Denise LeBlanc-Kwaw, RN MN Chief Executive Officer of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NAAB)

The NANB, regulatory body in New Brunswick representing 8,400 registered nurses and nurse practitioners, is pleased to introduce Denise LeBlanc-Kwaw as Chief Executive Officer. Ms. LeBlanc-Kwaw was appointed by the Board of Directors and joined NANB on February 1, 2023.

Ms. LeBlanc-Kwaw, has returned home to New Brunswick having held a number of nursing leadership positions in Alberta and PEI, most recently in the role of Principal Nursing Advisor over the past two years. Other notable work include; roles in a diverse clinical background, workload measurement and in the private sector. Previous nursing regulatory roles include registration Nursing consultant at the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta and previous Registrar with NANB spanning 15 years.

Ms. LeBlanc-Kwaw returns to NANB during exciting times of change in regulation, health care system transformation, and the nursing profession. In addition to navigating a new Nurses Act, which has not been updated in over 40 years, the NANB will focus on a new strategic, fiscal, human resources and communication plans. Along with the Board and Staff, Ms. LeBlanc-Kwaw intends to engage members and stakeholders to work collaboratively in a mutually respectful and open manner to assist in advancing the provincial government’s Nursing Resource Strategy and ensuring public protection remains the priority of the organization.

Liliana Canadic, Saskatchewan Chief Nursing Officer, co-chair of the national Principal Nursing Advisors Task Force

Liliana Canadic is first generation Canadian with indigenous ancestry in Croatia. Registered nurse with health care career focused on care delivery & leadership.

Lilianas experience is a story of healing which cannot be told without telling the stories of diverse care teams she worked along with, across the complex care environments, private and public health care systems, three continents and three Canadian provinces and territories.

In her current role of the Provincial Chief Nursing Officer, she feels fortunate to work with incredibly strong teams of professionals, both within the Ministry of Health, across other Ministries and health care sector. Interactions with her colleagues, in which they work collaboratively to find innovative solutions for complex issues, are always a highlight of her day. Also, as a leader, Liliana is passionate about cultivating talent and playing an active role in developing the careers of the professionals she works alongside.

Most of all, Liliana is grateful for the courage and kindness of the people who allowed her to enter their lives when they were most vulnerable.

Dr. Karima Velji, RN, PHD, CHE, FCAN, Ontario Chief Nursing Officer

Dr. Velji is a health care leader with a proven track record in fostering the engagement of the patient (service user) and system partners to drive innovative models of care, integrating research and care to drive next practice, and creating cultures to unleash the potential of high performing teams to achieve stellar results. She has implemented innovative health human resource solutions within these models of care to ensure optimal scope of practice of all clinicians.

Dr. Velji is currently the Chief of Nursing & Professional Practice and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Province of Ontario. She has held senior leadership positions in several Academic Health Science Centres and has operated a successful consulting company. Dr. Velji is a sought-after consultant for system level projects and has led external reviews of several organizations. She is a surveyor with Health Standards Organization/Accreditation Canada.

Dr. Velji’s responsibilities extend to provincial and national leadership. She has held the roles of Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Accreditation Canada and member of Board of Directors or Health Standards Organization (2012-2018), United Way Campaign Chair for London Middlesex (2016) and as President and Chair of the Board of Directors of Canadian Nurses Association (2014-16).

Dr. Velji has cross-appointments to the University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario, University of Ontario Tech University and Nippissing University. She has won several outstanding achievement awards including the Sigma Theta Tau Excellence in Administration award, University of Toronto Distinguished Alumni award, Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) Margaret Comack Award of Excellence in Nursing Leadership, and the Award of Excellence in Teaching (student nominated) from the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at University of Toronto. She has been profiled in the boundless banner campaign as an outstanding alumnus of University of Toronto. At the system/global level, Dr. Velji is a consultant to global sites, including East Africa, the Middle East and Asia, for development of policy, credentialing, training, and academic plans.

