrupted by heart disease and stroke and mission to: Promote health. Save lives. Enhance recovery.

Wajihah Mughal

Wajihah Mughal recently joined Mitacs as a business development specialist, promoting collaborative opportunities between academics and industry or non-profit organizations. In this position she engages with local research, technology, and entrepreneurial communities to build partnerships that drive innovation forward in Manitoba.

With two research publications, Wajihah is in the last stage of her PhD and is looking forward to defending her dissertation this summer. Her research project focuses on understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying cardiac development and heart failure. She has identified novel therapeutic targets to promote healthy cardiac cell survival. Her research has been supported by competitive scholarships from Research Manitoba and the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. Wajihah presented her work at the European Society of Cardiology conference in April 2018; where she won second place in the Young Investigators Award Oral Competition. Most notably, she recently received a prestigious major research award at the national Canadian Student Health Research Forum, for her academic achievements in cardiac research as recognized by the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation. 

Wajihah serves as an executive member on the diabetes research student committee at the University of Manitoba, where she has organized conferences and networking events and mentors health science graduate students. 

Dr. Allan Preston

Dr. Allan Preston is President, Preston Stock Farms and PSF Agri-Advisory Services in Hamiota, Manitoba. Allan describes himself as a semi-retired gentleman farmer. After a long career as a practicing veterinarian, Manitoba's chief veterinary officer, and assistant deputy minister with Manitoba Agriculture, Allan returned to the family farm near Hamiota to be with his grandchildren. He remains engaged in many activities including chair of the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative, chair of the Veterinary Services Commission, vice chair of the Westman Opportunities Leadership Group, Bovine Tuberculosis coordinator for Manitoba, member of the Manitoba Agriculture Research and Innovation Committee, and member of the Beef Sciences Cluster Advisory Body. Allan is active in community groups including chair of the Hamiota Community Foundation and now a board member with Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Diane Roussin

Diane Roussin is a dedicated community leader and a proud member of the Skownan First Nation. Diane has worked tirelessly for over two decades, primarily in Winnipeg’s inner city, with organizations and projects that respect the ability and the right of Indigenous families, children and individuals to care for themselves and thrive. She is a strong believer that families must determine their own solutions in order to create sustainable and equitable change.

Most recently, she became the project director for The Winnipeg Boldness Project, a research and development project focusing on improving outcomes for children in the North End of Winnipeg, through social innovation and social lab processes. Diane presented at TEDx Winnipeg in June 2018 on the topic of Indigenous social innovation. In January 2018, Diane received the Governor General’s Award for Outstanding Indigenous Leadership.

Diane holds bachelor of arts and bachelor of social work degrees, and sits on a number of boards, including the Winnipeg Foundation and Winnipeg Art Gallery. She is a cherished member of a large extended family and a loving mother of two daughters whom she adores.

Pam Sigurdson

Pam is the general manager for Sigurdson Financial Group (SFG) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her role includes managing the daily operations of their successful insurance and investment practice. Together with her husband, George Sigurdson, they have accumulated a clientele of over 3000 people and manage assets upwards of $250 million.

An alumna of Brock University, Pam has over 35 years experience in the Insurance Industry. Besides managing SFG, she is involved several Winnipeg charities. Pam spends as much time as possible with her grandchildren and makes travel with George a priority.

Pam and George have four children and four grandchildren between the two of them.

Stefan Tergesen

For over 30 years, Stefan Tergesen has been the owner-operator of H.P. Tergesen & Sons, a fourth-generational general merchant retail business in Manitoba established in 1899. 

Stefan is passionate about his community, family, and recreational life. He has served on the Gimli Heritage Advisory Committee and the Gimli Chamber of Commerce as a founder and executive. Stefan takes much pride in his business and employs a wide range of unique, cross-generational people ranging in ages from teens to seniors.

Stefan experienced cardiac arrest during the early stages of a trip to India. Luckily for him, quick action from bystanders at the airport and access to an AED machine saved his life. Knowing what it means to be a survivor, Stefan has joined the board at Heart & Stroke to fully support its mission: Promote health, Save lives. Enhance recovery.

Stefan’s love of recreational sports is only matched by his affection for all animals, in particular his dog Milos and cat Carol, both rescue animals from the Gimli Humane Society. Stefan leads an active lifestyle with hockey being a natural pastime and mountain biking, and snowboarding are paramount to Stefan despite the fact that he lives on the prairies. Live music, fine dining, and an appreciation for stand-up comedy are constants in his life. Travel has also been a lifelong passion that has led him to Iceland, Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America.

