Celebrating our Alumni’s Success

• Mental Health Therapist

To summarize a 25-year career in social work is a daunting task. I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with people in a variety of settings and been fortunate enough that the critical things I need to bring to work is having an interest in people and being my authentic self.

I started my career with injection drug users, people in the sex trade, and people impacted by HIV in the early 2000s. At that time, I did outreach in both Vancouver and Calgary supporting people in shelters, and by walking streets and alleys to support people in desperate need. I also worked with adolescents who were convicted sex offenders and children impacted by domestic violence. As my career progressed, I moved away from working with not-for-profit agencies to government services and healthcare. I had the privilege of working with people who were struggling with schizophrenia, chronic self-harm, chronic suicidality, personality disorders, and severe and persistent addiction in a variety of programs.

I eventually left healthcare and began to work in the community as a private therapist. During the course of my career there have been too many incidents ranging from humorous to heartwarming to tragic to be able to recount in a brief article. I’ve had people pretend to auction me off at the Drop-In Centre, decide not to mug me when offered a granola bar and condoms, and I’ve seen people improve the quality of their lives and achieve goals like education, marriage, and children that they never thought they would have. Though I often hear and witness tremendously painful things, the kindness and resiliency I also witness easily offsets the worst part of the job. Ultimately, I believe that the things that are the most amazing about my work is how truly appreciative people feel when they feel heard and understood.

• Probation Officer, Red Deer Community Corrections Office

Graduating is a milestone we all can recall looking forward to as a student. As an Academy Class of 2020 graduate, grad was far from what I had anticipated it to be during my academic career. As a 2025 Graduate with a Bachelors of Arts Criminal Justice and Minor in Psychology from Mount Royal University, 2020 seems like a near memory.  

With an unconventional start to my post-secondary journey, completing the first two years from my bedroom, with numerous critics of doubt saying I would be unsuccessful in my degree I am proud to say I did it, and you can too. I know how stressful graduation can be as I still struggle to indulge in the celebration as the thought of “what’s next?” consumes me. Despite my plans for the future, I assure you, patience and persistence has been the key to success for me. Post-secondary will pose many challenges, rewards and experiences but each step leads to your success, and that’s for you to decide. 

In my fifth and final year at Mount Royal, patience and persistence paid off as I secured my dream practicum in the Red Deer Community Corrections Office as a probation officer. Community Corrections is a branch within the Government of Alberta, specifically the Public Safety and Emergency Services – Correctional Services division. Probation officers are one acting component of the interdisciplinary Community Corrections Branch of the Alberta Government Correctional Service Division Model. Within the Community Corrections branch, probation officers are required to work with additional agencies supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. In addition, the judicial discipline that probation officers execute in Community Corrections, some additional disciplines focus on Psychiatry, Sociology and Psychology.

Red Deer Community Corrections is a provincial law enforcement agency that supervises individuals who are bound by the various court orders, located in the provincial building in downtown Red Deer. While on community supervision, probation officers assist with the rehabilitation and reintegration of those persons sentenced. Unlike Calgary and Edmonton, all other Alberta community corrections see both youth and adult offenders, where the large cities have specialized agencies specifically for youth and adults. In Red Deer, probation officers supervise individuals who are as young as 12-years-old, with no maximum age restriction. Additionally, probation officers supervise all types of offences resulting in various degrees of orders. Duties conducted by the probation officers at the agency consist of various community reports, such as pre-sentence reports, court reviews, temporary absences, violations and court order conditions. One unique aspect about select provinces, Alberta being one of them, is we also supervise out-of-province orders. In addition to the probation officers in the office, the administrative members are fundamental to the agency. They are responsible for receiving orders from the court, the direction of clients to their assigned PO, assisting with community reports and entrance of data into the respective software used by various agencies in the country. Finally, within Community Corrections, some offices offer specialized programs that provide enhanced support to increase the likelihood of rehabilitation. 

Despite my expectations of the initial experience, and knowing what the position entailed, I quickly learned that no matter how prepared I thought I was to work with clients, read their files and interact with them on a personal level, nothing can quite prepare you for the experience.  While this may discourage some from the correctional field, this is the reason why I choose this field every day, missing it when I am away. The desire to understand someone’s story and why they have ended up in the justice system, and how I can be the difference that can help them be their best self, supporting them to their best chance at effective rehabilitation into the community, is the drive and desire that led me to begin my legacy at “Persistence Haven.” The Haven is a non-profit organization for invisible disabilities, incorporating equine therapy. As someone who has struggled with disabilities myself, and the post-secondary knowledge I required in Criminal Justice and Psychology, I embarked on a Pageant journey to kickstart the Haven in person and online as an advocacy platform. During my pageant journey, I have achieved not only Miss Queen Alberta, but Miss Western Canada. These titles, in conjunction with my post-secondary education, Community Corrections experience, personal experience and love for equine companions, are all components of what will one day be a full equine rescue facility, equipped with community, correctional and counselling resources. 

