The Accessibility Advisory Committee (formerly Advisory Board on Services for Persons with Disabilities) is a resource group reporting directly to City Council on issues, needs and services related to persons with disabilities. The committee is also a source of information and advice to City Council, City departments and citizens.
David Achuroa
David Achuroa, holds a science degree in community nutrition from the University of Development Studies in Northern Ghana, and a Master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Calgary. His graduate thesis explored the web of cultural practices and systems that influence parental understanding and caring of children with disabilities among the Bulsa in Northern Ghana.
David, a disability advocate, nutritionist, social anthropologist, and policy analyst, undertakes research that increases our knowledge in how institutional, attitudinal, environmental, and communication barriers impact the lives and well-being of people with disabilities. He is a strategic thinker and his knowledge and disability experience has informed decision-making on social supports and services. He loves to volunteer, and has dedicated part of his free time to serve non-profit organizations in Edmonton and Calgary. He currently lives in Edmonton.
Dana Antayá-Moore
Dana Antayá-Moore has over 30 years’ experience, in both education and government contexts. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta, a Foundations of Public Participation certificate from the Canadian Trainers Collective and an Essentials of Program Evaluation certificate from the Canadian
Evaluation Society She has also completed GBA+ training.
Dana is currently a member of the Friends of the Steadward Centre board: focused on facilitating adapted physical activity and parasport opportunities for everyone; and the Ability Centred Employment Service (ACES) board: with a vision is to enable each individual, regardless of disability, to live a full life and be integrated into the community.
Relationships matter to Dana and she is known for her ability to bring people together and create space for conversation and learning to occur. She is able to listen in to conversations, identify the common threads or throughlines, and pose questions that draw out the conversation and surface new understandings.
Dana loves spending time with her husband and son, as well as reading, knitting, and spending time outdoors, be that walking with friends, cross-country skiing, cycling, or paddling.
Bobbi Belsek
Bobbi holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Bachelor of Education After Degree from Concordia University of Edmonton. Over the past eight years, he has taught a variety of
grades from Kindergarten to Grade 9 in Edmonton area school divisions.
A lifelong Edmontonian, Bobbi has used a wheelchair for more than ten years. He has seen the many ways that Edmonton has started to improve accessibility such as the introduction of kneeling buses. Bobbi has also noticed how the City of Edmonton has areas to improve in including those with disabilities. When not working, Bobbi is an active participant in sport.
Weight lifting, playing sledge hockey, lane swimming and recently taking up cross-country sit skiing are ways that Bobbi aims to keep active.
Carleen Brenneis
Carleen is a lifelong Edmontonian, who enjoys living and working in this Northern city. A Registered Nurse, with a background in transitions, seniors and palliative care, Carleen is focused on community care. She has a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration and her interests are in compassionate communities and knowledge translation. Being involved in education, research and policy, Carleen is able to assist in interpreting results and applying them to improve communication and care.
Carleen is also a board member of the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council which works with senior service agencies and other stakeholders in the seniors sector to build an Age Friendly Edmonton. Carleen is aware of issues and successes related to accessibility through her work in transitions of care, caregiver support and family and friends.
Marie Dancsok
Marie (she/her) has been involved in Mental Health and Disability issues for over 30 years. Marie’s career started as a Psychiatric Nurse in Canada and abroad. Upon returning to Canada Marie was the Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Regina. Along with that role Marie sat on the Regina Access Advisory Committee. Marie’s mental health profession has been complemented by working for organized labour as a Vocational Counsellor, Labour Relations Officer and as an Educator.
Throughout her career Marie has always been an advocate for Mental Health and Disability Issues. She spent 10 years with the Mental Health Commission of Canada as an advisory member and championed several projects related to Mental Health in the workplace including participating in the CSA Approved Psychological Safety Standard and chairing the Aspiring Workforce project. Marie received her Masters in Disability and Community Studies in 2014 and identifies as a lifelong learner.
Marie is passionate in helping create accessible and inclusive communities and workplaces. Marie is an avid champion of the Psychological Safety Standard and in ensuring services and resources are recovery focused.
Karima Ewig
Karima is a Residential Coordinator at Excel Society. She was born in Alberta, but raised in Toronto. Karima brings nine years of education and over fifteen years of experience in the field of disabilities. Karima’s advocacy stems from her lived experience with epilepsy and challenging the stigma around it.
Karima has had the opportunity to partake in many awareness campaigns for epilepsy. She currently is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Epilepsy York Region in Ontario. Karima has served as a member in the past for the National Youth Forum in Ottawa to promote an
Accessible Canada, Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee and many different National campaigns promoting epilepsy awareness.
Karima moved back to her home province in 2020, for new opportunities of growth. She found herself quickly purchasing a home, and has now turned it into a support home, where she supports two individuals on a daily basis with community participation and integration. When Karima is not at work, she is exploring the City of Edmonton and finding new avenues to gain involvement in the disability community.
Tony Flores
Tony Flores is a retired public servant and a para-athlete. Tony worked for the government of Alberta, and was the first appointed disability advocate of the province of Alberta. Tony appreciated his inaugural role, as he was able to meet many Albertans with disabilities across the province, learned and understood the many issues they faced on daily basis, and used his learnings to inform policy makers to bring positive change. Tony is also an avid sportsman. He competed as a para-athlete in wheelchair racing, para-nordic skiing (cross country skiing), and para-canoe (sprint kayaking/canoe) events. He was a member of the Canadian Paracanoe Team and was a Canadian Champion. He immigrated to Canada from the Philippines forty years ago, and appreciates the great opportunities he has had in this country and the City of Edmonton. He gives back by volunteering, such as mentoring and coaching upcoming para-athletes, and sitting on civil society boards.
Tonia LaRiviere (Chair)
Tonia LaRiviere was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was 12 years old. Since then, she has experienced various degrees of disability. Since 2015 she has been participating in para-sport, where she experienced first-hand the difference that can be made in lives when the proper supports exist in a community.
For over 20 years she has been working in communications and events supporting different not-for-profit festivals, campaigns and initiatives in the city as a publicist, director and board member.
She currently sits on the Alberta/Northwest Territories Divisional Board of Directors for the Arthritis Society and has contributed to educational advancements at the Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement.
Sam Mason
Sam Mason (they/she) was born and raised in Edmonton (amiskwaciwâskahikan). They were the Provincial Accessibility Coordinator at Voice of Albertans with Disabilities for 6 years. In that position, they did accessibility audits of many Edmonton landmarks and built relationships with many citizens that are committed to accessibility. Graduating from MacEwan University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Commerce, Sam has brought her skills in marketing, economics and sociology to the non-profit sector as she has always been passionate about improving the lives of others. Sam believes every business, industry and service can be improved when there is a focus on accessibility.
Sam is the current chair for the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights (CJHR) where they continue to push for equality and justice for all people. Sam is increasingly engaged in anti-poverty work and advocating for both accessible and affordable housing. They believe in the principles of harm reduction and intersectionality and practice meeting people where they are at and understanding that everyone’s experiences differ.
Douglas Rudolph
Prior to my moving to Edmonton in 2020, I had the opportunity to sit on a multitude of boards within the not for profit sector. Both boards directly had impact on the lives, and inclusivity of persons with visual impairments, one being directly involved with service delivery & programming and the other being a provincial sports governing body. In conjunction with this amazing experience, I also had the opportunity to work within the Government of Saskatchewan, in the Ministry of Social Services Disability Programs unit, which had a direct impact in bettering the lives of persons with various disabilities.
I believe that one factor of a great community, a great city is ensuring accessibility and inclusivity to everybody, within all sectors of one's life, environment, and innovative thinking as to how one can improve the lives of people by implementing features that one may have not thought of as being needed. I have always thought this way as a result of my own disability, which has guided my direction in life and work/volunteer opportunities.
Patricia Rzechowka
At age 23, Patricia Rzechowka had just graduated from University when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after losing vision in her left eye. She committed to maintaining an active lifestyle by signing up for the MS Bike-Leduc to Camrose and regained her eyesight. That first ride began her desire to volunteer with the MS Society in Edmonton and she has been contributing to the cause ever since. She is now spokesperson for the MS Society’s annual MS Bike-Leduc to Camrose and rides in the 2-day 180 km road bike tour.
In addition to the MS Bike, Patricia participates in the Jayman BUILT MS Walk, Burgers to Beat MS, MS Golf and hosts innovative fundraising events in support of the MS Society. To date, Patricia has personally raised over $100,000. Patricia is the Chair of the MS Society’s Edmonton & Capital Region Chapter Council and has also been a member of the MS Society’s Research Review Panel, where she has provided perspective and the ‘lived MS experience’ in shaping some of the country’s most promising research proposals.
Despite living daily with her own MS realities, and the ups and downs they bring, Patricia constantly reaches out to provide support to others living with the disease. Through her relationship-building acumen and impressive social media reach, Patricia has a remarkable ability to connect and bring people together, while also raising incredible awareness in support of the cause.
She’s part of Avenue Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 (Class of 2017), solidifying her status of one of the
most influential young people and dedicated MS advocates in the city. Patricia shared the intimate details of what life with MS can be like through the
documentary about her story called "MS’ed With the Wrong Girl" which was released in the spring of 2019.
Patricia is currently employed by the Government of Alberta as an Engagement and Ministry Events Coordinator for Justice and Solicitor General. She has been with the government for almost eight years in various roles but has really found her passion in her current role.
Katie Thomas
Katie Thomas has lived in Edmonton her entire life and is currently living in the downtown area. She is someone with lived experience of dwarfism and is the only person in her family with the condition.
Katie works at Homeward Trust as the Programs Training Specialist, and cares greatly about her community.
Mindy Tindall
Mindy Tindall is a passionately curious architecture and MBA student with a background in nursing and healthcare of 20+ years. She is a disabled biotechnology entrepreneur and architectural designer. Her specialization is within healthcare, educational, landscape, and humanitarian architecture. Mindy has studied universal design at the University of Alberta, and recently graduated with her Renewable Energy Technologies Certificate. She has also obtained certifications in humanitarian design, renewable architecture, and ecological design.
Zachary Weeks
Born and raised in Edmonton, Zachary has been featured in the media as a spokesperson on disability issues since he was 18. He has consulted on a variety of building developments, including the Glenrose's Bill Black Auditorium, the Walterdale Theatre and Rogers Place. Zachary was a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and is an alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. He was co-chair of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities planning committee in Edmonton from 2011 to 2014. He has been an active member of the City of Edmonton’s Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) since 2013, serving as chair of the Community Engagement Committee until 2016, and then as chair of the AAC until 2019. His personal interests include cheering on the Edmonton Oilers and spending quality time with his wife and family.