Jack Walker 

Professionally, Jack is a Senior Consultant with the MNP Enterprise Risk Services team in Winnipeg, MB. He enjoys assisting a variety of clients in a variety of industries across Canada with various internal audit and compliance needs. He has a love of learning more about the businesses and industries of his clients and how he can better help them meet their goals. Jack holds both Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designations. 

Jack has always been passionate about giving back to his community. He has extensive experience as a canvasser for several organizations including the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Jack sits on several other non-profit Boards including the Mouseland Press which oversees operations of the University of Winnipeg’s campus and community paper – The Uniter, the Business Economic (BE) Network for which seeks to build connections for University of Winnipeg BE alumni and current students as well as the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) – Winnipeg where Jack holds the VP Education role coordinating education opportunities for current Certified Internal Auditors (CIA).

Jack’s personal connection to Heart & Stroke was instilled by his father, Mark, who taught him early on the important of giving back to your community. Jack developed a further connection to Heart & Stroke when his own grandfather, Greg, suffered a heart attack two years ago. Thanks to the quick thinking of his mother, a former ICU nurse, and the incredible advancements in healthcare, Greg survived and continues to live a full life to this day – golfing, spending time at the cabin and attending bomber games together with Jack. 

Jack and his wife Yarianny became parents in 2023 and they both absolutely love their little son Max. Jack enjoys being with his wife and little one - taking Max out for walks, talking to his son and playing with him around the house. Jack strives to lead by example for little Max so that one day he too will have a drive to give back to his community.  

We are currently recruiting provincial advisory board members for this region. Members provide advice, support and connection to the community to help us advance Heart & Stroke’s mission, vision and values.

We are looking for individuals with extensive business and health expertise who have a passion for advancing heart and brain health. If you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity, please contact Avril Goffredo, executive vice president, fundraising and marketing, at avril.goffredo@heartandstroke.ca.

We are currently recruiting provincial advisory board members for this region. Members provide advice, support and connection to the community to help us advance Heart & Stroke’s mission, vision and values.

We are looking for individuals with extensive business and health expertise who have a passion for advancing heart and brain health. If you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity, please contact Avril Goffredo, executive vice president, fundraising and marketing, at avril.goffredo@heartandstroke.ca.

Chair: Victoria Nguyen

Victoria is Vice President of Project Delivery - Direct Financial Services for CIBC Capital Markets, providing leadership to a diverse team of professionals who lead strategic, high-profile, complex and organization-wide initiatives at CIBC. She is an accomplished business executive and transformation professional. Her career spans over 25 years leading large scale change in many of North America’s best-known brands. Her strong delivery track record enabled successes in financial merger-integrations, corporate restructuring, innovative solutions and global business and technology transformations. 

Victoria is an active advocate and volunteer with Professional Mentoring, Women in Leadership, Inclusion & Diversity, Visible Minority Associations and other local charities. She was a Director of the Project Management Institute (PMI) Toronto. Victoria is a 2021 Women of Inspiration award recipient; Canada’s Top 100 Women of Change book contributor and on the Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment – Economic Justice Task Force.

Victoria is currently CIBC’s Executive Sponsor of Ride for Heart and was TD’s Co-Captain of Ride for Heart since 2015.

Dr. Husam Abdel-Qadir, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Husam Abdel-Qadir joined the Ontario Board in 2022. He is a cardiologist at Women’s College Hospital and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and a scientist at Women’s College Research Institute, the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, and ICES.

He graduated from the University of Toronto’s medical school with the Silver Medal and completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Toronto, followed by a PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research at the Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. 

His primary clinical and research focus is the cardiovascular health of people with cancer, particularly breast cancer. This research is supported by an early career Chair in Heart and Brain Health and the 2020 National New Investigator Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. He also leads a research program on the management and outcomes of people with atrial fibrillation. His work has been recognized by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Young Investigator Award and Atrial Fibrillation Research Award, European Society of Cardiology Young Investigator Award, and the Polanyi prize in Medicine/ Physiology.

Dr. Abdel-Qadir is a board member of the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario and serves as its Director of Continuing Professional Development. He is also a member of the Advisory Board to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Jim Aber

Jim is a seasoned senior executive with over 30 years of experience in the telecom and technology industries in both Canada and the United States. In his current role as a Senior Advisor at Deloitte, Jim works with large and mid-sized organizations in addressing their business challenges, including IoT and 5G planning, go to market approach and use of AI and ML to streamline their business.

In addition to holding operational roles at several telecom, Jim was President of both a mortgage technology company and a financial services technology company in Canada. He has been involved in several not-for-profit organizations, including Career Edge, Gilda’s Club of Greater Toronto, and the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Jim now resides in Toronto with his wife Deborah.

