MARL Welcomes Four New Board Members!

Community members with great talents in legal, policy, leadership, and finance join MARL team

MARL is so pleased to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors: Sharon Bowcott, Trevor Oleniuk, Amy Robertson, and Ryan Doyle. We are delighted to announce, as well, that Ryan will become our Treasurer. Amy Robertson is our new Secretary, and special thanks to Natalie Wiebe, who is transitioning out of the role to a Director position.

We look forward to having such an experienced group of people join our magnificent board of directors, to collectively take action in education and advocacy for human rights and civil liberties toward greater social justice in the province.

Read more about our new board members:

Sharon Bowcott is an Indigenous person with years of experience working in administrative and team leadership positions. Currently, Sharon serves as an Assessment Officer for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. Previously, she served as the Coordinator of External Projects/Director of Employment Services with the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resources Development, Team Leader for the First Nations Employment and Training Centre in Vancouver, and as the Chief of Tsawwassen First Nation from 1995 to 1999, previously serving as Councilor from 1991-1995. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Administrative Studies from the University of Winnipeg and has sat on a number of government and public sector boards and committees. 

Trevor Oleniuk is originally from Saskatoon, SK. Trevor went to the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan. He graduated in 2009, was called to the Saskatchewan bar in 2010, and subsequently worked as a lawyer in private practice and then at an inner city poverty law clinic, practicing all types of law, civil, criminal, immigration, residential tenancies, etc. In 2015, Trevor was called to the Manitoba bar and moved to Winnipeg. He initially practiced on his own doing mostly criminal defence work. Later, he worked as an investigator at the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. Since last year, however, Trevor has been studying science at the U of M. Despite no longer practicing law, he is an avid follower of human rights issues and the debates they generate. 

Amy Robertson is in her third year of law at Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba, and holds a 4-year BA in Human Rights & Global Studies, and Conflict Resolution Studies. Previously, Amy was an intern and an employee, serving as Education Coordinator, with MARL. Amy is the Founder and Chair of the Robson Hall Human Rights Collective. She has volunteered with the Pro Bono Students Canada, Welcome Place, and Laskin Moot. Amy enjoys researching, developing and facilitating workshops, and policy and advocacy-centred projects. She uses her legal knowledge and research skills on the MARL Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee.

Ryan Doyle has been volunteering and working in the non-profit field since 2008 and brings experience in Finance, I.T., and Fundraising. Prior to moving to Winnipeg in 2012, Ryan was a Board Member and a member of the Fundraising Committee for an organization in Hamilton, Ontario for two years. Ryan has also served as an Accountant at ImagineAbility Inc. and Opportunity Partners in Winnipeg. In 2017, Ryan completed the Advanced Certificate in Finance and Accounting through CPA Manitoba, with a focus on Non-Profit Financial Management.

Congratulations, as well, to our re-elected board members: Evan Maydaniuk, who will continue as President; Estelle Lamoureux, Vice-President, and Ahmad Moussa, who will continue his service as a member of the board. Congratulations!