Board Members

The ESCC Board of Directors is responsible for effectively governing the organization through strategic decision-making, policy-setting, and financial accountability. The Board includes representatives from senior-serving and supportive organizations as well as members at large. Board members act as stewards, monitoring and drawing attention to important issues of concern to Edmonton’s seniors. The Board is accountable to ESCC members, stakeholders, and the broader community. The Board oversees the Executive Director to act as the operational leader.

Executive Members of the Board

Wendy King

Member at Large

Wendy has over 35 years of accounting, business, leadership and governance experience. She has served seniors in the continuing care sector since 2001 through the development and operation of publicly funded and private not for profit seniors residences.

During her career, she has been responsible for leading the operations of affordable and market supportive living sites and providing strategic, operational and financial direction and support for continuing care programs including long term care, end of life, designated supportive living, adult day support and home care.

Wendy has collaborated through engagement and governance in organizations and associations within the sector to advocate and bring about needed change and quality improvement to community social services, seniors care and housing.

Since retiring, Wendy continues to contribute to the seniors sector through leadership on boards including ESCC. She is also a Certified Executive Coach, fulfilling her purpose by coaching leaders at all levels.

Marilyn Buchanan

Chris Chilibeck

Treasurer

Senior serving organization: Sage Seniors Association

Christopher received a BSc in Pharmacy in 2001 and is a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Initial Access Prescriber. He is Pharmacy Manager at Betterlife IDA and Clinical Pharmacist in the Sage Medical Clinic. He is also a preceptor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and has prior experience with Assisted Living and Long-Term Care.

He is interested in client-focused care, advocacy for seniors, education and encouraging discussion about seniors’ choices, and finding ways to connect physicians and Primary Care Networks with seniors without barriers. Christopher is driven to advance public health, sustainability and encourage independent decision making.

Directors of the Board

Deb Cautley

Deb Cautley – Mill Woods Seniors Association

Deb Cautley has served as the Executive Director for the Mill Woods Seniors Association since 2020. Since then, she has more than doubled membership in the organization, has developed several new social programs and built partnerships with the Alzheimer’s Society and others. She also served as the Executive Director for YESS for 19 years. Deb is the recipient of several awards including the Citizen of Distinction and the RISE Award (Recognizing Immigrant Success and Excellence) Supportive Community Service Award, Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. Deb is skilled at bringing forward new ideas, raising funds for programs and creating an inclusive atmosphere.

Brian Dompe

Brian Dompe – Sage Seniors Association

Brian Dompe spent 35 years in the federal and provincial governments largely in the areas of human resources and has served on several Boards including Habitat for Humanity, City of Leduc FCSS, and Bereavement Society of Alberta. He has worked as community volunteer for decades and over the last few years in Patient Oriented Research, healthy aging, ageism (predominately in the health care system) and financial literacy and security. Brian is currently serving as the Patient Advisor for the Executive Committee for the Alberta Strategy for Patient Oriented Research. Brian is described as a balancing force, pragmatic, practical and a high level thinker.

Wendy Doughty

Wendy Doughty – South East Edmonton Seniors Association

Serving as President of the Board of Directors of the South East Edmonton Seniors Association Wendy Doughty possesses an understanding of the importance of supporting older adults in our community, the need for resources and the value of working as a community. She has worked and volunteered in the seniors serving sector and focused her undergraduate thesis on seniors issues which was included in a report by the Ontario Social Welfare Council. She also brings experience developing programs for learners from the new Canadian, immigrants and those with disabilities. Wendy is committed to being a change maker who will support our diverse community of older adults in Edmonton.

Gisela Kwok

Gisela Kwok

Now retired, Gisela was a Director, Strategic Policy Branch, with the Government of Alberta for 30 years. She holds a Masters Degree in Arts – Economics from the University of Alberta. Her career path has been grounded in cross-sector collaboration and relationship building; negotiation and influencing skills; problem-solving; achieving results; and managing resources responsibly. Gisela is excited about the prospect of helping further shape ESCC’s vision and guide the operationalization of its mission and strategic plan. She sees this Board Member position as one in which she can contribute her strengths to achieve the organizational desired results within an Age Friendly Edmonton while adding value to ESCC, its network stakeholders, and partners.

Donald Langford

Donald Langford – Metis Child and Family Services Society

Don is currently the Executive Director of Metis Child and Family Services and has held that position for the past 25 years. Prior to that, he served for 37 years in the Canadian Armed Forces in many capacities. Don also brings with him a vast array of experiences the volunteer sector including board work with the Edmonton Food Bank, Zebra Child Protection, Aboriginal Veterans Society of AB and the Poundmaker Lodge Healing Centre to name only a few.

Maureen Ondrus

Maureen Ondrus

Now retired, Maureen was formerly a Vice President with the Alberta Motor Association; a complex organization where she held many positions such as Marketing and Membership. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and is keen to participate in an organization that recognizes that people have evolving needs and interests as they age. The ESCC Vision resonates with her.

Eric Storey

Member at Large

Throughout his professional career, Eric volunteered in various community-based programs. Following his 2007 retirement, he obtained a Bachelor of Social Work Degree.

