Information and Resources

Learn more about the supports and services offered by the planning support organizations listed below by clicking the orange text to find information about their programs for review and to download.

Planning Support Organization Speaker Bios

Representatives from each organization will be sharing short presentations at the CCP Workshop in breakout rooms on Thursday October 14th. Learn more about the speakers who will be joining us below!
BC Real Estate Foundation - Hedy rubin
Hedy will be presenting on Thursday October 14th from 9:30am - 9:55am, which is 'Session J' in the agenda.

Hedy works with communities and organizations across the province to learn about sustainable land use projects and initiatives and to help identify potential funding and partnership opportunities through the Real Estate Foundation of BC. As a Grants Program Manager, she enjoys being able to meet with communities and organizations. Her work involves fielding inquiries, evaluating proposals and making funding recommendations to the REFBC Board of Governors. She is committed to deep listening to understand community priorities, and to building and stewarding strong relationships to earn the right to work with and serve a range of diverse communities and organizations. Hedy has more than 20 years of experience in grantmaking and community programs.  She has a passion for connecting with communities and ongoing  learning, and ensuring that the work of the Foundation supports and advances Indigenous land use rights and interests and racial equity and justice. When not working, Hedy is an avid hiker and enjoys spending time in the mountains and forests with her dog.
Emergency Management BC - Nicole Norris, Jameson Mailloux, Kayla Pepper & Irene Mills
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Nicole, Jameson, Kayla and Irene will be presenting on Thursday from 9:30am - 9:55am, which is 'Session W' in the agenda.
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NICOLE NORRIS, HALALT
‘Uy’ Skweyul nu xe’xe Siiye’yu, Good day my sacred friends. 
My ancestral name is Alag̱a̱mił (A-la-ga-meelth) it means ‘she who wears dear skin in house’. My English name is Nicole Norris, I am a member of the Xelaltxw (Halalt First Nation) which is nestled in the heart of the Hul’q’umi’num territory that spans from Malahat to Qualicum on Vancouver Island. I am the First Nation Partnerships Coordinator for Emergency Management BC, serving the Nations on Vancouver Island and Central Coast. I am a First Nations intergovernmental communicator, knowledge holder, cultural practitioner for the Coast Salish, Kwakwaka’wakw and Nuu-chah-nulth and a traditional regalia maker; cedar weaver, wool weaver, wood carver and button blanket maker. Granddaughter of Late Nora George and Ernie Rice Sr and Daughter of Late Frank and Joan Norris.
First Nations health authority - Katie Skelton
Katie will be presenting on Thursday October 14th from 10:45am - 11:15am, which is 'Session U' in the agenda.
First Nations Public service secretariat - Celina Dorame
Celina Dorame is from the Tseil-Waututh Nation and was raised in California. As Manager of Engagement and Capacity for the First Nations Public Service Secretariat, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in human resource management and administration. Dorame has a Degree in Pharmacology and spent several years working in human resources and intelligence with the United States Military before transitioning into human resources and administration nonprofit work and coming to Canada. In her current role with the FNPSS, Dorame leads the Engagement and Capacity team responsible for training, public engagement, and outreach with BC First Nations. The Engagement and Capacity team, develops training tailored to BC First Nations, provides virtual support services to
First Nations organizations, and handles logistics and coordination for FNPSS virtual and in person conferences, workshops, and training academies. A key focus for her is engagement and meaningful connections with First Nations to receive feedback about the direction of FNPSS.

Dorame enjoys being part of a small, engaged team and is looking to tap into the knowledge and expertise of other individuals and associations who work in training and capacity building in First Nations administration. She is very excited to be part of the FNPSS and hopes that it will continue to grow and assist First Nations with strengthening their administration.

Celina will be presenting on Thursday October 14th from 10:00am- 10:30am, which is 'Session N' in the agenda.
First peoples cultural council - Magie-Mae Adams & Thea Harris
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Magie-Mae and Thea will be presenting on Thursday October 14th from 11:15am - 11:45am, which is 'Session V' in the agenda.
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The First Peoples’ Cultural Council provides leadership for the revitalization of Indigenous languages, culture, and arts in British Columbia. The First People’s Cultural Council monitors the status of BC First Nation languages, culture, and arts, and facilitates and develops strategies with communities to recover and sustain their heritage.

Thea Harris is a Language Program’s Coordinator at First People’s Cultural Council taking care of the Reclaiming My Language Program and the Language Revitalization Planning Program. Thea is a member of Snuneymuxw First Nation and uses her background in Indigenous Business to support her work.
Magie-Mae Quee-i-sook Thul-la-me-eh Adams is W̱SÁNEĆ and Łingít, residing on the Coastal Ts’msyen territory in Prince Rupert, B.C. Her background includes providing effective capacity development that is created from community-based approaches that honour the knowledge and expertise within the community.
Indigenous services canada - Jennifer Chong
Jennifer will be presenting on Thursday October 14th from 10:45am - 11:10am, which is 'Session T' in the agenda.