Dr. Sylvain Brousseau, Ph.D., RN, FFNMRCSI, MSN (nursing administration), President of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)

Nurse since 1993, Dr. Sylvain Brousseau holds a diploma in nursing, a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from University of Ottawa, a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in nursing sciences with an option in administration from Université de Montréal. During his nursing career, He works in different area of nursing practice (med-surg, community health, management and infection prevention control). He is currently an associate professor in nursing science at Université du Québec en Outaouais in Canada. Sylvain’s research focuses on the humanistic perspective of the quality of work life among nurses and nurse managers inspired by Watson’s Caring Science. From his research, he developed a Humanistic Quality of Working life model and more recently, a new Political caring Literacy Model based on Watson’s Caring Philosophy. Dr. Brousseau is advocating for the development of a national policy on the organizational humanization of health services and the integration of political competencies into the nursing profession. He is recognized for his commitment and expertise in nursing governance and policies in Québec and Canada. Between 2002 to 2013 he served as a Board of directors of the Regional Order of Nurses of Laurentians, 2 years at the Board of director of Order of Nurses of Québec and 10 years at the Nursing Regional Commission as well as chairing some professional nursing committees. In 2014, in collaboration with nurses’ colleagues, Dr Brousseau co-founded and chaired the Groupe of Future of Nursing profession in Québec and cocreate in 2017, the Quebec Nurses Association. He has also served 2 years on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) bringing back Québec at the decision-making table. In 2018, Dr. Brousseau cofounded the Canadian Caring Consortium with Canadian Nurse Scholars. He also served 3 years on the academic board of directors of the Assembly of Governors of the University du Québec. In June 2020, he was appointed President-Elect of the Canadian Nurses Association and became president on April 1, 2022. He also received from the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of the Royal College of Surgeon in Ireland a fellowship Ad Eundem. In May 2022, he was inducted as a member of Sigma Chi Nu Chapter from the Nursing Faculty of the University of MacEwan in Alberta. In September 2022, he received the medal for his academic engagement from the Assembly of Governors of the Université du Québec. In October 2023, he will be officially inducted as a new Fellow of the American Academy of nursing. Finally, Dr Brousseau has always been a strong advocate for the advancement of the nursing profession and humanistic work environment in Québec and Canada.

Lisa Little, RN, BNSc, MHS, FCAN, CEO, Lisa Little Consulting
1st Vice-President, Board of Directors, International Council of Nurses (ICN),
Chair, Board of Directors, Rural Healthcare Innovations

Lisa Little is 1^st Vice President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in her 2^nd term on the Board and represents North America and the Caribbean for the America’s region. Lisa is also Chair of the Board of Directors of a not-for-profit long-term care facility. She currently serves on the Queen’s University School of Nursing Advisory Board. And in 2020, Lisa was inducted into the Canadian Academy of Nursing as one of the inaugural Fellows.

Lisa has spent more than 20 years influencing global, national and provincial/territorial health policy, with a particular focus on health human resources (HHR).  She is known for her contributions to the advancement of HHR in Canada and globally, through her decade of leadership at the Canadian Nurses Association, as an independent consultant, and with ICN.

Dr. Leigh Chapman, RN, PhD, Chief Nursing Officer Health Canada
Leigh.Chapman@hc-sc.gc.ca

Dr. Leigh Chapman is committed to advancing the nursing profession in Canada to ensure equitable access to quality care. As CNO for Canada, she provides strategic advice to Health Canada, plays a convening role on key nursing issues, and represents the Federal Government at public forums.

Leigh is a registered nurse (RN) who received her PhD from the University of Toronto’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing. Over the past 20 years, she has gained a deep understanding of nursing by working in both frontline and clinical leadership capacities. In addition to her role as CNO for Canada, Leigh continues to work at a community-based consumption and treatment site in Toronto, where she provides harm reduction services and frontline care.

Leigh Chapman tient à l’avancement de la profession infirmière au Canada pour assurer un accès équitable à des soins de qualité. En tant qu’IC pour le Canada, elle fournit des conseils stratégiques à Santé Canada, joue un rôle rassembleur sur les enjeux en soins infirmiers et représente le gouvernement fédéral dans les forums publics.

Denise Bryant-Lukosius, RN, CON(C), BScN, MScN, PhD
bryantl@mcmaster.ca

Denise Bryant-Lukosius is Professor in the School of Nursing at McMaster University, where she holds several leadership roles including:

• The Alba DiCenso Chair in Advanced Practice Nursing (APN),
• Co-Director of the Canadian Centre for APN Research (CCAPNR), and
• Deputy Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre in Primary Care Nursing and Nursing Health Human Resources.

