Meet the Host Committee Team!

Dr. Dell (she/her) is an animal therapy researcher and practitioner specializing in treatment for mental health and addictions. A specific focus of her work and practice is within correctional institutions. She is Professor and Research Chair in Sociology & School of Public Health at the University of Saskatchewan. She is also a Senior Research Associate with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction. Dr. Dell’s research program is grounded in an empowering, community-based, and patient-oriented participatory approach with both humans and animals. She works alongside community and academic partners, including canines, in studies examining how the human-animal bond can mutually enrich wellness among individuals, animals and communities. She is the founder of the PAWSitive Connections Lab, and co-directs it alongside Drs. Darlene Chalmers and Linzi Williamson.

Molly and E-Jay (L-R) are fun-loving companion animals in Dr. Dell’s family, therapy dogs with the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program in Saskatchewan (E-Jay loves to visit students at the university and Molly enjoys visiting a hospital emergency department and hospice), prison program dogs with the PAWSitive Support program, and Research Service Dogs for Veterans paired with a Service Dog.

www.colleendell.com

Alexandria (BA, MA) is a health researcher focusing her graduate studies on the implications of the human-animal bond in suicide prevention and pain management. Bridging health and social sciences, Alexandria is currently completing her PhD in the Interdisciplinary Studies Department at the University of Saskatchewan, where she has worked in the PAWSitive Connections Lab under the supervision of Dr. Dell since 2019. She has secured numerous federal and provincial grants and scholarships, such as through Mental Health Research Canada and SSHRC CGS-D, to help lead several community-based studies exploring how animal-assisted services can decrease mental distress. Further, Alexandria has had over two dozen national media appearances and +25 academic proceedings relating to her innovative anthrozoological work with therapy and service dogs, and has training and certification as a Professional Knowledge Translator & Storyteller (University of Toronto).

Zola, her companion dog, is a Shiba-mixed breed St John Ambulance Therapy Dog. Zola has a history of visiting in youth corrections, hospitals, psychiatric in-patient settings, and university libraries, and was instrumental in inspiring much of Alexandria's work assessing the impacts that canine companionship can have on pain and distress.  

www.alexandriapavelich.com

Dr. Williamson is an Assistant Professor of Psychology & Health Studies within the Applied Social Psychology program stream at the University of Saskatchewan. Her current research primarily focuses on examining the outcomes of therapy and service dog programs, measuring the human-animal bond, and ways to improve the animal-assisted services (AAS) industry. With funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Patient-oriented Research (POR) Transition to Leadership Phase 2 competition and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), Linzi is completing her project “Supporting Canadian Veterans with Service Dogs”. She is a co-director of the PAWSitive Connections Lab at the University of Saskatchewan. 

www.linziwilliamson.com

Dr. Chalmers is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Her research interests focus on the human-animal bond with emphasis on animal assisted interventions in a variety of settings. She is also a primary
researcher on a team based study exploring the role of service dogs for veterans diagnosed
with PTSD and who problematically use substances. Darlene was an instrumental committee member in developing the Veterinary Social Work Initiative; a partnership between the USask Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and the Faculty of Social Work. She served at the Co-Chair of the Initiative, which resulted in the establishment of a full-time Veterinary Social Worker (VSW) at the WCVM in 2015. Her teaching includes courses on animals, social work and society, social work and the environment, and community-based, and anti-oppressive research approaches.

www.uregina.ca/social-work/directory/faculty/darlene-chalmers.html

Larry Laliberte is a Human Justice advocate basing the acquired principles in Indigenous
knowledge. Larry continues to profess the Indigenous symbolic experiences to a wide range of audiences in his trek to learn the journey of a traditionalist. He is a cultural guide and
practitioner.

Dr. Tardif-Williams is a professor in the Department of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University. Her research is informed by the interdisciplinary fields of child and youth studies and human-animal interactions and focuses broadly on how close bonds between humans and animals shape the social and emotional lives of children and youth. Specifically, her research examines children’s and dog handlers’ experiences with animals and therapy dogs (within family, school, and virtual contexts) and various aspects of parent-child relationships. Dr. Tardif-Williams is the co-author of two recently published books, one titled Virtual Human-Animal Interactions: Supporting Learning, Social Connections and Well-Being (Tardif-Williams & Binfet, 2023) and one titled Optimizing Therapy Dog-Handler Team Welfare: A Guide for Practitioners and Researchers (Binfet & Tardif-Williams, 2024, forthcoming).

