Thank you to everyone currently involved in helping to plan the 2027 conference! A special thank you to the people with lived experience and family members involved in our Advisory Council:
Brett Griffiths (Manitoba; he/him)
Athlete, Special Olympics
Member, Special Olympics Manitoba Board of Directors
Gabriel & Paul Cervenko (Ontario)
Chantel Meister (Nova Scotia)
Mount Saint Vincent University
Heidi Mallett (Prince Edward Island)
Athlete Leader, Special Olympics;
Instructor, Brain Health-IDD Program
Chelsea Rinquinha (British Columbia)
BC Self Advocate Leadership Network Society
Farrah Sattaur (Ontario)
Center for Addiction and Mental Health
Yvonne Spicer (Ontario)
Co-Founder Lifetime Abilities
Susan Wang (British Columbia; she/her)
Athlete & Sargent Shriver Global Messenger,
Special Olympics
William Hulme (Ontario)
People First York Simcoe
And thank you also to all the additional people involved in the Program Committee:
Dara Abells MD CCFP MScCH (she/her) (Ontario)
Family Physician
Surrey Place
Oluseye Akinkunmi (Nova Scotia)
Health Services Manager
Nova Scotia Health
Tamara Armitage (Alberta)
Program Director
Wetaskiwin and District Association for Community Service
Ashley Lucas (Ontario)
Student
Natasha Henriques MSc (she/her) (Ontario)
Clinical Research Project Manager
The Hospital for Sick Children
Trevor Cuddy BCom BA MEd DBA(c)
Director, Continuing Professional Development Portfolio
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Desiree Cabecinha MA BA CYC (she/her) (British Columbia)
Health Lead (Provincial)
Services and Community Development - Health
Community Living BC
Donna Lee BA MA (she/her) (Nova Scotia)
Faculty, School of Health and Human Services
Nova Scotia Community College
Provincial Advisor, People First Nova Scotia
Michelle Goos (British Columbia)
Vancouver Island Service Delivery Advisor
Community Living British Columbia
Theresa Grech MC CCC CPRP (she/her) (British Columbia)
Counsellor and Educator
TMG Counselling Group; Behavioural Group and Developmental Disorders Program,
University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine
Tara Hyatt MA (she/her) (Ontario)
Quality Assurance, Integrity and Innovation Director
Parents for Community Living KW Inc.
Jennifer Altosaar (she/her) (Ontario)
Manager, Safer Steps My Way
Surrey Place
Talia Katz (Ontario)
Medical Student
University of Toronto
Jackie Kingsbury (she/her) (Ontario)
Manager, Community Networks of Specialized Care
South East Region, Ongwanada
Kayla Kostal MSc (she/her) (British Columbia)
PhD Student
University of British Columbia
Julia Malchiondo MPH (she/her) (Ontario)
Researcher
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Preetinder Narang PhD (she/her) (British Columbia)
District Behaviour Specialist
Surrey School District
Kim Nevilles (Ontario)
Director of Services and Supports
Kerry’s Place Autism Services
Megan Primeau MSc (she/her) (Ontario)
Conference Director, Continuing Professional Development
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Sarah Hustad (Ames) MD FRCPC (Alberta)
Developmental Pediatrician
Alberta Children’s Hospital
Sandy Stemp BScN (she/her) (Ontario)
Chief Operations Officer
Reena
Stephanie Griffin RPN (Ontario)
Registered Practical Nurse
Brightshores Health System
Stephanie Henthorn MSW RSW (Ontario)
Case Manager, Dual Diagnosis
Brightshores Health System
Alicia Thatcher MD CCFP (she/her) (Saskatchewan)
Family Physician
If you are interested in joining for this year or next, please contact Megan Primeau. Use the links below to access the committee lists from past events: