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.
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
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
(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.
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
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.