She is also an Associate Member of the Department of Oncology; Scientist in the Escarpment Cancer Research Institute; and Clinician Scientist and Director of the Canadian Centre of Excellence in Oncology APN at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre.

Her program of APN-related research focuses on role optimization and the design and evaluation of innovative models of care. She has conducted research about Clinical Nurse Specialists and Nurse Practitioners in varied settings, led the development of APN curricula, and designed frameworks and knowledge translation tools for the introduction and evaluation of APN roles.

Ruth Martin-Misener, NP, PhD, FAAN, FCAN
ruth.martin-misener@dal.ca

Dr. Ruth Martin-Misener NP, PhD, MN, BSCN, DOCHN, FAAN, FCAN is a Professor and the Director of the School of Nursing and Assistant Dean, Research, Faculty of Health at Dalhousie University where she has taught for more than 30 years. She is an Affiliate Scientist at Nova Scotia Health and the Maritime SPOR Support Unit and Co-Director of the Canadian Center for Advanced Practice Nursing Research (CCAPNR) at McMaster University. She is known for her research, education and knowledge mobilization contributions to the advancement of nurse practitioners and optimized registered nurse roles in primary healthcare. The main focus of her research is evaluation of the implementation and outcomes of the nurse practitioner role and interprofessional team-based models of care in primary healthcare and long-term and continuing care. The results of her research have been used to inform policy related to nurse practitioner scope of practice, education, regulation and deployment across sectors and populations. Several of her published articles have been cited in influential policy documents such as the World Health Organization’s State of the World’s Nursing 2020, the International Council of Nurses Guidelines on Advanced Practice Nursing and the Canadian Nurses’ Association Advanced Practice Nursing: A Pan-Canadian Framework. Dr. Martin-Misener has published 162 articles in peer-reviewed journals with over 2500 citations. For her contributions she was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing in 2019 and named a Charter Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing in 2020.

Mohamed Toufic El Hussein RN, PhD, NP
melhussein@mtroyal.ca

Mohamed El Hussein is a Ph.D.-prepared Nurse practitioner. He completed his Ph.D. and post-master Nurse Practitioner diploma at the University of Calgary in Alberta. Mohamed is a full professor at Mount Royal University, where he has a research program focusing on translational research and evidence-based practice. Dr. El Hussein is a well-published scholar with over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and coauthored several major nursing textbooks used in nursing programs nationwide. Mohamed also works part-time as an NP in the division of cardiology at the Rocky view general hospital. His work as an NP in cardiology supports his research program as it keeps him up to date with the current issues and interventions in cardiology. Mohamed also serves as the director of education for the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta and is on the Journal for Nurse Practitioners editorial board.

Sandra Davidson, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, FCAN
sandra.davidson@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Sandra Davidson is Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary and has also recently served as Deputy Provost (2021-2023) for the University of Calgary. Over her 29-year career in nursing and healthcare, she has served in a wide range of academic and practice environments that span private, for-profit; public, not-for profit; and both large and small public universities. She is well known in each position she has been for her entrepreneurial thought and creative innovation. She is co-editor/author of the award-winning book “Leadership for Evidence-based Innovation in Nursing and Health Professions” now in it’s second edition published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. Her research focuses on health systems transformation, living well with chronic disease and aging. She is a fellow in both the Canadian and American Academies of Nursing.

Davidson obtained her PhD in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University in 2011. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing at the same institution in 2001 and received her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Lethbridge in 1996.

Robyn Stremler, RN, PhD
robyn.stremler@utoronto.ca

Dr. Stremler is Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto, where she holds the Bloomberg Term Professorship in Child and Family Health.  She is also appointed as Adjunct Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.  Dr. Stremler has the honour of serving as Associate Dean Academic at Bloomberg Nursing and has been fortunate to serve previously as Director, Doctoral Programs (2015-2028) and Acting Associate Dean Academic (2018-2019; 2022).  Since joining Bloomberg Nursing in 2006, Dr. Stremler has taught courses in the Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD and Doctor of Nursing programs.  She currently supervises 3 PhD students and 2 DN students.

Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham, PhD, RN
sheryl.kirkham@twu.ca

Dr. Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham is Dean and Professor of Nursing at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia. She brings academic distinction, a wealth of experience, and highly informed perspectives on nursing to her role. Reimer-Kirkham is a committed educator, a respected academic leader, and an internationally regarded researcher. She has led the design and implementation of TWU’s PhD in Nursing which accepted its first students in 2022, as well as one of Canada’s first hybrid MSN programs in 2009.

