Leanne Fischbuch has over 20 years of experience with not-for-profit governance, program delivery and management primarily in the agriculture sector. She has been a resident in Leduc County for over 16 years and has watched the communities within the area grow and prosper. The attraction to volunteer with Riseup is the opportunity for Leanne to give back to the community and help Riseup continue with the important vision of having a community free of domestic violence and abuse.

Carlee Ruddy is a Senior Consultant in Addiction and Mental Health with Alberta Health
Services. She has worked in the area of addictions and mental health for the past 12 years and holds a BA in Sociology and an MSc in Psychiatry, both from the University of Alberta. Carlee has been committed to volunteering with YWCA over the years and is passionate about empowerment and equality for women and their families. In her free time, she enjoys doing anything outdoors with her husband and two children. Carlee is honored to sit on the Riseup Board of Directors to help those impacted by domestic violence in the Leduc and surrounding communities.

Donna Chen has been a resident of Leduc for the past five years. She has been in the service industry for the past 35 years in various management positions. A local business owner, she holds the Tim Hortons franchise with restaurants in Leduc and Nisku. Donna always gives back to the communities where she lives. She volunteered with Big Sisters of Peel Region, and in the 1980s, with the Elizabeth Fry Foundation in Vancouver, B.C. She served as Rotarian in Invermere, BC., and has done significant work with the Family Resource Centre, where she served on the Board of Directors. The desire to serve women facing particular challenges in communities is very important to her. She is currently an Ambassador for the Tim Hortons Children Foundation that sends over 19,000 kids to the various camps in Canada and the USA on an annual basis. Her focus continues to be on, “possibilities not problems”. A quote she often shares is that “The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not fighting the old, but on building the new”.

Hunter Gates is a director, actor, stuntman, theatre-maker, and educator. She specializes in movement as well as in devised theatre performance. Hunter has more than 30 years of experience in the professional and community theatre, film and television. She trained in physical theatre at the School of Physical Theatre in Toronto. She holds a Ph.D. in theatre philosophy, a pedagogical certificate in Physical Theatre and a certificate in stunt performance and teaching. Hunter also has extensive experience in stage combat. Quite often during the year she performs and teaches nationally and abroad. She launched her post-university theatre career in Montreal at the Just for Laughs festival. She was the founding artistic director (1996 to 2016) of The Hunter Gates Academy of Physical Theatre, a school specializing in training, new-play creation and international collaborations. Dr. Gates provides artistic innovation and dedication to the voice and spirit of the community. Hunter specializes in the creation of programs for seniors, adults, and at-risk youth.

Diann Tansem has been a resident of Leduc for 10 years. She is a Registered Psychologist and is currently employed as a Clinical Supervisor with Alberta Health Services, Addiction & Mental Health. In addition, Diann has a part-time private practice in Leduc. She has worked with children, youth and families since 1981 and has a strong passion for helping others to live their best lives. Diann has been a Board Member with Riseup Society Alberta for three years and is committed to helping those who have been impacted by domestic violence.

Jen Aspelund graduated from Grant MacEwan with a Diploma in Child and Youth Care. She has worked with high risk youth exposed to or living with addictions and mental health issues including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, family violence, gang affiliations, and criminal behavior. She currently works for McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association as a group home Supervisor in Edmonton while residing in Beaumont. Jen’s experience in the twenty-five years she has worked with youth and their families, many of whom were victims of severe trauma, motivates her to want to make further contributions in addressing the negative impact of violence.

Bryce Laveck started in the business when he was 22. Under the tutelage of his mentor, he learned some valuable life lessons. Bryce followed his passion for business down the path of entrepreneurship starting three businesses. In 2002 he started a funeral service supply business, which continues to be successful. In 2016 a new challenge presented itself, an opportunity to help people in a different capacity. Bryce joined Edward Jones, opened his office on the south side of Edmonton, where he enjoys sharing his knowledge about wealth management. Upon hearing about Rise Up and the great service they provide Bryce wanted to share his experience and knowledge to further their cause. He looks forward to seeing the difference that one can make in the life of another.

Wanda Lehman has over thirty years of experience working in Alberta middle and senior high schools, serving in various capacities. Her roles have included teacher, school counsellor, principal, and division director of counselling. For the past five years she has worked in health care, teaching nurses the art and science of teaching. She has also offered a number of courses in elder care throughout the province. In addition to her professional work, Wanda spent years volunteering with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the ecumenical council for the Archdiocese of Edmonton, and as group facilitator for bereavement support groups in Leduc and St Albert.  Wanda is passionate about helping families and at- risk youth overcome adverse situations to become resilient, stronger versions of themselves.

Nadine has been a Leduc resident since 2001. Over the years, she’s been a very active community member sitting on the board of The Leduc and District Food Bank for 8 years, currently sits as a Legacy Board Member for the Boys & Girls Club of Leduc and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Nisku Leduc since 2013. Nadine has volunteered in a variety of other capacities as well including the host committee for the 2009 Alberta Cup, chair for the MP Charity Hockey Challenge, various large curling events, Alberta Summer Games and Alberta Winter Games all hosted in Leduc. Nadine is a huge supporter of all things local including charities, non-profits & business believing that it’s important to give back to the community that has given so much to her. It’s exciting to be able to join the Rise Up Society board to continue the good work of the organization.

Eugene Miller has been a resident of Leduc since 1996 and an active volunteer in the Leduc community for more than 15 years. He holds a BA (U of Waterloo), a Masters’ degree (U of Alberta) and a PhD (Gonzaga U). He has extensive experience as a teacher and Superintendent of Schools in public and Catholic school systems in Ontario and Alberta. Eugene has received a variety of awards including Citizen of Distinction (City of Leduc) 2009, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal 2013, Rotary Club Integrity award and the City of Leduc Achievement Award. 2013. Eugene is a volunteer for various schools, was the Director of Volunteers for the Alberta Summer Games 2016, taught ESL classes at the Leduc Public Library for 7 years, is currently a Volunteer Ambassador at the Edmonton International Airport and volunteers as a Porter at Salem Nursing Home.