Our Team

Chair

Dr. Kathy Toogood (she/her) is a teacher, learner, leader and researcher. She worked for Edmonton Public Schools for over twenty years as a teacher, consultant, and principal followed by four years as a system leader at Alberta Education. During her time with the government, she developed a passion for working with newcomers, deepening her understanding of  promising practices for supporting newcomer students.

She continues to collaborate with educators and community partners in Edmonton to promote social inclusion, holistic learning, and success on the path to equity. Currently an adjunct professor for the University of Portland in Edmonton, her graduate courses focus on creating culturally responsive learning environments so all students can thrive.
 

She is an educational consultant (Kanopy Consulting), trained as a Circle Way facilitator and is committed to relational practices, and empowering newcomers to thrive. She previously served on the board of MFRS from 2019 – 2021, and is grateful for the opportunity to work with the board and staff to strengthen the capacity of MFRS to fulfill their unique mission in the community. 

Vice Chair

Jacqueline (Jacqui) Holmes has lived in the City of Edmonton since emigrating to Canada in 1970. Along with spending time with family, Jacqui enjoys reading, volunteering, walking (especially in urban areas), traveling, training her dogs, coffee conversation, and learning!

Presently, she is learning a great deal about trauma and identity. She is passionate about equity and access so all can thrive and be active, engaged, connected community members. From her time in education, her motivation for planning, teaching, developing policy, and supporting youth and their families, has been accessibility. Her chosen roles in education have always focused on ensuring everyone is provided with what they need to successfully achieve
their goals.

Treasurer

Fahad Shaikh CPA is a Senior Vice President of Colliers International, a global commercial real estate firm.  In his role he works with large corporations and landlords on their commercial real estate requirements and is one of the senior leaders and mentors in the Edmonton office.

His last board role was with Islamic Family where he helped transition the organization to a governance board, onboarded their executive director, helped set up Islamic Family as a refugee sponsorship holder, and created long term partnerships with the Edmonton Food bank and Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. Fahad is passionate about lifting people and communities and does this through advocacy, mentorship and volunteering.    

Secretary

Kathryn Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon (she/her) was born and raised in Edmonton / Amiskwacîwâskahikan, with mixed Hong Kong Cantonese and Irish settler ancestry. With an eye to equity, diversity and inclusion, Kathryn is especially interested in intangible cultural heritage and has touched on this in the realms of arts and culture, Chinatown placemaking, and urban food systems.

She has worked at the intersections of community-building, engagement, communications, planning, and research, with and for a diversity of organizations and audiences, including those in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, working with local government, arts, advocacy, Indigenous, multicultural, cultural, faith, and grassroots organizations.
 

She is also the co-creator, along with Kyla Pascal, of Hungry Zine, an award-winning, community-focused food publication. Kathryn holds a MA in Planning from UBC, and Bachelor of Environment from the University of Waterloo.

Director

Fana Tesfay (she/her) is a recent graduate from the University of Alberta who is currently employed at the City of Edmonton. She has been actively involved with MFRS for six years, serving as a volunteer, employee, and now a board member. Having worked closely with the communities MFRS serves, she has a deep understanding of the challenges they face.

Fana is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of newcomer families and is committed to using her skills and experience to help guide MFRS towards its goals and ensure that it is fulfilling its mission.

Director

Shang Dong (MPH) is the Research and Evaluation Advisor of the Awasisak Indigenous Health Program at the Stollery Children's Hospital, the first and only Indigenous pediatric in-hospital program in North America.

Born and raised in China, she received her Master in Public Health at the University of Alberta in Canada. Shang has almost a decade of experience in program planning and evaluation, community engagement, and research project coordination.

Pursuing her passion for health promotion, Shang has worked with a diversity of marginalized populations including Indigenous children and families, LGBTQ2S+ population, newcomer population, as well as the immigrant seniors population. She is also currently
a Project Coordinator with the Faculty of Social Work at the
Grant MacEwan University and an independent evaluation and research consultant.

Director

Tyler H. Godard: While born and raised in Calgary, Tyler is proud to call himself an Edmontonian. His experiences in the non-profit sector include adult education, youth work, prison initiatives and supportive housing. 

He is a currently a labour and employment lawyer with a regional law firm. He is looking forward to serving on the MFRS Board of Directors and contributing to the important community work that is done through the organization.