BIO
I'm a creative and relationship-driven communications professional who is always seeking out the balance between classy and kitschy that will allow me to extract every last ounce of fun out of life, while still leaving my employers, teammates and direct reports inspired and energized.
I'm well-rounded.
This means I have done almost every kind of work with almost every type of person from uptight astronauts and some of the world's leading executives, to dedicated veterinarians who study bison semen and rogue opera singers bent on bringing Canada to the world stage.
I spent many of my 23 years in the field as a business journalist, writer, editor and humour columnist—primarily with PostMedia. I have worked with hundreds of businesses, government agencies and NGOs as a marketing and comms professional. I am a passionate advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), economic reconciliation and Indigenous women in business. I am currently the vice president of communications, marketing and events for the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and am also a journalism instructor at a Calgary college. I am an entrepreneur and the owner of a Certified Aboriginal Business and a member of the Association of Indigenous Journalists.
I'm a very proud mom, an adventurer, live music lover, great listener and good gabber.
I am an active member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and come from a line of amazing and steadfast Cree and Blackfoot matriarchs with roots in the Red River Settlement in Manitoba as well as the Métis of Willow Bunch and Qu'Appelle in Saskatchewan. My Métis family names include Laroque, Klyne, Poitras, Piché and Beauchemin.
I love ideas. I love to conceive them, dissect them, nurture them, run with them and dance over their unlikely victories in a world that is hard on ideas indeed.
I know what I'm good at. I know what I'm not good at. I think that comes with age and experience.
I am joyful. I always try to energize and motivate. I love sharing about my Métis heritage and learning the beautiful Michif language.
There is nothing that brings me more satisfaction than seeing the people around me feel appreciated and succeed.
Feel free to request my CV if you want the nuts and bolts and ins and outs.