Curriculum Vitae
Education
Master of Social (MSW)
McGill University (Montréal, QC)
September 2019 - August 2021
Specialization: International and Community Development.
Registered Social Worker, Permit Number: HOLA2111090TS
Student research affiliation with the Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Master of Arts (MA)
University of Victoria (Victoria, BC)
September 2012 - December 2014
Specialization: Social Dimensions of Health.
Student research affiliation with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.
Presenter and participant of the 12th Annual Alberta Harm Reduction Conference 2013.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
University of Guelph (Guelph, ON)
September 2008 - April 2012
Specializations: Anthropology, History, French
Honours Graduate
Work Experience
Knowledge Specialist, Harm Reduction Programming
CATIE
November 2024 - Present (remote)
Development of CATIE resources for the Programming Connection
Support for and development of CATIE resources for Prevention in Focus
Incorporation of programming knowledge into CATIE knowledge synthesis vehicles and programming tools
Support the uptake of harm reduction programming knowledge within the organization and with external stakeholders
Reviewing and analyzing research; leading and collaborating on the development of service provider programming resources and tools
Synthesizing evidence into CATIE’s core knowledge exchange vehicles
Supporting the uptake of harm reduction, HIV, and hepatitis C programming knowledge across the organization and with external stakeholders
Knowledge Translation, Exchange, and Mobilization Specialist
National Safer Supply Community of Practice | Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs
October 2021 - March 2024 (remote)
As a contract employee of the Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs, I worked as a Knowledge Translation, Exchange, and Mobilization for the National Safer Supply Community of Practice.
Communicate, collaborate, and coordinate work with our team, membership, and stakeholders to develop and share evidence- and practice-based knowledge exchange resources and tools (e.g., FAQs for health and social care providers, advocacy toolkits, recommendations for clinical guidance, etc.);
Design and apply various communication tools and techniques to engage our membership and the general public (e.g. website, monthly newsletter, social media content, dissemination plans, discussion forums, press releases, opinion-editorials, etc.);
Develop, coordinate, and co-organize the delivery of virtual and in-person events and conferences (e.g., webinars, workshops, drop-in meetings, panels discussions, etc.);
Research, synthesize, write, copy-edit, and circulate informative, engaging, and audience- and membership-specific resources and publications;
Facilitate interactive working group meetings, build relationships, and connect with drug user groups, clinicians, researchers, and allied social justice organizers; and,
Mentor, guide, and support working group members and conference volunteers.
Staff Editor/Writer and Social Media & Communications Lead
Dr. Peter Centre
December 2020 - March 2022 (remote)
As a contract employee of the Dr. Peter Centre (DPC), writer, editor, and English/French translator for “The Drug Hub”, formerly the “Urgent Public Health Need Sites (UPHNS) Community of Practice HUB Blog”.
Social media and communications lead responsible for graphic design and the publishing and advertisement for new content across all social media platforms.
Communicate and work with journalists, authors, and artists to solicit and support new submissions, while simultaneously building rapport and networks in the harm reduction community.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
McGill University (Montréal, QC)
January 2021 - April 2021
Teaching Assistant for Social Work: SWRK 327 - Approaches to Community Practice.
Facilitate and support student learning in remote online settings in collaboration with course instructor.
Grade student response/reflection papers, proposals, and final papers.
Provide feedback and comments to students regarding the strengths and weaknesses of their assignments.
Regularly maintain contact with students through "virtual office hours" in collaboration with course instructor.
Research Assistant
Institut Universitaire SHERPA (Montréal, QC)
September 2020 - April 2021
As a fieldwork intern, engage in various projects focused on diverse populations (newcomers, refugees and asylum seekers, racialized and visible minorities, youth) and their access to health and social services in Montréal and Québec.
Assist with scoping and systematic reviews, using both academic and grey literature, and help with research and writing processes.
Test, revise, and conduct online quantitative surveys.
Conduct qualitative interviews with research participants and provide transcription services.
Engage in knowledge translation activities and participate in SHERPA office meetings.
Community Worker and Organizer
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Community Council (Montréal, QC)
September 2019 - April 2020
As a fieldwork intern and summer employee, organize events and public assemblies, and facilitate committee meetings regarding diverse community issues.
Mobilize residents, outreach workers, organizations, funders, politicians, and other stakeholders to engage in a variety of community projects and initiatives.
Conduct interviews with stakeholders to assess services and identify needs in the community.
Produce community needs assessment highlighting health and social services in the NDG.
Work both collaboratively and independently to draft meeting minutes, funding requests, surveys and assessments, organizational policies, formal reports, and presentations.
