We are currently recruiting for our 2026 committees – if you are interested in joining, please contact Megan Primeau.
Thank you to everyone involved in helping to plan the 2025 conference! A special thank you to the Self-Advocates, family members, and support persons involved in our Advisory Council:
Gabriel & Paul Cervenko
Self-Advocate & Parent
Maggie May
Self-Advocate
International Adult Leadership Collaborative (ALC) of FASD Changemakers
Niko Pupella
Self-Advocate
Community Living Ontario
Chelsea Rinquinha
Self-Advocate
Yvonne Spicer
Self-Advocate
Amber Taylor
Self-Advocate
Community Living Ontario
And also a special thank you to the Self-Advocates who contributed to our Program Committee:
Michelle Goos
Self-Advocate
Community Living British Columbia
Robert Smith (he/him)
Self Advocate
Member, Community Living Ontario Council
Member, Community Living Respite Northumberland
Chair, Ateam Northumberland
Theresa Somerton
Self Advocate
And finally, a thank you also to all the additional people involved in helping to plan this conference:
Dara Abells MD CCFP MScCH (she/her)
Family Physician
Surrey Place
Oluseye Akinkunmi
Health Services Manager
Nova Scotia Health
Jennifer Altosaar (she/her)
Manager, Adult Team
Surrey Place
Azra Bhanji MPH (she/her)
Project Manager
Rémi Castonguay MLIS MA
Information Resource Manager
ACT – Autism Community Training
Christopher Chipman BA BEd
Business Development Officer, Continuing Professional Development
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Trevor Cuddy BCom BA MEd DBA(c)
Director, Continuing Professional Development Portfolio
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Michelle Everton MPH MBA (she/her)
Doctoral Student
Royal Roads University
Melanie Forbes (she/her)
Manager, Corporate Education
St. Amant
Theresa Grech MC CCC CPRP (she/her)
Counsellor and Educator
TMG Counselling Group; Behavioural Group and Developmental Disorders Program, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine
Stephanie Henthorn MSW RSW (she/her)
Dual Diagnosis – Social Worker
Brightshores Health System
Joelene Huber MD PhD FRCPC (she/her)
Developmental Pediatrician
The Hospital for Sick Children; Surrey Place
Tara Hyatt MA (she/her)
Quality Assurance, Integrity and Innovation Director
Parents for Community Living KW Inc.
Jackie Kingsbury (she/her)
Manager, Community Networks of Specialized Care – South East Region
Ongwanada
Kayla Kostal MSc (she/her)
PhD Student
University of British Columbia
Lindsay McCombe MA (she/her)
Manager
St. Amant Research Centre
Kim Nevilles
Director of Services and Supports
Kerry’s Place Autism Services
Preetinder Narang PhD (she/her)
District Behaviour Specialist
Surrey School District
Megan Primeau MSc (she/her)
Conference Director, Continuing Professional Development
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Brianne Samson (she/her)
Manager – Services & Community Development – Health
Community Living British Columbia
Nicole Staples Dorey MA
Developmental Case Manager, ABILITY Program
SickKids Hospital
Sandy Stemp BScN (she/her)
Chief Operations Officer
Reena
Alicia Thatcher MD CCFP (she/her)
Family Physician
Lori Vaanholt (she/her)
National Vice Executive Director
L’Arche Canada
We are currently recruiting for our 2026 committees – if you are interested in joining, please contact Megan Primeau. Use the links below to access the committee lists from past events: