Team

Tyson Bankert

Tyson Bankert has worked on anti-racism and social justice issues ranging from youth in care to promoting leadership and good citizenship. He is educated in Criminal Justice and has extensive experience in community development and engagement at the neighbourhood level.

Tyson has been working and volunteering in supporting neighbourhood life for as long as he can remember! His interest in community comes at the intersection of justice and community development, and his work is based on equity, wellness, and agency. His personal slogan is: “Promote Justice, Edify Others, and Befriend the Lonely”. Tyson has been a committed member of the Anti-Racist Organizational Change (AROC) process since 2016, and is apart of the newly created cooperative BLAC (Black Leadership Alliance Council).

Kathleen Mahoney

Professor Kathleen E. Mahoney has a JD from the University of British Columbia, an LLM degree from Cambridge University and a Diploma in International Comparative Human Rights from the Strasbourg International Human Rights Institute in France. She is Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Calgary and Queen’s Counsel. She was the Chief Negotiator for Canada’s Aboriginal peoples claim for cultural genocide against Canada, achieving the largest financial settlement in Canadian history for the mass human rights violations against the indigenous peoples of Canada. She was the primary architect of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and led the negotiations for the historic apology from the Canadian Parliament and from Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. She was co-counsel for Bosnia Herzegovina in their genocide action against Serbia in the International Court of Justice with the result that the definition of genocide in the Genocide Convention was altered to include mass rapes and forced pregnancy as genocide offences.

Among her many awards and distinctions, Professor Mahoney is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Queen’s Counsel, a Trudeau Fellow, and a Fulbright and Human Rights Fellow (Harvard). She received the Governor General’s medal for her contribution to equality in Canada. She has held Visiting Professorships or Fellowships at Harvard University, The University of Chicago, Adelaide University, University of Western Australia, Griffiths University, the National University of Australia and Ulster University. She was recently appointed Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights Canadian Co-Chair.

Ann McCaig

Ann McCaig is a leader in Canada’s charitable sector with a passion for education, health, culture and youth development. Born and raised in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Ann received her Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan and undertook a career as a teacher. After moving to Calgary in 1970 with her husband and three children, Ann dedicated increasing amounts of her time to community service.

 Over the years she has helped many charitable organizations by providing guidance as a board member and assistance with major fundraising campaigns. Ann is a member of the National Arts Centre Foundation and serves as Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Calgary where she is a former member of the Board of Governors. She is a Director Emeritus of the Gairdner Foundation, a former Trustee of the Killam Trusts and a former director of the Banff Centre Foundation. Ann is the Honourary Chair of the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute and Chair Emeritus of the Calgary Health Foundation and the Calgary Stampede Foundation. Ann has served on the boards of the Calgary & Area Child Advocacy Centre, the Calgary Foundation and the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre.

Elizabeth Shen

Elizabeth is an integrative antiracism supervisor with a metro Alberta school board. She completed her MEd using Critical Race Theory to examine multicultural practices and policies and to advocate for the need to incorporate anti-racism and anti-oppression education into schools. Using a Critical Realist ontology, she completed her PhD in ethnic identity studies focusing on strategies-based methods to build students’ positive ethnocultural identity as a way to address racism and inequity in schools. As a principal for 13 years and another 15 years in classrooms, she uses her education and lived experience as a Chinese-Canadian to turn theory into practice and provide differentiated, pragmatic ways to bring integrative anti-racism to fruition.

Gail-Ann Wilson

Gail-Ann Wilson is a writer on the topic of anti-Black racism in education, presenter and Cultural Diversity Education Consultant in Edmonton. Her work focuses on promoting good relationships and practices in education to combat racism. This stems from her own experience as a Caribbean newcomer over 40 years ago. After working for 20 years as a senior high Social Studies teacher Gail-Ann knows the impact of racial marginalization in education due to underrepresentation of Black female teachers in Alberta. She is the Chair of the Alberta Teachers’ Association Status of Racialized Teachers Working Group and advises on matters of concern or interest regarding racialized teachers. Gail-Ann has published articles in the ATA Newsletter and was a co-guest editor and contributor of content for the Fall 2021 Alberta Teachers’ Association Magazine focused on anti-Black racism in Alberta schools. Gail-Ann also has an MA in Communications from the University of Alberta.

Shamshudin(Sam) Kherani

Sam was born and raised in Uganda and was forced to leave with his family at 15 years old and they were fortunate to come to Canada as refugees. He has practiced and taught dentistry for over 41 years and is the Chief Dental Officer of 123Dentist Corporation.

Sam has been involved in many different leadership positions within the Ismaili Muslim Council, culminating in serving as the Communications Coordinator. He has also served on the National Committee of Aga Khan Foundation, including being the Calgary Convenor for the Partnership Walk. Within Alberta, Dr. Kherani served on the Board of the Public Colleges of Alberta as an appointment from the Government of Alberta. Dr. Kherani is committed to and has a passion to reduce and eventually eliminate sub-conscious, institutionalized racism & bias. This would allow us all to celebrate diversity, inclusion and pluralism.

Stan Sandhu

Stan Sandhu is a seasoned professional with a diverse and impactful career. In 2017 he transitioned from pricing actuary into the realm of public service, where he served as the Chief of Staff for Ward 5 for 4 years, before running for City Councillor himself. Stan is a savvy entrepreneur, utilizing his skills to establish and manage multiple ventures, particularly within the Real Estate industry, where he focuses on investments, development, and strives to enhance affordable housing opportunities in the Calgary region.

Stan continues to find ways to give back to community through multiple board positions he holds, including being the President at the Genesis Centre and Board Director of the Alberta Motor Association. He dedicates his time to youth mentorship, emphasizing sports and various forms of volunteering. In addition to his community work, Stan continues to be a community leader driven by a profound dedication to amplifying the voices of Northeast Calgary.