Board Members
Independent Living Canada Board of Directors 2010/2011
Executive
Cecilia Carroll - National Chairperson
Torbay, NL
Katie Paialunga - 1st Vice Chairperson
Ottawa, ON
Mike Richter - 2nd Vice Chairperson
Regina, SK
Suzanne Larocque - Treasurer
Kapuskasing, ON
Paula Saunders - Secretary
Kitchener, ON
Members at Large
James Davis - Member-at-Large
Thorold, ON
Rick Goodfellow - Member-at-Large
Whitehorse, YT
Mike Murphy - Member-at-Large
Kingston, ON
Provincial Delegates
Mike Hanson - Provincial Delegate - British Columbia
Victoria, BC
Satwinder Gill - Provincial Delegate - Alberta
Calgary, AB
Mike Richter - Provincial Delegate - Saskatchewan
Regina, SK
Katie Paialunga - Provincial Delegate - Ontario
Ottawa, ON
Anne Marie Desmarais - Provincial Delegate - Quebec
Val d'Or, QC
Greg Doyle - Provincial Delegate - New Brunswick
Miramichi, NB
Jim Arnott - Provincial Delegate - Nova Scotia
Cole Harbour, NS
Catherine Rodgers - Provincial Delegate – Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, NL
Cecilia Carroll has been volunteering within the disability community in St. John's, NL for over 15 years. Cecilia says that this experience has taught her that respect for one another, hard work and some fun along the way go hand in hand. Her focus for the last several years has been the Independent Living Movement. She is a very strong believer in the IL Philosophy and its Guiding principals of Consumer Controlled, Community Based organizations which offer services designed by and for people with disabilities. Some of her volunteer work includes: Treasurer - Independent Living Canada Board of Directors, Chairperson - Independent Living Canada Accreditation Committee, Chairperson - Independent Living Resource Centre, St. John's, NL, Member - Coalition of Persons with Disabilities.
Paula Saunders
Paula Saunders has been a staff member at the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region since 1988. She was previously on the IL Canada Board for 12 years and has returned after a break of six years. As a person with a disability, Paula has been an advocate for change and the removal of barriers in her community. Paula is married with three children and six grandchildren.
Katie Paialunga
Leading up to the position as Executive Director at the Ottawa Independent Living Resource Centre Katie was a Human Resource Manager with a large High Tech company in Ottawa. She has now been in her current position for over 12 years working with various community organizations, Government, and individuals supporting the development of a greater community. Katie has raised two children and also has been very active at different level in a variety of wheelchair sports. Currently she is a recipient of Quest for Gold funding for Wheelchair Curling.
Mike Richter
Michael is currently the Executive Director of SSILC (South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre). He has worked for various community and political organizations over the last nine years, and has first-hand experience with advocacy, systemic barriers, crisis intervention and community network development.
At Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, he was involved with the Saskatchewan Assured Income for people with Disabilities (SAID) program, the Program Implementation Advisory Team (PIAT), as well as being involved in a Task Team which recommended benefit structure and administration of a separate income support program for persons with work-limiting disabilities in Saskatchewan.
His professional affiliations include the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, Collaborative Advisory Team Member, Mayor’s Task Force on Access, Customer Service Consulting with Service Canada College and Application and Review Committee Member for the Opportunities Fund.
Suzanne Larocque
Suzanne became involved with the Disability Resource Center for Independent Living in Kapuskasing (Ontario) in July 2002, when she began attending the weekly Living Workshops – a support group for people living with chronic pain. It was a lifesaver for her and in her appreciation, she became a volunteer. Sue joined the Board of Directors in 2004. With her financial and bookkeeping background, coupled with her experience from owning a hospitality business, she became the Treasurer for the Board of Directors in 2006. Sue was appointed as the Francophone Representative for the DRCIL and actively promotes services for people living with a disability whose first language is French, through partnerships with Le Reseau (a network of Francophone Independent Living Centers) and with several Provincial and National projects she has helped promote.
In 2010, Sue was appointed to the National Board of Directors for Independent Living Canada. Her passion for the Independent Living philosophy and the pleasure she derives from assisting other people with the information she acquires through her encounters with various committees and organizations makes her a great asset to her community, to the movement and to people with disabilities.
James Davis
James Davis of Thorold has an extensive background in disability related issues focusing largely on youth with disabilities. He sat on Niagara College’s accessibility advisory committee. Currently he sits as the board chair of the Niagara Centre for Independent Living (NCIL) and the chair of the Niagara Accessible Sport Commission. He was most recently elected to Independent Living Canada’s board of directors. James also volunteers at NCIL running the youth leadership program. He is the co-captain of the Brock Niagara Penguins wheelchair basketball team as part of the team he also acts as a spokesperson for the program. He began his post secondary education in Child and Youth Studies than transferred and received his diploma in Educational Assistant Special Needs Support.
Rick Goodfellow
Rick Goodfellow, a former Chairperson of IL Canada, is the Executive Director of Challenge Vocational Alternatives and CEO Career Industries Ltd. in Whitehorse, YT.
He is presently serving as a member of the Yukon Human Rights Commission, the Chair of the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee to the City of Whitehorse, a member of the Accessibility Committee with the Calgary Airport Authority and is a private consultant to governments on accessibility issues.
Rick served as Program Planner/Manger of Disability Related Employment Supports program for the Government of Alberta, sat on the Minister’s Employability Council, co-chaired the Alberta Disabilities Forum, and was ED of the ILRC Calgary for 6 years.
Satwinder Gil
Satwinder (Sat) Gill is an entrepreneurial minded individual. He specializes in designing accessible web sites. Sat's educational background and training includes certificates in Desktop Publishing, New Media and Small Business Development.
Sat has volunteer experience with other organizations such as, Communities in Action for Children & Youth and the Ability Society of Alberta. Sat is a strong supporter of the Independent Living Movement and has been serving on the Calgary Independent Living Resource Centre Board of Directors since 2004.
Greg Doyle
Greg Doyle has been an advocate for persons with disabilities for most of his adult life. He was a founding member of the IL Centre in Miramichi in 2007, as well as Past Board Chair (2010) and he is a current staff member.
Greg has played an active role in politics in New Brunswick bringing disability issues to the attention of politicians on both the provincial and federal levels. In addition, Greg is also a member of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada and an active member of Council 8381 Knights of Columbus (3rd Degree). He has also coached men’s fast pitch Softball since 1991, winning provincial titles in 2005 and 2010.
Catherine Rodgers
Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Catherine Rodgers has been working in the disability field and the disability movement for more than fifteen years. During that time, she has worked for, with, and on behalf of persons with disabilities both provincially and nationally.
A long time supporter of independent living principles, Catherine is a member of the ILRC, and COD-NL. She also volunteers with People First of NL, the ILRC, and the St. John’s Status of Women Centre. She is the Community Inclusion and Resource Coordinator for People First of Canada.
Catherine has a wide variety of interests, hobbies, and skills and, among other activities, enjoys writing, photography, and multimedia craftwork.