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Dr. Tardif-Williams shares her life with her beloved companion animals Lennox and Frasier. Both Lennox and Frasier have gathered many neighbourhood friends over the years and, each day, they remind us to move slowly and appreciate nature's beauty, be playful, and connect with one another.

https://brocku.ca/social-sciences/child-and-youth-studies/people-in-our-department/christine-tardif-williams/

John-Tyler Binfet is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is the founder and director of UBC’s Building Academic Retention through K9s (B.A.R.K.) program that supports student stress reduction and well-being. His research on canine-assisted interventions has been published in Anthrozoos, Human-Animal-Interactions, People & Animals, and Journal of Mental Health among elsewhere. Along with co-author Dr. Christine Tardif-Williams, Dr. Binfet’s is pleased to announce the publication of their new book titled:  “Optimizing Therapy Dog-Handler Team Welfare: A Guide for Practitioners and Researchers” (Routledge, in press).  

John-Tyler Binfet at UBCO

Grace Rath is a service dog and therapy dog researcher who completed her Master of Arts in 2023 at USask under the supervision of Dr. Dell. Her study examined what PAWSitive Support therapy dogs offer incarcerated individuals participating in a canine-assisted learning program. She has participated in numerous therapy dog and service dog research projects, and actively volunteers as a St. John Ambulance therapy dog team visiting primarily with students on various campuses, and within correctional settings. Currently, she works as a project manager and research assistant with both Drs. Williamson and Dell. She is passionate about understanding how humans and animals can enrich the lives of one another other through participant and community centred research approaches.

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Grace's companion dog Reacher is seven-year-old black Labrador. Reacher is a certified St. John Ambulance therapy dog, a PAWSitive support program therapy dog, and a research service dog in training. Reacher and Grace visit the University and Sask Polytech to visit students and prisoners at the regional psychiatric centre (RPC). 

Dr. Jordan Woodsworth is a small animal clinician who graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. In 2012, she returned to the WCVM to start the Wellness and Preventive Medicine program in the teaching hospital, and to spearhead the Northern Engagement and Community Outreach (NECO) program. In 2023, Jordan completed a PhD in community and population health which allowed her to engage in collaborative research with members of a northern Saskatchewan community she has served through the NECO program for almost a decade. Jordan’s primary role is now as Director of NECO, and she continues to explore new ways to bring awareness to animal health and welfare inequities in Canada with an ultimate goal to devise creative, community-led solutions to improving access to animal health and welfare services. Jordan continues to learn from colleagues and mentors about how to foster and develop anti-racist, anti-oppressive and anti-colonial environments within veterinary medicine and is playing a key role in development of WCVM’s anti-racism strategy. Outside of work, Jordan is married to her high school sweetheart, is a mum to two amazing kids and a lovely dog. She loves being in her garden or at the lake, travelling with her family and friends, crafting, and cooking and eating amazing food.

Dr. Roma is a researcher in the human-animal interaction field and has been studying interactions between people and dogs for the past 12 years. She has a background in clinical psychology and a PhD in Child and Youth Studies. Her research focuses on both the positive aspects associated with dog ownership and the challenges dog owners face. She is also interested in understanding young people's well-being in the context of animal-assisted interventions with dogs. She is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Saskatchewan under the supervision of Dr. Colleen Dell and has been developing projects focused on understanding the role of pets in supporting the wellness of people who use substances or are involved in the criminal justice system.

Aliya is an Interdisciplinary PhD student at the University of Saskatchewan, working under the supervision of Dr. Colleen Dell and Dr. Jorden Cummings. In her program, she is hoping to explore students' awareness and therapy dog handlers' attunement to canine welfare in animal-assisted support programs, which is also informed by her role as a coordinator for the PAWS Your Stress Therapy Dog Program within the PAWSitive Connections Lab at USask. Aliya was the first researcher to explore the significance of the human-animal bond in animal-assisted interventions in Pakistan and worked with researchers from different countries to foster cross-cultural collaborations. Aliya has received several awards and has actively contributed to the academic community through her publications as well as presentations at national and international conferences.

