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Management

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Jo-Anne Packham

Executive Director

Originally from Northern Manitoba, Jo-Anne has been in the Nistawoyou region for 15 years. A Metis woman with strong ties to the Red River region, her ancestorial families include midwives and medicine knowledge keepers from the Flett’s, Richard’s and Chartrand’s. With 27 years of experience in the fields of Child and Youth Care, Child development and the last 17 years in on reserve addictions and mental health programming, she is committed to furthering awareness of the Intergenerational impacts of colonization, changing systems of oppression and advocating for Indigenizing and decolonizing programs that serve turtle island. In her spare time, Jo-Anne can be found cooking for friends and family, enjoying the outdoors paddle boarding, hiking, running in the summer months, canning in the fall and just as her Muskwa spirit guides, hibernating all winter.

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Jolene Wilson

Administration Manager

Jolene is the Administration Manager at Wood Buffalo Wellness Society. Originally from small town BC, she moved out to Fort McMurray in 2013. Not long after arriving Jolene began working in Radio Sales, this opportunity introduced her to the community. It was from there that her passions for social profits and strengthening the community started. 

Jolene loves to travel the world and takes every opportunity to learn and understand new cultures. She is a certified yoga teacher, and loves practicing mindfulness. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, testing new recipes that her husband cooks (she loves to eat, but can’t cook to save her life) and spending time with her family, pets and friends. 

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Cassie Gensorek

Mark Amy Team Lead

Cassie is the Team Lead at the Mark Amy Treatment Centre and has been with the Wood Buffalo Wellness Society in a variety of capacities, since August of 2018. Cassie humbly acknowledges her privilege as a visitor to the Treaty 8 territory and a guest to the surrounding communities. She works diligently at connecting with various Knowledge keepers, Elders and Community leaders to ensure all efforts are being made in decolonizing her own practice and expanding her capacity, as she passionately continues to work in Indigenous Service delivery.

 

Cassie is originally from Ontario, was raised in Manitoba, spent summers and holidays with family in Saskatchewan and now calls Alberta her home; a Prairie girl through and through. She is most often found enjoying any number of outdoor hobbies including fishing, kayaking, hiking and hockey.  Cassie completed her second education in the field of Addictions and Community Development in 2011 and has been working in the field since, in a variety of capacities and organizations. 

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Punnya Selvaraj, MBA/BBM

Community Services Team Lead

Punnya Selvaraj is the team lead at Wood Buffalo Wellness Society. They have been working with the agency in various roles since last 2 years.  They are committed to helping clients overcome homelessness, mental health issues, addiction and other stresses that effect all of us at some time in our lives. 

They are originally from India and calls fort McMurray their home since 2016. outside work they enjoy reading, spending time with their family and cat (Autumn).

Punnya holds a master's dual degree in human resources/marketing (MBA) from Bangalore university and Bachelor's in business management.

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Rhonda Robinson

Aftercare Coordinator

Rhonda moved to Fort McMurray August 2016 and now calls it home.  She has worked in the non profit sector for 22 years bringing a diverse skill set.  She is a mother to a 24 year old son and a 9 year old fur baby.

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Kayla Lushman

Tawâw Program Manager

Kayla loves to be on the land and spending time building relationships in the community. She is passionate about healing. Her passion is infectious which makes her a strong advocate for our community. She is a versatile member of our team; everything she does is done with love. 

Community Services

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Shavel Yapp-Edwards BSW, RSW

Shavel Yapp-Edwards is one of the Centralized Intake Workers with Wood Buffalo Wellness Society. Her role is to screen and assess individuals who are experiencing or are at risk of being homeless. Additionally, individuals assessed are connected with the appropriate housing programs/referral services within the community based on needs. Shavel has served in the capacity of a Case Manager with Wood Buffalo Wellness Society since June 2015 until she transitioned to her current role in November 2020. Outside of these roles, Shavel has a little over five (5) years of working in Child Protection Services and a Caregiver to individuals in a Children Residential home setting. 

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Karla Lamouche

Karla Lamouche is Metis-Cree from the Gift Lake Metis Settlement and has recently relocated to the Wood Buffalo area. She graduated with her bachelor’s in social work from the University of Calgary in 2021. Karla comes from an Indigenous worldview, an understanding of community and understands the rhythms of what it means to be a helper in this line of work. She is excited to help further the vision of a “community where all are housed and free of addiction” 

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Chelsea Leterte

Chelsea  is originally from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She isa Centralized Intake Worker as well as an Addictions Support Worker with the Mark Amy Treatment Centre.

 

She enjoys connecting with individuals to provide housing and addiction supports as well as building and fostering relationships with other service providers in the community!

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Courtney Macsween

Courtney works as a Rapid Re-Housing case manager with the Community Services team. She has worked in the social sector for years and have a passion for helping those in their time of need. Courtney has been proud to call Fort McMurray home since 2009 and feels incredibly grateful to be part of this beautiful, diverse community!

Mark Amy Treatment

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Arlene Penaflordia 

Arlene has lived in Fort McMurray for 14 years. She is the Intake Coordinator at Mark Amy Treatment Centre. In her spare time enjoy spending time with family and friends.

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William Weibel

William is an Athabasca Fort Chippewan First Nation's and resides in Treaty 8 Territory. He works in the field of Mental Health and Addictions. The connection with his culture and learning about himself was the healing. Now he knows where he comes from and know where he is going.

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Chad Barrett

Chad is a proud and dedicated member of the MATC Clinical Team.  He comes from a background of lived experience in active addiction followed up by many years of living in recovery.  Chad’s dedication towards being a helper has guided him to working with addicts in various personal and professional settings for many years.  He walks today with the belief that recovery is available to anyone, anywhere; we are all deserving of a better way to live. 

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Joelle Erskine

Joelle is Mi’kmaw born and raised in Ewipkek and member of the Flat Bay Band. Joelle has a passion for traditional ways and helping others along their journey. She has been with Mark Amy since 2021 as a Traditional Parenting facilitator and Cultural Support. 

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Cerina Gedalanga

Cerina is a hard-working and driven individual who isn't afraid to face a challenge. She is passionate about her work because she loves what  she does  and she is always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness.

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