Werner Dietl

Werner Dietl joined the Ontario Provincial Board in 2020. Werner is the President and CEO of BretonGale Limited, a private equity real estate company focused on driving growth, legacy and value on the industrial real estate projects he and his team work on. Werner was previously the President and CEO of CBRE Limited, Canada’s largest full service commercial real estate firm. Werner is also passionate about sustainability, diversity and inclusion and adding value in the communities where he operates across Canada. 

Werner has been a Ride for Heart rider and is active on the Development Committee where he is enthusiastic for driving awareness for Heart and Stroke through the community. 

Dr. Bernice Downey joined the Ontario Provincial Board in 2020. Dr. Downey is a woman of Ojibwe/Saulteaux and Celtic heritage, a mother and a grandmother. She is a medical anthropologist with research interests in Indigenous health, health literacy and Indigenous Traditional knowledge and health/research system reform for Indigenous populations.

Bernice is currently cross appointed to the School of Nursing and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences and is the inaugural Associate Dean, Indigenous Health for the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. She holds a Heart & Stroke Foundation - Canadian Institute of Health Research - Early Career Chair in Indigenous Women’s Heart and Brain Health.

Dr.Downey is an experienced administrator, facilitator, and an organizational and systemic change agent. She is also a life-long advocate in the work towards addressing the serious health inequities among Indigenous populations in Canada.

Mary Joyce Empensando (“MJ”), BSc, CIM, FCSI, is the Chief Compliance Officer at Questrade, Inc., an order‐execution investment dealer and MSB dealing in investment funds, equities, fixed‐income, options, CFD’s and foreign exchange. Ms. Empensando is also the Chief Compliance Officer of sister companies, Questrade Wealth Management, Inc., a portfolio manager, investment fund manager, exempt market dealer and the first to offer Robo‐Advisory services in Canada; and Community Trust Company, Federally Regulated Financial Institution providing a wide range of financial and trustee services including deposit, investment, mortgage and loan products to individuals and corporate entities across Canada.

MJ is responsible for all regulatory compliance‐related activity as well as the Anti‐Money Laundering, Anti‐Terrorism compliance regimes. MJ has worked in the financial industry for over 25 years at firms including TD Canada Trust, PricewaterhouseCoopers, IA Clarington Investments and Fidelity Canada. She is a member of various industry committees including CIRO’s Conduct, Compliance, and Legal Advisory Section Executive, a member of CIRO’s Ontario Regional Council, the Chair of the Investment Industry Association of Canada’s Online Brokerage Committee, the chair of the IIAC OEO Sub‐Committee, and a member of OSC Registrant Advisory Committee.

Mark Gardhouse

Mark Gardhouse is an experienced financial professional, having worked in the Canadian private equity industry, in Toronto and Alberta for over thirty-five years, with senior leadership roles in private equity and alternative finance with several large Canadian financial institutions and both private and public companies. His past President /CEO roles have included several companies with over $500 million in revenues and 1,400 employees.

Most recently, Mark was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mosaic Capital Corporation, a Calgary based, publicly listed mid-market private equity investment company.

He has had past board experience with a number of Canadian private and public companies, as well as the Business Board and Audit Committee of the University of Toronto and advisory boards at the University of Alberta. Mark holds an economic degree from the University of Toronto, a Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University and has an ICD.D designation. 

Mark has personally been impacted by serious heart and stroke issues and is deeply grateful for Heart & Stroke’s long-standing commitment to research and development.

Melissa Hartwick

Melissa Hartwick joined the Ontario Provincial Board in January 2022 after serving as Chair of the Heart & Stroke Young Leaders. She is currently a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group, one of the top management consulting firms globally. Prior to BCG, Melissa was active in Canada’s tech sector, having worked on AI product development at Element AI and reducing retail food waste at Flashfood.

She graduated with Honors from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, where she was also captain of the Women’s Varsity Ringette Team. In her free time, she enjoys staying active and has completed two half marathons to date.

Melissa has been passionate about raising awareness and funds for Heart & Stroke research after losing her dad to a heart attack in 2015. 

Trace Molson

Trace Molson joined the Ontario Provincial Board in 2020. She is active in speaking to bring awareness about women’s heart health. 

Trace is the Director of Programs and Procurement, Operational Excellence, at BentallGreenOak.  Previously, Trace ran her own firm providing management services. Prior to that, she was with Bentall Kennedy, managing a million square feet of office and industrial space for a leading Canadian financial institution.  Trace’s management experience includes banking facilities, residential long-term care and student housing.

Like many of us, Trace has numerous family members and friends who have been impacted by heart disease and stroke. Two of her children were born with congenital heart defects, one of whom required reconstructive heart surgery. Trace is deeply grateful for Heart and Stroke’s long-standing commitment to research and development; funding in the 1960s directly contributed to the development of repair techniques for congenital defects, saving thousands of children.

