Partners

The AVA team is comprised of 203+ members and growing, including 69 academic partners and 85 community partners across Canada.

AVA also has key partnerships with:

A map showing our partners across Canada

Over the course of the AVA Training Platform, additional academic and community agency team members will be added for succession planning and address emergent training needs.

See below for a comprehensive list of our partners by region

National

Community Agency Collaborators/
Knowledge Users/
Community Partners
CAAN (Communities, Alliances & Networks)
Leads: Patrick Brownlee & Cassie Hill

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
Lead: Steve Leong

Canadian Centre on Substance use and Addiction (CCSA)
Lead: Doris Payer

Ending Violence Association of Canada (EVA)
Lead: Erin Whitmore & Stephanie Lanthier

Families Canada
Leads: Rebecca Balcerzak & Zindu Salih

Family and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Policy Team
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Lead: Anaïs Bertrand-Dansereau

Partnership for Women’s Health Research Canada (PWHR)
Lead: Tamil Kendall

UNICEF Canada
Lead: Lisa Wolff

International

Community Agency Collaborators/Knowledge Users/Community Partners
InsightFormation Inc.
Lead: Bill Barberg

British Columbia

Principal Applicants/PartnersMargaret Jackson
Simon Fraser University, School of Criminology; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres
Co-Applicants/Academic PartnersShirley Chau
University of British Columbia, School of Social Work 

Ranjit Dhari
University of British Columbia, School of Nursing

Jackie Gruber
British Columbia Institute of Technology; AVA EDI Champion 

Balbir Gurm
Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Faculty of Health 

Jennifer Marchbank
Simon Fraser University, Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies 

Sarah Merrill
University of British Columbia, Department of Medical Genetics 

Sarah Yercich
Capilano University, School of Social Sciences, Women’s and Gender Studies; Simon Fraser University, School of Criminology
Community Agency Collaborators &
Knowledge Users/Community Partners
Atira Women’s Resource Society
Leads: Hajar Masoud & Janice Abbott

Alliance of Canadian Research Centres on Gender-Based Violence (ACRC)
Lead: Devinder Chatta

BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, Provincial Health Services Authority
Lead: Ann Pederson

Dixon Transition Society
Lead: Monika Verma, Director

Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver
Lead: Vera LeFranc
 
Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC)
Lead: Kate Rossiter

FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children
Lead: Sarah Yercich

Engaged Communities Canada Society
Lead: Upkar Tatlay

Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships
Leads: Balbir Gurm & Jim Cessford

WINGS
Lead: Lorrie Wasyliw, Director

Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI)
Lead: Lori Brotto & Nicole Prestley

Alberta

Principal Applicants/PartnersJennifer Leason
University of Calgary, Department of Anthropology  

Nicole Letourneau
University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres 

Kharah Ross
Athabasca University, Department of Psychology 
Co-Applicants/Academic PartnersLubna Anis
University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing 

Kelsey Berg
University of Lethbridge, Population Studies in Health

Carla Bertsch
University of Calgary; AVA EDI Champion 

Deborah Dewey
University of Calgary, Department of Psychology 

Aliyah Dosani
Mount Royal University, School of Nursing and Midwifery 

Deinera Exner-Cortens
University of Calgary, Department of Psychology 

William (Bill) Ghali
University of Calgary, Department of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences

Gerald Giesbrecht
University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, Pediatrics 

Susan Graham
University of Calgary, Department of Psychology 

Cari Gulbrandsen
University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work

Rebecca Hudson Breen
University of Alberta, Department of Educational Psychology 

Angelique Jenny
University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work 

Regine King
University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work 

Dawn McBride
University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education

Sheila McDonald
Alberta Health Services, Department of Research and Innovation 

Stephanie Montesanti
University of Alberta, School of Public Health 

Sarah Moore
University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing 

Brent Oliver
Mount Royal University, Department of Child Studies and Social Work 

Maria Jose Parrilla-Lopez (Santana)
University of Calgary, Public Health Sciences  

J. David Patterson
University of Calgary, Faculty of Nursing

Penny Pexman
University of Calgary, Department of Psychology

Peter Silverstone 
University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine

Gwendolyn Villebrun
University of Alberta, Faculty of Education

Lana Wells
University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work
Community Agency Collaborators &
Knowledge Users/Community Partners
Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters
Lead: Miranda Pilipchuk

Alberta Health Services
Leads: Carolyn Pada

Alberta Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) Patient Engagement Team
Lead: Paul Fairie

Alberta Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) & Canadian Primary Care Research Network
Lead: Cliff Lindeman

Alberta Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) SUPPORT Unit
Lead: Denise Thomson & Gabrielle Zimmermann

Awo Taan Healing Lodge
Lead: Josie Nepinak, Carolyn Woodroffe, Raquel Marquez

Calgary Counselling Centre
Lead: Robbie Babins-Wagner

CHILD Studies
Lead: Martha Hart

Children’s Cottage Society
Lead: Danielle Ladouceur

CUPS Calgary
Leads: Carlene Donnelly, Gwen Moncayo & Nicole Williams

Discovery House
Leads: Leslie Hill

Elizabeth House
Lead: Michelle Haywood

Fear Is Not Love
Lead: Gillian Weaver-Dunlop & Komal Jafri

HelpSeeker Technologies
Lead: Alina Turner

HomeFront
Leads: Justin Dafoe & Joy Steppacher

Hull Services
Leads: Emily Wang, Nicole Berggren, Phil Herman & Tiffany Beks

Kindred
Leads: Jessica Cope Williams & Melanie Grylls

Palix Foundation
Lead: Nancy Mannix

Radiance Family Society
Leads: Susan Herman, Marvolyn Johnson & Lisa Congo

Reforming the Family Justice System
Lead: Diana Lowe

Ruth’s House
Lead: Dee Adekugbe (Mama Dee)

Rural Development Network
Lead: Mary McGuire

Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation
Lead: Nicole Eshkakogan

Sagesse
Leads: Carrie McManus & Amy Munroe

Stardale Women’s Group Inc.
Lead: Helen McPhaden

Starlings Community Inc.
Lead: Agnes Chen

United Way of Calgary and Area
Lead: Susan Brooke

University of Calgary, GradSkills
Lead: Tara Christie

Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
Lead: Tanya Voth

Saskatchewan

Principal Applicants/PartnersJorden Cummings
University of Saskatchewan, Department of Psychology and Health Studies; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres 
Co-Applicants/Academic PartnersPamela Downe
University of Saskatchewan, Faculty of Archaeology & Anthropology 

Alexandra King
University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine

Malcom King
University of Saskatchewan; Community Health and Epidemiology 

Stephanie Martin
University of Saskatchewan, Department of Educational Psychology & Special Education

Lise Milne
University of Regina, Faculty of Social Work 

Nathalie Reid
University of Regina, Child Trauma Research Centre 
Community Agency Collaborators &
Knowledge Users/Community Partners
Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS)
Leads: Crystal Giesbrecht & Jo-Anne Dusel

Family Service Regina
Lead: Shellie Pociuk
 
Family Service Saskatoon
Lead: Janine Baumann

Regina Transition House
Lead: Meghan Gould

SOFIA House
Lead: Tmira Marchment

STOPS to Violence
Lead: Tracey Knutson

Manitoba

Principal Applicants/PartnersKendra Nixon
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres 

Ashley Stewart-Tufescu

University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work
Co-Applicants/Academic PartnersTracie Afifi
University of Manitoba, Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry 

Christine Ateah
University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences 

Diane Hiebert-Murphy
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work

Terry Klassen
Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba

Javier Mignone
University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences 

Caroline Piotrowski
University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

Leslie Roos
Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba 

Lorna Turnbull
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
Community Agency Collaborators &
Knowledge Users/Community Partners
ChezRachel
Lead: Sonia Grmela

Centre for Social Science Research and Policy (CSSRP)
Lead: Shayna Plaut

Manitoba Association of Women Shelters (MAWS)
Lead: Deena Brock

Manitoba SPOR & PIHCIN
Lead: Alanna Baldwin & Gayle Halas

Marymound Inc.
Leads: Nancy Parker & Dawn Isaac

Mosaic – Newcomer Family Resource Network
Leads: Maisa’a Haj Ahmad, Val Cavers & Jean Tinling

Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting
Lead: Joan Durrant

Willow Place
Lead: Marcie Wood

Ontario

Principal Applicants/PartnersFrancine Darroch
Carleton University, Department of Health Sciences 

Peter George Jaffe
Western University, Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children 

Katreena Scott
Western University, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres 
Co-Applicants/Academic PartnersRamona Alaggia
University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Linda Baker
Western University, Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children  

Tara Black
University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Dillon Browne
University of Waterloo, Department of Psychology 

Karen Campbell
York University, Faculty of Health, School of Nursing

Cindy-Lee Dennis 
University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing

Ian Graham
University of Ottawa, School of Epidemiology 

Lyndsay Hayhurst
York University, Faculty of Health 

Susan Jack
McMaster University, School of Nursing

Kim Jackson
Western University, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing 

Simon Lapierre
University of Ottawa, School of Social Work 

Tara Mantler
Western University, School of Health Sciences 

Debbie Sheppard-Lemoine
University of Windsor, Faculty of Nursing 

Panagiota Tryphonopoulos
Western University, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing 

Mark Wade
University of Toronto, Applied Psychology and Human Development 
Community Agency Collaborators &
Knowledge Users/Community Partners
Anova
Lead: Annalise Trudell

Child Welfare Institute, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
Lead: Deborah Goodman

Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
Leads: Marta Hajek & Raeann Rideout

Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
Leads: Diane Serré & Zoe West
 
Jean Tweed
Leads: Julia Bloomenfeld & Susy Cannon

Jewish Family & Child Service of Greater Toronto
Lead: Pamela James & Sharyn Feldman

LOFT Community Service
Lead: Connie Cheung

Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration
Lead: Mohammed Baobaid

Parent Resource Centre
Lead: Mariama Aregbesola

Vesta Social Innovation Technologies
Lead: Lucrezia Spagnolo

Quebec

Principal Applicants/PartnersGeneviève Lessard
Laval University, Faculty of Social Sciences; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres 
Co-Applicants/Academic PartnersGeneviève Belleville
Université Laval, Ecole de psychologie 

Kathrine Larose-Hébert
Université TÉLUQ, Department of Human Sciences 

Annie Leblanc
Université Laval, Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d’urgence

Sylvie Lévesque
Université du Québec à Montréal, Department of Sexology
Community Agency Collaborators &
Knowledge Users/Community Partners
Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services
Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale

Lead: Alexandre Parent

Regroupement des organismes ESPACE du Québec
Lead: Janie Bergeron

Viol-Secours
Lead: Julie Tremblay

Maritimes

Principal Applicants/PartnersCathy Holtmann
University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Nursing; Alliance of Canadian Research Centres 

Tracey Rickards
University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Nursing

Matt Rogers
University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Arts
Co-Applicants/Academic PartnersAlyson Campbell 
University of Prince Edward Island, Faculty of Nursing

Jennifer Collins
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Nursing

Shelley Doucet
University of New Brunswick, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences 

Rosann Edwards
University of New Brunswick, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences 

Carmen Gill
University of New Brunswick, Department of Sociology 

Heather Helpard
St. Francis Xavier University, Rankin School of Nursing 

Megan Huckins
Horizon Health Network 

Alison Luke
University of New Brunswick, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences 

Lillian MacNeill
University of New Brunswick, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences 

Ted (James) McDonald 
University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Political Science

Holly Richardson
St. Francis Xavier University, Rankin School of Nursing 
Community Agency Collaborators &
Knowledge Users/Community Partners
Liberty Lane Inc.
Lead: Alyson Pizzey

New Brunswick Social Pediatrics
Leads: Ted (James) McDonald & Elizabeth Lappin
 
PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (PEIRSAC)
Lead: Rachel Cowder

PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being
Lead: Karen Cumberland

Tri County Women’s Centre
Lead: Trish McCourt

Northwest Territories

Principal Applicants/PartnersHeather Fikowski 
Aurora College, Health Research Programs 
Community Agency Collaborators &
Knowledge Users/Community Partners
YWCA NWT
Lead: Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay