Our Staff
Winnipeg Office Staff
As a recipient of mental health services, family member and self-help provider, Chris is the captain of the MSS team. You can tell Chris is a different kind of Canadian by his southern accent. Born in Alabama, Chris moved to the land of the Maple Leaf in 1985. He has served as a pastor, chaplain, teacher, administrator and mental health service provider through 40 years of professional work in Canada and the U.S. Chris has dedicated his life "to enabling the walking wounded to become wounded healers." Although Chris regards schizophrenia as one of the most confounding and wounding illnesses a person can experience, he believes that recovery is more possible today than ever before. He has an earned doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary and is a Certified Psychosocial Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRC) with the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabiltation Services.
He is also one of the eleven non-governmental board members of the Mental Health Commission of Canada as well as the CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada.
Jane Burpee
Public Education CoordinatorJane trained as an Occupational Therapist in England, and came to Canada in 1967 to take a position at the Winnipeg Rehabilitation Hospital. Jane has spent 24 years working in the Mental Health field. Jane says that she sees the importance of public education in the area of Mental Illness, particularly dispelling the myths and stigma surrounding Schizophrenia and giving the message of hope. She is committed to the psychosocial rehabilitation model.
Karen’s role at the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society is a Peer Program Support Worker. Karen coordinates and facilitates three groups for MSS; the Women’s Program, the Peer Support Program and a group at the Freight House.
Karen has a passion for working with people who live with a mental illness. From the moment she began working for MSS in 1995, Karen found the people she worked with and for, to be warm, accepting and caring, all qualities that she admires and strives to emulate. “One does not find people with these traits in all workplaces,” says Karen. “I think what drew me to this place was that other people had faced similar struggles in life that I didn’t recognize at first but that subconsciously I must have been aware of. Now, years later, I recognize the reasons that I can relate to people who live with mental illnesses who may have experienced the fear of rejection, discrimination or stigma, feelings of unworthiness, shame, low self-esteem and anxiety, because I’ve been there myself, due to various life experiences.”
Karen has several relatives and friends who have lived and are living with bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia. She sees all people as people first, rather than labeling people as the disorder they happen to be living with. Her focus is on hope and recovery.
Karen has graduated with a Certificate in Clerical Bookkeeping and a Certificate in Applied Counseling Skills (Honors), from Red River College. She thoroughly enjoys her role at the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society.
Sangeetha Balachandra
Communications OfficerSangeetha, the latest addition to the MSS family comes all the way from Malaysia.
She graduated in Mass Communications and spent eight years in journalism and a year in business development and marketing before she came to Canada.
When she was 15, one of her family members was diagnosed with a mental illness and they had no one to turn to for help or advice.
During her first few months in Canada she was a volunteer at Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba where she took the opportunity to learn more about mental illness and the stigma surrounding it.
From then on she was determined to make a difference in the lives of those affected by mental illness.
Viola Healey
Administrative SecretaryViola has returned to MSS after being away for a short time. She says Kenya was an amazing experience but she couldn’t stay away from MSS for too long. As a graduate of Winnipeg Technical College, Business Administrative Assistant program, you’ll find her at the front desk using her organizational skills to help MSS in anyway she can; from receipting donations to volunteers or just simply a smile at the end of the telephone.
Regional Outreach Workers
Deanna Kowalchuk
Brandon and Assiniboine Regions
Deanna has been working with MSS since 1996. She started working in the North and South Eastman Regions and then moved to the Assiniboine and Brandon Regions.
Deanna believes in the hope of recovery and finds it very rewarding to have a chance to influence the lives of so many. Deanna hopes to see the mental health system move more to a recovery-oriented philosophy. She hopes that her two young sons will eventually see a society that does not view people with mental illness through the shades of stigma and discrimination.
Tannis Morrisseau-Merasty
Burntwood Region
Tannis was born and raised in Thompson. She attended the Aboriginal and Northern studies program and received a diploma in Aboriginal Self Government Administration. She enjoys working with the public and her focus is to reduce the stigma of mental illnesses that still reside in Northern Manitoba. She would like to educate the public and give them a better understanding with what a mental illness is and how recovery is possible. She would also like to incorporate traditional ways in the recovery process. She looks forward to implementing more resources for clients in the city of Thompson and surrounding communities to deal with mental illnesses. Tannis looks forward into providing client empowerment and knowledge.
Central Region
Diane has a 25 year history in nursing and approximately 10 years in the area of mental health. Diane holds a Counselling degree from the University of Manitoba as well as a certificate in Focusing Psychotherapy, licensed in New York, New York, USA. She is excited to be working for MSS and promoting the hope of recovery for those with mental illness.
Bev King
Interlake Region
A teacher by profession, Bev is an educator who believes that knowledge is the key to living a full life. She enjoys working with the public, providing information about schizophrenia. Using a combination of personal and professional experience, Bev is able to assist those who cope with mental illness and their families by providing support leading to empowerment. In her capacity as an Outreach Worker, Bev is passionate about following a holistic approach to recovery.
Tim Shewchuk
Parkland and Norman Region
Tim joined the MSS Team as Outreach Worker for the Parkland Region. Tim was raised in Northern Manitoba and has had a wide variety of personal experiences. Having overcome many hurdles in his own life, Tim now thrives at bringing the same hope and joy he has found to the people around him. He earned a Certificate of Theology from Providence College and has spent five years working at the Teen Challenge Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre as a mentor and example to those recovering from addictions. Tim brings an eagerness to help people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and/or co-occurring disorders and their families with the message of recovery and hope.
Kim Heidinger
North & South Eastman Region
Kim has enjoyed a successful career as a teacher for 15 years. She is excited to embark on a new career in the field of Mental Health and to be part of the MSS team. Having the experience of being a consumer, Kim brings compassion, knowledge and understanding to her job as Outreach worker for Eastman. Kim is passionate about helping to reduce the stigma that is all too often a part of living with mental illness.
