Team

Sydney Chabot-Hamden

CHEO Research Institute

Community Outreach and Communications Lead

Sydney Chabot-Hamden is an Anishinaabe kwe from Kitigan Zibi First Nation and the Community Outreach and Communications Lead for the ACHWM. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Western University and is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist. Sydney has multiple years of experience working in Indigenous organizations and start-up businesses and has a passion for improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people. Outside of work, she enjoys quality time spent with family and friends, and exploring new places.

Mary Jo Wabano BA MHK

Naandwechige-Gamig, Wikwemikong Health Centre

Health Services Director

Mary Jo Wabano BA MHK is a proud First Nation leader who is responsible for a broad range of health services along the spectrum from preventive to curative. She recognizes the importance of focusing resources and services upstream to promote health and well-being throughout the community to prevent illness and future health problems downstream. She has been engaged in community-driven research for many years. Her experience in research led Mary Jo to identify the need for a measure of health and well-being that was tailored to meet the needs of Indigenous children and youth. She partnered with Nancy Young to develop the Aaniish Naa Gegii: the Children’s Health and Well-Being Measure (ACHWM). Together with many members of the Wiikwemkoong and other Indigenous communities, they have created a measurement tool that would provide community leaders with data that addresses health and well-being of First Nations children, to guide the development of long-term health services work plan. She remains a champion of the ACHWM and supports sharing with other Indigenous communities.

Marnie Anderson BPHE, CSEP-CPT

Evaluating Children's Health Outcomes (ECHO) Research Centre, Laurentian University

Past Employee

Marnie Anderson was employed from 2016 to Feb 2021 and continues to be a part of the ACHWM advisory committee, bringing her knowledge and experience in helping communities assess their children's health. Marnie also helped develop the BALANCE chart that is a visual component to the ACHWM and helps review the results in a positive way with the Children and Youth.

Paul Pomerleau

Laurentian University

Software Developer

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.

Lulu Choy BA (Hons), B.Ed

ACHWM | CHEO Research Institute

Community Outreach and Education Lead

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.

Samantha Mandamin

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Community Outreach and Relations Lead

Samantha Mandamin is an Anishnaabe Kwe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, located on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. She is a Community Outreach and Relations Lead 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 practicing 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 Toronto Metropolitan (formerly 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.

Ariel Nakogee H.B.S.W (Indigenous Social Work) Candidate / Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention Diploma

Laurentian University

ACHWM Student Intern

Ariel Nakogee is an ininiw iskwew from Attawapiskat First Nation, located along the Western James Bay Coast. Ariel is a Social Work student with the ACHWM through Laurentian University. She has a college diploma in Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention (IWAP) through Canadore College. Ariel is currently working towards completing her Bachelor's Degree in Indigenous Social Work through Laurentian University, with a minor in Sociology. In her spare time, Ariel enjoys spending time with family and friends, connecting to culture through crafting, and spending time on the land.

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.

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!

Viviane Grandpierre PHD, ACHWM, CHEO RI, and Research Manager

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.

Lily racine-bouchard Bsc, BPHE

ACHWM, CHEO RI

Outreach Engagement and Communications Lead

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!

Koyo Usuba BScPT, MSc

Evaluating Children's Health Outcomes (ECHO) Research Centre, Laurentian University

Research Analyst

Koyo Usuba is a research analyst for the ACHWM team, working at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He obtained a Physiotherapist license in Japan in 2004, and completed a Master in Human Kinetics at Laurentian University in 2013. Since then he has been working with the ACHWM team. He has a strong interest in health, wellness and learning in a variety of partnerships and research projects.

Kiana Seidel H.B.Com., MBA candidate

Evaluating Children's Health Outcomes (ECHO) Research Centre, Laurentian University

ACHWM Intern

Kiana is from Moose Factory Island and a member of Moose Cree First Nation. She recently graduated from Laurentian University with an undergraduate degree in Commerce and a minor in Indigenous Studies, and is a candidate for the Masters of Business Administration. Kiana works with the ACHWM Team as an intern and is eager to make valuable relationships with Indigenous communities.

Irina Oltean BSc, MSc

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Research Analyst

Irina Oltean is the Research Analyst for the Data Driven Discovery Team (ACHWM). She has an MSc from the School of Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo. Her research interests include examining the quality of life and mental health service use of children and families with mental illness. She has abundant clinical research experience in maternal and child physical health, working as a surgery and pathology research coordinator at CHEO before joining the team. During her spare time, Irina loves reading fantasy fiction, hiking in the woods, and dancing in Zumba classes!

Jaime Carpenter BSc, MAHK Canadate

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute

Casual Researcher

Jaime is proud to be anishinaabe. She is a part-time research assistant for the ACHWM. Jaime also attends the University of Ottawa where she is finishing her thesis for a Master's of Arts in Human Kinetics degree, and she also obtained her BSc in Health Promotion at Plymouth University in 2018 - where she played varsity hockey. She understands the need to promote health for Indigenous youth and is excited to learn more ways how to promote health and wellness to everyone.

Enida Demaj

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

Budget and Project Manager

Enida is the Budget and Project Manager for the ACHWM team. She has completed her bachelor degree in Business Administration and IT at Canadian Institute of Technology in Albania. In 2019, she moved in Canada to continue her studies. She has graduated from Cambrian College, where she completed her graduate certificates in Project Management and Organization Management. She is responsible for managing the research budgets. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and yoga.

Samantha Fowler BSc, MSCom

Laurentian University

Past Employee

Samantha was a member of the ACHWM Team from 2020-2021. She is a science communicator with a passion for health and wellness. She has completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at University of Waterloo, focusing on mental health education. She is also a recent graduate from the Masters of Science Communication at Laurentian University where she conducted research in vaccination hesitancy during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.