Staff
Alena Ziuleva
Director
Alena is passionate about collaborative community development, which she believes is the most effective and efficient approach to the improvement of the quality of life and poverty reduction. With her wisdom and guidance, she exerts a positive influence far and wide. Alena holds a master’s degree in Social Work from McGill University.
514-505-0840 ext. 2
Valérie Laramée
Executive Assistant
As an active West Island community member, Valérie has invested herself in many resident-led projects and activities throughout the years. She hopes to help achieve and preserve social equality and opportunity for all West Island residents.
514-505-0840 ext. 3
Roxana Stoleru
Project Manager, Community Engagement and Diversity
Roxana Stoleru has been involved in supporting West Island art community for over ten years and is an advocate for sustainable living. Roxana has a Business Administration degree from the Academy of Economic Studies (Bucharest, Romania) and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Assessment from McGill University.
514-505-0840 ext. 6
Ilham Siba
Program Manager, Housing
Ilham is a Moroccan feminist passionate about social justice and human rights, who recently moved to Canada. She worked in the non-profit field for ten years and managed different projects on human rights where she worked closely with civil society organizations and other stakeholders, giving support to amplify their work. Her focus was mainly on migration and mobility rights and therefore participated in different programs in Africa and Europe. Ilham holds a master’s degree in communications and is certified in Monitoring and Evaluation.
514-505-0840 ext. 12
Marie-Ève Lemaire St-Gelais
Community Network Project coordinator, Food Security
Marie-Ève’s mission is to help build inclusive communities, resilient food systems and a healthy environment for present and future generations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Environmental sciences with a major in Global Food Security from McGill University.
514-505-0840 ext. 10
Marko Radivojevic
Mobilization Agent
Marko is an urban planner at heart whom possesses a bachelor’s degree specialized in Urban Planning from Concordia University and is a master’s student in Project Management in Construction Developments at the University of Montreal. He has worked in the public domain for the City of Montreal to address water sustainability and has analyzed the environmental, economic, and social impacts that buildings have in our surroundings.
514-505-0840 ext. 5
Melissa Giacomini
Community Liaison – Housing
Melissa is passionate about collective collaboration towards a more socially just world. Having worked in a variety of areas across social services in Toronto and Montreal, community building is at the heart of her work and life. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Social Work (York University) and Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto.
514-505-0840 ext. 7
Board of Directors
Joan Lee, President
Joan is a community leader and youth mentor. Her excellent work ethic and passion for community work has been a guiding force in the West Island. Joan is the President of the West Island Black Community Association (WIBCA), a volunteer-led community organization. The recipient of the CBC BLACK Changemaker 2021 award, she also volunteers as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Island who presented her with a Certificate of Recognition for being an outstanding Big Sister and demonstrating the values of the organization. She was also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation in December 2020 by Partageaction (West Island Community Shares) for her commitment to helping the West Island community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joan does the work she does to inspire the community and believes that Together we are stronger!
Carine A.Dahab, Vice-President
Carine grew up in the West Island. Having earned a bachelor’s in sexology, her perspective of the world is unique in a way. She continuously is training and learning, while doing some volunteer work. A love story started with community work over a decade ago. She can connect dots quickly and her creativity has got her to create interesting collaborations within the WI.
Everything and everyone is connected. We just need to stop and see how. This is what makes a village. Let’s use our strengths for the betterment of it. As a new business owner, she works with the lens of intersectionality, community approach and mostly aims her services to BIPOC and new arrival communities. Let’s not forget, mostly and foremost, the human approach she uses. She’s learning to navigate this world with vulnerability and humaneness. She’s eternally grateful to the people who share and entrust their stories with her. These tools and approaches are the ones she wants to offer the TQSOI since she’s aware of the extra hurdles the south faces to get adequate access to services.
Mark Walford, Treasurer
Mark Walford has been on board of several West Island non-profits over the years, this includes Community Perspective in Mental Health (PCSM), the Table de Concertation en Santé Mentale, les Porte-voix du rétablissement and the Block Parents Pointe-Claire. Mark also has a large amount of experience working with, assisting and volunteering with a number of community organizations. This includes PCSM, as a peer support worker, as well as for the Pairs Aidants J’Écoute helpline. Mark is a leader and spokesperson of the West Island Citizens Group (WICG). Finally, he is no stranger to our local schools, where he’s helped run events and has been part of associations. Mark’s previous career was in banking, accounting and finance.
Sheila Laursen, Secretary
Sheila was a registered nurse before becoming a mother, homemaker, and community volunteer for many years before returning to work. When she did, it was in the field of community development.
Sheila was the first Co-ordinator of the West Island Community Resource Centre before beginning a 23 year career with the YMCA of Montreal, working as the Director of Community Programs for the YMCAs of NDG, West Island and Centreville before expanding her scope as Director of International Programs for the YMCAs of Quebec up until her retirement in 2010.
Since then, she has returned to West Island volunteer roles with her church, Child Haven International, the YMCA, Meals on Wheels, TQSOI, Corbeille de pain, and helping refugees and asylum-seekers. Now she sometimes misses the “free time” when she was working full-time!
Howard Nadler, Officer
Howard is passionate about community development. With a long history of working in the area of child welfare and with seniors, he believes that strong communities support families, children and vulnerable citizens. Howard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science, a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Certificate in Health and Social Services Management. He has made a commitment to devote a good part of his retirement years to contributing to and strengthening West Island community organizations.
Kathleen Greenfield, Officer
Writer, editor, professor, program coordinator, and volunteer, Kathleen has occupied frontline and administrative positions in health and social services, academia, and in the community sector over many years. As Faculty Lecturer at McGill teaching academic and professional communication since the late 1990s, coupled with her dual roles of Community Relations Coordinator and Corporate Volunteer Program Coordinator at Volunteer West Island, as well as through her extensive volunteer involvement in the community, she recognizes the crucial importance of resource facilitation and advocacy. Throughout her remunerative and non- remunerative work, she makes knowledge of and accessibility to resources a priority.
David Hawkins, Officer
Mehmet Deger, Officer
President DORVAL Mosque.
Raissa Marks, Officer
With over 20 years in the non-profit sector, Raissa Marks is a collaborative leader with a passion for fostering healthy communities and empowering the people within them. She is the founder and principal consultant of Lily Mark, whose social purpose is to strengthen organizations and support collaboration for change. Raissa is a skilled facilitator with extensive experience leading diverse groups of people through consensus-based decision-making processes. She is a certified coach who helps her clients achieve clarity and realize transformative professional and personal growth. She is a strategic thinker with experience in policy work at both the federal and provincial levels. She lives with her family in Dorval.
Hana Shin, Officer
Hana Shin is a lifelong West Island resident and a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 10 years of experience in accounting, audit and tax across the private sector and global and mid-sized public accounting firms. She currently works as a Senior Accountant in the Dorval region. In addition to her financial career, Hana is pursuing a degree in Social Work at McGill University, having experience in clinical settings, community work, long-term care, and supporting older adults and caregivers. Her background also includes extensive experience in award-winning event planning within the university and accounting sectors. Blending financial expertise with a passion for social advocacy, Hana brings a unique mix of business acumen, empathy, and a commitment to social justice. In her free time, she is an avid cat lover, foodie, and fitness enthusiast.