Trace earned a BA from the University of Waterloo and an MBA in Finance from Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Paula Rietta

Paula Rietta joined the Ontario Provincial Board in 2021. As the Group General Counsel at Cox Automotive Canada Company, Paula Rietta is responsible for the overall provision of legal services to the Company’s multiple business units, including commercial transactions, business operations, overall compliance and general business matters for both Canada and Brazil.

A professional leader with global automotive and financial industry experiences, Paula is committed to excellence and combines her analytical strengths with her robust business mindset to ensure company policies and risk tolerance are managed while delivering outstanding client service. As an authentic leader; Paula also believes that the success of an organization is a result of leveraging sound judgment and working collaboratively with internal and cross-functional stakeholders. Paula is also an advocate of workplace diversity and inclusion and is passionate about creating innovative ways to strengthen D&I across the organizations she works for. 

Prior to joining Cox Canada, Ms. Rietta was Vice-President, Legal for Ford Credit Canada Company based in Oakville. Ms. Rietta holds a Bachelor of Law from Windsor University and a Master of Arts, from University of Toronto.

Richard San Cartier, BScN, PHCNP, ITCC, CDE, RN (EC)

Richard San Cartier joined the Ontario provincial board in 2018. He is a primary care nurse practitioner and clinical team lead for the N’Mninoeyaa Aboriginal Health Access Centre, and provides primary care to the First Nation Communities of Serpent River and Sagamok situated on the north shore of Georgian Bay. He has presented for and worked with CAMH’s TEACH Project (Training Enhancement in Applied Cessation Counselling and Health) on several initiatives on Aboriginal Tobacco Cessation.

Richard has co-authored modules for McMaster’s Practice Based Learning program. He is a graduate of Laurentian University’s combined post RN/ Nurse Practitioner program. He received his original RN diploma from Algonquin College in Ottawa. He lives with his wife and two children in Elliot Lake, Ontario.

Honorary director: Anthony Graham

Dr. Anthony Graham has been an honorary director of the Ontario provincial board since 2003. His Foundation experience includes member of the Ontario provincial board from 1978 to 2003 and board chair and president from 1986 to 1988. Dr. Graham has been a member of various foundation committees and task forces including the Inter-Provincial and CEO Search Task Forces, the External Relations and Research Policy Committees. His HSFC board experience includes three terms – from 1986 to 1995, from 2004 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2015. He served as the Heart & Stroke board chair from 1991-93 as well as the chair of the Heart and Stroke Scientific Research Corp. from 1992-93 and 1998-2001.

Since 1998, Dr. Graham has served as director of Ambulatory Care for the Heart and Vascular program at St. Michael's Hospital. He is also a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. In his clinical practice, Dr. Graham is involved in developing pre-hospital emergency cardiac care programs for heart attack victims and is active on a range of advocacy issues promoting heart healthy lifestyles. He currently is the medical director, Robert McRae Heart Health Unit of St. Michael’s Hospital and medical director of philanthropy for the St. Michael’s Foundation.

In 2002, he became a member of the Order of Canada and in 2008, Dr. Graham was honoured with the HSF Heart of Gold Award for his loyalty, service and significant impact on the Foundation’s mission. In 2002, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and in 2012, received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. More recently in February 2013, Dr. Graham received the Award of Merit 2012 for exceptional contribution to the mission of Heart & Stroke.

Chair: Dr. Ed Harrison

Dr. Ed Harrison joined the board in 2006. Ed is the director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Charlottetown. He received his medical degree from the University of Ottawa and completed post-graduate residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Dalhousie University in 1983, becoming a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

While in Nova Scotia, Ed was an associate professor with the department of medicine, directed the Stroke and Acquired Brain Injury Services at the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre, served as residency program director for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and was a member of the national specialty committee. He also chaired the Nova Scotia Integrated Stroke Strategy Committee for Heart & Stroke, Nova Scotia, with the strategy becoming government policy and receiving funding for initial pilot phases.

Today Ed resides in PEI and continues with his interest in program development, particularly interdisciplinary approaches to care for persons with disabilities. He chaired the PEI Stroke Strategy evaluation and monitoring committee, chairs the PEI stroke rehabilitation subcommittee, was a member of the Canadian Stroke Strategy Committee and is a current member of the QEH, local medical advisory committee. He was the site lead investigator in a national pilot study on knowledge translation in evidence-based stroke rehabilitation (Stroke Canada Optimization of Rehabilitation through Evidence — SCORE), the first Canadian multi-centre study in stroke rehabilitation. He was an external reviewer of the most recent update of the Canadian Stroke Strategy Best Practice Guidelines for Stroke Rehabilitation (2013). He continues collaboration with stroke rehabilitation investigators at Dalhousie University, including the Dr. Gail Eskes cerebrovascular recovery group of the Brain Repair Centre in Halifax.

