KATHLEEN BARNARD

Kathy prioritizes patient care and support. She was a key player in federal tanning bed legislation for Canadian youth and she continues this area of focus on education and awareness, providing emotional and financial support to those dealing with melanoma and carcinoma skin cancers, prevention, access, and support of the ongoing research and treatment of skin cancer – from melanoma to actinic keratosis. As both a melanoma and immunotherapy survivor, Kathleen and Save Your Skin Foundation hope to share the experience and knowledge gained, by leading other patient groups in knowledge and advocacy training to ensure equal timely access to new treatments for all cancer patients.

In 2003, Kathleen was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, and by 2005 she was informed that her cancer prognosis was terminal. With limited help but unrelenting effort, Kathleen’s sons were able to locate a doctor who was researching a trial immunotherapy drug. In 2006, Kathleen was given six months to live and it was at this time that she and her family founded Save Your Skin, to ensure that anyone diagnosed with melanoma would not have to travel this journey alone. Her battle with melanoma is ongoing – as long as the disease exists, Kathy will strive to fight it.

After completing her Bachelor of Education(ECCE) at Capilano University, Kathleen embarked on a career in business as a Corporate Accounting Manager, at Royal Bank of Canada. From there she moved into marketing and communications, as Stakeholder & Government Relations Manager at Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. She was the first woman to ever coach baseball in the Little League World Series. Kathy is also the recipient of the British Columbia Community Achievement Award for her leadership in addressing and raising awareness around skin cancer issues.

Kathy resides on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people.

LOUISE BINDER

Louise Binder is a lawyer and health advocate who has been involved in informing the development of health policy and systemic treatment access practices from a patient perspective for more than 20 years. She started her work in this area in the HIV community in the early 1990s after her own diagnosis and before effective treatments were available for HIV.

She co-founded the Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC) in 1996, which successfully ensured access to treatments and quality care for people living with HIV by working with the federal and provincial governments and other relevant stakeholders to enhance drug review and approval systems, pricing policies and access to liver transplants for this community. She wrote a paper on universal drug coverage a decade ago while chair of CTAC.

She had a special interest in women’s issues, chairing the Ontario women’s organization Voice of Positive Women for more than a decade, and has been involved in these issues internationally as well. Two years ago, Louise began similar work in the cancer area and is presently a Health Policy Consultant with Save Your Skin Foundation. She has been recognized by many organizations for her work, including receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from her alma mater, Queen’s Law School; the Order of Ontario from the Province of Ontario; and two Queen Elizabeth II medals.

Louise respectfully acknowledges that she is in Aurora, the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island, who are Anishinaabe peoples, and one of the First Nations reserves in Ontario. She is grateful to them for sharing their lands with us.

JASMINE MACGOWAN

Jasmine started her career as a Graphic Designer & Public Relations graduate from Algonquin College. Jasmine’s professional experience has been unique. She has an extensive background in digital marketing for leading national organizations, successful projects for leading non-profit organizations, large Canadian health organizations and well-known consumer brands.

Jasmine has in-depth knowledge of both digital and traditional marketing. She delivers cutting-edge creative strategies and innovative campaigns that increase demand, accelerates growth and build brand recognition. Additionally, Jasmine has conceptualized multiple website designs, micro-sites, videos, and online campaigns.

As a teenager, Jasmine was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment & surgeries. This experience has shown her the importance of supporting patients and those affected by cancer. With her professional and personal experience, Jasmine is excited to advocate and help those affected by melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and ocular melanoma.

Jasmine lives and works on the traditional unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. She gratefully acknowledges the presence and stewardship of the Algonquin People, who have inhabited and cared for these lands long before today.

AMY ROSVOLD

Amy is a Marketing and Communications Specialist, based in Vancouver, BC. Amy graduated with honours from the University of the Fraser Valley with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature before earning a post-graduate Certificate in Journalism from Langara College.

With several years experience working in a busy agency setting, Amy has a wide variety of marketing skills from media relations and content creation to social media and graphic design. Amy has worked with such brands as Simon Fraser University, GoodLife Fitness, Escents, London Drugs Beauty, and Electronic Arts. Amy has been working with Save Your Skin since 2014, while the foundation was a client with Karran Finlay Marketing, before coming onboard full-time as our Director of Marketing. She is grateful to be able to bring her experience to the not-for-profit sector in order to tell the stories of Canadians living with skin cancer and advocate for a better future.

Amy resides on the traditional and unceded territory of the Stó:lō Indigenous Nation and the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe.

TAYLOR TOMKO

Taylor Tomko (BA, MA) is currently a PhD candidate at Western University with a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Scholarship, and her academic record holds multiple conference presentations and essay publications. Taylor has a long history with the Save Your Skin Foundation, which began with volunteering for the organization while she was in high school, until she accepted a permanent position with the Foundation in 2014. Since then, she has brought her writing expertise to the Foundation as a Project Coordinator and Content Writer. Taylor’s other work experience includes University of British Columbia Access and Diversity, and she continues to volunteer for literary initiatives in Vancouver.

The experience Taylor’s family had with melanoma inspired the creation of the Save Your Skin Foundation, which strives to lessen the burden of melanoma on patients in any way possible. Therefore, she is pleased to be able to transfer her academic skills to the not-for-profit sector, and to be able to educate the public about skin cancer and how to prevent it, and directly help melanoma patients and survivors.

Taylor works, plays, and learns on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lunaapeewak, and Attawandaron peoples. These lands are connected with the London, ON Township through Treaty 7 (Sombra Township Purchase) and the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement.

MARIANNE GAGNON

Marianne Gagnon’s background is in non-profit administration and visual arts. Fluent in French and English, she is a versatile and creative thinker who is eager to grow her clients’ positive impact on their communities.

Marianne is a strong believer in the importance of the work done by SYSF to support and advocate on behalf of those affected by skin cancer, as well as educate the public to reduce its incidence in Canada.

Marianne resides on the unceded land of the Qayqayt, Kwikwetlem, and other Halkomelem speaking Peoples. She acknowledges that colonization is ongoing on these stolen and unceded lands currently known as New Westminster.

Board of Directors

Violetta Ambrozuk

Kathleen Barnard

Shannon Gaudette

Shelley Dodds

Karran Finlay

Al Nakoneczny

Nick Makris

Ally Philip

Lyall Woznesensky

Medical Advisory

British Columbia

Dr. Vanessa Bernstein
BC Cancer Agency
Vancouver Island

Alberta

Dr. Michael Smylie
11560 University Avenue
Edmonton

Dr. Thomas G. Salopek
Division of Dermatology, University of Alberta – Edmonton

Saskatchewan

Dr. Tahir Abbas
Saskatoon Cancer Centre
Saskatoon

Manitoba

Dr. Ralph Wong
St. Boniface General Hospital
Winnipeg

Ontario

Dr. Scott D. Ernst
London Health Sciences Centre
London

Dr. Marcus Butler
Princess Margaret Hospital
Toronto

Dr. Xinni Song
Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre
Ottawa

Quebec

Dr. Joel Claveau
Hotel-Dieu de Quebec
Quebec

Dr. Wilson Miller
Jewish General Hospital
Montreal

Switzerland

Dr. Reinhard Dummer
University of Zurich Hospital
Zurich

United States

Dr. Omid Hamid
The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute
Los Angeles

Dr. Jason Luke
The University of Chicago Medicine
Chicago

SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION

Making awareness and education available is crucial. Since 2006, the Foundation has worked to raise awareness of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers focusing on education, prevention and the need for improved patient care.