There have been several exciting changes to the Board of Directors over the past two years. Below is a list of the current Board of Directors as of March 6, 2021. Thank you to all past Board Directors for your involvement and time with OA!
Board Of Directors
Nathan Hertz
Nathan joined the Open Arms Board of Directors in 2019. Having overcome chronic pain, gut health, and sleep issues, he has a keen interest in empowering others in overcoming their health issues. Receiving his CPA designation in 2008, Nathan worked with Suncor Energy Inc for 16 years in various roles such as business analyst and solution designer. He has also volunteered with the Alberta Institute of Wildlife Conservation and is currently co-chair of Suncor’s Calgary Corporate Challenge committee. Some of Nathan’s activities with Open Arms have included fundraising, upgrading the team’s database and website, and working to improve the team’s internal processes. In his spare time, Nathan likes to exercise, spend time at the park with his dog, play sports and enjoy time with his friends and family.
Kristen Schmidt
Kristen joined the Open Arms Board of Directors in October 2018, and leads Marketing and Media activities. During her time with OA, she experienced post-concussion syndrome and recognized the value Open Arms brings when she needed to advocate for her own health to expedite recovery. She has nearly ten years in corporate communications and a lifelong passion for volunteering, with four international volunteer trips to date. Currently, she is in external communications at ARC Resources and she has a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) from the University of Calgary. In her free time, she can be found experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, indulging in nerdy things, or playing with her dog.
Christina LeGay
Christina was elected Board Chair in October 2019. She has a passion for community involvement and has been volunteering since 2008 – including as a youth soccer coach; at hospitals in NS, AB, and MB; and now with Open Arms. Christina learned through her own experience as a patient that the healthcare system can be intimidating and difficult to navigate and aims to help those facing similar challenges. As Board Chair, Christina leads and mediates board meetings and activities. Her main focus is increasing accessibility to, and awareness of the patient advocacy services provided by Open Arms, with the ultimate goal of improving the society’s community impact. Christina has an MSc in Organic Chemistry and works in the healthcare industry as a Pharmaceutical Account Executive. Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys cooking and baking; running; spending time with her husband and pets; and connecting with family and friends.
Alyssa Lafleur
Alyssa joined the Open Arms Board of Directors in 2018. Her experience working in public health and patient-oriented research, along with her own personal experiences navigating the healthcare system led to a passion for integrated and collaborative approaches to public health and empowered patient experiences. Alyssa’s background is in marketing, communications, and operations management. She has worked with the OA board to spread awareness about our services and make connections to partner with organizations whose values and goals align with ours. She holds a BA in Communications and is certified in Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research by the Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research. Alyssa is currently the Marketing Communication Manager at Herjavec Group. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys DIY home projects, cuddling with her dog and binging her favorite TV shows, or exploring one of the many beautiful parks in and around Calgary.
Ben Bishop
Ben joined the Open Arms Board of Directors in 2020. As Secretary, Ben is responsible for board meeting records and has taken the lead on managing the society’s bylaws to meet Government of Alberta standards. Ben is a Paramedic with AHS and Nakoda EMS and has a keen interest in advocacy, having seen the need for guidance through the healthcare system firsthand through his work. He volunteered full time for a humanitarian organization from 2008-2017 and helped provide relief, medical, and counselling services in Papua New Guinea, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Australia and Norway. He currently serves as secretary to the board for Thrive Kids Canada, a charity dedicated to providing quality nature based childcare in BC, Canada. When he isn't working or doing schooling Ben loves the mountains, whether biking, hiking, skiing, or mountaineering, and being Australian enjoys a good BBQ throughout the year.
Bianca Velasco
Bianca joined the Open Arms Board of Directors in 2020. As a former caregiver who has experienced challenges in the healthcare system, Bianca became motivated to share her skills to help others have a voice in their healthcare journey. Bianca supports Open Arms in the planning and execution of various initiatives including the website revamp and marketing efforts. Outside of Open Arms, Bianca works in tech, with a focus on product marketing, launching new products to help professionals work better. Passionate to contribute to her community, she has recently joined another Alberta non-profit board to support family caregivers and is also currently working on a personal project to provide resources for mental health support for the Filipino immigrant community. In her spare time, Bianca enjoys hiking new summits in the rockies, learning new songs on the ukulele, and improving her cake decorating skills.
