Elder Nora LaBillois, Opening and Closing Remarks

Nora LaBillois’ spirit name is “she carries the sun in her heart”, she is a turtle warrior, and she carries the spirit of Mother Earth. Nora’s mother was Marion Simonson from Eel Ground reserve in Miramichi NB. Her father was John LaBillois from Eel River Bar First Nation. Nora resides in Cal River Bar First Nation. East River Bar rests on the Bay of Choler that overlooks the beginning of the Appalachian mountains along with a wondrous view of sunrises and sunsets. Nora has applied for funding to develop programming through Addictions program to create awareness through workshops to better support and promote wellness and mental health. The program has been very successful through the years.

Nora is a certified Heritage interpreter, Certified addiction counsellor. Nora gave training to Vatalite hospital staff, an introduction to Mi’gmaq culture for 8 years until COVID came.

Brandy Stanovich (she/her)

Brandy Stanovich, Manager MMIWG & Advisor, Chelsea Lodge, Native Women’s Association of Canada. Ms. Brandy Stanovich is the MMIGW2S+ Manager, and Chealsea Lodge Advisor of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). She volunteers her time as President of the Indigenous Women of the Wabanaki Territory in New Brunswick, and in July 2022, was elected 2nd Vice President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). As a long-standing advocate for Indigenous women in Canada and for murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, Brandy takes on causes that affect Indigenous families and communities at the local, national, and international levels—particularly causes related to advancing public awareness and action on Canada’s genocide to bring about social and political change. Since working with NWAC, she has supported a number of initiatives such as the Change the Bill initiative, language, art, MMIWG2S+ and Resiliency Lodges.

As someone who is invested in protecting Indigenous languages, Ms. Stanovich has worked with Woodstock First Nation to help create a Wolastoqey language curriculum and teach the language to students and families. She is also involved in NWAC’s work on preserving Indigenous languages. Brandy is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others and truly believes that everyone has something valuable to contribute to the planet.

She studied in the Maliseet Immersion Program at St. Thomas University as well as the Aboriginal Visual Arts program with the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. A mother to eight children, Brandy enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in on-the-land activities, attending sweat ceremonies, canoeing, fishing, gardening, travelling, painting, and other crafts activities.

Robyn Bourgeois

Robyn is the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement at Brock University. She was also recently appointed to Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Corenor’s Committee. She teaches in the Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies, and her research focuses on Indigenous feminisms, violence against Indigenous women and girls, and Indigenous women’s political activism and leadership. 

Will Shelling (he/him)

Will is a senior consultant at Counsel PA, advising clients in BC and across Canada on government relations strategies with a focus on intersectionality, community based support, and a data driven approach. He honed his knowledge of political systems through working at UBC’s student society,  supporting students and their families on issues of affordability and access to post-secondary education at all levels of government. Will has also sat on various committees for UBC on topics of EDI, affordability, and climate issues, bringing together stakeholders across Vancouver to support equitable outcomes. 

He is also involved in his community, with the City of Vancouver’s Climate Equity Working Group. He holds a BA in Political Science, with a minor in International Relations from the University of British Columbia, and an MA in Public Policy and Global Affairs, specializing in human rights and social change at the University of British Columbia. Will is a Director on the Board at White Ribbon.

Dave Shanks (he/him)

Dave Shanks is an Associate Director and the lead facilitator for the Students Commission of Canada. He has the privilege of being able to travel to many spots across the country of Canada, leading workshops, delivering training and running conferences for young people and the adults who care for them. 

Dave is a father of three children, and coaches soccer and football, and is particularly passionate about working alongside young men and boys, and he finds using his own experience as a teen-parent a great way to bond with other young fathers. Father engagement is extremely important to Dave, and finding new and innovative ways to connect with young men and boys in order to help them be well rounded and healthy humans, is how he exhibits his generativity to the rest of the world.