Meet your SWAA Team

Board Member, Treasurer

I began my career in social services in 2015, working in a variety of roles in Calgary's homeless serving sector. After 5 years of front-line practice and in the hopes of shifting my career focus to upstream and policy practice, I pursued a Master of Social Work at the University of Calgary, specializing in Leadership in the Human Services. Currently, I am a Project Manager of Policy at Calgary Housing Company, the largest affordable housing provider in the province and a fully owned subsidiary of The City of Calgary. I feel passionately about housing as a human right, providing support and opportunities to fellow social workers and am a strong advocate for social workers being employed in non-traditional practice spaces. I look forward to serving on the Board of Directors to SWAA and am confident we will collectively raise the voices of social workers across the province!

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Board Member, President

My name is Rasheal Charles, MSW, RCSW, located in Edmonton. I started my Social work journey in 2012. My interests are in leadership, spirituality, mental health and mindfulness. I currently serve as a Director at Covenant Health for Mission, Spirituality and Volunteerism. While I am passionate about incorporating mindfulness in my daily practice, my hope is that my acquired knowledge about older adults, women, youth, and restorative justice practice will highlight my keenness for increased support for social workers. I hope that the skills and talents that Social workers have will lend itself for healing and serving Indigenous, Black and racialized communities. Being a part this Social work association means I am able to serve and hopefully shape the future for all members to feel valued seen and heard to amplify our voices as a collective in Alberta.

LinkedIn

Board Member

Greetings fellow Social Workers! My name is Cardinal Fomradas BEd, BSW, MSW, RCSW. I am a Clinical Social Worker in Calgary working for Alberta Health Services.

I am so excited to be a part of making history as a member of the inaugural board of the SWAA!

Together we will do great things!

The SWAA will be the voice of the Social Work profession in Alberta. I am looking forward to engaging with SWAA members and hearing what their priorities are. Being part of the formation of a new organization allows for an exciting opportunity. An opportunity to create something new from the ground up, something new, something exciting, something that will be the professional voice of Social Workers in this province!

Board Member, Vice-President

Tansî, I'm Rachelle (they/she). I proudly identify as queer and nehiyaw (Cree) and call Treaty 6 (Edmonton) my home. Currently, I'm a 3rd-year student pursuing my Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work at Yellowhead Tribal College with an educational background in Correctional Services & Restorative Justice. I am a Supportive Housing Worker at Boyle Street, drawing from my prior work experiences in emergency shelters and overdose prevention site. I've also been deeply involved with volunteer outreach organizations, including 4B Harm Reduction Society. During my time there, I wore multiple hats as a Naloxone trainer, Outreach Team Lead, and instagram content creator. As a co-founder of an Indigenous-led outreach group, Tawâw Outreach Collective, I'm committed to grassroots mutual aid, Indigenous harm reduction, decolonization, supporting marginalized communities, and ensuring our policies and practices are grounded in Indigenous knowledge and values. I'm particularly passionate about supporting substance users through harm reduction approaches grounded in evidence-based knowledge from a trauma-informed lens. I am a passionate advocate for drug policy reform, social justice, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and Indigenous rights, and my activism reflects my commitment to an anti-oppressive and Indigenist perspective. I look forward to this amazing opportunity to be part of the SWAA board alongside other passionate social workers!

LinkedIn rachelleg@myswaa.ca

Board Member

I am Lateef Habib. My career and work has spanned community, acute care, private and public sector, outpatient, Intensive Outpatient program (IOP), Day Hospital, providing supervision, teaching, and training others. I have extensive clinical experience with adolescent and adult populations in addictions and mental health in a wide range of settings as a Clinical Supervisor, Clinician, Educator and Trainer. My therapeutic approach is one of compassion, collaboration and recognizing the people are resilient, having inherent wisdom about their lives, and are hardwired for connection with others. I hold a Master of Science in Social Work (Advanced Clinical Practice ) from Colombia University in the City of New York. I am a Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) an Approved Clinical Supervisor with Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). In addition, I am a Sessional Instructor and Field Faculty External Supervisor with the University of Calgary Faculty of Social work, where I continue to inspire and be inspired by students and diverse colleagues. I believe that helpers are energized by fresh ideas and approaches. Subsequently, I draw upon my professional experience in the field and passion to provide energetic, enlightening, and interactive presentations. I look forward to this opportunity to contribute to SWAA.

