Meet our Team!

Our team of trained peer supporters and educators know how it feels to face mental health challenges. We have been there, we understand, and we care. We hope to get to know you!

Our Team

Our Administration Team
The Peer Support Team

The admin team keeps us on our toes every day, and are the heartbeat of our daily operations. They are the friendly voices on the other end of the phone. Our administration team is also trained in Peer Support!

Susan Rogers

Interim Executive Director

Julia Hoeppner
Director of Operations
Adriana Rajcher
Administrative Assistant / Volunteer Coordinator
Adam Milne
Peer Support Manager
Kitana Degen

Peer Support Manager

Amy Tung
Communications and Education Manager
Jaime Barron
Fund Development Coordinator
Sarah Vinck
Mental Health Education Resource Centre Coordinator

Our Peer Support Workers are the best! Not only do they have personal and family lived experience with mental health challenges, they receive extensive training in connecting through shared experiences.

Amber-Gael

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Eileen

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Jana

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Katrina

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Laurissa

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Mel

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Rashmika

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Zachary

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Jody

Peer Support Worker

Crisis Response Centre
Britney

Peer Support Worker

Rapid Access To Addictions Medicine Clinic
Eleanor

Peer Support Worker

Dauphin and Surrounding Community
Alison

Peer Support Worker

Dauphin Regional Health Centre
Shawna

Peer Support Worker

Dauphin Regional Health Centre
Michelle

Peer Support Worker

Dauphin Regional Health Centre
Teresa

Peer Support Worker

Psychosocial Rehabilitation -Dauphin
Angela

Peer Support Worker

Psychosocial Rehabilitation -Brandon
Emily

Peer Support Worker

Psychosocial Rehabilitation -Brandon
Jasmine

Peer Support Worker

Klinic Community Health
Eden

Peer Support Worker

Klinic Community Health
Becky

Peer Support Worker

Klinic Community Health
Eric

Peer Support Worker

Winnipeg / Selkirk Mental Health Centre
Laurie

Peer Support Worker

Winnipeg / Provincial Community
Jackie

Peer Support Worker

Winnipeg / Misericordia Health Centre
Sia

Peer Support Worker

Winnipeg / Provincial Community
Sandra

Family Support Worker

Winnipeg / Provincial Community

Meet our Board of Directors

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Get Involved

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer or learning more about how you can become involved in Peer Connections Manitoba? Email us at [email protected]

Peer Connections Manitoba acknowledges that our work is conducted in Treaty One and Treaty Two territories, the original lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and homeland of the Métis Nation. We are dedicated to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of respect, truth and reconciliation.  

Contact

(204) 786-1616
FAX: (204) 783-4898
[email protected]

Our Main Office: 100 – 4 Fort Street |
Winnipeg, Manitoba | R3C 1C4

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Gillian Nattress
Vice President Peer Connections Manitoba
Gillian is the Vice President of the Board of Peer Connections Manitoba, who joined the board in March of 2020. Gillian is a Registered Nurse who is part of the management team with Shared Health. She manages the Support Staff and Nurses of the Float Pools at Health Sciences Centre. She has been a nurse for over 20 years and first became involved with the former Manitoba Schizophrenia Society when she worked for the University of Manitoba and brought nursing students to many of MSS educational programs. Gillian has family members living with mental illness and feel passionately about being a part of a culture that normalizes taking care of mental health.
Alex Sawatsky
President
Alex Sawatsky is the Director as well as an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Social Work at Booth University College where he has been teaching for the last 15 years.
His previous career was in mental health services in the U.S.  He was a member of the board of directors for 6 years with the Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers (MIRSW; 2007-2013) and presently a member of the board of directors of the Manitoba College of Social Workers (MCSW).
As of January 2017, he is newly elected as a member of the board of directors at the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS) and the acting president of the board of directors for Peer Connections Manitoba at this time.
In his spare time, he tries to run all the time and on trails as much as possible.  He still thinks it’s a hobby and not an obsession.

