Hi, I’m Gillian Schofield (she/her), Executive Director of Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre.  I am dedicated to creating a lasting, positive impact in our communities by fostering a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and empowerment. It is an honor to collaborate with our exceptional team in the collective effort to challenge harmful systems and build a future where survivors receive the support they need at every stage of their recovery. Together, we are working to create a world where healing, justice, and resilience are not just aspirations, but realities for all.

As a mother, stepmother, hobby farm owner, nature enthusiast, and yogi, I embrace the beauty of balance in life. My passion for helping others is reflected in my dedication to promoting wellness—physical, mental, emotional and spiritual—across all areas of life. Whether nurturing my family, connecting with nature, or embracing the practice of yoga, I am devoted to fostering well-being and supporting others on their journey. I believe that true wellness comes from harmony within ourselves and with the world around us.

With a background in Human Resources, Finance, and Management, I am honored to bring my strengths to this remarkable team. Together, we provide essential resources, educate the public, and drive meaningful change for the betterment of our communities. We are committed to amplifying the voices of those silenced and creating accessible, barrier-free programs for all impacted by sexualized violence in our region.  Through collaboration and action, we can create a community where healing and justice are accessible to all.

 

Hello, my name is Becky Reis, and I am honored and excited to join the team at Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre as the Finance Clerk. I am deeply committed to contributing to the impactful work of supporting sexual assault survivors and those affected by gender-based violence.

In my professional life, I have been working in advocacy for the last 20 years. I began my journey as a birth Doula, Breastfeeding Counsellor, and Childbirth Educator, while also facilitating wellness programming for new mothers and women in general. My experience expanded to leading guided classes on relationship wellness and parenting. From there, I moved to supporting adults with disabilities as a residential home manager, helping them gain valuable life skills, participate in the community, and maintain independence. I have also spent 8 years assisting seniors in retaining independence and aging well in their own homes, advocating for them and working closely with caregivers and families.

Outside of my professional life, I am a proud wife and mother of three wonderful “children” ranging in age from 16 to 24. Our family is growing in 2025, as we eagerly anticipate officially welcoming our first daughter-in-law and our first grandchild. We couldn’t be more thrilled for the new chapters ahead!

Throughout this time, I have remained a passionate advocate for my own children and growing family. I am very much looking forward to deepening my advocacy work and providing support with Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre as we work together to make a difference!

 

Bonjour/Hello My name is Chantal Shibata, (she/they). I joined Survivor’s Hope as the Reaching Out & Admin Coordinator. My education background is a combo of Human Resource Management, Management Development, Health Care Aide, and Herbalist studies.

 I am passionate about providing information, resources and presentations to our communities on the amazing programs and support we offer. My morals and values based in feminism, mental health awareness/advocacy and spreading hope and support, is why I joined Survivor’s Hope.  Working here fills my cup. I get to work with an amazing team who has become very dear to me, hence our nickname Team Awesome.

I love being able to be in community and getting to know folks and learn about resources in Manitoba. If you ever see me out and about, feel free to say hello!

I enjoy reading anything and everything I can, my thirst for knowledge is always there. My spouse and I love to work on cars together and are discovering how much we love to travel.  Foraging is something my son and I enjoy immensely, and creating with our finds and what the earth provides us, is such a joy. If we aren’t outside, we are inside playing board and card games.

 

Hello, my name is Robyn (she/her) and I am The Aki Nindoondaawaa “I Heard it From the Land” Program Coordinator at Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre. I am a mother, a partner, a healer, a friend, a community member, an advocate, a survivor. My passions are connecting, relationship-building, learning, self-discovery, talking about taboo or commonly uncomfortable topics, connecting to Mother Earth, ceremony, and looking within. I am on a journey of reconciliation, introspection, curiosity and growth. I love to make art, garden, travel, listen, share, and build community with those around me. I grew up in this region in rural Manitoba and am passionate about bridging gaps in services rurally and working differently to ensure that people receive access to accessible and appropriate care. I work from a trauma-informed, harm reduction and neurodiversity-inclusive lens.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution Studies and a certificate program in Career Counselling. Most of my career has centred around Neurodiversity, in particular FASD, harm reduction, sexual health and sex education, facilitating training, community development, working with justice involved youth, and working with survivors of sexualized violence. My passion is meeting people where they are at and making sure that they feel seen and heard. I feel honoured to do the work that I do and to be involved with such a sacred program within an organization doing the most remarkable work.

 

I’m LP (they/them), the SARAH Program Counsellor and Coordinator. In this role, I work with people to achieve their definition of healing from sexual assault trauma and find hope together.

I come with 15 years counselling experience, and use systems, trauma informed, empowerment and anti-oppression lenses.

I am a big fan of finding self-care that fits each individual; for me it’s been yoga, rotating kinds of exercise, getting into nature, making okay art, cat cuddles, plant based cooking, tattoos and finding that perfect song to dance to.

 

 

Hello, my name is Nina (she/her). My family and I came to Canada in 2022, after the war in Ukraine began. Before settling here, I lived in Poland, where I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. My thesis focused on evaluating the psychological well-being of Ukrainian children affected by the war. I gained hands-on experience working in a hostel for people living with addictions, as well as in a nursing home for dementia patients.

As a counsellor, I bring a wealth of experience in supporting families, adolescents and refugees fleeing conflict, particularly those from Ukraine. Being a newcomer myself, I deeply understand the challenges and emotional struggles faced during the resettlement process. My cultural background is incredibly diverse, and I am always eager to learn more about people, cultures, and perspectives. I’m also married into a Nigerian family, proudly embracing the African-Nigerian community. In addition to speaking English and Ukrainian, I’m fluent in Polish, Russian, and currently study French.

My counselling approach centres around empowerment, support and equality, with a strong focus on trauma-informed care. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, gardening, exercising, reading, studying, and immersing myself in nature.

 

Hello! My name is Kris Lobay (ze/hir). Joining Survivor’s Hope, through our SARAH team as a volunteer in April 2019, truly sparked a new direction. Inspiring my deep-seeded commitment to advocacy, and my passion for empowering the thoughts and voices of others, I accepted my current position as Youth Program Facilitator in September 2019. Embracing this role of many hats, I deliver SADI Workshops in schools, lead the delivery of our SADI Mentorship Program, and coordinate program delivery as the SADI Workshop Coordinator. 

Through enthusiasm and creativity, my goal is to create a safe, comfortable, and engaging learning environment that fosters brave learning spaces. I believe in celebrating the strengths and gifts of our young people. I am dedicated to support and walk beside both their individual and collective exploration journeys to discover their authentic selves.

 

 

Hello, I’m Natasha (she/her). I joined the Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre as their Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator and recently transitioned to SARAH Crisis Coordinator & SADI Facilitator. I look forward to creating lasting relationships in the community with RCMP, hospitals and centres and look forward to helping expand our resources to the western side of the Interlake.  I also schedule volunteers, provide information, create packages, help recruit new volunteers, and facilitate SADI Workshops.

I have a Bachelor of Human Ecology in Family Social Sciences with a concentration in Family Violence. I have always been passionate about helping people which led me to this type of schooling. I enjoy reading, hiking, camping, walks with my dog, spending time with my nieces and nephews and curling in the winter months.