Eric has served on governance boards of non-profits, government agencies, and trade associations. Additionally, Eric has ample experience initiating and serving on the steering committees of a number of on-going volunteer community projects.

Eric’s efforts are primarily focused on the areas of marginalized seniors, sexual/gender minority populations, and at-risk and in-care youth.

ESCC Staff Team

The Executive Director advises the Board on policy matters and provides regular updates. Acting under the direction of the Executive Director, the ESCC staff team is responsible for the day-to-day work of the organization and advising the Board in its decision-making. In executing operational functions, engaging stakeholders, and facilitating coordination in the sector, the ESCC staff team supports the Board of Directors in realizing its strategic vision.

ESCC's staff team is outlined below. To contact a staff member, you may:

Phone: call ESCC's main line at 780-423-5635 (extensions to individual staff members are listed below).
Email: write us at info@seniorscouncil.net. Your inquiry will be directed to the appropriate staff member.

Sheila Hallett

Executive Director

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Sheila Hallett began working as the Executive Director of the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC) in 2006 after several years as director of a local senior centre. In her time with ESCC Sheila has built strong partnerships with organizations that serve and support older adults in Edmonton and area. She values inclusion and collective approaches to addressing systemic issues that challenge human well-being. She is a coordinator at heart with a background in communications and social justice work.

Kym Schreiner

Strategic Manager

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Kym Schreiner joined the team in 2023 as the Strategic Manager. She has over 13 years of public policy experience – mostly with seniors’ issues, knowledge mobilization skills, and training in public health for vulnerable populations.

Through her leadership, collaborations and volunteering, Kym has championed issues important to older adults and recognizes the vital role of collective community action to engage, empower and enable older adults and support their well-being (ESCC’s Vision!).

Caroline Gee

Age Friendly Community Connector

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Caroline joined the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council in 2018. She began teaching an older adult fitness class after completing her AFLCA and continued to gain more experience working with seniors at SAGE. (formerly the Society for the Retired and Semi Retired) as a volunteer coordinator. Her passion is to make Edmonton a more age-friendly city so that older adults in can thrive and live in their community of choice. Fitness is an important part of her life and enjoys doing spin classes, cycling and resistance training.

Krista Mulberry

Project Manager - Social Prescribing

Krista Mulbery joined the team at ESCC in November of 2022 as the Social Prescribing Project Manager. Formerly Acting Executive Director at ElderCare Edmonton, Krista began working in recreation and wellness over 15 years ago and is a dedicated advocate for seniors’ health and wellness. Through her work, Krista has seen firsthand the benefits of social interaction, exercise, cognitive and leisure programs for seniors, and recognizes the vital impacts that community-based seniors serving organizations and healthcare teams provide in enhancing wellness, independence and overall health.

Megan Lala

Communications Coordinator

Megan joined ESCC in the spring of 2022. With a communications background in Edmonton's non-profit sector, Megan has experience in a variety of roles. She brings an expertise of visual communications, writing, event planning, photography, social media management, and much more.

For media inquiries, please reach out to info@seniorscouncil.net.

Gaylene Manuel

Administrative & Communications Specialist

Gaylene joined ESCC in the spring of 2022 to provide administrative support to staff and board members. She has a background in professional writing and enjoys working collaboratively on projects with her co-workers. Gaylene is thrilled to be working with strong, intelligent and creative people at ESCC and serving older adults in Edmonton.

Asheika Sood

Program Manager: Seniors Coordinated Outreach

Asheika is passionate about building stronger communities through ensuring social supports are accessible, welcoming, and built for those they serve. Asheika is really enjoying working with organizations across the city to think about how we can design outreach services collaboratively.

Nancy Wang

Practice Coordinator

Nancy has joined ESCC as our Practice Coordinator. Nancy has worked with diverse populations in crises for ten years. Nancy is a registered social worker. She is committed to deploying cultural competence and a social justice approach by understanding the intersectionality of personal cultural identities and systemic barriers. She is dedicated to advocating for marginalized and vulnerable older adults to enhance their well-being.

Cheryl Newton-Skirrow

Evaluation Facilitator

Cheryl came to ESCC in 2016, to help evaluate the collective impact project that was addressing social isolation of Edmonton seniors. She brings a background in adult education, not-for-profit management, project planning and evaluation. Cheryl loves to learn and is inspired by the cooperative, creative, age-friendly values that ESCC promotes and models in the projects it undertakes and the people it attracts.

Muna Jimale

EDI Engagement and Research Coordinator

Muna has recently joined ESCC as the new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Engagement and Research Coordinator for the Senior Sector Inclusion Project. Previously, she served as Manager of Policy and Advocacy at World Education Services, where she worked extensively with diverse populations, particularly immigrants and refugees, and has a history of working towards improving outcomes for marginalized communities.

Delia Nzekwu

Equity Specialist

Delia has many years of multi-sector experience across several countries, including a fifteen-year combined and broad experience in inclusion, equity and sustainability. Her work experiences include, as EDI consultant, advisor and co-chair, as director-general, lecturer, trainer and mentor in politics, journalism, and corporate social responsibility (CSR), and as head, corporate affairs. She was a lead on Wits University’s futures planning Cooperation Framework on Innovative Systems between South Africa and Finland (COFISA) on making Johannesburg a world class city by 2050.