HSAS Committees

Click on a Committee below for more information


2024 Annual Convention Committee

Chair – Angela Barsalou, Executive Council and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7

Shelby Solomko, Secretary and Social Worker, Union Region 7
Cori Debert, Executive Council and Speech Language Pathologist, Union Region 7

Committee Support:
Mark Jagoe, Manager of Finance & Operations
Natalie Horejda, Manager of Communications
Jess Grant, Communications Officer
Dami Ibitoye, Communications Officer

Following the Annual Convention each year, Executive Council elects chairs for each committee. Shortly thereafter, each Chair selects members from Executive Council, and sometimes members-at-large to be a part of the committee. The Annual Convention Committee is responsible for making arrangements for the Annual Convention within the budget approved by the Executive Council.

Communications Committee

Chair – Colleen Howe, Executive Council and Assessor Coordinator, Union Region 11

Shelby Solomko, Secretary and Social Worker, Union Region 7
Alex Baber, Executive Council and Paramedic, Union Region 11
Todd Chivers, Executive Council and Addictions Counsellor, Union Region 7
Tracy Erickson, Board of Governor and Addictions Counsellor, Union Region 8
Karen Schmid, President and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7 (Ex-Officio)
Al Boutin, Executive Director

Committee Support:
Natalie Horejda, Manager of Communications
Kim Canning, Associate Executive Director – Labour Relations
Mark Jagoe, Manager of Finance & Operations
Jess Grant, Communications Officer
Dami Ibitoye, Communications Officer

The Communications Committee is responsible for developing a communications strategy regarding internal and external communications.

Executive Committee

Chair – Karen Schmid, President and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7

Crystal Bittman, Vice-President and Occupational Therapist, Union Region 11
Shelby Solomko, Secretary and Social Worker, Union Region 7
Krishna Vegunta, Treasurer and Physical Therapist, Union Region 7

Committee Support:
Al Boutin, Executive Director
Kim Canning, Associate Executive Director – Labour Relations
Mark Jagoe, Manager of Finance & Operations
Natalie Horejda, Manager of Communications
Heather Zazula, Executive Assistant

Grievance Committee

Chair – Haley Oshowy, Executive Council and Dietitian, Union Region 10

Angela Barsalou, Executive Council and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7
Colleen Howe, Executive Council and Assessor Coordinator, Union Region 11
Tracy Erickson, Board of Governor and Addictions Counsellor, Union Region 8
Robert Carnahan, Member at Large and Addictions Counsellor, Union Region 3
Julianna Cook, Member at Large and Physical Therapist, Union Region 7
Kelly Fuchs, Member at Large and Dental Health Educator, Union Region 11

Committee Support:
Kim Canning, Associate Executive Director – Labour Relations

The Grievance Committee is responsible for ensuring that all HSAS members are represented in a fair, consistent and reasonable manner.  This Committee will hear a member’s appeal of a decision by the Labour Relations Staff not to advance her grievance to arbitration.

Governance Committee

Chair – Karen Schmid, President and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7

Angela Barsalou, Executive Council and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7
Marisa Kermack, Executive Council and Social Worker, Union Region 7
Shelby Solomko, Secretary and Social Worker, Union Region 7
Crystal Bittman, Vice-President and Occupational Therapist, Union Region 11
Amy Ewart, Board of Governor and Mental Health Therapist, Union Region 11

Committee Support:
Al Boutin, Executive Director
Kim Canning, Associate Executive Director – Labour Relations
Heather Zazula, Executive Assistant

The Governance Committee is responsible for assisting Executive Council in all matters pertaining to the HSAS Constitution and Bylaws.

Finance Committee

Chair – Krishna Vegunta, Treasurer and Physical Therapist, Union Region 11

Cori Debert, Executive Council and Speech Language Pathologist, Union Region 7
Debra Clark, Executive Council and Assessor Coordinator, Union Region 11
Tara Watts, Member at Large and Pharmacist, Union Region 7
Amy Ewart, Board of Governor and Mental Health Therapist, Union Region 11
Karen Schmid, President and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7 (Ex-Officio)

Committee Support:
Mark Jagoe, Manager of Finance & Operations
Heather Zazula, Executive Assistant

The Finance Committee is responsible for managing the finances of HSAS.  Duties include:

  • Supervising the preparation of the annual budget.
  • Monitoring all revenue and expenditures in relationship to the budget

The Finance Committee also oversees the following portfolios:

  • Education Funds
  • Charitable Donations
  • Professional Contributions
  • Emergency Fund
Negotiating Committee

Chair – Al Boutin, Executive Director

Kim Canning, Associate Executive Director – Labour Relations
Karen Schmid, President and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7
Crystal Bittman, Vice-President and Occupational Therapist, Union Region 11
Angela Barsalou, Executive Council and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7
Cori Debert, Executive Council and Speech Language Pathologist, Union Region 7
Haley Oshowy, Executive Council and Dietitian, Union Region 10
Marisa Kermack, Executive Council and Social Worker, Union Region 7
Amy Ewart, Board of Governor and Mental Health Therapist, Union Region 11

Staff:
Natalie Horejda, Manager of Communications
Dustin McNichol, Manager of Economic and Policy Research
Judy Dodman, Labour Relations Coordinator

Occupational Health & Safety Committee

Chair – Adam Bue, Executive Council and Physical Therapist, Union Region 7

Crystal Bittman, Vice-President and Occupational Therapist, Union Region 11
Angela Barsalou, Executive Council and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7
Carman Dyer, Executive Council and Emergency Medical Dispatcher, Union Region 11
Tracy Erickson, Board of Governor and Addictions Counsellor, Union Region 8
Karen Schmid, President and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7 (Ex-Officio)

Committee Support:
Natalie Horejda, Manager of Communications
Kim Canning, Associate Executive Director – Labour Relations
Isabella Thomas, Labour Relations Officer
Braden White, Labour Relations Officer

The OH&S Committee develops and implements a process approved by Executive Council for the selection and tracking of HSAS Members to local OH&S Committees.

Strategic Planning Committee

Chair – Karen Schmid, President and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7

Crystal Bittman, Vice-President and Occupational Therapist, Union Region 11
Shelby Solomko, Secretary and Social Worker, Union Region 7
Krishna Vegunta, Treasurer and Physical Therapist, Union Region 11
Angela Barsalou, Executive Council and Respiratory Therapist, Union Region 7
Adam Bue, Executive Council and Physical Therapist, Union Region 7
Tracy Erickson, Board of Governor and Addictions Counsellor, Union Region 8

Committee Support:
Al Boutin, Executive Director
Kim Canning, Associate Executive Director – Labour Relations
Mark Jagoe, Manager of Finance & Operations
Natalie Horejda, Manager of Communications