We are actively recruiting board members! If you are interested or have any questions, please email us your resume at hello@mykickstand.ca
Jennifer Turner | Board Chair
Dr. Jennifer Turner is the Director of the Centre for Wellbeing in Education at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary, where she leads and supports high-quality research, teaching, and outreach activities related to the well-being of students, educators, and leaders. She has over 27 years of experience in K-12 education as a teacher, psychologist, principal, and superintendent.
As a registered psychologist with a doctorate in education leadership, Dr. Turner has a strong background and expertise in meeting the needs of diverse learners. She is passionate about creating inclusive, equitable, and engaging learning environments that foster academic success, social-emotional development, and resilience. She has also initiated and implemented various programs and initiatives that promote and enhance the well-being of children and adolescents in the school system.
Jeff Bryson | Vice Chair
Born and raised in Kamloops, B.C., Jeff completed a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Alberta. Following a career in the insurance industry, where he led initiatives in professional development and team training, Jeff began working at The Stollery Charitable Foundation (SCF), where he has been executive director since 2013. SCF is an endowed private family foundation that provides grants to charities, strengthens the charitable sector, and fosters partnerships to improve communities. At SCF, Jeff is responsible for all operations, governance, and administration of this, working with a board of 10 directors.
Jeff lives in Edmonton with his partner Lindsay, his two children and her four children. He lives an active life and enjoys volunteering and travelling with his family. Jeff has served on the board of trustees for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, as an oversight committee member for the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) and is a director on the board of The Stollery Charitable Foundation. He was a member of Edmonton’s Family and Community Supports and Services committee, co-chair of the Crestwood Parkland Redevelopment Committee, and has coached community soccer teams for over a decade. Jeff enjoys his involvement in the charitable sector and is impressed with the capacity of local agencies to effect real change.
Dennis Schmidt | Board Member
Dennis Schmidt is an experienced legal counsel who provides advice and consulting to businesses, entrepreneurs, owners, start-ups and progressive thinking individuals. He is a director on the Board of Directors of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. He is also connected to the business community and exposed to the highest level of business and political leaders in Edmonton and Alberta. He has strong business development and professional skills.
Cody Lakevold | Board Member
Cody Lakevold worked as an Investment Advisor for some of the largest banks in the world, building and managing investment portfolios for high-net-worth families in western Canada, before leaving to build his own portfolio of private community-centric enterprises, utilizing smart capital to make positive social impact.
Cheryl Zhang | Board Member
Cheryl is currently working as the Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis at Stantec. In this role, she leads the financial planning process for Stantec, involving over 300 business leaders and 60 finance leadership for $4.5 billion in net revenue. She has over 15 years of experience in financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting in the private and public sector. She is also a member of the Chartered Professional Accountant of Alberta. Cheryl is passionate about mental health and would like to serve the communities in Alberta. In her spare time, she serves as Treasurer for Liberté Eau Claire and volunteers at Theatre Calgary.
Karen E. Gosbee | Board Member
Karen is a dedicated community leader committed to advance systemic changes in mental health. Having been exposed to mental health, substance misuse, and domestic violence both in her childhood and adult life, she decided to share her own lived experiences. She came forward for two reasons: to minimize the shame and stigma associated with these all-too-common experiences and to address the lack of resources and coordinated services in a time of need. Karen chairs the Mental Health and Addiction Strategy for the City of Calgary and is a member of IIMHL International Cities and Urban Regional Collaborative (I-CIRCLE). Karen, along with her children established The Gosbee Family Foundation, a registered charitable organization that provides information, access and referral services to anyone experiencing mental health issues. She is the author of a best seller book, titled: A Perfect Nightmare: My Glittering Marriage and How It Almost Cost Me My Life.
Tibetha Kemble (Stonechild) | Board Member
Tibetha is a registered member of the Piapot First Nation (Treaty No. 4) who currently resides in Treaty 6 territory along with her husband, daughter, and two beloved dogs, Smokey and Bandit.
Tibetha is currently the Chief Executive Officer of With People Inc, a management-side Labour Relations and HR generalist firm. Prior to this, Tibetha held several senior leadership positions within the higher education sector and with the provincial and federal public service where she worked with and alongside Indigenous peoples and communities.
Tibetha’s sustained personal and professional commitment remains on addressing systemic barriers to inclusion for historically excluded populations and redressing the legacies of colonialism that are distinct to Indigenous Peoples.
Board Recruitment
Kickstand is recruiting individuals passionate about the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Alberta to join our volunteer Board of Directors!
The Alberta Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health is a not-for-profit society that was incorporated in August 2020. The society was created to act as a backbone organization to lead the implementation of a provincial integrated youth services (IYS) initiative. Through intentional engagement and an iterative feedback process with young people, families/caregivers, and other key stakeholders from across the province, the society transitioned its operations in 2021 to “Kickstand.”
Kickstand aims to improve access to community-based services and supports for young people aged 11 to 25 years by creating a network of easily accessible, youth-friendly Kickstand Centres complemented by a virtual, online access portal called Kickstand Connect. These resources are an important part of the Alberta Recovery Model and improve the mental health and wellbeing of young Albertans and their families and caregivers.
Our Board recruitment is focusing on individuals that bring skills and experience in the areas of Human Resources, Legal, Technology & Innovation, and Indigenous Relations, but we are also willing to consider other skill sets as we plan for ongoing growth and development.
We are prioritizing the recruitment of individuals who will increase the diversity of the Board’s composition. This includes exploring individuals from diverse races and ethnicities, geographic locations across the province (rural, remote, on Nation, and specifically in Bonnyville, Grande Prairie, and Fort Saskatchewan), personal and professional experiences impacting mental health and wellness, and other identities that represent Alberta’s diverse population.
Kickstand’s other priority is to integrate the voices of young people on our Board, and so we are interested in anyone aged 18-25 who is eager to join Kickstand’s mission to improve access to wholistic health and wellness services for young Albertans. Previous Board experience is not required, and support for those new to Board work will be provided.
Please submit a short Letter of Interest and a resume or CV to hello@mykickstand.ca and someone will reach out to connect with you.