Ed’s volunteer activities include Heart & Stroke, PEI, where he has been a strong and persistent advocate for full implementation of the PEI Integrated Stroke Strategy. He has been instrumental in leading the development of a partnership that sees PEI being able to fully participate in CanROC, the Canadian Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium. He also has an interest in international development and was a member of the Mikinduri Children of Hope NGO, as chair of the community based health care committee.

Lynn Doherty

Lynn lives in Belfast, PEI with her husband Tim, their son Benjamin and their little mini farm of animals. Lynn works full time as an administrator with Vanco Farms Ltd. Lynn started volunteering with Heart & Stroke in February 2018 with her first Valentine's Day dance and fundraiser. 

A community tragedy led to Lynn organizing several events to raise awareness of heart health, raise funds for Heart & Stroke and honour the memory of Trayton Acton, a nine-year-old who passed away at Belfast School in September 2018 of sudden cardiac arrest.

Lynn has helped promote the Razzle Dazzle Gala, and also organized a paint night fundraiser at East Coast Art Party in June 2019 for Stroke Month. Most recently she helped organize a Halloween colouring project in three local schools, using Heart & Stroke’s HeartSmart Kids resources to help the children learn about heart health and the importance of healthy choices. 

Both of Lynn’s grandmothers, as well as her husband's grandmother all passed away due to stroke. She is an active advocate for stroke prevention.

Lynn works hard in her community as a councillor with the Municipality of Belfast, where she organizes Belfast Days. She has also worked with other charities and community events. 

Lynn is currently working on a Heartsmart Kids Halloween Coloring Project. Involving 3 local schools. Displaying their Halloween art outside their classrooms and sending images to Heart and Stroke Canada as a way of raising awareness to children's heart health and making healthy choices. Also having some Halloween fun. I plan to reward the kids who are participating with a healthy treat the week of October 25th!

Kelly Lund

Kelly Lund is manager, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), a position she has held since 2013. She is a physiotherapist and has worked for the same department since 1995. Kelly participated in development and implementation of the QEH cardiac rehabilitation pilot, 2002-2006. She also participated in the initial implementation of the new cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation program currently being operated out of primary care. And she has been a moderator for the PEI Stroke Conference for the past three years.

Kelly is busy volunteering with her children’s schools and teams, and she is always willing to help with events. She is also the past chair of the PEI College of Physiotherapists and a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Kelly is interested in innovation and doing things in a more efficient way. Personal stories and new perspectives stick with her. She would be the first to say that she is not much of a planner; but a doer.

She lost her maternal grandmother at 63 from heart disease and her paternal grandmother suffered two strokes at an early age; so all her memories of her grandmother are as a stroke survivor. She is interested in Heart & Stroke’s commitment to healthy living, research improvements for Canadians and medical services and treatments related to heart disease and stroke.

Peter Norton

Peter Norton joined the board in 2013. Peter is the owner/operator of Nortons Jewellers Ltd., a family-owned business with deep roots in the Island community. Since graduating from George Brown Jewelry Arts program in 1982, Peter has significantly contributed to the jewelry industry serving as President of the Canadian Jewelry Association, Chairman of the Canadian Jewelry Buying Group (Canada’s largest group of independent jewelry stores), and President of the Atlantic Jewelers Association.

Peter has also served as a board member of Downtown Charlottetown Inc., City of Charlottetown Planning Committee, Rotary Club of Charlottetown, and Camp Abegweit. Since 2006, Nortons Jewellers Ltd. has been the title sponsor of the “Nortons Razzle Dazzle Red” gala event for Heart & Stroke, PEI. To date this event has raised more than seven hundred thousand dollars to support heart health initiatives.

Amanda Rodgerson

Amanda Rodgerson is a clinical stroke dietitian at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on both the provincial acute stroke unit and the rehabilitation unit. Amanda is also a sessional lecturer at the University of Prince Edward Island. 

Amanda has a bachelor of science in home economics from the University of Prince Edward Island and is a registered dietitian through the Dietetic Internship Program at QEH. She has published articles in Reader’s Digest and Chatelaine and is a recipient of the Queens Region Model of Health Award. Amanda was also the recipient of scholastic awards from The Dairy Farmers of Canada and the Sally Henry Leadership Award. 

She is married and has two children. Amanda is a volunteer member of home and school; is a committee member for events planning in her community and volunteers with various activities that her children are involved in. She loves to take pictures and still has them developed and placed in photo albums. Amanda remains active by participating in fitness classes and running the roads with her busy family!

