Today, the Provincial Government announced appointments to the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women, based on a list of recommendations provided by the Independent Appointments Commission.
New members include Barbara Agnes Barker, Arlene Blanchard-White, Elizabeth Evans-Mitchell, Erica Hurley, Kelly Hynes-Curties, Abigail Steel and Raelene Vickers. Vanessa Jo McCarthy and Carmichael Polonio have been reappointed for a second term. Vanessa Jo McCarthy will also serve as vice president of the council.
The Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women was established in 1980 and provides advice to government on issues affecting women in the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the first Canadian province to establish a legislated merit-based appointment process. The Independent Appointments Commission is actively recruiting for a number of positions with agencies, boards and commissions.
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“We are pleased to announce appointments to the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women, which are based on recommendations of the Independent Appointments Commission. Council members have significant expertise and experience to lead the work of the Advisory Council. We thank them for their commitment to the advancement of women and to the province.”
Honourable Siobhan Coady
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women
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Learn More
Independent Appointments Commission: www.iacnl.ca/
Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women: Pacsw.ca/
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @WPO_GovNL
Media contact
Nancy Hollett
Women’s Policy
Office
709-729-5777,
685-3372
nancyhollett@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of Members of the Provincial Advisory Council on the
Status of Women
Barbara A. Barker
Barbara A.
Barker, B.A. (Hons.), LL.B. (University of Saskatchewan) is a member of the
Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. Barbara works for the Newfoundland and Labrador
Legal Aid Commission in the Provincial Director’s Office as the Legal Services
Solicitor. Amongst other community work, Barbara is a member of the Expert
Advisory Panel with the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and
Accountability, volunteers with the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault
Crisis and Prevention Centre and sits on the board for a newly created feminist
not-for-profit, SKS Children’s Centre. Barbara is a member of the Law Society of
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Indigenous Education and Action Committee, as well
as their Education Committee, and teaches Continuing Legal Education and the Bar
Admissions Course.
Arlene Blanchard-White
Arlene is a
Business Development Officer with Ulnooweg Development Group mentoring
Indigenous entrepreneurs. As a business owner, in 2006 she rode the Way-Out
Women (WOW) Ride for Breast Cancer raising the second highest amount in Canada
for research. Much of her life has been dedicated to volunteering on various
boards such as the St. George’s Economic Development Corporation, and Bay St.
George Mi’kmaq Cultural Revival Committee while volunteering with local schools
to enhance Indigenous culture and heritage. She has served a three-year term as
councillor for Qalipu First Nation where she also sat on the Education Committee
as well as a representative to the Women’s Policy Office. Arlene is a proud
Mi’kmaq who embraces her culture through dance, ceremony and Indigenous
values.
Elizabeth Evans-Mitchell
Elizabeth
Evans-Mitchell was born and raised in Makkovik, Nunatsiavut. Along with friend,
Tama Jararuse, Elizabeth was one of the first graduates of J. C. Erhardt
Memorial. Elizabeth obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Memorial
University which permitted her to follow her passion for teaching in her
hometown for the past 30 years as both an educator and more recently, principal.
Along with her education degree, she holds a Diploma in Kodaly Music from
Acadia. Serving as a community councillor for many years as well as the North
Coast VP for Combined Councils of Labrador, community issues and concerns have
always been a priority. Elizabeth has volunteered for several committees
including, Makkovik Museum Committee, Makkovikimut Trust, AnanauKatiget Timingit
and Makkovik Chapel Servants – Acolyte for the Moravian
Church.