Gurleen Gill
Gurleen joined the Open Arms Board of Directors in 2020. Her passion for community engagement, advocacy, and health promotion motivated her to apply her professional finance experience in a non-profit environment. Gurleen's responsibilities with Open Arms include the preparation of annual financial statements, budgeting and forecasting, handling day-to-day expenses and transactions, and providing the board with financial management advice for the organization. After receiving her BHSc in Health Sciences and BA in Economics in 2019, Gurleen joined National Bank Financial's Investment Banking team. She has previously volunteered with Alberta Health Services, Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta, and currently sits on the board of directors as the Treasurer for the Calgary Neuropathy Association. In her spare time, Gurleen likes to read, practice yoga, spend time with her friends and family, and get out to the mountains whenever possible.
Jonathan Adam
Jon joined the Open Arms Board of Directors in 2020. With a self taught IT background working in small business, Jon applies his recent education in business intelligence to OA by supporting the maintenance and improvement of the website, database, and account access. He has spearheaded the overhaul and management of the OA website project and leads the OA website committee. Jon has worked in small business for 8 years leading major IT projects including developing a custom database, website development, and data quality improvement. He was responsible for all hardware and software maintenance which led to his completion of a Certificate in Business Intelligence from the University of Calgary. Currently, Jon is continuing to build on over a decade of working within the Calgary Real Estate industry as a Property Assessor with the City of Calgary. In his spare time, Jon likes playing PC games, camping, and trying his hand at home and auto repairs.
Heather Templeton
Heather joined Open Arms as an advocate in 2018 and joined the board of directors in 2020. As Advocacy Chair, Heather is responsible for working with advocate volunteers, reviewing cases, and assigning them to the appropriate advocate. Heather’s journey to advocacy began when working as a cook at Senior Lodges where she spent much of her time getting to know the residents. She later volunteered and worked for the Alzheimer Society of Calgary Adult Day Program “Club 36” and administrative support and has extensive experience working in long-term care and hospice. Heather attended Mount Royal College where she received her Gerontology Certificate and Grant McEwan College where she received her Compassionate Care Certificate. She also holds a Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate and graduated from Ambrose University in 2019 where she received her master’s degree in Leadership in Ministry. While in school her father became extremely ill, and Heather and her family had to advocate for him as the care he received in hospital contributed to further complications. This experience along with her patient focussed work and education intensified her passion for patient advocacy. In her spare time, Heather enjoys knitting, reading, walking, animals of all kinds, and music.
Gail Nowlan
Gail joined the Open Arms Board of Directors in 2020. As a family caregiver, HR Manager in non-profit seniors housing, previous elected official, and passionate community builder, Gail works with Open Arms to advance the mission that anyone needing help navigating the healthcare system has someone to walk with them through their journey. As Volunteer Coordinator, Gail is committed to relationship building and being the organization of choice for volunteers, creating awareness of our opportunities throughout the province, having the right people engaged to serve our clients, and building a pool of volunteers who are ready to help as needed. Gail is an advocate, collaborator, and connector that would love to hear from you and find a way we can work together!
Hali Melnyk
Hali has proudly worked for Open Arms Patient Advocacy since 2014 where she is responsible for a variety of key activities. She is the first point of contact for Open Arms clients, often providing guidance through the intake process. Hali is a member of the Advocacy Committee where she contributes her insights and counsel to advocates and clients. She also works closely with the Board of Directors on many projects. Hali is a graduate from the University of Calgary where she acquired her Bachelor of Commerce degree. Her education has helped her streamline processes and develop business strategies. Hali is the mother of two girls and is located in Medicine Hat. She enjoys gardening, camping and caring for her three adorable cats.
Want to Get Involved?
We have many opportunities for those who want to volunteer with Open Arms, such as joining our Board of Directors, becoming and Advocate, or volunteering at events, or enioying the perks of becoming a member. You can make a difference and use your skills to improve the lives of others.
Find out how you can get involved.
“The ultimate expression of generosity is not in giving of what you have, but in giving of who you are.”
― Johnnetta B. Cole