Dr. Travis Saunders

Travis Saunders has a PhD in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa and Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. He is an Associate Professor in the UPEI Department of Applied Human Sciences, and co-authored Canada's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children, Youth, and Adult age groups.  His research focuses on the health impacts of physical activity and sedentary behaviour across the lifespan.

Chair: Jocelyn Théoret

Jocelyn Theoret started his own management consulting company at the beginning of 2019, after many years as Senior Manager in organizational transformation, and leader of The Customer Experience Management Services, for Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton’s Strategic and Performance Consulting Group. He also has almost 20 years of experience in process optimization, project management and operations management. As a strategic leader, he has successfully delivered customer experience optimization and operational efficiency projects. Before reorienting his career in the field of management consultant services, Jocelyn Theoret worked for several world-class companies, such as SNC-Lavalin, Bell Canada and Vidéotron.

An engineer by training, he also holds an MBA in finance and is trained in project management (PMP).

Jocelyn was actively involved in the Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal (JCCM) for several years as an officer and Chairman of the board of directors. He also sits on the JCCM Foundation’s board of directors. He was a member of the jury for the Québec entrepreneurship contest held by the Service aux Jeunes Entrepreneurs (SAJE) in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and evaluated candidatures for the Mercuriades contest held by the Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ) in 2011. In 2013, he was Chairman of the young leaders committee for the TOHU’s fundraising gala which took place in the heart of the circus arts’ city. He joined Heart & Stroke’s provincial board in 2014.

Vice chair: Donald Beauchamp

Donald Beauchamp is a communications specialist and strategist. He has spent his entire life working in the field of sports, particularly hockey. Prior to serving as senior vice president of communications for the Montreal Canadiens from 1993 to 2018, he was the director of marketing and communications for Hockey Canada from 1985 to 1993, and director of sports information at the University of Ottawa from 1983 to 1985.

A leader in the world of hockey, Donald has competed at an international level in several major competitions: the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988, the Albertville Olympics in 1992, the Lillehammer Olympics in 1994, and four world championships in Europe.

With his family being affected by the scourge of heart disease — his son Émile suffers from a congenital heart defect, but he can live life to the fullest and follow in his father's footsteps — Donald joined the provincial board of Heart & Stroke in December 2018.

Maya Angenot 

Maya Angenot is a lawyer and partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, where she works in the commercial litigation sector, mostly on class actions pertaining to pharmaceutical products, product liability and consumer protection. In 2021, she was recognized as a Leading Lawyer under 40 in Canada by Lexpert Magazine, published in collaboration with the Globe and Mail.

Before starting her career, Maya earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, as well as a bachelor’s degree in civil law and another in common law from McGill University. She also earned a master’s degree in law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is a member of the Quebec Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.

Maya is very involved in the community. Before joining the Heart & Stroke Advisory Board in Quebec, she held similar positions in various charitable organizations in the health and education sectors. She also takes part in numerous initiatives to advocate for the advancement and retention of women in law. 

Melissa Carter

Melissa Carter joined the Quebec provincial board at the end of 2019. She is associate vice president and senior branch manager at RBC, Quebec. She has more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles in the financial services industry. She is recognized for her innovative and creative approach that focuses on change and outcomes while giving much consideration to human values. She has proven to have the capacity to build strong partnerships that create synergies among key stakeholders. She cares about her employees’ and clients’ interests.

Melissa is proud to share her expertise and experience with Heart & Stroke. She takes an interest in leading the fight against heart disease, stroke and related conditions in many ways possible, such as addressing women’s research inequities.

Melissa holds an MBA from Quebec’s University in Montréal. She lives in Montréal with her spouse and their children.

Dr. Catherine Legault

Dr. Catherine Legault is a neurologist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). She studied medicine at McGill University in Montreal, then did her neurology residency at the Montreal Neurological Hospital – McGill. After her residency, she completed a stroke fellowship at Stanford University in California to further her knowledge of vascular neurology, followed by a research fellowship with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) StrokeNet group. She returned to McGill in 2018 and is currently an assistant professor at the university. Her clinical practice interests include acute stroke, neurological critical care, juvenile stroke, and autoimmune diseases with neurovascular consequences. She is involved in multiple clinical research projects in acute stroke and stroke prevention.

Dr. Legault has been a member of the Heart and Stroke Foundation Advisory Board since 2019. She was motivated to join because she understands the importance of educating people about stroke so they can recognize the signs, which is a key to effective prevention.

