MEET OUR TEAM

Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux - Executive Director - cynthia.wesley@canadianroots.ca

Cynthia is an Asst. Professor in Aboriginal Studies and the Faculty of Social Work, at the University of Toronto. She has a particular interest in developing creative solutions to complex social issues and sees endless merit in bringing people from diverse cultures, ages, and backgrounds together to engage in practical dialogue. Cynthia is an Advisory Member of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, holds the Nexen Chair in Aboriginal Leadership out of the Banff Management Centre in Alberta, and is an active and engaging media representative. Cynthia is a member and resident of the Chippewa of Georgina Island First Nation on Lake Simcoe and has made a life-long commitment to educating the public about the history and culture of the Native peoples of Canada.

Ronan MacParland - Program Director - ronan.macparland@canadianroots.ca

Ronan has combined life as a student and an avid volunteer in the world of youth engagement for many years. In addition to his work at the Canadian Roots Exchange Ronan is coordinating Right2Speak, a program designed to build citizenry by engaging Canadian youth in dialogue about civil liberties and civic engagement. A recipient of Youth in Motion’s ‘Top 20 Under 20’ in 2007, Ronan recently completed his undergraduate degree in International Relations at the University of Toronto.

David Berkal - Program Director - dberkal@canadianroots.ca

As the co-founder of the non-profit organization Operation Groundswell, David has established himself as an innovative youth leader in Toronto. Now in it's fifth year, OG has run group volunteering programs around the world for hundreds of young adults while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars towards community-based projects. David recently graduated from University of Toronto's undergraduate program in Peace and Conflict Studies as a national laureate under Canada's Millenium Excellence Foundation. He currently is participating in the Next 36 Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute.

Rebecca Beaulne-Stuebing - Program Director - rbstuebing@canadianroots.ca

Rebecca is a candidate in the Masters of Education program at York University, her research focusing on Anishinaabe education as a means of developing relations of resilience between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.  She is a graduate of the Sociology and Community Economic and Social Development programs at Algoma University, and has studied at Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig.  Building from a strong background in community organizing and development, she has founded and coordinated a number of projects and organizations in the areas of local food security and sustainability, the arts, and social justice in Canada and internationally.  Rebecca is a Métis Anishinaabekwe.