People Category: Board of Directors

CAI is led by a Board of Directors consisting of individuals proven to be leaders in their fields including the most recognized advocates in the mental health field, leaders in non-profit, community and labour organizations, members of Aboriginal leadership agencies, business leaders, and senior management in the provincial government.

Shelagh Turner

CAI Co-Chair

Executive Director – CMHA Kelowna Branch

View the profile ofAndrea Burton

Andrea Burton

Board member

Executive Director – British Columbia Dental Hygienists’ Association

Dawn Dunlop

Board member

Executive Director – CMHA Shuswap/Revelstoke

Vanessa Wideski

Board Member

Executive Director, The Low Entropy Foundation

Vanessa Wideski is the executive director of The Low Entropy Foundation, a non-profit organization that is making personal development accessible to all by providing people with tools to change themselves and their surroundings.

Vanessa is a neurodivergent individual who has struggled with mental health and substance use. From high school dropout and homeless, meth addict to world traveler and successful business owner, Vanessa has overcome many of life’s adversities. Her diverse life experiences have helped her gain a significant amount of empathy and understanding of which she shares through volunteerism and advocacy work.

Vanessa is deeply aligned with CAI’s mission and is greatful to help the team actualize our vision of ensuring community-based agencies are essential partners in addressing mental health and substance use in BC.

Jill Fikowski

Board Member

Founder/CEO, Changemark Research + Evaluation

Jill is a Settler of Norwegian and Polish ancestry who lives and works with gratitude on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Jill has over 15 years of experience working in the area of mental health and substance use across health authorities, research centres, and non-profit organizations across Turtle Island (now known as Canada). Jill is a graduate of UBC School of Population and Public Health and believes in promoting health equity and ensuring inclusive meaningful engagement of community members in research, program, and policy initiatives. Jill is deeply committed to creating meaningful change for people experiencing mental health challenges, people who use substances, and the people and communities who love them.

View the profile ofKamaldeep Parmar

Kamaldeep Parmar

Board Member

Program Manager – Community Transition Teams Program, BCMHSUS

Kam has over 17 years experience working with marginalized and vulnerable populations struggling with substance use and mental health issues.  She brings a unique perspective as she has experience in working at the local community level, health authority/regional level and at the provincial level within government to support and expand much needed mental health and substance use services and programs across the province. She is currently the Program Manager for the Community Transition Teams Program with BCMHSUS. Her own personal experiences and background, allow her to approach her work and life with a lens centered on equity, justice, inclusion, and diversity.