Reimer-Kirkham’s research focuses on diversity, religion/spirituality, equity and human rights—all in relation to health and healthcare services. She has brought together international teams to study the negotiation of religious plurality, most recently with a project on the expression of prayer in Vancouver and London hospitals. She is currently leading an international program of research on human rights and albinism that includes a study on mothering and albinism in Tanzania, South Africa, and Ghana. Reimer-Kirkham also conducts nursing education and knowledge translation research, and with colleagues developed the Knowledge-AS-Action Framework. She Is recognized for her contributions to postcolonial feminist research in nursing. She teaches in the areas of nursing philosophy, nursing research and knowledge translation, spirituality and nursing, and health policy. Among other awards, Reimer-Kirkham was a recipient of the 2019 UBC School of Nursing Centenary Medal of Distinction and was appointed in 2014 to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Scientists and Artists.

Nancy Carter, RN, PhD
carternm@mcmaster.ca

Nancy Carter is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at McMaster University, and currently appointed as the Assistant Dean, Graduate Nursing Programs and Department Education Coordinator. She is a researcher in the Canadian Centre for Advanced Practice Nursing Research, with a focus on models of care with specialized and advanced practice nurses, and nursing leadership.

Sithokozile Maposa, PhD, RN
s.maposa@usask.ca

Dr. Maposa collaborates with community partners, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams, and people with lived experience to evaluate women’s health, mental health, and wrap-around support programs, and reduce the impact of conditions such as HIV, substance use, and abuse or trauma. Her lifetime goal is to advance nursing globally and improve the well-being, health, and lives of individuals and communities, especially, equity-deserving populations like women, youth, and students.

Centered on an African cultural philosophy of Ubuntu, ways of Knowing, Doing, and Being within core culturally responsive frameworks that favor Two-eyed seeing research, she applies community-engaged research, Indigenous reconciliatory lens, and intersectionality to blend mixed-method to illuminate the needs and voice of equity-deserving communities e.g., the factors that impact the success of Indigenous and Black nursing students’ barriers, and supports that can foster their retention.

In her current role as a Graduate Chair, she draws from principles of Ubuntu and community-engaged research and evidence-informed practice to improve responsive academic support for students. She also believes that when policies promote student inclusivity, equity, and diversity, students are stakeholders who can benefit from multidirectional mentoring, capacity bridging, and strengthening when they have a voice and respectful learning-centered relationships exist to enhance their active participation in governance, including health policy involvement as well as research, and nursing practice leadership.

Dr. Lorelli Nowell, PhD, RN
lnowell@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Lorelli Nowell is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean Graduate Programs in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary. Lorelli is passionate about mentorship and has a strong mixed methods research background with numerous interdisciplinary collaborations exploring mentorship across professional and higher education settings. She recently co-led the University of Calgary Teaching Academy in the development and publication of a mentorship guide for teaching and learning. She has also worked in collaboration with University of Calgary leadership team to develop a continuum of teaching expertise with a specific focus on mentorship. Lorelli puts her mentorship research into practice by seeking out mentors to support her own   learning and development while actively providing mentorship to students and colleagues.

Helen Harrison, RN, PhD
hharrison@fanshawec.ca

Helen Harrison is a nursing professor at Fanshawe College in the Western-Fanshawe Collaborative BScN Program and holds a PhD in Health Professional Education from Western University, London, Ontario. She also holds degrees in biology, nursing, and education, and teaches courses in holistic health assessment and anatomy & physiology. Helen has practiced as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner in many settings including acute inpatient medicine, family planning, and population-based research on hereditary hemochromatosis. She has a longstanding interest in the human body, and her research interests include professional education, embodied knowing, hermeneutics, and student peer mentorship in nursing education.

Janet Montague, PhD(c), RN
JMontague@centennialcollege.ca

Janet Montague is a registered nurse with an impressive 22-year career dedicated to nursing. She works as a Nursing Professor and Coordinator at Centennial College and teaches in the Toronto Metropolitan, Centennial, and George Brown Collaborative Nursing Degree program. She also works as a Peer Coach at the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

Janet is a Ph.D. Candidate at Western University with a profound passion for research and education. Her doctoral dissertation delves into a crucial area of study, exploring Black students’ experiences of belonging in nursing education through the lens of Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. Her commitment to this research is a testament to her dedication to fostering a culture of belonging and inclusion within nursing education. Beyond her dissertation work, Janet’s scholarly interests encompass many areas, including direct teaching outcomes, promoting students’ success, nurturing nursing students’ sense of belonging, facilitating student transition, engaging in mentorship, and championing anti-racist pedagogies. Her contributions to nursing education and research are paving the way for more equitable and inclusive learning environments.

