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 Addiction and Mental Health for the past 14 years and holds a B.A. and MSc in Psychiatry, both from the University of Alberta. Carlee has been committed to volunteering over the years and is passionate about empowerment and equality for women and their families. In her free time, she enjoys running, spending time with her family and doing anything outdoors. Carlee is honoured to sit on the Riseup Board of Directors to help those impacted by intimate partner violence in the Leduc area and surrounding communities.

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.

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.