Meet the team

Team

Nancy L Young BScPT, MSc, PhD

CHEO Research Institute
ACHWM Team Lead & Senior Scientist
Researchgate ORCID Publons

Dr. Nancy Young is a Clinical Epidemiologist with expertise in measurement science. She is currently a Senior Scientist at the CHEO Research Institute. Her research career has focused on developing self-reported health measures for use by children and gives children a voice when it comes to their health. Indigenous children have not had a voice in health planning due to a lack of culturally appropriate measures. She has worked with other countries and cultures to develop and adapt health measures, and was invited by Mary Jo Wabano to work with Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory to develop a measure for Indigenous children. She is on a journey to become an ally. Dr. Young has worked with Indigenous communities since 2009 and has played a critical role in the development of the Aaniish Naa Gegii: the Children's Health and Well-being Measure (ACHWM). This tool is the product of collaboration with Mary Jo Wabano and many partners, including children and youth. She continues to work in collaboration with several First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to share research products for use in different regions and cultural contexts. This work enables Indigenous health leaders to gather local data to augment traditional understandings of their children's health and is a step towards better health outcomes among Indigenous children.

Diane Jacko Hon. B.A., B.A., R.P.

Naandwechige-Gamig, Wikwemikong Health Centre
Health Services Director

I have been working at Nadmadwin Mental Health Clinic since 1999. I was part of the development of this ACHWM and the mental health staff were very instrumental in ensuring that the real time safety feature was built into the process to ensure that support was provided immediately to those requiring it.

Lily racine-bouchard Bsc, BPHE

ACHWM, CHEO RI
Outreach Engagement and Communications Lead
LinkedIN

Lily, short for Elizabeth, is the Outreach Engagement and Communications Lead for the ACHWM team. She has completed degrees in both Biologie biomédicale and Health Promotion at Laurentian University. As a natural leader and an active volunteer in her community, she has developed many strong connections and partnerships. Lily holds several years of experience in education and communication, developing and implementing plans for marginalized populations across the North. Lily is fluently bilingual in both English and French. She is enthusiastic and eager to deepen her knowledge of Indigenous health!

Mia Bourque BA (hons) / MA Candidate

ACHWM (CHEO RI)
Community Outreach and Wellness Lead

Mia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Laurentian University in 2017, with a Major in Indigenous Studies. She is currently a candidate for the Masters of Indigenous Relations at Laurentian University, as well as a Part-Time Faculty member at Cambrian College teaching Indigenous studies. She recognizes the need for a health measure such as the ACHWM to promote health and wellness amongst children and youth within our communities. In her spare time, she loves to hunt and fish. Mia is also fully bilingual in French and English!

Sasha McBride

Evaluating Children’s Health Outcomes (ECHO) Research Centre, Laurentian University
ACHWM Administrative Assistant

Sasha is the ACHWM team's Administrative Assistant. She is responsible for keeping the team organized as well as providing support to the team in numerous ways. She prides herself on her positive attitude, openness to learn, and willingness to always give a helping hand when needed. She enjoys spending time with her family as well as enjoying outdoor activities such as camping and fishing.

Viviane Grandpierre

Viviane Grandpierre is the research manager at ACHWM. Viviane has a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Ottawa, and a Masters in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies from Carleton University. Her research expertise is in improving cultural competence and cultural safety in healthcare services. She has extensive experience in clinical research and is very passionate about tailoring healthcare interventions to be culturally appropriate for Canadian Indigenous families. In her spare time, she is often in the woods hiking or kayaking with her family.

Samantha Mandamin

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Knowledge Translator/Research Assistant

Samantha Mandamin is an Anishnaabe Kwe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, located on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. She is a Knowledge Translator/Research Assistant for ACHWM. Samantha graduated college in Sault Ste. Marie, where she co-directed a film named “Invisible People” – a documentary about homelessness in Sault Ste. Marie. Her passions for bringing awareness to those less fortunate and worldly curiosity lead her to travel away from home. After enrolling in a Cultural Exchange program, Samantha was able to spend time in Ukraine, along with North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Samantha has been learning and practising Anishnawbek Culture since she was a child. She enjoys sharing those teachings with others, which have provided her with the foundation of success. After moving to Toronto, Samantha spent over fifteen years in the education field. Initially assisting faculty, students, and senior administrators at George Brown College, and most recently Ryerson University, where she was the Aboriginal Academic Student Support Advisor. Upon relocating back to Northern Ontario, Samantha has taken advantage of the opportunities to connect with her family, friends, and community. In her spare time, you can find her spending time with her family and two children exploring our natural world. She also enjoys playing sports such as baseball, soccer, or volleyball and she also writes comedy in her spare time and occasionally performs.

Lulu Choy BA (Hons), B.Ed

ACHWM | CHEO Research Institute
Community Outreach and Education Lead
LinkedIn

Lulu is the Community Outreach and Education Lead for ACHWM. She completed her Bachelor of Arts, with a Major in Geography and a Bachelor of Education, focusing on Indigenous Education in the classroom at Queen's University. After her studies, she moved to Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik as a Secondary Educator and built relationships with community members and Elders. In order to better support her students, she completed additional training courses on Teaching English Language Learners and Special Education. In her spare time, Lulu loves staying active and being outdoors, especially after gaining confidence from running an outdoor-education and intervention program for the local Inuit youth.

Emily McDonald BSW Candidate / SSW Ontario College Diploma

ACHWM (CHEO RI)
Community Outreach & Wellness Intern

Emily McDonald is Mi'kmaw from Miawpukek First Nation, located in Newfoundland. Emily is a Social Work student with the ACHWM, working on the Wellness Resource Hub and community engagement. Emily has completed her Social Service Worker diploma from Algonquin College. She is now working on completing her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work at Carleton University, with her minor in Indigenous Studies. Emily has always had a passion for wellness within her field, especially in an Indigenous context. Emily loves fishing, golfing, traveling, and connecting with her culture.

Paul Pomerleau

Laurentian University
Software Developer
LinkedIN Noggin Labs

Paul is a full-stack developer with a passion for technology. He's responsible for the creation and maintenance of ACHWM's website, member web portal and mobile applications. He obtained his BA with a concentration in Computer Science in 2016 and has since been focused on projects with positive societal impact. As an aspiring innovator and futurist, Paul founded and runs the YMCA's innovation club known as Noggin Labs. The club's aim is to help foster a culture of innovation among our youth by providing free access to technology, learning resources, mentor-ship and experience.