About

Our People

We’re lucky to have a team of dedicated, compassionate individuals. Meet the GBV Project staff and learn more about how they can support you.

close up portrait of jessica fisher

Jess Fisher

(She/They)

GBV Education Coordinator & Project Lead
gbveducation@outsaskatoon.ca

About Jess

This project is deeply connected with my passion to create systemic change and uplift the voices of those who are often silenced. I see, and have experienced, the negative impacts of gender-based violence on our community and want to work towards addressing these issues, particularly how queer people are supported. Having grown up as a queer, Metis & White settler, Two Spirit woman in Saskatchewan, I recognize how vital safety, acceptance, and belonging are. I’m committed to building a world where everyone is celebrated and supported, and no one feels they need to edit who they are.

Reach out to me about

Support, guidance, and consultation for service providers (e.g. how to adapt services to be more affirming), booking education and training, inquiring about resources or referrals.

Have me facilitate

online and in-person workshops (*dependant upon current public health measures), GBV Modules (4 in total), refresher workshops, and train-the-trainer programs.

Anndi McLeod

(they/she)

Community Support Advocate
communitysupport@outsaskatoon.ca
(639) 994-9877

About Anndi
I am a white settler, who grew up on Treaty 6 Territory. As a non-binary and pansexual community member I have been confronted first hand with gender based violence. As a front-line crisis worker, I aim to build more inclusive and accessible support for folks facing gender based violence. I believe every person is unique and has a right to resources best suited to them. Collaboration with other organizations and community members is at the centre of my practice. Building and maintaining a safe community for all is what drives my passion for chipping away at oppressive systems. Please reach out, even if it’s just to talk about how great animals are.
Reach out to me about

Front-line crisis support, connecting to resources, and system navigation. I am available via phone, video calls, text, email and in person.

Have me facilitate

Accessible peer support, referrals, system navigation, community outreach and advocacy.

Iris Akbar profile picture in front of brick wall

Iris Akbar

(She/He)

Counsellor

support@outsaskatoon.ca

 

About Iris

I am a survivor of gender-based violence (GBV) and I understand the painful process of seeking resources and recovering from GBV. As a Singaporean-born Muslim, Malay, queer newcomer, GBV can transpire in our diverse intersectionalities, increasing the complexity of addressing it in our multicultural community. This project enables me to provide support to affected persons through empowerment and sourcing out safe people and services through challenging times. I believe that awareness and education can prevent GBV, and establish a community that looks out for each other. Also, the work of creating safety practices is imperative to our healthy well-beings.

Reach out to me about

Counselling support, community referrals, and advocacy support.

Have me facilitate

Telephone or in-person counselling (*dependant upon current public health measures): 1-on-1, group, family, or partner counselling.

Iris Akbar profile picture in front of brick wall

Ana Iervolino

(She/They)

Project Evaluator

 ana@serc.mb.ca

 

About Ana

Bio coming soon!

Reach out to me about

Counselling support, community referrals, and advocacy support.

Have me facilitate

Project Evaluation, data collection, and project accountability. 

Advisory Council

Our Advisory Council is made up of 2SLGBTQ people and service providers of diverse backgrounds within Saskatoon. The council provides guidance and oversight for the project, and with their support we’ve created educational resources and tools.
Alex Wilson (She/Her)

Professor, University of Saskatchewan

Christine Brophy (She/Her)

Police Constable

As a police officer, but more importantly as a person, I believe that no one should live with violence, or in fear of it, and that everyone deserves the right to be respected and understood. This is not always the case in the gender and sexually diverse community and I am committed to changing that. I am proud to be part of this group to reduce barriers and help make Saskatoon stronger and inclusive to everyone that lives here.

Erin Beckwell (She/Her)

Knowledge Translation Specialist/Social Worker

As a social worker and member of the 2SLGBTQ community, I’ve had a window into diverse experiences of violence and trauma and have seen how systems don’t always get it ‘right’ in terms of understanding GBV in our contexts. My current role focuses on knowledge translation to foster a more equitable and culturally responsive health system – a move which has, in part, led to my involvement in this project. I’m excited to share my skills, knowledge, and experience as we work together toward a more seamless, evidence-based, and inclusive response to 2SLGBTQ people who experience violence.

Julia Holiday-Scott (She/Her)

Director of Support Services, Prairie Harm Reduction

I grew up in a Northern community that offered no supports to the LGBTQ+ community. My personal experience with GBV and bigotry in this community taught me at a young age that the suffering and oppression of a minority group can be willfully ignored. This project looks to call attention to a long-standing issue and raise voices of individuals who have been systematically and personally held down. I am happy to have the opportunity to be a part of this important work. It is my hope that we can mobilize this knowledge into harm reductive change.

Kate Mckinnon (She/Her)

Teacher

I was drawn to work with this project because I want Saskatoon and the world in general to be a safer place for all people, including my students. Out Saskatoon does such wonderful work and when they were seeking a high school teacher to weigh in on students’ experience, I was happy to contribute

 

Krystal Nieckar (She/Her)

Executive Director, OUTSaskatoon, on Parental Leave

The GBV program is so needed and beneficial. The work that is being done has the ability to change the face of reporting abuse. It will allow survivors to feel empowered and strengthened for coming forward. This program will ensure that survivors are believed, and the way they decide to share their stories is enough and valid. I am proud to be a part of a program like this, as we will be able to make real systemic change for the better. We will offer education modules, provide tangible skills to help build up frontline organizations, and create more awareness around shame in our community.

Marjorie Beaucage (She/Her)

Community Elder

I am here to support the future. To help make the world safer for youth. I offer the knowledge and experience I have gained by living.

 

Omayra Issa (She/Her)

Journalist and Host

Renee Roy (She/They)

Registered Psychologist

Sara Dungaval (She/Her)

Psychiatrist

Sarah Pedersen (She/Her)

Counsellor

Teresa Laing (She/Her)

Riide Taxi Dispatcher

As someone who has experienced gender based violence and saw first hand the lack of supports and education, I want to try to help develop programs and systems to help others, so they won’t have to suffer alone. There is a desperate need for education, in policing, mental health and victim services. I hope through this council we can effect positive change for all in our community.

Thank You

Thanks to our former project contributers. You’re work is appreciated. 

Former staff members

Connor Rodriguez

(He/Him)

Former Community Support Advocate

Andrew Hartman

(They/Them)

 Former Evaluation Specialist

John Malyk

(He/Them)

Former Evaluation Assistant

Elise Kuterbach

(They/She)

Former Community Support Advocate

Former Advisory Council Members

Adam Linus (he/Him)

Job Coach

I first took part to be a council member to learn and gain awareness of the unforeseen global issue on a societal level surrounding the quality of services offered to individuals in the queer community. I decided to be involved as a part of the council to take part in the solution planning process through different project participation through my scope of practice to spread awareness. I am a member of the queer community and being a part of council allows me to learn more about my community and being to transfer that knowledge into different areas of my life and my occupation in the community.