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.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. Betty Lynxleg is an Anishinabe Ikwe (Ojibway woman) member of the Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve from Manitoba, Treaty 4 territory. As her friends call her, Dr. Betty thrives in supporting direct action with Indigenous people and their efforts to progress and reclaim their inherent rights and gifts. As a First Nation citizen, mother, and grandmother, Betty carries the philosophy that working with grassroots people and leaders, youth, and those with lifetime knowledge and experience is the way forward into a post-colonial world. Dr. Lynxleg has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with First Nations people. Her area of expertise is education administration, but she has focused her interest on First Nations governance, primarily local and community development. Dr. Lynxleg has established a network with First Nations, their organizations, and support agencies through her work and dedication to regional development.

“I look forward to working with our communities, our leaders, and our partners towards a brighter future for our Nation.” Whelan is a proud member of Peguis First Nation who has played a lead role in a wide variety of Indigenous business ventures over the past 15 years, as a CEO, manager, and entrepreneur. Since leaving the Chief Peguis Investment Corporation in 2012, he’s been involved in the business end of Treaty One organization and management. He is a graduate of the Asper School of Business in Winnipeg.