Team
Phil Dames
Lead of Operations & Organization Steward
Phil Dames is a settler of mixed European descent, incredibly grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional unceded territory of Stz’uminus First Nation. He is the son of George and Leslie Dames, the brother to Amy and Bumper, father to Piper and Beckett , and life partner to Shannon Dames.
Professionally, Phil is a co-founder and Director of Operations at Roots to Thrive, primarily focusing on the different structures within RTT to guide and inform the operations in a good way.
Phil is passionate about men’s health and the cultivation of environments that promote emotional awareness and expression. He has a keen interest in the intersection of music and psychedelic-assisted therapies and the creation of different playlists to use during therapeutic sessions. Phil curates the playlists utilized during the different RTT medicine sessions. Nature and music tend to occupy Phil’s spare time, when it exists.
Other Ex-officio Member
RN, MPH, EdD
Visioning and Development Lead & Organization Steward
Shannon Dames (maiden Magnus) is a third generation immigrant with mixed ancestry from Britain, Norway, and Germany. She is a descendant of GT Magnus and Lianne Telnes, the proud mother of Piper and Beckett Dames, and the life partner of Phil Dames. She lives and serves as a Health Professional ...
MD
Medical Lead and Organization Steward
Dr. Pamela Kryskow is the medical lead for the Roots To Thrive Program. She is a founding board member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada and the medical chair of the Vancouver Island University Post Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic Medicine assisted Therapy. Pam is also a a clinical i...
MD, FRCPC
Mental Health (inc. Psychiatry) Lead & Organization Steward
Crosbie completed his MA in Psychology at Lakehead University, prior to completing Medical School at McMaster in 1991. Following medical school, Dr. Watler completed his residency in psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Crosbie relocated to Duncan BC in 2001, working with Island Health in diverse ...
Somatic Energy Modalities Lead & Organization Steward
Helen comes to the team with a background in integrative health delivery. She earned advanced certifications in Eden Energy Medicine and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Her work heightens awareness at the level of body-mind, supporting the innate capacity for healing. Helen is playing a lead ...
Lead Elder
In my role as a VIU Elder-in-Residence, I work directly with students and Faculty/Professors in Health and Human Services programs at VIU and the Shq’apthut/Gathering Place. I share my Traditional Knowledge to work with all programs within the Health & Human Services and within the Shq’apthut...
RN(c), MN, DMin
Medicine Administration Nursing Lead, Facilitator
Gail brings nearly 50 years of nursing experience to Roots to Thrive. Much of her career has been working with and for Indigenous people and communities. Gail promotes awareness of physical, mental, and spiritual health issues associated with past traumas and walks beside people as they reconnect...
Development Integrator (focus on curriculum and evaluation)
Wes’s core practice is recognizing the heart and beauty in everyone. Joining in the early days of the Roots to Thrive community was therefore a no-brainer. During the ‘80s and ‘90s, he worked as a therapist in addiction and trauma recovery in the US and Australia. He focused on providing advanc...
RPN, BSN, MBA
Intake lead, Nurse Facilitator
Julia comes to the Roots to Thrive team with over twenty years experience as a front-line registered psychiatric nurse. Julia completed her nursing training in New Zealand before becoming certified in California and then Canada. Julia has practiced in a wide variety of clinic areas including inpa...
M.Ed., RCC
Lead Therapist, Facilitation and Alumni Lead
Todd is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. He entered the field of mental health and substance use as a peer support worker in 1998 and his work since that time, has been focused supporting humans heal impacts of trauma, mental health, substance use challenges. Todd brings experience in various r...
MA, RCC
Operations Integrator, Facilitator
Krys is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, and she has worked in the Mental Health and Substance Use field for 25 years, managing teams in various leadership capacities. This varied experience working in clinical environments offers a thorough understanding of the challenges in health care and a p...
Participant Navigator
Rebecca was born and raised in Maple Bay on Vancouver Island. She is a student at UVic where she is completing her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. She works as Participant Navigator coordinating intakes and communications between program participants and the Roots to Thrive Team. She is pass...
Participant Navigator
Lindsay was born and raised on Vancouver Island. She is grateful to live and work on the traditional unceded territory of Snuneymuxw First Nation. She has a strong passion to support both participants and the team of RTT, but all humans in general. She holds an honours certificate in Medical Tr...