Erica Samms-Hurley
Erica Samms-Hurley is a
Mi’kmaq woman who earned her BN (2004) from Memorial University-Grenfell Campus
and her MN (2014) from Athabasca University. Erica recently began studies at
University of Alberta in the PhD of Nursing Program. She has worked in nursing
education for over 10 years and is currently a nurse educator at Western
Regional School of Nursing- Grenfell Campus. Erica is adjunct professor in the
School of Arts and Social Sciences (Humanities) at Grenfell. Since a young age
Erica has dedicated her time to volunteering on numerous committees locally,
provincially and nationally, such Native Women’s Association of Canada’s Health
Advisory Committee, the Canadian Institute of Health Research Institutes
Advisory Board for Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and the Council on Higher
Education Subcommittee on Indigenous Education. She has been recognized for her
achievements and contributions by the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration
of the Persons Case and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award. She is
currently the chair of the Grenfell Indigenous Advisory and Initiatives
committee. Erica was elected into the vice-chief position of Qalipu first nation
in 2015.
Kelly Hynes Curties
Kelly Hynes Curties is a
lawyer for the Department of Justice and Public Safety. Bilingual, Kelly
completed her Bachelor of Arts at Memorial University in French and Sociology,
her Law Degree (LL.B.) at Université de Moncton and her Masters in Law (LL.M.)
at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Kelly is passionate about advancing
equality issues. She is currently in her final year as Chair of YWCA St. John’s,
and has been on their board in various capacities since 2013. Kelly has been
actively involved in other community organizations, including the CBA NL, and
the CBA National Committee on Equality.
Vanessa Jo
McCarthy
Vanessa is a lawyer in private practice with Rebecca
Redmond MacLean Law Office PLC Inc. in Gander. She completed her Bachelor of
Arts and LLB degrees with the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, where
she was involved in numerous organizations committed to equality and women’s
rights. Vanessa worked and volunteered for many years with the Fredericton
Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and later the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual
Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre. She is actively involved with the Gander
Women’s Centre and the Rotary Club of Gander. Vanessa is originally from Grand
Falls-Windsor, and has lived in Gander since 2010.
Carmichael
Polonio
Carmichael Polonio is a Belizean-Canadian engineer, who
currently works at Nalcor Energy as a transmission design engineer. She moved to
St. John’s in 2006 to pursue civil engineering at Memorial University, which she
successfully completed in 2011. Born and raised in Belize City, Belize, she’s a
Garifuna woman, which is an Indigenous race group combining African, Arawak, and
Carib ancestry. Since residing in St. John’s, Carmichael has been an active
participant in the community. She volunteers with Women in Science and
Engineering and Women in Resource Development Council in their respective
mentorship programs. She’s currently a board member of the Provincial Advisory
Council for the Status of Women.
Abigail
Steel
Abigail Steel, PhD, P.Eng., received her Bachelor in civil
engineering from Queen’s University and her Master’s and PhD in civil
engineering from Memorial University. Abigail was elected and served on the
board of directors of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland
and Labrador. She is a past member of Engineers Canada’s, Women in Engineering
Advisory Council and past chair of Engineers Canada’s, Women in Engineering
Committee. Abigail was also co-chair of Memorial University’s Sustainability
Advisory Committee and has been involved with Memorial University’s Women and
Diversity in Engineering Committee and Women in Science and Engineering,
Newfoundland and Labrador chapter. She currently works as an engineer and
manager with the Mineral Development Division of the provincial Department of
Natural Resources. Other volunteer activities include: Scouts Canada, Duke of
Edinburgh Program and Avalon Nordic Ski Club.
Raelene
Vickers
Without human connection and a strong foundation of empathy,
understanding and love change cannot occur. Raelene’s passion for human
connection led her to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Social Work in 2014 from
Memorial University and a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of
Toronto in 2018. Raelene describes herself as a fierce feminist who challenges
society’s expectations, and a passionate advocate for gender and sexual diverse
populations. Practicing as a frontline social worker for four years, Raelene has
experience working with children in care, foster parents, and women experiencing
intimate partner violence. After completing a placement in Patient and Family
Engagement at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Raelene has been
exploring the use of social work in administrative and policy roles. Recently,
Raelene entered the role of Executive Director of Mokami Status of Women Council
where she is incorporating strengths based and trauma informed theories into her
everyday work.