Team
Todd Haspect
, 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 roles as a counsellor, clinical educator, & change management consultant. Through his time in the field, he has maintained a passion for amplifying voices of marginalized populations through advocacy of cultural humility and trauma informed perspectives. Todd was a patient partner in the first cohort of RTT-KAT, this experience has inspired his ongoing work with Roots to Thrive.
Other Board of Directors
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 ...
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....
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...
RN MscN
Board Member
Andrea has been leading health and wellness programs, serving British Columbians in Vancouver, and Vancouver Island for over 30 years. A specialist in Community and Hospital Mental Health and Addictions, Andrea has practised and led in diverse Specialty Hospital and Community settings, including ...
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...
RN, MSN
Program Nurse
Jo comes to the Roots to Thrive team with a nursing background in palliative, psychiatric, medical and minor-surgical patient care. Years of disrupted mental health inspired her to seek healing in a variety of alternative treatments. This lived experience informs her deeply compassionate approach...
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...
BHSc, CCAC
Alumni Facilitator
Kelsey first came to the Roots to Thrive team as a patient-participant and is thrilled to transition into a co-facilitation role. She has experience working as a counsellor with adults, youth, and families; her expertise is in the areas of mental health, substance use, and trauma. Kelsey is passi...
RPN BscN
Nurse Facilitator
Kerrie has been a Registered Nurse for nearly 20 years, working in inner city public health for nearly a decade, before moving to Vancouver Island where she has worked in mental health and substance use, primarily as a crisis nurse.
Kerrie has been part of the Roots to Thrive team since June 2021...
MA, RCC
Alumni Facilitator
Graham comes to the Roots to Thrive team with a passion for supporting people on their journeys of healing and growth. He has worked as a clinical counsellor since 2011 using an integrative therapeutic approach that includes the mind and body while honouring people’s inherent wisdom to heal thems...
M.Ed., B.H.Sc., C.C.C
Facilitator and SFN Liaison
Ryan lives and works on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw people. Ryan grew up in Northern Alberta, moving to Nanaimo, BC in 2018. Ryan has a strong passion for working with diverse and often times marginalized populations and loves being connected to people who are engaged in their own...
RN, BScN
Nurse Facilitator
Laura joins the Roots to Thrive team as a co facilitator following patient participation in cohort 3. She is accompanied by her 25 years as an oncology registered nurse specializing in Leukemia\ Bone Marrow transplant as an inpatient RN, outpatient RN and most recently a case manager. Having iden...
Facilitator
Hello Fellow Roots to Thrivers, My name is Allan Campbell and I am excited to be a part of the Roots to Thrive team. I come to this work as a curious participant with a desire for other means of supporting those I work with. I have been a counsellor over 20 yrs and have spent the majority of my c...
PHD, RCC
Facilitator, Sea to Sky RTT
As a clinical therapist and supervisor, Christine is informed by narrative and collaborative therapy practices. She has over 20 years experience working in the field of substance use, disordered eating and trauma. She has developed curriculum and taught group work, addiction counselling, and indi...
Deborah’s career has spanned the public, private and non-profit sectors. With 20 years in executive and senior management roles, she has led philanthropic grant-making of more than $27 million annually and fundraised $47 million in annual campaign and government revenue.
Involved in strategic pla...
BSW, MSW
Emmy Manson is a proud Snuneymuxw member dedicated to developing strong leadership and opportunities to live their best life. As an elected Council woman for her Nation Emmy has been a champion of addressing trauma and finding pathways to bring love and joy to her community.
Emmy brings a wealth ...
BScN MPH
My traditional name includes Emintchante from my father’s side, and Huukwamiis from my husband’s family. I am the great granddaughter of the late Xax’lip Chief Thomas Adolph, signer of the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe and member of the 1916 Delegation of the Indian Rights Association.
I have...
Scott is motivated by a deep desire to make transformative change in the lives of people with HIV, mental illness, addiction, poverty and complex medical needs. Scott joined the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation as Executive Director in 2017 and brings 30+ years in the non-profit sector. He has served as...
MA, RCC
Facilitator, Sea to Sky RTT
Ryan comes to RTT as a former participant (cohort three) and is excited to be guiding others through the program as a facilitator. He is motivated by the potential that therapeutic psychedelic experiences have to move people through places of long standing "stuckness". When not working with the R...
MA, RCC
Facilitator
Jolene is of mixed Northwestern European descent and feels grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional, unceded, and ancestral territories of the skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and shíshálh (Sechelt) First Nations; colonised as The Sunshine Coast, BC.
She is a Registered Clinical Couns...
MD, CCFP(PC,AM), FCFP, cGTT, CMAc, CAPM, PGcPain
Facilitator
Barb is thrilled to be a part of the RTT team as a facilitator after being a participant in Cohort 5. She is of European (German) ancestry living on the unceded territory of the K’omoks First Nations in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island since 1998.
Barb has been a Family Physician for 25 years...
