Our Team

Hillary Linden joined the Board in September 2021 as Legal Counsel. Hillary is a lawyer who helps individuals and families in the areas of estate planning and administration. Hillary joined the Board to serve and to use her legal skills to support the Board in making a positive impact in the lives of people in the community. 

Kai joined the board in 2022 as a shiny new board member. Born in Calgary on treaty 7 land, her hobbies include baking, and photography. She’s always been passionate about volunteering in many different organizations and avenues. She was a Big Sister for 5 years, was a reoccurring volunteer at the Kerby Centre and the Palliative Care unit in Calgary, AB.

She volunteered for Global Fest 3 years in a row and got muddy as a volunteer with Tuff Mudder raising money for Cancer Care Alberta. It was therefore, a no brainer that when she moved to Winnipeg to pursue her master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, that combining her passion for volunteering, her care about humanity and her dreams of non-profit work in the future, she found herself honoured to be apart of this organisation. Her background in Criminal Justice and time as a Catamount Fellow ignited a deep desire to become a local changemaker by supporting local efforts to improve the lives of the people who share the same land and space with her. She understands the value and responsibilities to being a steward of both the land and her neighbours. She hopes that the lessons and relationships she will forge as a board member for Heartwood will not only sustain the amazing efforts of Heartwood and her fellow board members but will be lessons and relationships she can take with her into her career and other efforts to bloom a life and reality we can all dream of..

Michelle Hourihan joined the board in 2018 and currently serves as the Treasurer. Michelle is a CPA who has experience working in a variety of accounting positions and is currently working as a Recruitment Consultant in Finance & Accounting. Michelle is grateful to be a member of the board and contribute her financial knowledge to ensure the organization’s success.

Thomas Linner (he/him) is a long-time strategic communications professional for progressive causes and the Provincial Director of the Manitoba Health Coalition, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the protection, promotion and expansion of universal public health care. Thomas writes and appears extensively in the media as a leading voice against efforts to privatize health care in Manitoba and across Canada, and as an advocate for evidence-based improvements to the public health-care system and community wellness through harm reduction models.

Rouban is a lawyer specializing in criminal law. He has experience working with victims of childhood sexual abuse and helping them through the criminal process. In his spare time, he loves to play games whether they be board games or video games, travelling the world, and reading terrible novels.

Tom is currently an account executive and biosafety specialist for a company that constructs and installs walls and ceilings for high containment facilities around the world. Tom has worked in health care for over 35 years in microbiology. In that time, Tom was involved with a professional healthcare union serving on the board for many years. Tom also served as president and acting executive director of the union. Tom also served on boards of medical laboratory professional associations and societies on a local, provincial, and national level. Tom also volunteers with the Children’s Hospital Foundation (CHF) as golf tournament volunteer co-chair and Teddy Bear Clinic coordinator for the CHF Teddy Bear Picnic. Tom’s interests are golf, curling, reading, old movies and long walks. Tom has learned over the many years of working with people, in and out of health care, is that all opinions matter and that everyone’s story deserves to be heard.

As the Director and Lead Therapist of Shamin Brown Consulting, Mimi (Shamim) Brown is a therapist, author, and poet with over 20 years of experience.  Shamin is dedicated to empowering individuals, particularly women, in building self-esteem and self-love. She employs a trauma-informed approach that integrates self-compassion and harm reduction, using expressive arts like art, storytelling, and dialogue in a culturally sensitive way. Shamin is also actively involved in anti-human trafficking efforts as a practitioner with lived experience, chairing the G100 Anti-Human Trafficking Wing in Canada and advocating for gender equality and safer environments for vulnerable populations. As a registered social worker, therapist, and certified life and health coach specializing in wellness in trauma recovery, she brings a wealth of expertise to her practice. Shamin’s work also includes being an author, national coach, trainer, and group facilitator in the anti-trafficking movement, where she applies feminist, trauma-informed, and person-centered methodologies to create a compassionate and supportive environment.

Tim joined the Board in February 2024.  Tim is a Supervisor in Information Technology with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries. As a father of 2 Type 1 Diabetic children, he understands the need to educate and raise awareness of programs that offer support, guidance, and healing for those in need.  He is excited and eager to help Heartwood Healing Centre continue their journey in providing a safer space for healing.  Tim enjoys running, fishing, pickleball and the occasional game of billiards.

Theo Martin is a CPA working for Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company in finance. He is a passionate volunteer with years of experience on non-profit boards who believes firmly in giving back to his community to build a better sense of community. Heartwood Healing Centre is important to him because of the critical resources they provide in helping those affected through their healing process.

Sydney is completing her final year of a four-year honours degree in the Human Rights program at the University of Winnipeg’s Global College. She started her commitment to community and volunteering at the age of 13 as a junior counsellor at Fort Whyte Alive’s summer day camps. She spent another two summers making sure children had an amazing camp experience. In high school, Sydney was selected by her peers and teachers for the Natural Helper program where she gained the skills to help support the mental health and well-being of her school community. Sydney gained a new perspective on volunteering when she became the summer volunteer coordinator for the World Police and Fire Games where she helped to recruit over 3000 Manitobans needed to support one of the largest sporting events in the world. Following completion of her degree, Sydney is interested in pursuing further studies in social work and the law.  In her spare time, Sydney enjoys going to the gym, hanging out with friends and cuddling with her rescue dog Aspen.

Sheila is a proud Oji-Cree, with a passion for healthy living and mindset based on the saying “mino bimaadiziawin.” This Anishinabe phrase means “to live the good life,” one with wisdom, love, respect, bravery, humility and truth. Sharing these values, Sheila is committed to giving back to the Community and grateful to have an opportunity to be nominated as a Board Member. Her day job includes managing construction projects for Defence Construction Canada, a Federal Crown Corporation, and Client-Partner of the Department of National Defence. Sheila hopes that her professional experience and her personal values and beliefs will be of great value and service to the Board.