Provincial Committee on Tobacco and Vaping
Thorne, Richard
Richard Thorne is the Acting Director of the Primary Prevention and Wellness unit within the Health Protection Branch of the Public Health Division.
Gebreweldi, Frezghi
Frezghi Gebreweldi is a Senior Policy Lead for Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis within the Health Protection Branch of the Public Health Division.
White, Tara
Tara White is an Executive Director with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction.
Tara previously supported policy development on the tobacco and vaping file within Alberta Health and continues to support mental health and addiction policy in Alberta.
Tara holds a Master’s degree in social work from the University of Calgary and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Victoria.
Bruno-Bossio, Peter
Peter Bruno-Bossio is the Senior Manager of Investigations (North) with Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), overseeing Gaming and Tobacco Enforcement Units. He is a retired Police Officer of 33 years with the Edmonton Police Service.
Retired at Rank of Inspector leading the Organized Crime Branch/ Patrol Division / Major Crimes Branch.
His experiences include major crime investigations involving organized Crime, firearms offenses, controlled drug and substance, financial crimes and community policing initiatives.
Deerfoot, Treffrey
Elder Treffrey Deerfoot is a venerated Elder of the Siksika Nation in Alberta. Elder Deerfoot has been a guiding knowledge teacher in the Keep Tobacco Sacred Collaboration, which empowers Elders and Knowledge Teachers to engage with and support Indigenous youth in commercial tobacco use and nicotine vaping prevention through sacred tobacco cultural knowledge restoration and community setting change.
Elder Deerfoot is a well-respected dancer, language keeper, cultural presenter, traditional storyteller, and ceremonialist. Elder Deerfoot is a member of the Siksika Nation. and a fluent speaker of the Blackfoot language. Elder Deerfoot adult Blackfoot name is Aissikotoyomahka (Deerfoot).
Elder Deerfoot contributed to the TVR Strategy with a quote regarding the importance of sacred tobacco.
Friesen, Brent
Dr. Brent Friesen is a Medical Officer of Health (MOH) with Alberta Health Services (AHS) Provincial Population and Public Health and a Clinical Associate Professor with Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary. As a MOH with Promoting Health, Chronic Disease Prevention and Harm Reduction, he supports health promotion and prevention practice to improve and protect the health of people living in Alberta. Dr. Friesen received his fellowship in Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the University of Manitoba.
Shaw, Keara
Keara Shaw is a manager of the Tobacco, Smoking & Vaping Reduction Act (TSVRA) Enforcement team. The enforcement team works to ensure tobacco and vaping retailers’ compliance with the TSVRA and regulation. Keara is a certified public health inspector, an Alberta Peace Officer, and a former Chair for the Board of Certification with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. Keara holds a Bachelor of Science ('01) and a Master of Education in Health Sciences Education ('14) from the University of Alberta, and a Bachelor of Environmental Public Health ('05) from Concordia University of Edmonton.
Marin, Lorelee
Lorelee Marin is a Health Promotion Facilitator with Recovery Alberta supporting communities and individuals with evidence-based substance use prevention and mental health promotion services. Lorelee was elected as a City Councillor in Lloydminster in 2020, serves on 6 boards, served on the Provincial Advisory Council-Cancer for 8 years and Cancer SCN for 10 years. Lorelee supports the development of healthy public policies, has expertise in tobacco control, and certification in Asset Based Community Development through Tamarack Institute.
Snyder, Nina
Nina Snyder is the Chief Operating Officer of Alberta Lung. Nina has been working with Alberta Lung since 2008. Alberta Lung has been at the forefront of improving lung health in Alberta for decades and has been collaborating with Alberta Health on various programs that prevent and reduce tobacco and vaping product use.
Alberta Lung is a Canadian registered charity governed by a board of volunteers elected by the general membership. Prior to tenure at Alberta Lung, Nina was working as a general manager at Goodlife.
Hagen, Les
Les Hagen is the Executive Director for Action on Smoking & Health Canada (ASH Canada). Les has been working with ASH Canada since 1989. In addition, Les works as an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta, College of Health Sciences, in the School of Public Health.Under Les Hagen’s leadership, ASH Canada has been researching and developing strategies to inform Canadians of the risks associated with smoking. For over 20 years Les has encouraged smokers to butt out, helped implement reforms to tobacco laws and packaging regulations, and fought to discourage youth from taking up the habit.
Les served as the Official NGO Delegate for Canada in the 8th and 9th Conference of the Parties (September 2018- November 2021) of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Michaud, Jennifer
Jennifer Michaud is the Director, Health Policy & Systems for Alberta/NWT at Heart & Stroke and works closely with systems leaders, elected officials, other health charities and people with lived experience to advocate for healthy public policy, support research and public awareness initiatives, and enhance rehabilitation and recovery outcomes. Jennifer was on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Congenital Heart Alliance and the Heart Beats Children's Society of Calgary. Jennifer holds a BA in History from the University of Alberta.
Webb, Angeline
Angeline Webb is the Senior Manager of Advocacy with the Canadian Cancer Society where she has been engaged in commercial tobacco control efforts since 2004. Angeline supported the development of the 2012-2022 Alberta Tobacco Reduction Strategy and participated on the strategy's provincial advisory committee. For the last 20 years, Angeline has also supported the development and implementation of key commercial tobacco and youth vaping prevention and reduction policy and program measures in Alberta and throughout Western and Northern Canada.
Geislinger, Brian
Brian Geislinger serves as the Senior Vice-President of Corporate Relations and Community Engagement with Alberta Blue Cross. As a champion for the wellness of Albertans, Alberta Blue Cross has a long-standing commitment to tobacco reduction and Brian has a strong personal commitment as an advocate for tobacco and vaping reduction. Brian is an Accredited Professional Communicator and has twice earned the Queen's Jubilee Medal for his record of public service to Albertans.
Maslyk, Tina
Tina Maslyk is the executive director of the Health Protection Branch of the Public Health Division, Alberta Health. She has professional experience in nursing, emergency services, and disaster management. Tina has served on multiple federal and provincial government committees and her career achievements include being awarded the Alberta Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.