Janet is involved in various volunteer activities and committees to uplift her community and the nursing profession. She is on the Board of Directors of the Registered Nurses Foundation of Ontario (RNFOO), Co-Director of Student Engagement of the Pan-Canadian Association of Nurses of African Descent (PCANAD), Co-chairs the Canadian Association Schools of Nursing (CASN) Social Justice and Anti-racism Nurse Educator Interest Group and is a past Board of Directors for the Jamaican Canadian Association of Nurses (JCAN). Her dedication to causes that promote equity, anti-racism, and social justice further exemplifies her commitment to making a meaningful impact within the nursing profession.

Damilola Iduye, RN MN MPH
Damilola.Iduye@Dal.Ca

Damilola Iduye is a Senior Instructor at the Dalhousie School of Nursing, where she primarily teaches population health nursing, nursing and social responsibility, and advanced communication simulation. She is also a Research Scholar at the Healthy Populations Institute’s Improving the Health Outcomes of People of African Descent flagship, Dalhousie University.

She holds a Bachelor of Nursing Science from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a Master of Nursing focusing on Health Policy from Dalhousie University, and a Master of Public Health from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is currently enrolled in the PhD in Public Health Science at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. As a 2023 Vanier Scholar and C. David Naylor Fellow at the University of Toronto, her doctoral research lies at the intersection of race and ethnicity, structural racism, health and social policies, immigration and citizenship status, and health. Specifically, she focuses on advancing health and social equity for Black and immigrant populations in Canada.

Since 2014, Damilola has been involved in various provincial and national projects and committees on the integration of internationally educated nurses (IENs) into the Canadian nursing workforce. Damilola is the Co-Founder and President of the Nova Scotia IENs Network, which she co-leads with eight other IEN leaders. In recognition of her contributions to supporting the professional integration of IENs in Nova Scotia and across Canada, Damilola was awarded the Top 25 Immigrants in the Maritimes award in 2018. This award honours Maritimers who stand out in their towns and cities and have made a difference in their communities. Early in 2023, the Government of Nova Scotia awarded funding to the Nova Scotia IENs Network under Damilola’s leadership to conduct the first-of-its-kind province-wide research on the experiences of IENs in integrating into the Nova Scotia health workforce. Damilola is also a member of the Government of Nova Scotia’s IENs Task Team and Provincial Nursing Network, comprising key partners in health human resource planning in Nova Scotia.

Outside the IEN community, Damilola has been part of a pan-Canadian working group aimed at unifying Black nurses in the country since 2020. The outcome of this collaborative partnership is the formation of the Pan-Canadian Association of Nurses of African Descent (PCANAD), a grassroots not-for-profit organization representing various provincial and jurisdictional organizations of nurses of African descent in Canada. PCANAD’s primary objectives are to advocate for the health and well-being of people of African descent in Canada and to amplify the voices of Nurses of African descent by promoting recruitment, retention, professional advancement, and representation in education, practice, administration, research, and policy. Damilola is also an active member and one of the leaders of the Black Nurses Association of Nova Scotia since its inception in 2019.

Furthermore, she is a public representative on the Governing Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. As a member of the Council, she provides public perspectives about improved medical regulation through equity-informed advocacy for increased representation of Black physicians and enhanced accountability for fostering equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and accessibility in the medical profession.

Rani Hajela Srivastava, RN, PhD, FCAN, FTNSS
rsrivastava@tru.ca

Dr. Rani Srivastava is currently the Dean of Nursing at Thompson Rivers University. She also holds adjunct positions at York University, Toronto, ON and Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. She is a Fellow Canadian Academy of Nursing and Fellow Transcultural Nursing Society Scholars. In 2017, she was honored by the Canadian Nurses Association as one of the 150 nurses for Canada who are strong public advocates and leaders in advancing patient centered approach to quality health care.

