Education and Work Background

Cheryl Besse is an Assistant Professor (AP) at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing who has taught in the undergraduate and Post RN programs since 1994. Cheryl received her BScN in 1992 from the College of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan. After working in Calgary at Foothills Hospital, she enrolled in the Master’s program at the University of Saskatchewan. In 2000, she completed her Master of Nursing Degree. Her area of interest for research was caring and her thesis was titled: “Caring in Palliative Care: A family perspective”. Cheryl’s nursing background includes acute care medical/ surgical, burns and microvascular plastic surgery, and obstetrics. She has been teaching with the College of Nursing since 1994 in a variety of capacities. She has taught Health Assessment in a variety of different formats including the BSN Basic program, Post Registration BSN program, and with Continuing Nursing Education since 1995. Presently, and since 1997, she has been a clinical instructor with third year students on Labour and Delivery/Post-Partum at Royal University Hospital. Most recently, since 2007, Cheryl has also been coordinating clinical and lecturing the Obstetrics theory component to third year students.

In 2010, Cheryl achieved the Canadian Nurses Association Certification in Perinatal Nursing. In 2012, Cheryl was nominated for a USSU Teaching Excellence Award and also received the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching in the College of Nursing. In 2015, Cheryl was honoured to receive a USSU Teaching Excellence Award.

Cheryl lives in Saskatoon with her two boys.

Areas of Special Interest

Cheryl is passionate about teaching, caring, nursing, and maternal and infant health. She finds tremendous satisfaction sharing this passion when teaching nursing students at the College of Nursing.

Mahli Brindamour is a general paediatrician with a special interest in global health, refugee and Indigenous health. She serves on the Board of the North American Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers and was on the steering committee of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care. Dr. Brindamour is president of the Canadian Paediatric Society Global Child and Youth Health Section, and a member of the Caring for Kids New to Canada Task Force. With the Saskatoon Refugee Health Collaborative, she co-founded the Refugee Engagement and Community Health (REACH) Clinic, where she provides regular paediatric care to refugee children. She provides monthly outreach clinics to the Métis and Dene communities of Ile à la Crosse and La Loche in Northern Saskatchewan. Dr. Brindamour also provides paediatric care to newborns living in Sanctum 1.5, a transitional home for high-risk mothers and their infants.

Education

Education and Work Background

Jenny Hoffman is Director Legal Services, Governance and Assistant Corporate Secretary at Cameco Corporation. She received her LL.B. and B.A. (Honours) from the University of Saskatchewan. After practicing law at McDougall Gauley LLP in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Jenny worked as corporate counsel at Bioriginal Food & Science Corp., and then moved to Cameco. Prior to working in governance, Jenny worked as a business/corporate lawyer within the legal group. In addition to her governance work, Jenny is also a member of Cameco’s ethics committee and has responsibility for Cameco’s anti-corruption program. In addition to the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Jenny has served a number of local non-profit boards including chairing the Dance Saskatchewan Board, and as a director of the Saskatchewan Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured and the Children’s Discovery Museum boards. Jenny lives in Saskatoon, with her husband and two young daughters.

Education and Work Background

James is a public health and preventive medicine physician. He received his medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan and his specialty through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He has worked in northern Saskatchewan since 1981 - initially as a family physician; the Director of the University of Saskatchewan's Northern Medical Services from 1985 to 1996; and as northern Saskatchewan's Medical Health Officer since 1985. Dr. Irvine is a Professor Emeritus with the University of Saskatchewan and continues as the Medical Health Officer. He has been involved with many provincial and national committees for Aboriginal health issues including the Canadian Paediatric Society's First Nation, Inuit and Metis Committee. Dr. Irvine has been a member of the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute's Medical Advisory Committee since 2001 and is presently the Chairperson of that committee.

Areas of Special Interest

Dr. Irvine lives in La Ronge, where he has been involved with public health, healthcare, administration, teaching, and research. His main public health and research interests involve environmental health, health promotion, and communicable and chronic disease control within Aboriginal and northern communities.

Neal Kewistep has spent most of his career fostering relationships with government, community-based organizations, Indigenous organizations, and educators. As the former Interim Director of Population Public Health (PPH) in the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), his leadership led to increasing the infant and childhood immunization rates to close the gap between the most affluent neighbourhoods and the inner city neighbourhoods, and to addressing safe housing issues in a new way within the scope of the Public Health Act. He was also the strategic lead for cultural competency and Truth and Reconciliation Commission activities for PPH, which was a role he was proud to take on. In addition to his time with the provincial health authority, Mr. Kewistep has served as the Director of Operations for the Native Counselling Services of Alberta, as a Community Development Advisor with Yellow Quill First Nation, and has provided consulting services to the Saskatoon Tribal Council and the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. He has also served as a board member on the Good Food Junction and the Speakerbox Aboriginal Advisory Group, as an advisory committee member for the Saskatoon Community Foundation and the Saskatoon Urban Aboriginal Strategy. In 2017, CBC awarded Mr. Kewistep as one of its “Future 40 under 40” for his work in leading change within the healthcare system. Neal Kewistep holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School, and has a bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Studies from First Nations University of Canada. In addition to his formal education, he counts his traditional training from Elders as being as relevant in teaching him the role of a servant leader. He is currently an executive in resident with Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of public policy.

Education

Education and Work Background

Richard is a non-profit executive leader with more than 20 years’ experience in the sector. Prior to joining the Kinsmen Foundation in 2018, Richard was Communications Director for the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation and had a 15-year career in fundraising, communications, and disaster response with the Canadian Red Cross.

Richard is a University of Regina alumnus with a Bachelor's degree in Administration and a Certificate in Public Relations. He is professionally accredited in business communications and has taught university-level courses on fundraising, media relations, and special events.

Areas of Special Interest

Andy is a community-minded consultant and dispute resolution specialist based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

With more than a decade of experience working as a human rights investigator, Andy is also a designated National Qualified Mediator and Qualified Arbitrator. He has a passion for helping people find meaningful and successful resolutions to conflict outside of the courtroom.

Andy is an educator and mentor in the field of dispute resolution. Andy is an instructor for Herzing College, teaching in many of their dispute resolution programs.

Andy continues to pursue new professional development opportunities, such as online dispute resolution, to hone his skills and knowledge. He also holds a Community Mental Health Certificate from Herzing College and a Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification.

Andy is also an individual living with a disability and has more than 10 years working in policy development, helping to make the world more accessible for all. His skill and knowledge in the field is renowned, and he is frequently called upon by governments of all levels to consult on policy, legislation and public programs involving people with disabilities.

As part of his work portfolio, Andy offers accommodation planning and accessibility coaching to individuals and the business community at large.

Education and Work Background

Dr. Pei-Ying Lin is a professor at the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education of the University of Saskatchewan. She works with diverse populations of children, youth, parents, in-service and pre-service teachers, university faculty members and staff, as well as testing agencies over the years. Her research interests include the use of educational measurement methods for studying assessment practices and policies for students with special needs and English language learners. Dr. Lin continues to work on an array of research projects since her doctorate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.

Areas of Special Interest

Dr. Lin is interested in the use of educational intervention, adaptations, and accommodations for children with diverse needs across different developmental stages.

Education

Work Background

Community Service

Areas of Special Interest

Terri has had an abiding interest in the education, health, and welfare of children - especially children experiencing developmental or learning challenges. Through her working career, Terri's primary focus has been on individuals and families promoting education, independence, and mitigating the effects of disabilities. Working with the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute affords Terri the opportunity to broaden the scope of influence from individual/classroom level to community/provincial level. Program development and implementation are of particular interest to her.

Education and Work Background

Dwayne MacGillivray has a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from the University of Regina. Dwayne started working for the Ministry of Social Services in March of 1994, doing child protection in the Northern Community of La Loche where he worked until 1997. Dwayne then moved to the Prince Albert office where he held positions as a worker, Assistant Supervisor, and Supervisor (1997 to 2005). Dwayne also supervised the Foster Care program for a two-year period (2005 to 2007).

In 2007, Dwayne became an out-of-scope Manager for the Melfort office, managing all Child and Family Services programs, as well as the Income Assistance program. In 2009, Dwayne moved to a management position in the Prince Albert office, where he managed the Child Protection programs until July 31, 2015. On August 1, 2015, Dwayne became the Director of Service Delivery for the Center Service area based out of Saskatoon and is responsible for the delivery of all Child Protection and Child Care programs.

Areas of Special Interest

Dwayne has had the opportunity to have some previous involvement with the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute and has been very impressed with the work that they do. He is interested in getting to learn more about the Prevention Institute as part of the Board of Directors.

Education

Sandra’s career was spent developing programs and policies for individuals experiencing intellectual and physical disabilities. Sandra’s intent was to ensure the availability and provision of the best and most appropriate services and supports for individuals and their caregivers. The driving force behind this work is to improve quality of life and to mitigate the impacts of disabilities.

Projects which I was involved in which reflect this ongoing interest and alignment include;

Sandra’s interest in the area of disabilities continues as a representative of the Saskatchewan Abilities Council on the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute board.

Education and Work Background

Terry Summers is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has worked at the University of Saskatchewan since 1988. She currently holds the position of Controller. Terry is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Master of Business Administration degree.

Areas of Special Interest

Terry is particularly interested in topics pertaining to parenting, especially those directed at youth.

Education and Work Background

Shelley Thomas Prokop, B.A., M C. Ed, is from Beardy's & Okemasis First Nation. Shelley has been a Community-at-Large member with the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute since December 2004. She is currently a Director of Programs with the Saskatchewan First Nations Family and Community Institute Inc. Shelley's work focuses on research and policy with Aboriginal people in urban and rural settings. The intent of her work is to help improve the experience and lives of Aboriginal people.

Education and Work Background

Tricia Wuschenny holds a Bachelor of Arts Hons. degree from the University of Saskatchewan and Bachelor of Social Work degree and completed all course work for a Master of Social Work from the University of Regina. Tricia has over 20 years work experience at both the community and government levels. She is a 20 year veteran of Saskatchewan Public Service starting first with the Provincial Ombudsman, thirteen years with the Ministry of Social Services, and the last five years with the Ministry of Education. During that time, she has worked in frontline service delivery, policy, program administration, and held leadership roles.

Currently, Tricia is the Director of Integration and Community Programs in the Early Years Branch at the Ministry of Education. She is responsible for four community delivered programs and sits on many interministerial tables.

Tricia actively volunteers her time with a number of boards and organizations in her community.

Areas of Special Interest

Tricia has many interests including early childhood development, integrated services, program development and review, organizational design and development, and community development and community program delivery.