EL Members 2010

Ryan Legault-McGill  |  Stacia Kean  |  Émanuèle Lapierre-Fortin
Heather Hale  |  Barb Besner  |  Sarah Macdonald  |  Maggie Gilbert-Behn
Christopher Mitchelmore  |  Greg Knott  |  Kerri Herrfort  |  Tanya Gracie
Brittany Tibbo  |  Nicole Rosenow-Redhead  |  Raïmi Osseni
Naomi Adams  |  Jesse Gair

Ryan Legault-McGill (Co-Chair)
I live in Ottawa, and work for Environment Canada.  I started at Environment Canada 1 year ago after I completed a MA in Public Administration.  My two foci academically, which have infused in my professional experience, are international relations/development and environmental policy.  I’ve been with Emerging Leaders for 1 year.  EL lets me explore non-environmental issues and contribute to the sustainability and resiliency of my community.  I hope to learn more about CED from each of you, and do my best to coordinate EL’s activities.

Stacia Kean (Co-Chair)
With a background in social work (BSW) and business (MBA in CED), Stacia is involved in CED activities that promote women’s full participation in our communities. As co-chair of CCEDNet’s Emerging Leaders committee, Stacia works with other youth to make the Canadian CED Network a place for youth to engage as informed members of the movement. Stacia is also a board member for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM Canada). Stacia’s time and passion is largely dedicated to her work with the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise – a women-centered CED organization in Thunder Bay that helps women create their own financial security through small business. In her work at PARO, Stacia acts as project coordinator for Accelerated Access, a social enterprise that consults with non-profit groups from across the country to initiate and sustain their own CED projects. When she needs to re-charge and get some perspective, she loves getting out into the wilds of Nortwestern Ontario in any way she can, though more often than not can be found playing chess at the pub instead.

Émanuèle Lapierre-Fortin
Émanuèle is on a quest to deconstruct and experience meanings of terms of CED, participation, leadership, consensus and – the big one – sustainability with her courses, essays and work experiences. She graduated from International Development (which she now TAs) and

Economics and is now researching climate change policy implementation in Costa Rica as part of her Masters in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. Émanuèle hopes to consult in the private sector for a while before potentially buring herself in research again.

Heather Hale
Heather lives in Saskatoon and is the Program Officer for the Saskatchewan Co-operative Youth Program.   She is passionate about engaged citizenship and has extensive experience working with youth from a variety of backgrounds, both locally and internationally.  She has led youth projects for Katimavik in Alberta and Saskatchewan, completed surveys for Statistics Canada across Canada, has done youth education and research in Tanzania, and led youth programming in the areas of international development and alterative media for the Saskatchewan Council for International Co-operation. As an active volunteer, Heather serves on a number of Boards of Directors include that of the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op. She enjoys playing dress up with hats, bad puns and fancy cheeses.  You may have seen her ‘round town at local music halls, bus stops or falafel shops.

Barb Besner
My educational background includes a BA (Hons) from the University of Winnipeg in Psychology, as well as a certificate in vocal performance from Berklee College of Music in Boston.  I have worked and volunteered for many years at various non-profits, and am currently working at the Institute of Urban Studies in Winnipeg.  I am also just finishing up a Masters in City Planning from the University of Manitoba, and my research interests are focused on the role of community-based arts in neighbourhood revitalization.

I am a volunteer board member of the Osborne Village Cultural Centre, and teach voice lessons to children and adults.  I’m looking forward to meeting everyone on the EL Committee and learning as much as I can about CED.

Sarah Macdonald
I am originally from Banff, Alberta. However, I have lived in a couple different cities in Canada as I attended high school in Victoria and then attended  the University of Guelph. I graduated with a BA in International Development, specializing in Political Economy and Administrative Change in 2008. Upon graduation I knew that I wanted to move back West and have been living in Calgary for the past year and a half.  I work for a Community Economic Development organization called Momentum, where I am a Financial Literacy facilitator.  I  am currently in charge of two IDA matched savings programs called Fair Gains and Owen Hart Home Owners program.

In my spare time I love being active, traveling when I can and spending time with friends and family.  I am looking forward to another exciting year with Emerging Leaders!

Maggie Gilbert-Behn
Maggie graduated from the University of Northern British Columbia in 2007 with a degree in International Studies before moving to Chetwynd (in Northeast BC) with her husband and two dogs.  It is in Chetwynd, where she was the Editor of the local newspaper, that Maggie first became engaged with CCEDNET through the Youth In Charge program.  She joined the Emerging Leaders Committee in January 2009 after moving south.  Maggie currently lives in Victoria working for Dogwood Initiative, a local environmental non-profit, and enjoys hanging out with friends, family and her dogs in a much milder climate.

Christopher Mitchelmore
Christopher resides in a community consisting of 162 people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. He graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelors of Commerce Honours (Coop) degree.  His university experiences enabled him to study and work abroad, both in the UK and the Czech Republic. He is currently employed as a Client Services Officer with Nortip Community Business Development Corporation with an aim to “Build Stronger Communities” by creating and maintaining employment through business investment, skill enhancements and community economic development. He volunteers with Nordic Economic Development Corporation, Red Ochre Youth Council, Junior Achievement NL, Straits-St. Barbe Chronic Care Corporation and Futures in Newfoundland & Labrador Youth! (FINALY!). Christopher loves to travel; indulging in new cultural experiences, cuisine, languages, art, history and life experiences. He writes about rural experiences through his blog found at www.liveruralnl.com.

