Mentor Her - Fall 2020 Mentors

Celina Caesar-Chavannes

Celina Caesar-Chavannes currently the Senior Advisor, EDI Initiatives and Adjunct Lecturer at Queen’s University. She was the former Member of Parliament, with the Government of Canada, representing the Town of Whitby, a suburb east of Toronto, and served as Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from December 2015 to January 2017 and served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development et la Francophonie from January 2017 to August 2018.

Before entering politics, Mrs. Caesar-Chavannes was a successful entrepreneur, launching and growing an award winning research management consulting firm, with a particular focus on neurological conditions. She was the recipient of both the Toronto Board of Trade’s Business Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012 and the 2007 Black Business and Professional Association’s Harry Jerome Young Entrepreneur Award. 

 Heather Klimchuk

Heather was first elected in 2008 as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton Glenora and proudly served until 2015. Heather served as Minister of Human Services, Culture and Service Alberta. Throughout this time, her appointments included Treasury Board, Agenda & Priorities, Operations Committees and Deputy Government House Leader.

She currently volunteers as a Director with the Alberta Ballet, Varscona Theatre, Events Edmonton (Taste of Edmonton) and the Norwood Capital Campaign Cabinet. Additional commitments include participating in the Mentorship program at Peter Lougheed College and an advisory role with ParityYEG, focusing on gender parity. As a dedicated volunteer and community activist, Heather’s past involvements include Executive positions on a Community League, Parent Council, Ukrainian Dance School, political boards, and Non-Profits.

Jan Reimer

Whether serving as Mayor of Edmonton, as City Councillor, or as a private citizen, Jan Reimer enables social development.

Currently, Jan serves as the Executive Director of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, working with over 50 women’s shelters across Alberta to end domestic violence. With over a decade in this role, she is a sought-after resource on gender-based violence prevention and intervention. Jan’s accomplishments have been acknowledged locally, provincially, and nationally. 

But perhaps her favourite recognition came in 2017 when the Edmonton Public School Board named a K-9 school in the Orchards neighbourhood after Jan. In honour of its namesake, school staff work to ensure Jan Reimer School is an inclusive, caring environment where students learn the value of contributing and giving back to their community. 

MLA Janis Irwin

Janis Irwin is the MLA Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood and serves as the Official Opposition Deputy Whip and Critic for Women and LGBTQ issues. She is the only open LGBTQ2S+ member in the legislature. She has worked as the director of stakeholder relations with the Premier’s office.

She devoted over a decade to the field of education, where she worked in rural Alberta as a high school teacher and as a vice-principal. Outside of the classroom she worked for Alberta Education as the senior manager, social studies and as the executive director for high school curriculum.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Alberta and a master’s degree in education from the University of Calgary.

Mayor Karen Sorensen

Karen Sorensen was born and raised in Orangeville, Ont. and graduated from the University of Guelph. She worked for over 30 years in the tourism industry in public relations and sales, predominantly in Banff. 

Karen is proud to call Banff home. She is married to Carsten and they have raised their family here. Both Carsten and Karen have been very involved in community over the years. She was first elected to town council in 2004 and served two terms as a Councillor, and then became Mayor in 2010 and was re-elected as Mayor in 2013 and again in 2017.

Karen takes great pride in her role as an ambassador for Banff and feels privileged to serve as Mayor of this unique community.

Cllr. Katherine Swampy

Katherine Swampy is a 2nd term councillor for the Samson Cree Nation, and was previously a candidate in both the provincial and federal 2015 elections, and once again, as a federal candidate in the 2019 election. She has inspired many Aboriginal youth to become involved in politics outside of their reserves. During her provincial and federal campaigns she was met with racism, discrimination, and hatred. However she did not let that stop her, she continues her pursuits as a leader in her community, and educational pursuits in her Ph.D of Public Policy and Administration all while being a mother of 7 children. Swampy hopes to not only help her community with the economic growth, infrastructure, housing crisis, water protection, education of youth, and suicide prevention.