Project Lead and Harm Reduction Worker
Dopamine (Montréal, QC)
June 2018 - May 2019
Project lead responsible for Hepatitis C prevention and education program based at drop-in centre.
Facilitate workshops and provide hands-on training to people who use drugs regarding a variety of topics including Hepatitis A-B-C, HIV/AIDS, and STIs, injection and inhalation techniques, naloxone administration training, methods of transmission, housing/tenant rights, and stigmatization.
Empower and mobilize people who use drugs to plan and facilitate educational workshops.
Education, distribution, recovery, and record keeping of harm reduction materials.
On-call replacement shifts at day centre, evening centre, and supervised injection site.
Case Manager
Old Brewery Mission (Montréal, QC)
June 2017 - June 2018
Case manager and counsellor at Webster Pavilion Emergency Shelter in downtown Montréal.
Responsibilities included clinical case management to serve client needs, crisis intervention, admissions to shelter programs, and communication with external community organizations.
Serve as first point of contact for clients accessing services and systems and provide a variety of referrals including (but not limited to) housing, employment, physical and mental health care, substance use, harm reduction, immigration, financial management, and social welfare.
Work in multidisciplinary teams and independently to find solutions for clients with diverse needs.
Client Service Worker
Victoria Cool Aid Society (Victoria, BC)
May 2015 - October 2016
Case manager and support worker at Rock Bay Landing Emergency Shelter in downtown Victoria and on-call support worker at transitional and women’s shelters.
Responsibilities included accepting referrals, registration and orientation services, providing crisis intervention and case management support, and advocating for clients who experience homelessness and are at-risk of homelessness.
Primary referral point for residents accessing services and systems including housing, employment, harm reduction, substance use treatment, physical and mental health care, and social welfare.
Connect and communicate with other service agencies and professionals in the community to support diverse client needs.
Emergency Shelter Support Worker
Victoria Cool Aid Society (Victoria, BC)
July 2014 - August 2015
Emergency shelter support worker at Rock Bay Landing Emergency Shelter in downtown Victoria and on-call support worker at transitional and women’s shelters.
Responsibilities included accepting referrals, registration and orientation services, providing crisis intervention and case management support, and advocating for clients who experience homelessness and are at-risk of homelessness.
Primary referral point for residents accessing services and systems including housing, employment, harm reduction, substance use treatment, physical and mental health care, and social welfare.
Connect and communicate with other service agencies and professionals in the community to support diverse client needs.
Harm Reduction Worker
AVI Health & Community Services Society (Victoria, BC)
May 2015 - February 2016
On-call/casual harm reduction support worker for evening drop-in centre and mobile outreach services.
Responsibilities included distributing and recovering harm reduction materials, and providing education and support regarding safer drug use, safer sex, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and STIs.
Actively engage with people who use drugs and individuals who are living with (or at risk of contracting) Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and STIs, while using a collaborative, person-centred approach grounded in harm reduction and trauma-informed practices.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Victoria (Victoria, BC)
September 2012 - April 2014
Teaching Assistant for introductory Sociology and Anthropology courses.
Facilitate tutorials to engage students in critical thinking and self-expression.
Aid students with response papers, midterms, and examinations.
Grade student response papers, midterms, and final exams.
Regularly maintain contact with students from assigned tutorial sections.
Youth Support Worker
Victoria Youth Empowerment Society (Victoria, BC)
June 2013 - August 2013
As a special summer job contract., planned and organized enjoyable summer events and day-trips for street-involved youth between the ages of 13 and 19 years old.
Used creativity and imagination to energize and encourage youth to participate in activities.
Provided counselling, support and options to marginalized youth struggling with diverse issues.
Volunteer Experience
National Board of Directors Member
Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy
November 2020 - December 2021 (remote)
National Board member of the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) and Chapter Liaison who serves as the primary link between the National Board and regional chapters.
Active volunteer for the Tiohtià:ke/Montréal chapter of the CSSDP.
Organize and facilitate regular chapter meetings and record and disseminate meeting minutes.
Engage in education and awareness campaigns focused on harm reduction and advocating for sensible, evidence-based drug policies on regional, provincial, and national levels.
Community Organizer
Yes to Supervised Consumption Services (Yes2SCS) Campaign (Victoria, BC)
February 2014 - November 2016
Collaborate with researchers, front-line service providers, drug users, and activists to encourage the local health authority to implement more robust harm reduction services for people who use drugs such as supervised consumption sites, overdose prevention sites, drug substitution programs, and treatment programs.
Media spokesperson for Yes2SCS and responsible for media releases, news articles, communications, social media promotion, and volunteer recruitment for the campaign.
Encourage media to highlight the voices of people with lived experience of drug use and emphasized the meaningful inclusion of people who use drugs in all aspects of the campaign.