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Board Member

I am Victoria Ige Onah, BSW, MSW, RSW and I am excited about the opportunity to serve the Social Workers Association of Alberta and to further dedicate myself to advancing the profession and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. As a passionate advocate for social justice, equity, and representation, I am honored to join the esteemed team at the Social Workers Association of Alberta as a new board member. I am a Social Worker who is passionate about education and research. I am currently working with a non-profit organization based in Edmonton that supports a diverse population in gaining employment.

Board Member

I am Mickey Ikuta, MSW, RSW, and work at the Women’s Centre of Calgary as a Program Manager. My areas of practice and interests include community development, social justice work for women and girls, community-based research, education and mentorship for social work students. Establishing an association impacts all social workers in Alberta and I feel that joining the interim board is a way to participate in this historic event. I bring board, committee and other leadership experiences, a collaborative approach to work, and the perspective of a racialized woman with a range of professional and lived experiences.

Board Member

Since graduating from New York University in 2017, I have devoted my career to the fields of immigration and community support, driven by a deep passion for assisting those in need. With a professional background as a registered social worker based in Calgary, I proudly wear three distinct hats.

By day, I serve as a full-time Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program Facilitator at the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), where I provide crucial resources and support for temporary foreign workers in Calgary and its surrounding areas. In this role, I am committed to ensuring that newcomers find the resources and assistance they need to thrive in their new environment.

In my second full-time role (volunteer), I proudly hold the positions of president and founding executive director at the Korean Social Services Centre (KSSC). Here, my primary focus is on dismantling language, cultural, and systemic barriers that Korean and other community members may encounter while living in Calgary. By establishing a foundation of understanding and support, I am dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and where equity is not just a goal, but a reality.

In addition to my primary roles, I co-founded MindLab, where I work as a mental health counselor (pre-supervision stream approved). This role allows me to provide counseling services and educational resources in both Korean and English. I am deeply committed to destigmatizing mental health discussions and providing accessible support for those who need it.

As I embark on my journey as a Board Member with SWAA, I am particularly thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with the dynamic and vibrant community of social workers from across Alberta. I look forward to sharing my experiences and expertise, as well as learning from others with diverse backgrounds and specializations. Together, I believe we can make a meaningful impact in our field.

LinkedIn

Board Member, Secretary

Krista Osborne (she/her) is an Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. There is part of the Field Education team as well as a Team Lead for the Trauma Informed Practice Specialization for the MSW program. She has a special interest in helping students develop clinical skills from an EDID (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonizing) lens. She believes education is how we transform the social work profession with the goal of reconciling our complicated past and becoming better stewards for social justice into the future.

Krista is a Registered Clinical Social Worker and Approved Clinical Supervisor with the ACSW. She has worked in a variety of settings including grief, trauma recovery, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, health, mental health, and inpatient psychiatry. She has maintained a private practice in St. Albert for the past 10 years with a focus on mental health, grief, trauma, and life transitions. She has a special love of working with adolescents, First Responders, and their families.

LinkedIn

Board Member

Hi! I am Selena Sliger (she/her), white, settler female residing on Treaty 8 Territory, Metis Nation 6. I am an RSW who holds a Diploma of Social Work from Northern Lakes College, a BSW and an MSW with Clinical Specialization, both from the University of Calgary. My experience is from a rural, northwest context in community development, children’s services, income support, research, mental health therapy and serving Indigenous communities and individuals. I am currently a Mental Health Therapist with Aspen PCN and DiveThru, a research assistant with University of Calgary and operate a private practice. My goal is to bring a rural, northwest voice and perspective to association activities as well as advocate for rural social workers and marginalized communities to ultimately promote positive systemic change. I am excited to work alongside this new team to learn from their depth of experiences and diversity to continue the momentum and progress of the Interim board.