Dr. Srivastava is recognized nationally and internationally for her leadership in cultural competence, bridging academia and practice environments, and translating vision into action. She is the author and editor for The Health Care Professional’s Guide to Cultural Competence (2nd edition, 2022), and has written several book chapters and articles on topics of cultural identity, religion, ethics, and family-centered care.  Her research focuses on organizational enablers to foster cultural competence and anti-racism; teaching pedagogies for diversity and equity; inclusive leadership; and strengthening nursing practice through leadership, mentorship, and technology.

Dr. Srivastava completed a bachelor’s in nursing (BN) (with honors) from Dalhousie University (1981); Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) (1986) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (2008) from the University of Toronto.

Charlene Chu, RN, PhD
charlene.chu@utoronto.ca

Dr. Chu is a Registered Nurse with 16 years of experience working with older adults across the health spectrum, ranging from acute care to long-term care. Her primary area of research is focused on co-designing technology-enabled interventions that support the quality of life of older adults and their caregivers in post-acute care settings, with specific topics involving AI, digital ageism, and remote monitoring and digital health. Her research to develop technology for older adults is funded by each council of the Tri-Agency made up of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). She also holds funding from the New Frontier Research Fund, Center for Aging and Brain Health, AGE-WELL NCE. Dr. Chu has authored and co-authored over 65 peer-reviewed full manuscripts about her work. Dr. Chu leads an interdisciplinary team including engineers, computer scientists, physiotherapists, and nurses. She received an Alzheimer Society of Canada New Investigator award in 2020 as well as a Registered Nurses Association of Ontario Award for Leadership in Nursing Research in 2022. Her work has been featured on the CBC, The National Post, and The Toronto Star.

Dr. Chu holds two patents for novel computer vision applications for the functional assessments of older adults. She has mentored over a dozen undergraduate and graduate students from health sciences, nursing, biomedical engineering, and computer science. She designed and teaches nursing informatics and technologies in the Master of Nursing program at the University of Toronto. She is also a member of the Nursing and Artificial Intelligence Leadership Consortium.

Claire Mallette, RN, PhD
cmallett@yorku.ca

Dr. Claire Mallette’s career is diverse with roles in academia, administration, research and clinical practice in the provinces of Quebec, Alberta, and Ontario. She has held leadership positions in both practice and academia in such roles as the Director of the School of Nursing at York University, Director of Education at University Health Network, and the Chief Nursing Officer at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board in Ontario. She is presently the Director of the School of Nursing and an Associate Professor at York University.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McGill University, and both her Master of Science and PhD in Nursing from the University of Toronto. Her areas of research are in fostering quality compassionate care, leadership and fostering positive work environments now and in the future within an advancing technological healthcare system. She has also successfully led recruitment and retention initiatives, innovation      in eLearning, professional development programs and how to address bullying in the workplace.

Michelle Lobchuk, RN, PhD
Michelle.Lobchuk@umanitoba.ca

Michelle is a registered nurse who works as an Associate Professor at the College of Nursing, University of Manitoba.  She has been teaching evidence-informed practice to undergraduate and graduate-level nursing students for the past 20 years. Michelle is also excited to have spearheaded the creation and inaugural offering of the course called, Introduction to Family Caregiving Across the Lifespan to undergraduate students and lifelong community learners. Michelle’s CFI-funded CAreLab research program focuses on creating empathic communication interventions for professional and family caregivers. Her current focus is on developing her In Your Shoes web browser training portal for use by anyone who needs to empathically understand their clients, significant others, or employees. This training portal has stimulated the interest of Dr. Jasneet Parmer at the University of Alberta for uptake in her Caregiver Centred Care Competency Based Education for the Health Workforce. University of Manitoba and US-based nurse educators currently serve as collaborators in further testing In Your Shoes with their nursing students.

Cheryl Pollard, RPN, RN, ANEF, PhD
Cheryl.Pollard@uregina.ca

Cheryl Pollard, RN, RPN, PhD, ANEF, is Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Regina. In this role, she is responsible for administrative leadership and operational oversight of this comprehensive faculty of nursing. Over her 35-year career in nursing, she has served in a wide range of academic and practice environments that span large and small public and not-for profit organizations in Canada. The National League of Nursing has recognized Dr. Pollard’s enduring and substantial contributions to nursing education by inducting her as a Fellow into the Academy of Nursing Education. She is widely regarded as a thought leader and scholar in the areas of healthcare education, innovation, and leadership.