The Community Initiatives Unit (CIU) supports the building of healthy, sustainable First Nation communities at all levels of capacity and development.  The 8 member CIU team includes; Laura Aucoin (Manager) and program staff; Lana Morrison, Jennifer Chong, Michelle Robinson, Marie Urdiga, Jackie Dicken, Christopher Cardinal and Amanda Wong. Contact us at: [email protected]

New relationship Trust - Jessie Williams & Marie Alaimo
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Jessie and Marie will be presenting on Thursday October 14th from 10:00am - 10:30am, which is 'Session M' in the agenda.
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Jessie Williams recently joined the New Relationship Trust as the Director of Business Development and Communications where she supports NRT’s work in empowering First Nations Communities in BC through capacity building in five key area’s: Governance, Education, Economic Development, Language & Culture, Youth and Elder funding. She was previously the Director of Indigenous Relations for Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. In her role, she developed community partnerships and prepared a reconciliation focused strategic plan for FASS to better serve its students, and initiate consultations to develop Indigenous student supports.



Marie Alaimo graduated from the University of Victoria in 2012 with a Major in Psychology. She joined the NRT team in 2018 and her roles have included overseeing the Direct Support Initiative, Scholarship Initiative, Young Entrepreneurship Symposium, NRTF Golf Tournament, and now is the Director of Operations. 

Before working at NRT, Marie worked for the BC Government, where she gained an array of skills working in various departments, including Corporate Planning, Communications, Research, and the Health and Finance Ministers’ Offices. 
She currently resides in Musqueam with her partner and two children, and enjoys utilizing her skills and expertise to support building a strong future for First Nation’s people and communities in B.C.
statistics canada - Cindy Bryant & Kelsey Manitim
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Cindy and Kelsey will be presenting on Thursday October 14th from 9:30am - 9:55am, which is 'Session K' in the agenda.
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Cindy Bryant is currently living in Greely, Ontario with her partner and their three children. Originally from Austin, a town in southern Quebec, she moved to Montreal to complete both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Concordia University. The focus of her Master’s degree was in rural studies and migration patterns both into and out of rural areas across Canada. While studying she worked for the New Rural Economy project and was fortunate to travel to some of the 32 communities collaborating on the research project. Her career at Statistics Canada began in the Demography division where she worked on the dissemination of the 2001 Census. She then worked in areas related to immigration and health statistics before moving to Iqaluit, Nunavut, where her family resided for 6 years. The majority of Cindy’s career has since been working on all facets of the census, from content consultation, development and testing of questionnaires, collection and coding processes, and analysis and dissemination of census data products. Her current position is with the Centre for Indigenous Statistics and Partnerships as the National Project Manager for the Indigenous Statistical Capacity Development Initiative, a program that offers training to Indigenous communities and organizations to build and develop statistical capacities.
My name is Kelsey Manimtim and I am an Ojibway woman and a band member of Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. I am a proud mother of two daughters. My older daughter is a teacher and my youngest just started university this fall. I grew up in Winnipeg but have always maintained close ties to my First Nation, and still spend a great deal of time there with friends and family. I graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Native Studies and completed a year of law school before deciding it was not for me. I began my career working for my own Chief and Council and prior to starting work here at Statistics Canada 14 years ago, most of my career was in human resources along with working for a couple of urban Indigenous organizations in Winnipeg. I currently am an Indigenous Outreach Analyst and have really enjoyed working with Statistics Canada and watching the evolution of the Indigenous Liaison Program over the years.
University of british columbia Indigenous community planning program - Maggie low
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Maggie will be presenting alongside Pam Shaw on Thursday October 14th from 9:30am - 9:55am, which is Session L in the agenda.

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Maggie Low is the Co-Chair of the Indigenous Community Planning (ICP) program at UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP). Maggie is a community-engaged scholar who seeks to advance a better understanding of Indigenous sovereignty as it is expressed outside the Canadian courts. Her current research projects and teaching focus on Indigenous planning, climate justice, Indigenous-state relations and decolonization efforts happening within Canadian cities. Maggie was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario and is of mixed ancestry including Italian, French, German, English and she is a status member of Wikwemikoong Unceded Territory. Maggie has been fortunate enough to work with and for First Nations in what is now known as British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario. Off campus, Maggie enjoys running, camping, drinking good coffee and eating with friends and family.
Vancouver island university planning program - Pam shaw
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Pam will be presenting alongside Maggie Low on Thursday October 14th from 9:30am - 9:55am, which is 'Session L' in the agenda.

Pam Shaw PhD FCIP RPP FRCGS is the Director of the Master of Community Planning Program at Vancouver Island University.  Pam has been a planner for over 35 years in communities both large and small. She is the co-author of “Planning Canadian Communities” along with Gerald Hodge and David Gordon, and Pam's current researcher looks at human/nature relationships in fragile environments.
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