Board of Directors
Isabelle-Anne Bisson, President
Co-founder of TerraHuman Solutions and Baie d’Urfé citizen
Dr. Isabelle-Anne Bisson is an expert in environmental impact and community needs assessment, helping communities and organizations achieve sustainability. Dr. Bisson has over 20 years of experience as a scientific consultant, coordinator and manager of science and conservation projects globally. She has led projects for the United States’ Department of Defense and headed a program in Uganda for a United States Agency for International Development initiative. She completed a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Science at McGill University and a Ph.D. at York University. She went on to conduct post-doctoral research at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and at Princeton University. In 2014, she co-founded and is now solely running TerraHumana Solutions (www.terrahumanasolutions.com), which offers expert services in science and sustainability. Recently, she worked closely with northern Indigenous communities on the environmental challenges they face with ongoing development and she presently works with the Mohawk communities of Kanesatake and Kahnawà:ke in Quebec on various environmental and community projects.
Wayne Clifford, Vice President
Lester B. Person School Board
Franca Kesic, Secretary
West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped (WIAIH)
Franca Kesic is the Coordinator of Community and Volunteer Relations at WIAIH. A graduate from Concordia University (BA in Applied Human Sciences with a specialization in Therpaeutic Recreation), Franca has over 15 years of experience working with families who have a child/adult with an intellectual disability or autism. Franca is passionate about working collectively with the community to help advocate and improve the quality of life of families living on the West island.
Tessa Trasler, Treasurer
Citizen of Pointe-Claire
Tessa graduated from McGill University with a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Genetics and went on to pursue a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. She enjoyed working with clinicians and researchers across Canada in early phase clinical research, patient health management and medical education. After taking early retirement she completed a Master Certificate in Organization Development (MCOD) from Schulich School of Business, York University. Tessa has always been interested in civic engagement, my local community and fundraising for important causes.
In 2016, Tessa became involved with the TQSOI board as Treasurer and an active member of the Health and Social Services Committee and Social Development Committee. She is a competitive women’s dragon boat team member and also enjoy yoga, cycling, X-country and snowshoeing.
Françoise Girard, Officer
After an international career of over thirty years in the United Nations system (UNESCO), Françoise has been living in the West Island since 2016. Her experience is mainly based on project development and management as well as fundraising for their funding, and also includes communication (media, web…), publications, event organization and translation.
In addition to her participation in the TQSOI, she is a volunteer at the Fritz Garden in Baie d’Urfé (vegetable garden for food banks).
Stephanie Trenholm, Officer
Literacy Unlimited
Stephanie Trenholm is a retired ‘family medicine’ nurse. With many years of volunteer experience in the elementary and secondary public school systems, she has served consecutive terms on school governing boards and on numerous other committees, always advocating for families. She has been a Literacy Unlimited tutor for adults since 2008 and served a six year term on their board directors.
Joining the TQSOI in 2014, she represents Literacy Unlimited, advocating for adults with low literacy and the daily challenges that they face. She has also served on the TQSOI Social Development Committee since 2015 and participates in the TQSOI Poverty and Social Exclusion Committee. In all her volunteer work she is guided by her desire to advocate for families and to be a part of the positive change that she wants to see in our community.
Ruth Greenbank, Officer
West Island Community Resource Centre (CRC)
Marla Newhook, Officer
West Island Citizen Advocacy (WICA)
Professional background
Marla has been the Director of West Island Citizen Advocacy from since August 2016. She worked as the publicity Coordinator from 2003-2016. She worked as a Community Working in the Matching Program from 2005-2009. She was a regular contributor to the Montreal Gazette West Island as a freelance writer and columnist until 2015.
Marla graduated from Print Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry until moving to Montreal in 1991. In 1992 she went back to school at Dawson Institute of Photography and worked as a photographer until 1997.
Personal background
Stayed at home with her children when her daugher was born in 1998, followed by her son in 2000.
Volunteer with Volunteer West Island until 2000.
Volunteer with WICA since 1999.
Volunteer with West Island Mission since 2005.
Volunteer with Native Montreal since 2016.
Ian Candfield, Officer
CIBC Wood Gundy
Ian is a long time West Island resident living in beautiful Baie d’Urfe.
As an Investment Advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy he runs a full- service investment business catering to High Net- Worth Individuals and to Corporations.
He is passionate about Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), which allows him to align my personal beliefs with my investment choices. He is a member in good standing of the Responsible Investment Association of Canada.
Ian holds a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree from the University of Guelph and a Certificate in Accounting and Finance from McGill University. In addition to his Life Insurance license, he holds the Financial Management Advisor (FMA) designation. He also specializes in the 50 plus market and is currently seeking certification for the Elder Planning Counsellor (EPC) designation.
Ian is committed to making a difference in my community. He is currently an assistant coach for the U 14 Pointe – Claire Boys Intercity A Soccer Team and is coaching the West Island Stars, an Elite Spring Hockey Team. In addition he supports the Crusade Against Cancer – a West Island charitable organization.
Staff
Alena Ziuleva, Director
Alena holds a master’s degree in Social Work from McGill University. She is passionate about collaborative community development, which she believes is the most effective and efficient approach to improvement of the quality of life and poverty reduction.
Shannon Coulter-Low, Communications and Liaisons Coordinator
Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Concordia University and a master’s in Geography and Environmental studies from the University of Toronto. She is the Coordinator of the housing dossier as well as the Communications and Liaisons Coordinator.
Camille Rivet, Project coordinator, food security dossier
Camille holds a master’s degree in sociology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Université de Montréal. She has always been interested in community development and is working as both an intervener and as a researcher. Moreover, it was her work with people living in vulnerable situations that led her to take an interest in the issues of food security.