She is currently the Chair of Pamihowin, which translates to restorative Justice, where she focuses on the sovereignty of Samson Cree Nation, and is setting out to create indigenous justice and courts system built on indigenous traditions.

Hon. Leela Aheer

Minister Aheer was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Chestermere-Rocky View on May 5, 2015. She was re-elected on April 16, 2019, as the MLA for the newly formed riding of Chestermere-Strathmore.

 Born in Edmonton and raised in Chestermere, where she is raising her family, Aheer is a proud wife and mother of two boys. Prior to entering politics, Aheer was a professional vocal coach and music teacher, who instructed singing in 7 languages, owned and operated businesses as an entrepreneur, and was heavily involved in the arts, volunteerism and community service. Leela Aheer was appointed as Alberta’s Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women on April 30, 2019.

MLA Rakhi Pancholi

Rakhi Pancholi was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Whitemud, on April 16, 2019. 

Ms. Pancholi is a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Public Bills and the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Ms. Pancholi was a practising lawyer in Edmonton with a focus on labour/employment and education law. She has experience working with the Alberta School Boards Association and was a senior legislative consultant for Alberta Education.

Ms. Pancholi has been very involved in volunteer organizations, including ParityYEG, the Canadian Bar Association, Humane Animal Rescue Team (HART), and the National Education Program Committee of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). She has also volunteered her services as a lawyer with the Edmonton Community Legal Centre.

Hon. Rebecca Schulz

Minister Schulz was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on April 16, 2019, as the MLA for Calgary-Shaw.

Rebecca is a committed conservative with experience in sectors ranging from energy to education. She also has a Masters degree from Johns Hopkins University and spent a number of years in government working for Premier Brad Wall’s office.

Rebecca is passionate about public service and knows what it takes to be a strong voice for Calgary-Shaw - listening to you, working hard and common-sense policy that will bring investment and jobs back, grows our economy and ensures our children have access to education that prepares them for our future. Rebecca and her husband are proud to be raising their two children in south Calgary.

Rebecca Schulz was appointed as Alberta’s Minister of Children’s Services on April 30, 2019. Schulz will be focused on ensuring that all Alberta children have the best opportunity to succeed.

MLA Sarah Hoffman

Sarah Hoffman was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Glenora on May 5, 2015 and was re-elected on April 16, 2019. 

She is currently a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and of the Select Special Public Health Act Review Committee. 

During her first term Ms. Hoffman served as Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. She focused on strengthening Alberta’s public healthcare system through investment, stability and cooperation with health professionals during her time as minister. She is currently the Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition and Critic for Education. 

Before entering provincial politics, Ms. Hoffman was elected for two terms as Trustee for the Edmonton Public School Board, and served as board chair from 2012 to 2014. During that time, she focused on keeping all of Edmonton’s public schools open. 

Ms. Hoffman holds bachelor and master’s degrees in education from the University of Alberta, as well as bachelor degrees in both math and religious studies from Concordia University of Edmonton. 

Cllr. Tanya Thorn

Tanya was first elected as a Councillor with the Town of Okotoks in 2013. She attributes her family’s  strong interest and involvement with politics growing up for instilling in her the desire to be involved in  the shaping of her community. 

Tanya has a strong belief in the power of community. It has been a central factor in her personal life and  her political career. Being involved in Municipal Government has allowed her the opportunity to directly  influence the quality of life for her family, friends and neighbors. In her opinion it is the most responsive  and impactful level of Government to be involved with.  

Tanya has lived and worked in Okotoks for 30 years. And her love for her community has been proved in  her commitments to the Alberta Water Council, Sheep River Health Trust and working hard as Director,  Towns South on the board of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. While she is always working  in the best interests of Okotoks, Tanya understands that what benefits her home community can also  benefit others across Alberta.