Bio:

Karen has been President of HSAS since 2011. She has actively served HSAS since November 2004 when first elected as the Executive Council representative for Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists, Music Therapists and Orthoptists. She served in this role for seven years. As an Executive Council representative, Karen served on a number of HSAS committees, and in addition, held the executive officer position of Treasurer, and Chair of the Finance Committee for six years.
Karen was born in Saskatoon and raised in Yorkton where she completed her high school education at Yorkton Regional High School. She completed her Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Science degrees at Minot State University in Speech/Language Pathology. Before returning to Canada in May 1981, Karen completed a three-month externship at the Primary Children’s Hospital, in Salt Lake City, Utah, which involved working with a wide variety of communication disorders in preschool children (inpatient and outpatient) and also with adults residing in long term care facilities.

Having been employed in Saskatchewan’s health care system since 1981, Karen began her career in Public Health Services, in the Melfort –Tisdale Health Region (now the Saskatchewan Health Authority; formerly the Kelsey Trail Health Region). Since August 1983, she has been employed with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly the Saskatoon Health Region), serving the rural area of Saskatoon (Population and Public Health Services) providing speech and language diagnostic and therapy services to preschool children, 0-5 years. Karen is licensed with the Saskatchewan Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (SASLPA), and a member of the national professional association, Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC). She has served in a variety of executive positions in SASLPA, such as President, and served on a variety of committees such as Legislation and Bylaws, Professional Conduct and Discipline.

For recognition of her outstanding and visionary leadership to HSAS, Karen was the recipient of the Roberta Ekberg Award in 2010.

Bio:

Krishna Vegunta is a Physical Therapist with over 18 years’ experience in the field. He trained in Germany as a Physical Therapist before moving to Canada to work for St. Elizabeth Hospital, and now Home Care in Regina for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region).

Krishna has been a member of the HSAS Executive Council for over three years. During this time, Krishna has been a part of the HSAS Finance Committee and the HSAS OH&S Committee. He is passionate about advocating for safe workplaces and workers’ rights in Saskatchewan, and finds the work of the Union rewarding.

Bio:

Crystal earned an Occupational/Physical Therapy Assistant Certificate from SIAST – Wascana Campus in 2000, and then earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario in 2006. Crystal is proud to be an OT, and feels, because OT’s are experts in occupational performance, OT’s bring a unique perspective to any workplace or labor conversation.

Crystal works as an Occupational therapist on the Complex Diagnosis Assessment Team (CDAT) at Regina Child & Youth Services (CYS). Crystal finds personal and professional satisfaction through continued engagement in her community, workplace, and union.  In her community, Crystal was a foundational board member and board of director’s secretary with Creative Options Regina (COR) from 2009-2016. Additionally, Crystal sat as a board member with the Canadian Mental Health Association Sask. Division (CMHA SK) in 2014-2015.  In her workplace, Crystal has been engaged in numerous committees within CYS (Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Social Committee, Psychological Health and Safety Committee) and engages in committee work with their community partners throughout Regina (Regina FASD Community Network). In her union, Crystal joined HSAS Executive Council in 2019 and currently sits as Secretary of the Union.

Crystal lives in Regina with her husband, Kevin and their two dogs (Dram and Daisy).  They enjoy all this province of Saskatchewan has to offer, even in the winter months. Crystal notes that they find winter goes by faster when you can find a leisure activity to enjoy, especially if it gets us outside.  Together they enjoy cross country skiing, snow shoeing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, slo-pitch, camping, and 5 pin bowling.

Bio:

Angela was raised in Saint John, New Brunswick, where she completed her Bachelor of Science. After that, she attended New Brunswick Community College, receiving her diploma in Respiratory Therapy.

Angela moved to Saskatchewan in 2007. She took a full-time position as a Registered Respiratory Therapist with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly the Saskatoon Health Region). In 2015, she became a Saskatchewan Provincial Pediatric Transport Team member.

Angela joined HSAS Executive Council in 2014 and currently sits as Vice-President of the Union.

Bio:

Colleen Howe received a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Regina in 2010. She worked with the Red Cross Veteran Program at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina before joining the Saskatchewan Health Authority – HSAS Union Region 7 (formerly Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region) as a Community Assessor Coordinator. She has worked in both rural and urban settings as an Assessor Coordinator since 2012.

 This is Colleen’s second term as an HSAS Executive Council member. She hopes to be a voice for Assessor Coordinators in the province. Colleen works to encourage her fellow HSAS members to become engaged with the Union.

