Our Team

The team behind Friends of Medicare work hard to deliver the best. A combination of a core staff, dedicated Board, as well as crucial volunteers, donors, and community keep this work moving.

Want to get involved? Show your support by taking action now or get in touch with us today.

 

Staff

Our staff is small but mighty. Meet the faces behind the work we do.

Chris Gallaway

Executive Director
[email protected]

Chris Gallaway (he/him) is an experienced community organizer and advocate for public health care. Born and raised on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, he has since spent most of his adult life living on Treaty 6 territory, first in Saskatoon, and now for over decade living here in Edmonton. His past experience includes working for the Alberta Federation of Labour, in three provincial legislative assemblies, and for a variety of non-profit and community organizations. Outside of work Chris is an active volunteer and community member, as well as an avid reader.

Alyssa Pretty

Communications and Administration
[email protected]

Alyssa (she/they) has been the Communications and Administrative Officer at Friends of Medicare since 2018. They hold a BA in Women's and Gender Studies, and her past experience has concentrated on feminist and community activism. Alyssa was born and raised in Edmonton, and is passionate about community building and fighting for a just and equitable future for all.
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Trisha Estabrooks

Outreach and Fundraising
[email protected]

Trisha (she/her) is an experienced communicator and passionate advocate for public health care. She’s worked across Canada and in West Africa as a journalist and spent eight years fighting for public education as a Trustee and chair with the Edmonton Public School Board. She believes in building movements that put people first and giving back to the city and province that she’s called home for 17 years. Trisha is a runner, reader and loves a good mountain hike with her family.

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Karlie Hanoski

Outreach and Fundraising
[email protected]

Karlie (she/her) was born and raised in Camrose, and has a passion for community care and social justice that started young. She's spent over a decade building progressive movements across the country and loves connecting volunteers with opportunities to positively impact their communities. Karlie's been an advisor to cabinet ministers, political organizer and campaign manager having worked over a dozen elections in 7 provinces. She's a proud Edmontonian who loves taking advantage of the city's vibrant arts and festival scene and would love to talk to you about the latest concert you've been to!

Board

Friends of Medicare is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of both elected and appointed members. Up to fifteen members may be elected by the membership, of which a maximum seven can be organizations. Each chapter is also able to appoint one representative to the Board of Directors.

 

Karen Kuprys
Chair
Director-at-Large
Leanne Alfaro
Vice Chair
Health Sciences Association of Alberta
Judy Lederer
Treasurer
Congress of Union Retirees of Canada
Wing Li
Secretary
Director-at-Large

 

Chris Gonsalvez
Director
Alberta Teachers' Association
Curtis Jackson
Director
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
Raj Uppal
Director
Canadian Union of Public Employees Alberta
Heather Smith
Director
United Nurses of Alberta

 

Margaret Brown
Director-at-Large
Rashpal Sehmby
Director-at-Large
Farris Sobhani
Director-at-Large
Lesley Thompson
Director-at-Large

 

Janice Willier
Director-at-large
Eyasu Yakob
Director-at-Large
Kiera Gunn
Interim Chapter Chair
Calgary
Alanna King
Chapter Chair
Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo

 

Cam Heenan
Chapter Chair
Leduc-Beaumont
Bev Muendel-Atherstone
Chapter Chair
Lethbridge
Diane MacNaughton
Chapter Co-Chair
Palliser (Medicine Hat)
Brenda Reid
Chapter Chair
Red Deer

 

Alyssa Aco
Chapter Co-Chair
St. Albert-Sturgeon