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- Amanda Richardson
- Angie Smith
- Tina Cameron
- Allan Chartrand
- Candace Hein
- Lindsay Anderson
- Nora Lee Rear
- Jill Thompson
- Jackie Manning
- CJ (Cassandra) Workman
- Paula Rickard
- Dawne Clark
- Marlene Kingsmith
- Linda Sutherby
Amanda Richardson – President
I attended Mount Royal University from 1987-1989 and obtained a Child and Youth Care Counselor Diploma. I went on to complete my Bachelor of Arts with a specialty in Child and Youth Care Studies at the University of Victoria in 1992. I relocated to Calgary in 1999 and continued to work as a Child and Youth Care counselor for a non-profit agency. Since then, I have completed a Master of Counseling Psychology. I am currently employed as a Mental Health Therapist for Alberta Health Services working with young people aged 16-24 years who are transitioning from the adolescent mental health system into adulthood.
My studies at Mount Royal University have been the foundation on which I have built my career. I have been a proud supporter of the MRU Alumni Association for several years and am honoured to now be able to serve as a Director-at-Large for the ACCYS Board of Directors.
Angie Smith– Vice-President
I am a 1995 graduate of the Early Childhood Care and Education Program (ELCC). Upon graduating, I moved to Peace River, Alberta for five years. In Peace River, I had the opportunity to work in the child care field as a staff member in a child care center, as a Family Day Home Coordinator, and as a one-on-one special needs/kindergarten assistant.
I have been in my current role for the Department of Child and Youth Studies as Academic Student Advisor and Instructional Assistant since 2002. My two children keep my husband and I busy with their extra-curricular activities. When my family is not at the cold hockey rink or out on the soccer field, we enjoy camping in the great outdoors.
I look forward to working with the ACCYS chapter and connecting with past and current students.
Tina Cameron – Treasurer
I first attended MRU in the early 90's and one of the highlights for me was sitting on the National Justice Conference Committee. I was able to coordinate and introduce some internationally recognized guest speakers. After graduating with my Child Care Worker Diploma in 1995, I spent the next few years at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary where I ran a variety of programs. My favorite was working at Camp Adventure in Sibbald Flats for four summers in the roles of counselor, Teen Program Coordinator and Assistant Director. I highly recommend being a camp counselor to everyone, even those not going into a field working with people. It is truly food for the spirit. In 2003, I returned to MRU when they had been given degree granting status for a Bachelor of Applied Child Studies degree. During my practicum, I worked at Enviros in a residential program with six very spirited teen boys.
After I graduated in 2005, I stayed with Enviros and I am currently the Supervisor of the Respite Care Connection program. I love having the opportunity to work with children and youth with challenging behaviors and see them succeed in the many activities they participate in. My passion is theatre and travel and I'm currently looking forward to trips to Ecuador and Africa in the future.
Allan Chartrand – Secretary
I have lived in Calgary and its surrounding areas for more than 30 years. As a teenager, it seemed like I was easy to talk to and people seemed to confide in me. After some years of trying to figure it out, I enrolled into the Child and Youth Care Worker (CYCW) Diploma program (it is now called the Child and Youth Care Counselor (CYCC) Diploma program). It took almost four years for me to complete the CYCW Diploma. In that time I got involved with the Child and Youth Care Society where I eventually became president and enjoyed being a part of putting together functions, parties and presentations from guest speakers in our field.
After completing the CYCC Diploma, I decided to return to MRC and get my Bachelor of Applied Justice Studies degree. I also got involved with the Justice Studies Society and after holding a couple of different positions, I became President. When the eight years of college finished, I began working in the ‘Child and Youth Care’ field. I started doing respite for individuals that were dually diagnosed as well as doing a research project on underage prostitution with a focus on males. The research position was a great opportunity to see a close-up of the child and youth care field, after completing the research project. I started to do relief with ‘Enviros’ and spent the next 15 or so years working as a youth worker. While being at ‘Enviros,’ I had the opportunity to work in group homes, their remote base camp and in some of their community programs. I held a couple of different titles. I was a Youth Worker, In-home Family Support Worker, TCI trainer but most of all a Youth Counselor-Advocate.
After almost fifteen years, I changed direction and started working in an elementary school as a Youth Worker. Although I was successful in my position, I realized that it was not for me and returned to my roots as a Residential Youth Worker and now work with ‘Hull Child and Family Services’ in the Independent Living Program (ILS). This position is new to me and I am enjoying it. I have also joined the ACCYS board as the Secretary and am enjoying that as well. I hope to see you at our next function or presentation!!
Candace Hein– Director-at-Large/Early Childhood Care
I am a graduate of Mount Royal in two separate programs. I graduated with my diploma in Disability Studies in 2006. I followed immediately by fine tuning my education and skills working with children through the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma from which I graduated in 2008. During my time at the college, I was a member and executive member on many boards and committees including President of the Disability Studies Student Society, President of ECCE Student Society, SAMRC Student Council (Students’ with Disabilities Representative for three years), MRC Academic Council, student representative for the Office of Conduct. I immersed myself in as many committees and took advantage of the vast experiences available to build a platform for leadership and advocacy in the college. Advocacy is a very powerful tool when used well and I believe that there is always a need for advocates in the field of child care. During my final year, my faculty put my name forth as a candidate for 2008 valedictorian. It was an honor to be nominated to represent my fellow students and graduates.
Since graduating, I have worked at Renfrew Educational Services as a Child Development Facilitator in the preschool and after school programs. I am currently working in a junior kindergarten classroom where they are teaching me how to play and learn through play while coping with so many varying needs. Each day I get to spend with these little ones teaches me so much more about myself and how wonderful the world is when you can just make someone smile. In addition to the classroom, I also care for children with special needs in their homes as a respite provider.
Now you might wonder, as I do some days, what I do for fun….well, I enjoy sewing, swimming and most of all selling and filling my kitchen with Tupperware. I look forward to meeting new members of our new and blossoming chapter very soon. Cheers.
Lindsay Anderson – Director-at-Large/Child and Youth Studies
Nora Lee Rear– Director-at-Large/Child Studies
In the Calgary area since 1998, Nora-Lee Rear works as an advocate within the Aboriginal community for the reduction of Family Violence, while promoting healing and understanding. She graduated from Mount Royal College in 2001 with a Child and Youth Care Diploma, and again in 2009 with a Bachelor in Child Studies, a Children’s Mental Health certificate and her ECD Level 3.
Over the past 12 years, she has filled various roles in shelters in the Aboriginal community, including Child Support, Family Violence Prevention Counselor, Outreach Counselor, Peace Coordinator, and Coordinator of a ParentLink Centre, (an Alberta Initiative which focuses on the development of children ages 0-6 and their parents), and Executive Director of Eagle’s Nest Stoney Family Shelter on the Stoney Nakoda Reserve in Central Alberta.
Nora-Lee has been involved with many initiatives including the Alberta Children Services pilot project, Taking Action on Bullying, working collaboratively with the Calgary Board of Education and the urban Aboriginal community to create preventative programs for children and youth experiencing bullying in schools. She sat on the organizing committee for the 8th World Indigenous Women & Wellness Conference: Building on Traditional Knowledge and Wisdom. More recently, she has been involved in an advisory capacity for the Walking the Path Together Pilot Project, a program which, along with five other On Reserve Shelters in Alberta, provides preventative programming and support for seven year old children and their families who live on the reserve. This project also ensures the children`s program for the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters provides culturally appropriate and inclusive material for Aboriginal preschool children accessing shelters across the province.
Nora-Lee is a member of the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta, the Child and Youth Studies Alumni Chapter and has sat on various advisory boards such as the former Alliance to End Violence Association.
Jill Thompson – Director-at-Large/Child and Youth Care Counselor
Jackie Manning – Director-at-Large/Early Learning and Child Care
In 2011, I graduated with my Early Learning and Child Care Diploma. I spent three years working and going to school to achieve this diploma. During my three years, I was lucky to attend an international field study in New Zealand.
My three years at Mount Royal and seven weeks in New Zealand have brought me to realize that not only do I have a busy life, I enjoy a busy life. I know that I enjoy learning through workshops and networking. Joining this board not only lets me fulfill my busy schedule, it also gives me a way to network and advocate for something I truly believe in.
CJ (Cassandra) Workman – Director-at-Large/Student Representative
Paula Rickard – Director-at-Large/Student Representative
I am a second year student in the Early Learning & Child Care Program. The program has given me the opportunity to easily connect with professionals in my field, attend workshops and continue to advocate for children’s care and development.
I am also the current President of the Early Learning & Child Care Society. It is easy to be at Mount Royal and to be part of this program as I am surrounded by others who have the same passion for continuous education related to children’s well-being. I try to take in every opportunity to network and become involved in workshops so that I can gain and share knowledge with my friends, family and colleagues.
In between homework and what little social time I have, I am looking for new recipes to make, reading and watching hockey with my husband.
Dawne Clark – Director-at-Large/Department Representative
After teaching elementary school with the Calgary Board of Education and teaching in the Faculty of Education at U of C, I found my way to MRU in 1996 to teach in the Department of Child and Youth Studies. In my time at MRU, I have taught in all three programs, was department chair from 2000 – 2005, and I am now Coordinator of the Centre for Child Well-Being (CCWB). The CCWB provides exciting opportunities to engage students and faculty in community-based research with agencies and organizations to address questions of mutual interest.
I have three grown children: Terry who is doing post-doctoral research on music and performance psychology in London, UK; Erin who is a youth counselor here in Calgary; and Noel who is an equestrian and spends much of his time training and competing in the US. Add the ponies, dogs, and cats to the mix and I have a varied and busy life!
Marlene Kingsmith – Director-at-Large/Department Representative
Marlene has worked with vulnerable children, youth and families for 35 years. As a community outreach worker, residential treatment counselor, social worker, foster parent and director of a six bed group home, Marlene’s commitment to caring for others led her to Mount Royal as an instructor in 1986 after completing her Master of Science in Child and Youth Care Administration. Her passion is working with adolescents in group care and she has fostered over 40 adolescents, bringing her the greatest rewards of seeing her foster grandchildren grow-up in abuse-free environments. In 1997, she received her PhD in Educational Leadership. In 2000, Marlene sold her group home which she ran for 18 years. She now focuses on teaching others to become advocates and counselors to vulnerable children, youth and families.
Linda Sutherby – Director-at-Large/Department Representative
Linda Sutherby is the Coordinator of the Early Learning and Child Care program at Mount Royal University. She has extensive experience working with children and families as she has been involved in the field of early learning and child care for over 25 years. She is involved with many community initiatives and is a member of many organizations and associations focused on children and families.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3E 6K6
403.440.6111