Haruki (pictured) became part of Aliya's life in Canada after being adopted from SCAT Street Cat Rescue in 2022. He enjoys bird watching from his window perch while doing his best to keep his human guardian on her toes.

Erin Wasson (MSW, RSW) is a registered social worker who has worked clinically in mental health, addictions, crisis response, interpersonal violence, trauma, geriatrics, disability, and youth work. In 2014, Erin implemented the WCVM Veterinary Social Work services at the University of Saskatchewan, Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), the first of its kind in Canada. She continues to work as the veterinary social worker at the WCVM, providing services to clients of the Veterinary Medical Centre, and clinical counselling support and referral to staff and faculty, while also teaching in the graduate and undergraduate programs at the WCVM. Additionally, Erin has been active in the promotion of health and wellbeing with veterinarians and allied professions. This includes engaging in research, community-based development work and providing resources, support and educational seminars to professional associations, animal welfare agencies, first responders, government agencies and others at the intersection of human beings and animals.

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Professor Sharon Acoose, First Nations University (Indigenous Social Work)
Dr. Acoose is a Saulteaux woman and a member of Zagime Anishnabek First Nation, and a professor of Indigenous Social Work at the First Nations University of Canada in Saskatchewan and an admired public speaker, sharing the role of Indigenous culture and ceremony in healing from addictions while drawing on her own lived and living experiences of recovery and colonization. Her wisdom is shared in several books, including An Arrow in My Heart and A Fire Burns Within: Teachings from Ceremony and Culture. Dr. Acoose holds extensive research expertise in culturally grounded treatment and recovery approaches for healing from problematic substance use. This holistic approach considers the interconnection of animals, humans and the environment.

https://www.fnuniv.ca/academic/faculty/dr-sharon-acoose/

Dr. Holly Graham is a member of the Thunderchild First Nation, SK. She has worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) in northern communities and various other health care environments since 1985. Currently, Holly is an Associate Professor in the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan. She also maintains an active practice as a Registered Doctoral Psychologist, working primarily with individuals who have experienced trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Holly's research is strength-based with a focus on Indigenous health, mental health, and wellness. Holly has always had a close connection with dogs and horses since childhood. Kai her beloved rottweiler is 10 years old.

Danielle is the Program Development Coordinator at the SaskSPCA. She advocates for the diverse needs of people and animals through policy creation, education, and conversations with stakeholders. Interprofessional connection and collaboration guide her work, ensuring it's relevant for the community and informed by best practices. She looks forward to promoting wellness for the people devoted to animal health, confident that meaningful change begins with upholding our community. She shares her home with two cats who remind her daily why the human-animal bond is worth advocating for.

Lisa Schwann is the Director of Community Services at St. John Ambulance, Saskatchewan Council. She took on this role after retiring in 2022 from a rewarding 33-year teaching career with Regina Public Schools. During her teaching career, she also served part-time as an instructor with St. John Ambulance (SJA). Lisa has been a volunteer with St. John Ambulance for nine years and is a key volunteer with SJA’s Emergency Response Team, a volunteer SJA Medical First Responder, and a dedicated SJA Therapy Dog handler with her canine partner, Dexter. She holds degrees in Education and Kinesiology and has volunteered as a coach in her community for 43 years.

Stacy Wallace (RSW, BSW) is a social worker with the Regional Psychiatric Centre, a forensic mental health facility in the Canadian prairies. She has been a lead on the animal-assisted interventions offered at the facility for the past five years. She has supported a variety of research initiatives, including the Patient Oriented Research Group. She works alongside her correctional, clinical, community, and canine partners to support clients with reintegration. Her home is ruled by mini-Australian shepherds, Nox and Loki, who constantly herd her day towards joy (and the treat jar!). She is a lifelong learner who continues to take training and coursework in fields related to the human-animal bond, animal assisted interventions, intuition, grief, and pet loss.