With that, no matter the career you choose, don’t ever let anyone define your abilities – you decide. You decide what you want your career to be, what your potential is and what you are capable of as nothing is impossible with a little hard work, patience, and most importantly, persistence. I once questioned my career when I was told I had to choose between my passion for equine and my drive for justice, but I decided. I decided to pressure the justice field, acquiring experience in the community. I will someday share a communal resource for everyone in all walks of life to heal from their past and decide the potential for their future. 

I will leave you with this, “Your hard work and persistence is recognized, so you decide.”

• Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinator, Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre

My journey into the social services field began at Mount Royal University, where I studied Early Learning and Child Care. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work in various impactful roles across organizations including Josos Play and Learn Center, the YMCA, the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre, and now, the Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre. Currently, I serve as the Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinator at Luna. In this role, I support children and youth who have experienced abuse, ensuring they receive compassionate, coordinated care from a dedicated team of professionals. I facilitate collaboration between law enforcement, medical staff, child protection, and therapeutic services so that each young person’s story is heard, respected, and responded to with care.This work is more than a job to me—it’s a calling. I’ve always known I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children and families, and while the journey here included years of training and dedication, I can truly say I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. One of the most meaningful moments in my role was when a youth turned to me after a session and simply said, “Thank you for believing me.” That moment reminds me daily why I do what I do.

I love my work, and I’m grateful for the incredible team I’m surrounded by every day.

• Rapid Access Counsellor, Kindred Connections Society

I initially completed my Bachelor of Health Sciences, majoring in Addictions Counselling and worked in the Homeless serving sector for many years. In 2022, I decided to return to school and completed a compressed Honours Bachelor of Social Work followed by my Master of Social Work. It was a lot of work to go back to school after so many years, but very much worth it!

I have worked for organizations like Calgary Alpha House Society (2015-2018), The Alex Community Health Centre (2018-2022), and currently, at Kindred Connections Society.In my program at Kindred, we provide individual, couples, and family counselling sessions in person and virtually. Our biggest goal is to provide counseling to people in an accessible way, and as quickly as needed. We serve all age groups.

I enjoy working in this field because I believe in the power of support, advocacy, and connection—especially when someone is navigating grief, trauma, or major life transitions. I’ve always felt called to walk alongside people and help them along in their journeys. Through my work as a Counsellor/Social Worker, I get to combine clinical skill with compassion, helping others feel seen, heard, and be capable of change. It’s meaningful work, and I’m grateful for it.

• People & Culture Coordinator, Compassion Senior Care

After completing my Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management at SAIT, I stepped into the HR field with a strong focus on people-first practices, compliance, and compassionate leadership. During my practicum at Community Living Alternative Services, I supported recruitment, onboarding, and employee relations across multiple teams—an experience that confirmed my passion for building supportive and effective workplaces.

Today, I serve as the People & Culture Coordinator at Compassion Senior Care in Calgary. In this role, I manage our recruitment and onboarding processes, oversee HR compliance, implement internal systems like CareSmartz360+, and collaborate with leadership to maintain a workplace culture rooted in respect and empathy.

What I enjoy most about this field is the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the employee experience. I recently led a full revamp of our onboarding process to ensure new hires feel welcomed, informed, and supported from day one. HR isn’t just paperwork—it’s about creating an environment where people can thrive.

Working in social services reminds me daily that behind every policy or process is a person—and that’s what drives me.

• Sexual Violence Support Counsellor at Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA)

I became a Registered Social Worker after receiving my Social Work Diploma and then by completing my Bachelors of Social Work from Mount Royal University. I work as a Sexual Violence Support Counsellor at Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA) in their Police & Court Education & Support Program (PACES). More specifically, I work with individuals 12-years-old and up who have experienced sexual violence (at any time during their life) and are involved in our legal system. I provide psychoeducation around the impacts of trauma, navigating our police and legal system, supporting Crown prosecutor meetings, trial support and walking alongside them during their healing journey.

The individuals I work with never asked to be resilient in this way but they show up with vulnerability and strength. This reminds me of the capability we have as people to support ourselves and each other. I am humbled that individuals allow me into their world during one of their darkest times. I want to be able to reach more people who have experienced traumas and are navigating the impacts. Therefore, I am completing my Masters in Clinical Social Work, which will allow me to transition into a therapist role. Bringing awareness to social issues that can happen to everyone is important to me because they are often not spoken about due to stigmas and myths. I believe everyone has the right to be safe while living in this world and if harm does fall upon them, the proper support needs to be available.