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Our Team

Meet the team of inspiring change makers who represent and coordinate the Hubs and Circles that make up our National Network.

National Steering Committee

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Ishbel Munro

NSC Representative & Board Member - East Hub

Ishbel has been an activist and community builder for over 50 years, and has developed projects like “On Common Ground”, which brought together the African Nova Scotian, Mi’Kmaq, Acadian and fishing communities to learn about each other’s culture and histories. The thread that runs throughout her life is the creation of a more balanced, just world – where people can heal and grow to become the people they dream of being.

A fat, curly brown-haired, light-skinned Anishinaabequay (First Nation Woman) with Irish blood smiles into the camera.

Vanessa AnakwudwabisayQuay Cook

NSC Representative & Board Member - West Hub

Vanessa loves working in Circle to share spirit led knowledge and experiences that combat colonialism and contribute to the wellbeing in each of us. She is an Anishanaabekwe living in Winnipeg. She is from Peguis First Nation, has Ojibwe, Cree and Irish/Settler blood, and belongs to the Mikinak/Turtle and Doud Clan. In all the Circles of her life Vanessa is an Oshkaabewis/Helper to The People.

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Renée Vaugeois

NSC Representative & Board Member - West Hub

Renée originates from Wildwood Alberta and is a 5th generation Canadian of Ukrainian, French and Métis descent. She is the Executive Director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Right, and is founder of Ainembabazi Children’s Project and the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights. Since 2015, Renée also serves as a Director for Women in International Security Canada, a professional network of women in the peace and security field. Her educational background includes a Master’s of Political Science from the University of Alberta with a focus on international political economy, global governance and peace building.

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Anne Mark

NSC Representative & Advisor - CDF

Anne is the Director of Programs at the Catherine Donnelly Foundation. She is passionate about finding ways for adult educators and community organizers to build a movement of social and environmental change across our many geographies. She has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit realm and sees philanthropy’s responsibility to catalyze change.

National Coordinator

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Ally Crockford

National Coordinator

For over 10 years, Ally has been working with organizations across industries and continents. A passionate social justice educator, communicator, activist, and advocate, she is always looking to tell stories, engage communities, and facilitate change.

Connect with Ally

Chrystal Toop

Content & Communications Coordinator

Chrystal (she/her/kwe) is an innovative thinker and Anishinaabe matriarch, midewinini and member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. 

An experienced Storyteller, public speaker and author, Chrystal applies her skills as a mental health practitioner and community educator to strive for restorative healing justice for all.

Best known as a grassroots collective founder of Aunties on the Road Full Spectrum Doula Collective and the Indigenous Death Doula Collective, Chrystal also serves her ancestral, unceded Algonquin territory through her community practice, Blackbird Medicines.

Connect with Chrystal.

Learn more about Chrystal’s community practice.

Coordinators

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Khaoula Bengezi

Hamilton Circle Coordinator

Khaoula is the Hamilton Righting Relations Program Coordinator and a PhD candidate at the department of Politics at York University. She is interested in radical social change and anti-colonial/decolonial praxis. Khaoula has been with Righting Relations since 2019.

Connect with Khaoula

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Lisa Odle

Regina Circle Coordinator

Lisa is the Regina Circle Coordinator, and the phrase “righting relations” describes her work and her goals, at both the familial and corporate level. Her heart’s desire is to be in a right relationship with the Creator and her family; and to build and strengthen healthy, respectful relationships among people of different cultures, races, genders, religions, socio-economic backgrounds.

Connect with Lisa

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Ishbel Munro

East Hub Coordinator

Ishbel has been an activist and community organizer for her whole life. From the environment, to human and Indigenous rights, to bringing diverse groups of people together to find common solutions – the deep belief that we are all given gifts from the Creator and we can create a better world together – keeps her going.

Connect with Ishbel

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Renée Vaugeois

West Hub Coordinator

Renée originates from Wildwood Alberta and is a 5th generation Canadian of Ukrainian, French and Métis descent. She is the Executive Director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Right, and is founder of Ainembabazi Children’s Project and the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights. Since 2015, Renée also serves as a Director for Women in International Security Canada, a professional network of women in the peace and security field. Her educational background includes a Master’s of Political Science from the University of Alberta with a focus on international political economy, global governance and peace building.

Connect with Renée

A photo of an Indigenous woman with long dark hair and glasses, wearing a jean jacket and a black top. She is smiling at the camera against a background of textured glass squares.

Alyssa McLeod

Toronto Circle Coordinator

Alyssa is Anishinaabe-Ojibwe from Nipissing First Nation. Alyssa loves to travel, dance, explore the outdoors and take on new challenges and adventures. Alyssa shares her passion for individual and communal wellness, through the promotion of Mino Bimaadiziwin (the good life; good health), and encouraging safe environments that allow community members to uncover their unique gifts and strengths, including truth and connectivity to place and spirit.

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Stephanie Hill

Central Hub Coordinator

Stephanie Hill is a Haudenosaunee mother, grandmother, land defender, water warrior, helper and teacher from Six Nations on the Grand River. She is Mohawk from the Turtle Clan and lives and works in Tkaranto.

Stephanie has been a supporter, helper, teacher, and facilitator for over fifteen years. She has worked with Miziwe Biik, The Jean Tweed Centre, Women’s Rural Resource Centre Strathroy, and Native Child and Family Services Toronto, amongst others, and was Vice-President of the Circle of Directors for Anduhyaun Inc. Stephanie uses traditional teachings and ceremony from different nations to open up dialogue about roles and responsibilities in community.

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Mehrangiz Monsef

Winnipeg Circle Coordinator

Mehrangiz Monsef (she/her) is a curious and courageous leader who loves learning and being in nature. She is an Immigration Consultant, Public Speaker, Bridge-Builder and Truth & Reinstatement Change Agent with roots in Herat, Afghanistan and Nogojiwanong (Peterborough). She is an advocate for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+ and Refugee/Newcomer communities and has [co]Founded various grassroots Initiatives. As an equity-seeking community member, Mehrangiz credits her growth to the care and kindness she received from Mentors, Elders, Family and the many experiential and cross-cultural educational opportunities.

A candid photo of a group of people standing in the woods around a campfire. They are gathered in a spread-out circle formation, with most seated on wooden logs, and a few standing; they’re wearing jackets, hats, scarves, and other warm outerwear. Some are talking to each other, while others are just looking at the fire. The ground is covered with fallen leaves, and behind them is a landscape of evergreen trees and tree trunks.

Righting Relations Change Labs

In 2022, Righting Relations launched our women-led, pan-national Change Labs, funded by WAGE Canada. These Change Labs support educators and organizers with lived experience to design strategies, tools, and resources for systemic change in six key focus areas:

  • 2SLGBTQ+ (Gender and Sexuality)
  • Advancing the Calls to Justice - Gender-Based Violence
  • Anti-Ableism and Accessibility
  • Strengthening Black Women’s Leadership and Connection
  • Strengthening Indigenous Women’s Leadership and Connection
  • Strengthening Men’s Leadership and Connection
A graphic recording with a stylized tree in the centre. Instead of leaves, the branches stretch into figures with their arms raised. The tree is divided into the colours of the medicine wheel: black, red, white, and yellow. Clustered around the tree are more figures watering plants, climbing a ladder, or holding hands. Text surrounding the images reads, “Responding to and preventing sexual violence. Response - Support for Supporters; Healing and Ceremony for our Community; Policies and Procedures; Tools and Resources. Prevention - Education and awareness; Online safety and social media; Healthy relationships.”