Bio:

Cori Debert earned a Master of Science Degree from Minot State University in 2015. She then completed her clinical fellowship in Speech Language Pathology and became certified through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC).

Cori is currently employed by the SHA (formerly the Saskatoon Health Region), based at the Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program, primarily working with children. She has also worked with Population and Public Health, serving rural communities.

Through her work with the HSAS Executive Council, Cori plans to become more involved in her profession by acting as a voice for her fellow HSAS professionals.

Bio:

Crystal earned an Occupational/Physical Therapy Assistant Certificate from SIAST – Wascana Campus in 2000, and then earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario in 2006. Crystal is proud to be an OT, and feels, because OT’s are experts in occupational performance, OT’s bring a unique perspective to any workplace or labor conversation.

Crystal works as an Occupational therapist on the Complex Diagnosis Assessment Team (CDAT) at Regina Child & Youth Services (CYS). Crystal finds personal and professional satisfaction through continued engagement in her community, workplace, and union.  In her community, Crystal was a foundational board member and board of director’s secretary with Creative Options Regina (COR) from 2009-2016. Additionally, Crystal sat as a board member with the Canadian Mental Health Association Sask. Division (CMHA SK) in 2014-2015.  In her workplace, Crystal has been engaged in numerous committees within CYS (Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Social Committee, Psychological Health and Safety Committee) and engages in committee work with their community partners throughout Regina (Regina FASD Community Network). In her union, Crystal joined HSAS Executive Council in 2019 and currently sits as Secretary of the Union.

Crystal lives in Regina with her husband, Kevin and their two dogs (Dram and Daisy).  They enjoy all this province of Saskatchewan has to offer, even in the winter months. Crystal notes that they find winter goes by faster when you can find a leisure activity to enjoy, especially if it gets us outside.  Together they enjoy cross country skiing, snow shoeing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, slo-pitch, camping, and 5 pin bowling.

Bio:

Haley has been a Registered Dietitian with Saskatchewan Dietitian Association since May 2008. She works and lives in Moose Jaw, SK for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly the Five Hills Health Region). Her Dietetic experience has been in acute care, long-term care, private practice, renal dialysis and diabetes education. She has collaborated with dietitians across Canada while working as an Item Writer with the Alliance of Canadian Dietetic Regulatory Bodies (2012-2016).

Bio:

Ken Cross graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1989 and became a certified Public Health Inspector. Ken is currently employed in Weyburn as a Public Health Inspector with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly the Sun Country Health Region).

Ken has been actively involved in the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) for the past 30 years, holding the office of the President for 8 years, Past President, Councillor and now Secretary. He has sat of the National Executive Council for CIPHI, the Board Certification and was on the initial committee for the development of the now First Nations University.

This is Ken’s second term with the HSAS Executive Council. Ken has volunteered during past HSAS strikes and currently volunteers as an HSAS Orientator, welcoming new members to the Union. He believes that all HSAS Members voices and concerns should be heard during and after the shift to one provincial model.

Bio:

Krishna Vegunta is a Physical Therapist with over 18 years’ experience in the field. He trained in Germany as a Physical Therapist before moving to Canada to work for St. Elizabeth Hospital, and now Home Care in Regina for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region).

Krishna has been a member of the HSAS Executive Council for over three years. During this time, Krishna has been a part of the HSAS Finance Committee and the HSAS OH&S Committee. He is passionate about advocating for safe workplaces and workers’ rights in Saskatchewan, and finds the work of the Union rewarding.

Bio:

Tracy Erickson has 22 years of front-line addictions work experience. He holds two bachelor of art degrees: one in Sociology; the other in Psychology. He currently works as the Addictions Team Clinical Lead at Yorkton Mental Health, Alcohol & Drug Services, for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (formerly the Sunrise Health Region).

Throughout his career, Tracy has acquired a broad spectrum of overall addictions specific experiences in group settings, one to one therapy, community involvement, youth, adult and families.  He has observed numerous trends, applications, and practices during his career.

Tracy believes that alcohol and drug addiction services in Saskatchewan need a strong voice to maintain autonomy and independence while functioning and integrating effectively within the larger Mental Health and Addictions Services team framework.

Tracy has years of experience within his profession and the Union, which include:

• New Member Orientator
• Respectful Workplace facilitator
• Past Co-Chair of Sunrise/HSAS Regional Council
• Delegate at the HSAS Annual Convention
• Long standing member of HSAS Grievance Committee
• Previous OHS Workplace representative
• Current member representative on EFAP Committee