Board of Directors

Samantha is an Ojibwe kwe from Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory in Ontario under Treaty 72, is the Youth Hub Coordinator at Ka Ni Kanichihk and has worked as the Housing Coordinator at Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad. She also worked as a System Navigator for Macdonald Youth Services. She has extensive experience doing presentations and advocacy. She has learned and practiced Aboriginal traditional methods of healing ceremonies, Mental Health First Aid Certification, Customer Service Training, Accessible Customer Service Standard Training, WHMIS, First Aid CPR C and AED Certification, Child Sexual Abuse Training, and Trauma Awareness Training.

Crystal is the principal of Laborero Consulting and trust manager for Peguis First Nation Surrender Claim Trust. Previously she was the founding CEO of Aski Financial and director of Aboriginal relations for United Way. Crystal was pivotal in developing the Aboriginal Employment Initiative with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Business Council of Manitoba. Crystal is a member of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation. She sits on the board of directors for the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Assiniboine Credit Union, RBC Convention Centre, and Manitoba Blue Cross. She has certificates in Management, Human Resource Management and in Practical Workshop Facilitation Management and attended Queen’s University School of Business Leadership Program.

Phil is the executive director of Rossbrook House, a community drop-in centre for children and youth that offers a constant alternative to the streets.  Phil has been with Rossbrook since 1980, first as its program director, then co-executive director. Phil was a member of the Winnipeg Plan to End Youth Homelessness-Here and Now Steering Committee, and is the board chair for Community Agencies Benefit Plans, a member of the Grants Committee at the Winnipeg Foundation and the Youth Agencies Alliance, and a volunteer for the Speakers Bureau at United Way of Winnipeg.

Lesley is the principal of Lindberg Consulting, specializing in project management, strategic planning, performance measurement and program evaluation. Lesley has worked in the private, pubic, and volunteer sectors, including a variety of sector councils, and on many projects where all three sectors and levels within sectors have been involved. Lesley is the past president and founding member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), Manitoba chapter, facilitator for Managing International Projects Forum at PMI Symposium, and regular contributor to community boards that have included positions of past president of the Interlake Women’s Resource Centre and past member of the Betel Home Advisory Board.

Susan was appointed president of United Way of Winnipeg in 1985. As president she was instrumental in establishing the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council and the Task Force to End Homelessness in Winnipeg. Susan retired from her position as United Way’s president in 2015 and now serves as an advisor to the organization. Susan is a member of the University of Manitoba’s Senate Committee on Honourary Degrees and its Distinguished Alumni Awards Selection Panel, the WPRC, the WPRC Steering Committee, and the Boldness Stewardship Group. She is also a member of Imagine Canada’s Advisory Council and a former member of its board. In 2011 she was inducted into the Order of Manitoba and in 2015 became a member of the Order of Canada.

Marion is Chief Executive Officer of CMHA Manitoba and Winnipeg. Marion formerly served as Executive Lead for Strategic Partnerships with CMHA National Office, supporting partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities from January 2018 -2020. She is a clinical social worker and mental health and addictions leader who has worked in the community sector in various positions since 1992. She was instrumental in establishing the mental health promotion and prevention team at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and is past president of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. Marion is passionate about recovery, social justice, system transformation, co-design, and innovation to advance mental health and well-being for the entire population.

Cindy is director of the City of Winnipeg’s Community Services Department, with areas of responsibility including Community By-law Enforcement Services, Community Development and Recreation Services, Aquatic Services, Library Services and the Department’s Asset Management office. Cindy is a member of the Immigrant Partnership Winnipeg Council Board, the Winnipeg Civic Employees Benefits Program Board, and is a city representative on the Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention.

Herb retired from the practice of law on December 31, 2018. Prior to retirement he was a partner with the law firm of MLT Aikins LLP. Herb was formerly the Chair of the Board of Trustees, United Way Winnipeg (2014-2016), President of The Law Society of Manitoba (2000-2002), and a member of Legal Aid Manitoba’s Management Council.

Carolyn serves as Transformation Lead for Community Service Delivery, Department of Families with the Manitoba Government. She previously held a range of leadership roles with Manitoba Housing.  Carolyn is an alumnus of the University of Manitoba, where she completed Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs.  Carolyn is also a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Housing.