Dr. Christine Pacheco

Dr. Christine Pacheco is currently a cardiologist at Pierre-Boucher Hospital. After she finished her medical studies, a specialization in internal medicine and a sub-specialization in adult cardiology at the University of Montréal, she completed a fellowship in women’s heart health in Los Angeles, California at the Smidt Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute’s Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center. Under the supervision of Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, a pioneer in the field, she obtained a vast amount of clinical and research experience in cardiovascular diseases that primarily affect women, such as coronary microvascular disease and myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries, as well as the care and monitoring of pregnancy-related heart complications. She has authored several articles and spoken at numerous national and international congresses.

Maurice Rinaldi

Maurice Rinaldi is the founder, President and CEO of Agence Rinaldi, in Montréal. He leads the firm into developing solid relationships and successful assignments since the agency creation in August 1994.

Maurice has close to 30 years of experience in advertising, marketing and communication. He’s passionate about corporate and brand communications, strategy, market and consumer research, public and media relations, as well as traditional and digital advertising. He’s the agency gatekeeper for clients in different industries, both B2C and B2B.

Known for giving advice to clients on what they need to hear versus what they want to hear, Maurice is highly respected in business and media circles locally, regionally, and nationally. 

Maurice makes use of his experience and his expertise to counsel at senior level for multinationals and executive boards. Volunteer and philanthropist, he participates in different foundations and associations, such as Strangers in the Night, T-CAAN, and John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition. He joined the Heart & Stroke’s Provincial Board in August 2018.

Francis Verreault-Paul

A member of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation (Innu of Mashteuiatsh), Francis Verreault-Paul is currently Director of Communications and Government Relations at the First Nations Education Council (FNEC), an association that brings together eight First Nations in Quebec and contributes to the full ownership of education by First Nations. Francis joined the Heart & Stroke Provincial Advisory Board in January 2023.

Proud of his roots and driven by the traditional values that have been transmitted to him by his family and his community, Francis has a deep desire to engage in the development and self-determination of First Nations while continuing to build relationships based on trust and respect of all nations. 

Francis holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University and an MBA from the University of Buckingham, England. His professional background has led him to work primarily in the fields of education and government relations. He held the position of Chief of First Nations Relations at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, as well as a political advisor within his community. 

Sports have always played an important role in Francis’s life. He played for various hockey leagues, namely the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for five years with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, in addition to playing for the McGill University team, where he won the national title. He then made the jump to the pros, where he played for a few years. Francis has won a number of individual honours, including the Guy Lafleur Excellence Scholarship (2011), an award given to the athlete with the best combination of education and sport, and the McGill University and Quebec Male Athlete Award (2009-2010).

Chair: Cindy Grimley

Cindy Grimley is AVP & Manager, Commercial Relationships, for Canadian Western Bank in Saskatoon. She holds a BA from the University of Saskatoon. Cindy has extensive experience in commercial and real estate development spanning 25 years. She takes great pride in the relationships that have developed during her career and remains passionate about growing and strengthening the community and the lives of others. Cindy’s prior community service includes the North Saskatoon Business Association, Autism Speaks Canada, Saskatoon Family Services Foundation and Junior Achievement.

Cindy has a passion for the work being done by Heart & Stroke and as a board member she is excited to work with community leaders, health organizations and residents of Saskatchewan to promote Heart & Stroke’s mission.

Vice Chair: Carol Jensen

Heart & Stroke is an organization very close to Carol. Her father died in 1990 due to complications of heart disease. Since his passing, she has made it a priority to volunteer her time to bring awareness, education and funding to this cause. 

Carol became President of Canadiana Developments in 1990. Since then, she has grown the business and kept it as an integral part of the community. She has been on the St. Paul Hospital Foundation Mistle Toe Ball Committee as a team representative as well as chair and co-chair. She has been involved with our Hockey Heroes Weekend as well as a board member and volunteer of Pets in the Park.

Believing in team collaboration and support, Carol brings her zest for life and care for the well-being of all people. She is hopeful that her contribution will benefit many families, businesses and communities.

Tiffany Armstrong Plower

Tiffany Armstrong is the owner of PACE Training Centre and is a certified personal trainer with over 18 years of experience. Through behaviour paced training, she’s passionate about helping her clients make a healthy lifestyle fit their lifestyle. She’s also started a one-of-kind program called Strong Girls that focuses on building body positivity in young girls through strength training. Her mission is to create a movement amongst young girls to strive for ‘being strong’ versus ‘being skinny.’

Tiff was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where she currently lives with her spouse and three beautiful daughters. After suffering a stroke at the age of 38, Tiff felt called to share her experience and story of recovery in the hopes of helping others. She also wants to help change the perception that young people can’t have strokes. Tiff believes that it’s important to have representation on the Heart & Stroke board, and she’s excited for this role.

Cara Cote

Cara Cote is the client services manager at WESK (Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan) and co-owner of ZED Engineering. 

