Our Team

Jacqueline (Jacqui) Holmes has lived in the City of Edmonton since emigrating to Canada in 1970. Along with spending time with family, Jacqui enjoys reading, volunteering, walking (especially in urban areas), traveling, training her dogs, coffee conversation, and learning!

Presently, she is learning a great deal about trauma and identity. She is passionate about equity and access so all can thrive and be active, engaged, connected community members. From her time in education, her motivation for planning, teaching, developing policy, and supporting youth and their families, has been accessibility. Her chosen roles in education have always focused on ensuring everyone is provided with what they need to successfully achieve
their goals.

Dr. Kathy Toogood (she/her) is a teacher, learner, leader and researcher. She worked for Edmonton Public Schools for over twenty years as a teacher, consultant, and principal followed by four years as a system leader at Alberta Education. During her time with the government, she developed a passion for working with newcomers, deepening her understanding of  promising practices for supporting newcomer students.

She continues to collaborate with educators and community partners in Edmonton to promote social inclusion, holistic learning, and success on the path to equity. Currently an adjunct professor for the University of Portland in Edmonton, her graduate courses focus on creating culturally responsive learning environments so all students can thrive.
 

She is an educational consultant (Kanopy Consulting), trained as a Circle Way facilitator and is committed to relational practices, and empowering newcomers to thrive. She previously served on the board of MFRS from 2019 – 2021, and is grateful for the opportunity to work with the board and staff to strengthen the capacity of MFRS to fulfill their unique mission in the community. 

Fana Tesfay (she/her) is a recent graduate from the University of Alberta who is currently employed at the City of Edmonton. She has been actively involved with MFRS for six years, serving as a volunteer, employee, and now a board member. Having worked closely with the communities MFRS serves, she has a deep understanding of the challenges they face.

Fana is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of newcomer families and is committed to using her skills and experience to help guide MFRS towards its goals and ensure that it is fulfilling its mission.

Shang Dong (MPH) is the Research and Evaluation Advisor of the Awasisak Indigenous Health Program at the Stollery Children's Hospital, the first and only Indigenous pediatric in-hospital program in North America.

Born and raised in China, she received her Master in Public Health at the University of Alberta in Canada. Shang has almost a decade of experience in program planning and evaluation, community engagement, and research project coordination.

Pursuing her passion for health promotion, Shang has worked with a diversity of marginalized populations including Indigenous children and families, LGBTQ2S+ population, newcomer population, as well as the immigrant seniors population. She is also currently
a Project Coordinator with the Faculty of Social Work at the
Grant MacEwan University and an independent evaluation and research consultant.

Ashley MacDonald (she/her) was born in Edmonton and is currently completing an MBA through Athabasca University.  Ashley has a varied and diverse background, but she is currently an HR professional for a biotechnology company that hires and endorses hundreds of immigrants that chose Canada to be their home! She has extensive experience in consulting and leading teams, along with experience on various not for profit boards in various communities. Ashley has a passion for helping others, especially those in need, and makes it her mission to provide her skills and expertise wherever needed.Shang Dong (MPH) is the Research and Evaluation Advisor of the Awasisak Indigenous Health Program at the Stollery Children's Hospital, the first and only Indigenous pediatric in-hospital program in North America.

Born and raised in China, she received her Master in Public Health at the University of Alberta in Canada. Shang has almost a decade of experience in program planning and evaluation, community engagement, and research project coordination. Pursuing her passion for health promotion, Shang has worked with a diversity of marginalized populations including Indigenous children and families, LGBTQ2S+ population, newcomer population, as well as the immigrant seniors population. She is also currently a Project Coordinator with the Faculty of Social Work at the Grant MacEwan University and an independent evaluation and research consultant.

Zehra Merchant (she/her) is a foreign-trained dentist from Pakistan with over three years of experience in clinical practice, teaching, and community outreach.

Born and raised in Pakistan, she moved to Canada to pursue a Master of Public Health at the University of Alberta and is currently in the final stages of her degree, completing a practicum with the Alberta Dental Association.

Having immigrated to Canada in her twenties, Zehra brings valuable lived experience navigating a new country and healthcare system. Her public health training has strengthened her understanding of the complexities of newcomer and multicultural families and the importance of equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive approaches.

She is passionate about supporting diverse communities and wants to bring a system-level change by leveraging her knowledge and skills to ensure equitable access to social and healthcare services for all communities.

Betty Tesfay is a graduate of the University of Alberta's Mechanical Engineering program and has worked in the sustainability sector across Ontario and Alberta since graduating. She currently works as an Energy Manager, where she continues to expand her knowledge of policy development and public engagement. Betty hopes to apply her professional experience and skills to support MFRS' mission.

Having immigrated to Edmonton with her family at the age of 11, Betty understands the challenges newcomer families face as they adjust to life in Canada and is eager to make that transition easier for others. She is passionate about sustainability, lifelong learning, and giving back to her community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, skating, and exploring creative hobbies such as embroidery and other crafts.