Dr. Heather Bensler, RN MSN EdD
heather.bensler@ucalgary.ca

Heather Bensler RN MSN EdD is a white settler of Scottish and German heritage, and she lives, works, and plays in Moh’kinstis or Calgary. She is the Assistant Dean, Academic Partnerships for the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary where she leads the development of the rural and Indigenous nursing programs. Her research focuses on white settler identity in nursing, anti-Indigenous racism in health care, and participatory theatre practices. She is also dedicated to the complex journey of decolonization and reconciliation by taking responsibility as a settler to this land for the ongoing violence of colonization and centring Indigenous peoples and knowledge. She is a wife, and a mother to three grown children and a covid-rescue dog named Barley. If she’s not working, you’re most likely to find her hiking in the mountains.

Book your hotel reservation by Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 11:59 pm EST (Ottawa Time) to secure the special CASN Council guestroom rates starting at $159.00/night by reserving online: https://reservations.sandmanhotels.com/113163?groupID=3857969

If you would like to book a guestroom pre or post council beyond the room block dates of November 10 to November 15, 2023, you must call the hotel to make reservations. Guestrooms and rates are subject to availability.

For reservations assistance, please call 1-800-726-3626 and mention the “Special room rate available to attendees of CASN” guestroom block.

Air Canada is offering a travel discount for conference attendees:

• For North America: 5% standard fares, 10% flex & up
• For International Travel: 10% on standard fares & up

Promotion Code: EN2MNBP1

To book a flight with your promotion code, access www.aircanada.com and enter your promotion code in the promotion box. The discount will be automatically calculated for you.

Applicable Rules:

• The booking is to be made to the following city: Ottawa, Ontario (YOW)
• The travel period begins Monday, November 6, 2023, and ends Tuesday, November 21, 2023.
• Travel is valid Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
• The promotion code is intended for use by council attendees and organizers and is not meant for distribution outside of authorized channels. Air Canada’s Terms and Conditions apply.

West Jet is offering is offering a travel discount for conference attendees:

• 5% off Econo* and 10% off EconoFlex and Premium fares for travel within Canada
• 2% off Econo*, 5% off EconoFlex and 10% off Premium base fares for guests travelling trans-border.

To take advantage of this offer, you will need the discount code listed. Please visit www.westjet.com/conventions to make a booking online.

Coupon Code: Guest web/Travel Agent web: 4Y8A8BW
Promo Code: Travel Agent GDS only: YBD86

Applicable Rules:

• The booking is to be made to the following city: Ottawa (YOW)
• The travel period begins November 6, 2023, and ends November 21, 2023, no discount will apply to Basic or Business class bookings.

*Basic fare class is excluded from discount. Discount codes are valid for travel on the dates indicated above. Percentage discount is applied to base fare. Taxes, fees and charges are extra. The base fare may be represented as Air Transportation Charges (excepting Other Air Transportation Charges) in the booking flow. Other air transportation charges, taxes, fees and charges are not discounted. Discount codes are intended for use by the event attendees and organizers only. Distribution to any outside third parties or unauthorized channel is prohibited. Discount can be used for a one-way or round-trip booking. Discount cannot be applied towards multi-city bookings. Only one discount code may be used per booking. Seasonal start and end dates may apply. No cash value. Discount only applies to flights marketed and operated wholly by WestJet, WestJet Encore, WestJet Link, and Delta flights marketed by WestJet via codeshare. It is not applicable when traveling with our other code-share, interline or other airline partners. New bookings only. Offer is limited and subject to availability. No cash value. Non-refundable and non-transferable. Discount cannot be used towards the purchase of a Member Exclusive fare or the purchase of a WestJet Vacations package. Discount cannot be combined with any other discount codes or companion voucher bookings. WestJet dollars, Travel Bank and gift cards cannot be used as a form of payment. Any changes or cancellations to discount code bookings must be made by calling 1-888-937-8538. If the booking is changed or cancelled, the discount will no longer apply. Other restrictions may apply and are subject to change at any time. WestJet’s fares, schedules and policies, and any and all equipment used in connection with the provision of the meetings and conventions travel services may be changed or terminated by WestJet at any time and for any reason, in each case without notice or liability. WestJet may terminate or reduce flights to any event city at any time and for any reason without notice or liability.