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Florence Keeper
My name is Florence Keeper, I am from Nelson House, known as Nischawasik Cree Nation. Grew up and attended school there, attended high school in Thompson. Later attended Brandon university. I am a mother of six, 5 sons, one daughter, a grandmother of two wonderful boys and a granddaughter. So, I’ve been busy! We’ve lived in Winnipeg now for 20 years.

My work experience has always been health delivery. Medical Transportation and Referral Services. WRHA with the Aboriginal Health Service as Discharge Planning Coordinator. I have been involved with Boards as a member in CMHA, Mental Health Community Service, Women’s Crisis Centre in Thompson. I retired in 2014, not my wish but due to health issues. In 2002, a loved one became ill with a mental illness. I found ourselves, meaning the whole family in distress. Not understanding the illness and our new journey began. With supports, resources various hospitals and community programs, we would have not survived. Today, we are in better situation but continue to live with it. When I asked to be member of the MMS board, I was eager as I feel I better understanding and can contribute to support the issue for others. I am proud to say we have provided support to other parents here and in the northern area as we know many people from there. I enjoy talking to people, reading, bead w travelling, explore new things when I can.

Felica Owadara
Hi everyone, my name is Felicia Owadara, but my family mostly calls me Felicity, and I am from Nigeria. I like going for a walk, and part of my daily routine is reading a book daily. I love to engage in meaningful conversation to enrich my knowledge.
Professionally, I worked for a couple of years as a health social worker in the Psychiatric Unit at the Teaching Hospital Ibadan, where I develop an interest in the social integration of mental health service users. I later travelled to the United Kingdom for a master’s degree in social policy and social work research. While I was in the UK, I joined the Kyra women project, an organization that focuses on women’s wellbeing, until I returned to my country.

I am currently undergoing a doctoral degree program at the Faculty of Social work, University of Manitoba; I am a member of the board of director for the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society agency, now referred to as Peer Connection. Joining the organization is relatively novel to me and shaping my experience and knowledge; I am happy to be here and help in a way that I could.

Stephanie Loewen
Secretary to the Board of Directors

Stephanie is the Executive Director of Policy, Programs and Learning for the Manitoba Civil Service Commission. She has been with the Manitoba Government for 12 years, with 10 years spent in mental health, suicide prevention, and addictions policy and oversight. Before government, Stephanie worked as the outreach manager for the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society for six years in both the south and northeastern regions of Manitoba. Since her teenage years, she has had a keen interest in mental health and well-being, playing “therapist” to her friends. Having experienced episodes of debilitating depression and anxiety in her early adulthood, she became well-aware of the inadequacies, gaps and barriers in the healthcare system, as well as in mental health services. Stephanie is a passionate advocate for mental health promotion, destigmatizing mental health and mental illness, and sharing our common and diverse human experiences with compassion, self-love, grace, and humour (wherever possible!) When not working, she loves beating her family in ping pong, tasting and rating Manitoba’s amazing craft beer selections, and listening to podcasts about leadership, self-compassion and bravery.

Gillian Nattress
Vice President Peer Connections Manitoba
Gillian is the Vice President of the Board of Peer Connections Manitoba, who joined the board in March of 2020. Gillian is a Registered Nurse who is part of the management team with Shared Health. She manages the Support Staff and Nurses of the Float Pools at Health Sciences Centre. She has been a nurse for over 20 years and first became involved with the former Manitoba Schizophrenia Society when she worked for the University of Manitoba and brought nursing students to many of MSS educational programs. Gillian has family members living with mental illness and feel passionately about being a part of a culture that normalizes taking care of mental health.
Best part of my workday; Recruiting future nurses and encouraging the development of best practice standards.
I love to decorate, cook, and bake, and am very social. I am looking forward to entertaining again sometime soon.

I am constantly making lists and checking off some accomplishments…makes me feel like I am getting somewhere with my daily tasks!

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