Greg Knott
Greg is a former journalist now working in the field of community development in St. John’s, NL. He is a graduate of Memorial University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History. A self-described advocate and golden god of awesomeness, Greg has been involved with youth organizations and environmental groups for a number of years. Currently, he sits as the chair of the Provincial Youth Council for Futures in Newfoundland and Labrador Youth (FINALY). In 2007 he was appointed by the provincial cabinet to the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Advisory Committee. In 2009, Greg ran a grass-roots campaign to protest a government proposal to build a new large scale hyrdo electric transmission line through Gros Morne National Park. The Save Gros Morne National Park campaign received provincial and national media attention and the campaign along with pressure from the public and various organizations and businesses led to the scarping of the proposed route. Originally from Norris Point on Newfoundland’s west coast, Greg is a strong advocate for rural development. In his spare time he is an avid golfer, hiker, camper, snowshoer, reader, movie watcher, music listener, friend hangerouter, and food eater.

Kerri Herrfort
Based in Goderich, Ontario, I am the Downtown Revitalization Coordinator for the County of Huron (population 60,000, land area 3396 km2). My title does not accurately depict what I do. I have the pleasure of working with local stakeholders, organizations and government on community based economic development – everything from establishing farmers’ markets to heritage preservation initiatives to sustainability action planning…

I am currently working towards my Economic Development Designation (Ec.D) from the University of Waterloo/Economic Development Association of Canada.

I’m thrilled to be a new member of EL and look forward to the new connections and experiences this year will bring!

Tanya Gracie
My name is Tanya Gracie, and I am a co-op enthusiast. I currently work at the Canadian Co-operative Association, in Member Services, and I sit on three different boards for co-operative organizations ACE (Association of Co-operative Educators), CASC (Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation), and the housing co-op in which I live. I live in Ottawa, and have so for the past year and a half, I love the city because although it is the biggest city that I have ever lived in, I don’t feel as though I am in a ‘concrete jungle’, I love the Canal, the amount of green space and how easy it is to get to the outdoors… I am a four-season person, and love each season for all the wonderful things and activities that they bring (although the transition, especially between winter and spring leaves something to be desired).

I completed my undergraduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, with a double major in Global Studies and Psychology. It was a wonderful five years, and throughout my degree I worked in residence life, living and working with first year students as they make the transition into university—such a challenging and at the same time rewarding experience. Following my undergraduate degree, I did an internship at the Ontario Co-operative Association in co-operative development and at the same time a Masters degree in Community Economic Development at the University of Southern New Hampshire. If you are wondering how this all worked, I would travel to school once a-month to take classes and the rest of the time, I did my work on-line. The program was fantastic and has captured my attention to become more involved in the Social Economy and the field of CED.

So this is a very quick introduction to me… there is much more, but you learn that as we get to know each other. I look forward to meeting and working with each of you!

Brittany Tibbo
Is a second year student at Memorial University studying Behavioral Neuroscience and Business. She grew up and currently lives in Holyrood, Newfoundland and Labrador. She works and volunteers at her favorite office on Memorial’s Campus helping students with random questions and organizing events. Her experiences and desire to create opportunities for the youth of Newfoundland and Labrador extend from my involvement with Municipal Youth Councils to a Provincial Youth Council as well as a Provincial Youth Advisory Committee. I am excited to begin working with Emerging Leaders to learn more about CED so I can pursue fresh, new opportunities for youth living in Newfoundland and Labrador in this new capacity.

Nicole Rosenow-Redhead
Nicole grew up in Halifax, and graduated from Dalhousie University with an MA in International Development. She has lived in Trinidad, where she met her husband, for a couple of years attending university and working at an orphanage. Nicole currently works with YWCA Halifax teaching financial literacy to immigrants and refugees, along with volunteering with other community leaders to open a free dental clinic aimed at serving marginalized populations in the Halifax area. She first became acquainted with the Canadian CED Network through the EL-inspired CreateAction youth internship program in 2008, and happily joined the EL team shortly thereafter!

Raïmi B. Osseni (Past Co-Chair)
Raïmi discovered CED and in 2006,when he was selected by CreateAction to work for the Manitoba office of the Canadian CED network (CCEDNet). He has since been a member of Emerging Leaders (EL) and has represented EL on various committees such as the Practioners and Sector Strengthening Committee of CCEDNet. Raïmi now works as a data consultant for Statistics Canada and continues to volunteer for CCEDNet.

Naomi Adams (Past Co-Chair)
Naomi Adams has been a member of Emerging Leaders since 2005, and was co-chair from 2008-09. She grew up in Vancouver, and studied public policy at Carleton University and the University of Victoria. She currently lives in Victoria, BC, and works for the provincial government on First Nation initiatives. In addition to volunteering for CCEDNet, she plays bike polo and field hockey.

Jesse Gair, Winnipeg
Jesse has a passion for the possibilities of CED. He holds an honors Diploma in Community Development, Community Economic Development from Red College in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is a committee member of Emerging Leaders for CCEDNet and a member of the Early Career Advisory Committee of the HR Council for the Voluntary and Non-Profit Sector.

Jesse has many years of experience working with and inspiring youth. Currently he is The Youth Outreach Coordinator for The Spence Neighbourhood Association in Winnipeg, MB. Over the past few years Jesse has focused on developing and implementing projects which support inner city youth deemed at-risk of joining gangs, dropping out of school and becoming sexually exploited. Jesse has worked on youth related projects in food security, social enterprise, recreation, volunteerism and advocating to government social service agencies.

Jesse has traveled and volunteered extensively across Canada and Mali, West Africa.