Newest Board Members

MARL is pleased to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors. They bring a wealth of experience, energy and ideas to our organization.

Angie Conrad joins us with 15 years experience in the disability field. She has a Diploma in Developmental Services from Red River College and a B.A. in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies from the University of Calgary. Most of her work has been in the non-profit sector, with the exception of the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board. Angie now works for New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults, and Families, a non-profit social service organization. She is currently Resource Coordinator in the Bridges Program which is a long term residential program for Children and Adults with multiple disabilities. Angie grew up in Winnipeg, and apart from a few years in Edmonton, has lived here all her life. She is married to her husband of 8 years, Fernie, and has an 18 month old son Jesse. The family is completed with two black Labs, Coal and Ebony. In her spare time she enjoys, swimming, biking, camping, and travelling.

Krupa Kotecha. Krupa’s mother was forced to flee Uganda because of her ethnicity and experience with racism. So when Krupa saw racism alive in her community, she created an antiracism commercial that conveyed the horror of bigotry. Her video was chosen as the winner of the national video competition called “Racism. Stop it!”. It was shown as a public service announcement across Canada, potentially impacting millions of Canadians. Krupa has also written and performed a dramatic monologue about the prejudice faced by a teenage Indian immigrant to Canada. She promotes cultural diversity as the Youth Director for the Gujarati Cultural Society and has been an avid volunteer with the Manitoba Children’s Museum since 2005 and the Assiniboine Medical Clinic since 2004. She is a Grade 12 student, Prefect and Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook, peer tutor, school ambassador, Chair of Youth in Philanthropy, and founding member of the Youth Grantmaking Committee. Krupa received a two year internship at the Health Sciences Centre, where she helped to raise funds for improving patient care. She planned charity events such as the annual fundraising dinner, which raised over $116,000. This February, Krupa spearheaded a school drive for used eyeglasses, which obtained over 800 pairs for those in need. Krupa has received her Bronze, Silver, and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and is an ambassador for the program which is intended to foster the development of young people.

Jacques Marcoux. Jacques joined MARL due to his unrelenting belief that every individual is entitled to live in a fair and just society. He is a recent graduate of the Faculty of Commerce from the University of Manitoba. During his studies, he had the opportunity to help establish the Corporate Social Responsibility student group, which aimed at raising awareness and stimulating debate about the one-sided nature of the current business curriculum. Its objective is to encourage a broader discussion within classrooms touching issues that go beyond the purely economic lens. The group has had a very positive response.

Over the past two years, Jacques’ experience has ranged from working in communications and marketing at Investors Group Financial Services to writing as a full-time volunteer for the U of M student newspaper. This experience will certainly be an asset for the Communications Committee, of which he is now a part.

As a former University of Manitoba Bison athlete, Jacques travelled throughout most of North America, competing in triathlons, track races and half-marathons. Whenever possible, he still finds time to get out to the occasional local race.

MARL is very pleased to welcome Jacques as one of the most recent additions to the Board of Directors. He looks forward to working closely with Valerie and the entire team to continue promoting our positive and vital message to our community.

Dianne Zuk. Dianne volunteers with a number of organizations in the City. She is President of the Friends of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, member of the Park Conservancy Board and sits on the Millennium Library Foundation Board. She is also Past Chair of the Winnipeg Library Board. Currently, Dianne is a school trustee for the Pembina Trails School Division. Throughout her long career in education, she has always promoted and been involved in human rights activities such as creating an educational kit on How Women Won the Vote in Manitoba. Dianne looks forward to her future work with MARL. We are very happy to have her energy and talent on our Board.