Ross has decades of private and public sector planning, design and development experience, having most recently retired as President and CEO of CentreVenture Development Corporation: the City of Winnipeg’s downtown development agency. Prior to CentreVenture, Ross was President of McGowan Russell Group, a successful, Winnipeg-based planning and urban design firm.  Ross has served on the Board of Habitat for Humanity and is a past President of the Urban Development Institute.

Rocky was born and raised in Winnipeg. His mother is Cree from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, and his father is Sikh. After obtaining s high school diploma from Sisler High School, Rocky attended the University of Winnipeg, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Criminology and Sociology. Rocky studied Law at London Southbank University, then went on to open his own business in the Automotive Finance industry. 12 years later, Rocky partnered up with his brother to open Dhillon Automotive Group: the first treaty owned car dealership in Canada. Throughout the years, Rocky has been involved with charity work (Kidsport, Basketball Manitoba, Children’s Hospital to name a few), school boards and giving back to the community through Dhillon Automotive Group’s credit awareness program and Dhillon Automotive Gives Back charity.

Kimberley is a strategic leader with expertise in the areas of human resource management, organizational development and management. She is passionate about Indigenous social justice efforts and committed to making a difference. In addition to her role at Gallagher Insurance as the Associate Vice-President, Human Resources – Western Region, Kimberley serves as the Chair of the Mayor’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, member of the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council and MAVEN Leadership Council. She also serves on the Advisory Board for the Prairie Manufacturer Magazine and is a contributor to a regular feature, Just Ask. Kimberley is Past Chair of an Indigenous community human services organization, Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc., “Those Who Lead.” She is also Past Chair for the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation. Kimberley is proud of her First Nations heritage and a member of the Sandy Bay Anishinaabe Nation.

Helen is Director with the Indigenous Inclusion Directorate of Manitoba Education and Training. She has worked with the Department of Education and Training since 1995. Some of her work includes representing Manitoba on the Council of Ministers Education Canada committees on Indigenous education. She also participates on community-based committees such as the Ka Ni Kanichihk Council and Indigenous Learning Circle. Previously, she was an education consultant and a teacher with Winnipeg School Division, which included teaching at the two Aboriginal inner-city schools – Children of the Earth and Niji Mahkwa.

Jim has spent most of his career working within Community Health Services for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), including Primary Care, Home Care, Mental Health and Public Health.  Jim currently serves as the Community Area Director in Downtown-Point Douglas with the Department of Families and the WRHA.  Jim also serves as Regional Director for Complex Community Service Integration within the WRHA. Jim earned his Bachelor of Science and Arts Degrees from the University of Winnipeg and his Master of Science degree from the University of Manitoba.  Jim has also received Health Systems Leadership certificates from Royal Roads University and Red River College. In addition to his responsibilities with the Department of Families and the WRHA, Jim teaches Health Leadership at Red River College, is a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders and is an active member on the Whyte Ridge Community Centre volunteer board.

Jarred is a First Nation citizen of Sandy Bay First Nation. He is the Director of Urban Relations at the Assembly of Chiefs and was formerly the Program Manager of the Eagle Urban Transition Centre. He has extensive experience with program development, implementation, and evaluation. The Eagle Urban Transition Centre supports the needs of First Nation citizens living off-reserve. These supports would include education, housing, medical system navigation, and cultural programming.

Suzanne has significant experience working with and advocating for people in Winnipeg who are experiencing homelessness. The focus of her educational, professional, and volunteer experiences has been on issues relating to homelessness and affordable housing with supports. She has volunteered at Neeginan Emergency Shelter (Winnipeg’s first Indigenous-run emergency shelter), conducted research on the creation of emergency homeless shelter standards, worked on the creation of the Bell Hotel permanent housing project, and was the lead researcher and project coordinator for Winnipeg’s first ever Street Health Report. She now owns and operates The Pennyloaf Bakery in Winnipeg.

John is an adult educator, researcher, and program planning facilitator. He retired from Manitoba government service after a 12-year appointment as program and examinations development coordinator in the Apprenticeship Manitoba Program Standards Unit and has Master’s degree in education.  He has worked as a daily news reporter (both print and broadcast media) for five years and has extensive experience as an editor and writer in government and private sector venues. He is of Aboriginal descent.

Rylee is a 25 year old Anishinaabe who grew up in Winnipeg’s north end. He graduated from St. John’s High School, and has been involved in his Community since he was 15. He cofounded a grassroots organization called Anishiative in July 2020. Anishiative empowers youth to aid in helping our homeless through outreach, cleaning up the community waste, and reconnecting back to the land and culture through leadership training.