STAFF

Acting Executive Director

Leslie Lambert

Leslie has been with VAD since mid April 2024. Her well rounded experience comes from working as a Logistics Officer with the Military for over 25 years. As the Executive Director, Leslie is responsible for the finances, administration, and Human Resources at VAD. In her spare time she volunteers with her local Community Council, helping with their monthly activities, spend lots of time with friends, attends the theatre and plays, and enjoys reading and walking her little dog.

Program & Services
Manager

Teresa Makarewich

Teresa has been with VAD since July 2017, she brings over 20 years administrative skills and experience to the office.  Proficient in Microsoft programs, videography/podcasts and editing, website maintenance, event planning, graphic design, and many more skills, Teresa started as an Office Assistant and has worked her way up the ladder to Program & Services Manager.  She works directly with clients in a service role and supports the office management in policies, programs and projects.  Teresa spent the last 10 years playing roller derby and included in her interests are the annual Edmonton Mud Run each August, and she is a 30+ year volunteer with Edmonton Folk Music Festival.

Education Coordinator

Michelle Bissell

Michelle is the Education Coordinator at Voice of Albertans with Disabilities. She has been with VAD for a total of 10 years; 2 years on the Board of Directors and 8 years as a contract employee.  Her core responsibility is the Disability Awareness Presentations, which includes marketing, setup, hosting presentations, recording the stats, and responding to the feedback. She loved horseback riding & has a wicked sense of humor…. So she has been told.

Community Support Worker

Chantelle Samoridny

Chantelle has been working with VAD since mid-November of 2024. An important part of her role as a Case Manager/ Community Support worker is being able to communicate well with our clients, being a good active listener and showing compassion.  With her critical thinking and her ability to collaborate with team members and other community resources, she finds the best support/resources that fits the clients’ needs. Everyone deserves to have quality of life, and anything she can do to help someone by advocating for them to achieve this is truly a blessing. One thing she enjoys for self-care is camping with her family and relaxing by the campfire.

Office Assistant

Melissa Kimmitt

Melissa has been with VAD since November 2024 and has extensive experience with attention to detail that helps her excel in her position. She is the office assistant at VAD, answering the phones, booking, cancelling, and rescheduling appointments, doing required mailouts, assisting with filing of documents, and other tasks assigned by staff in the office. She will be taking over the finances in due time and her experience with the Canada Revenue Agency will be invaluable in that area. She takes great pride in being good at what she does, both in her work and personal life. She is the fur parent to a sweet and funny orange tabby cat who keeps her on her toes and has a 25-year-old son who makes her proud to be his mother every single day. She enjoys spending time with friends and family in her down time.

Provincial Accessibility
Coordinator

Vacant

Acting President

Doug Manderville

Doug Manderville joined the Voice of Albertans with Disabilities (VAD) Board in 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector advocating for persons with disabilities. As someone with 30 years of lived experience as a person with a disability, Doug offers a unique and invaluable perspective to the organization. His commitment to fostering inclusion and empowering others drives his dedication to VAD’s mission.

Director

Bernard Boulanger

Bernard became a member of the Voice of Albertans with Disabilities Board in 2020.

Acting Director

Dom Shaw

Dom Shaw became a member of the Voice of Albertans with Disabilities Board in 2023.