At WESK, Cara plays a pivotal role in providing essential support and services to aspiring and established entrepreneurs. Her dedication to this mission extends beyond her professional life, as she is involved in community volunteering, furthering her impact on the people and businesses around her.

Cara understands the importance of balance in life, recognizing that the entrepreneurial drive should be complemented by a healthy lifestyle. She believes that success is not solely defined by professional achievements but also by personal well-being and fulfillment. Cara is looking forward to bringing her skills to support Heart & Stroke.

Dr. Janine Eckstein

Janine Eckstein is an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan and works as an interventional cardiologist in Saskatoon, where her expertise and skills have brought new and innovative procedures for heart valve disease to the residents of Saskatchewan. She was born and raised in Saskatchewan and completed both her undergraduate and medical education at the University of Saskatchewan. 

Janine is passionate about the work of Heart & Stroke Foundation and sees the impact of cardiovascular disease daily in her clinical practice. Working as an interventional cardiologist she treats patients suffering from heart attacks and previous stroke patients with certain heart defects. Improving education of patients and staff while advancing science to achieve better outcomes for patients is at the forefront of Janine’s practice.

Dr. Brett Graham

Dr. Brett Graham is an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan and works as a stroke neurologist in Saskatoon, where he serves as the medical director of the Saskatoon Stroke Prevention Clinic. He was born and raised in Saskatchewan and completed both his undergraduate and medical education at the University of Saskatchewan before completing a clinical fellowship with the Calgary Stroke Program.

Dr. Graham has worked with Heart and Stroke on a national level in the past, serving as a member of the writing committee for the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Guidelines Secondary Prevention of Stroke 2020 update. He is excited to join the Saskatchewan provincial board to further Heart and Stroke's mission.

Kelly Johnson

Kelly Johnson is the director for Cardioscience, Saskatoon & North, for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, where she has worked for over 20 years. She has extensive experience working with patients with heart disease having spent her entire career in the field of cardiology. She began her career as a bedside nurse, working her way up to coronary care unit, to clinical nurse specialist in cardiology, to her current leadership role.

Kelly has a lifelong passion implementing the best evidence and care for patients experiencing heart disease. She became one of the first nurses to achieve certification in cardiovascular nursing from the Canadian Nursing Association in 2001 and maintains that certification today. She is a member of the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses and was honored to be awarded with the Canadian Cardiovascular Nursing Leadership Excellence Award in 2012. Kelly is excited by the opportunity to work on the Heart & Stroke provincial board.   

Dr. Michael Kelly

Michael Kelly, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS is Professor and Head of Neurosurgery at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada. He has a BSc., MD and PhD and completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Saskatchewan in 2005. Dr. Kelly did three additional years of fellowship training in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery at Stanford University and the Cleveland Clinic. He holds the Saskatchewan Clinical Stroke Research Chair. He has an active basic science and clinical research program focusing on stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders.

Lyndon J. Linklater

Lyndon J Linklater is a traditional knowledge keeper and storyteller. He has an educational background in Indian Social Work, Indian Studies and some law.

He is a citizen of the Thunderchild Cree Nation in Treaty 6 and has roots in Couchiching First Nation (Fort Francis, Ontario) in Treaty 3.

Presently, Lyndon shares work with the Remai Modern Art Museum in Saskatoon as their Indigenous Relations Advisor providing advice to their board and staff and delivering cultural programming and has worked for the Office of the Treaty Commissioner as a Speakers’ Bureau member since he was appointed in 2000. Since that time, he has spoken to well over 75,000 people, delivering awareness and enlightenment on Treaty and First Nation worldview.

Monica Morrison

Monica Morrison is the executive assistant for the AgriWestern Dealer Group; Saskatchewan Western Sales and Alberta; Western Tractor from 2013 to present.  Many groups have benefitted from her organizational skills and passion for making a difference.  Monica has been a tireless volunteer for organizations that have impacted not only herself and her three boys, but countless events in every community in which she has lived, including Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.  

When her children were young, she served on school community councils, the advisory board for Quality Schools International in Bishkek as well as being involved in their sports teams as manager, secretary or treasurer. With her oldest son being diagnosed with autism at the age of 5, Monica immediately got involved with Autism Services and was heavily involved with their fundraising efforts in Saskatoon.  Monica’s passion for contributing has led to a decade long involvement on the board of the Huskie Football Foundation; being instrumental in organizing the annual Huskie Football Dogs’ Breakfast, and involvement with the events for World Jr. Hockey, Big League Dreams as well as Inclusion Saskatchewan.  She hopes to continue with her passion of serving her community by being an integral part of promoting Heart & Stroke’s mission.