Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Nakane, Shino
Shino Nakane of Calgary has been a volunteer board member for a variety of organizations over the past decade. As a mother of a son with a developmental disability, she has a passion for helping non-profit groups that strive to meet the unique needs of families like hers. Her work experience includes communications, advocacy, research, stakeholder engagement and project management. Shino manages Community Relations for Autism Society Alberta.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Shino was recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.
Thiessen, Earl
Earl Thiessen is a dedicated leader with 13 years’ experience in the addictions and mental health sector, with a special interest in the development of supportive housing and the well-being of marginalized populations. He provides an Indigenous perspective and has family members with cognitive and behavioural issues due to substance use disorders. Earl sits on the Calgary Mental Health and Addiction Leadership Group, Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee and the province’s CSS Coordinated Community Response to Homelessness Task Force.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Earl was directly recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.
Birkholz, Heath
Heath Birkholz is a Community Advocate Coordinator for Self Advocacy Federation Edmonton, and a Freelance Writer and Facilitator who contributes to community building and development and creating accessible tools. Mr. Birkholz is also an Integrated Dancer/Choreographer/former Community Liaison with CRIPSiE, an organization run by artists with disabilities, a Community Liaison with Solidance, and Co-Founder of Right to Love, which provides sexual health education and support for people with disabilities.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Heath was directly recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.
Lovely, Jackie
Jackie Lovely was elected to the Legislative Assembly representing Camrose on April 16, 2019. She is a member of the Standing Committees on Public Accounts, Families and Communities, Legislative Offices, Privileges and Elections, and Standing Orders and Printing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (University of Saskatchewan), a diploma in hotel/restaurant administration (Saskatchewan Polytechnic) and an MBA (Cape Breton University). Her community involvement includes the Camrose and Leduc chambers of commerce.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Jackie was directly recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.
McGregor, Jacob
Jacob McGregor brings lived experience as a person with a disability to the Council. He has been an advocate for the disability community and an active volunteer for disability organizations, such as Easter Seals, as well as participating on several City of Calgary committees. He has professional expertise in social media as co-founder of Rycob Media in Calgary. Jacob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and has received several awards for being an outstanding volunteer.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Jacob was directly recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.
Sawicki, Ozzie
Ozzie’s Hall of Fame career in the realm of sports spans over four decades, marked by a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and the belief that sport should be accessible to individuals of all abilities. Ozzie has represented Canada internationally as a coach, performance advisor or official, including involvement in 8 Paralympic Games. An internationally recognized speaker, business and community leader, Ozzie has taken his message of accessibility, inclusion, leadership, and the creation of performance culture to groups world-wide.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Ozzie was recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.
Sitler, Lorrie
Lorrie is a community advocate and the mother of two young adults with invisible disabilities. During her 25-year career, she has held many roles including: Board member with Special Olympics Camrose, Camrose Association for Community Living, and the Camrose Open Door, a Trustee with Battle River School Division, a Commissioner for the Camrose Police Commission, and a Director with Special Olympics Alberta. Lorrie is currently an Executive Director for the Grande Prairie Police Commission and continues to promote the relationship between Special Olympic athletes and law enforcement officers through Law Enforcement Torch Run. She has a strong desire to contribute to an inclusive and thriving society.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Lorrie was recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.
Supina, Stacey
Stacey is a retired Government of Alberta manager who has led and supported numerous successful initiatives on behalf of vulnerable Albertans, passionately motivated by his lived experience with a spinal cord injury. Stacey has effectively served on many related boards and committees and is currently the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Spinal Cord Injury Alberta. Stacey has received several significant awards and acknowledgements including from numerous Indigenous communities in Alberta. Stacey has a BA from the University of Alberta and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from the University of Lethbridge.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Stacey was recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.
Zielke, Dale
Dale has several family members who have disabilities and is currently the Director of Chinook Cardiology in Lethbridge and serves as a Lethbridge Food Bank board member. Dale's past work experience includes owner of a small business and teacher for the Calgary Board of Education. Dale earned a Bachelor of Arts from Augustana University, Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta as well as a diploma in Global Business from the University of Oxford.
Competencies required for members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities include critical and strategic thinking skills, disability community stakeholder knowledge, and leadership/teamwork skills. Dale was recruited and appointed on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes as described above.