Our very dedicated and talented board of directors have made the dreams and visions of the Northern Brain Injury Association into reality.
They collectively volunteer hundreds of hours of their time and talents to make NBIA succeed. Their commitment to the reduction of brain injury incidents is inspirational—thank each of you for everything that you do!!!
Ernest Freeman
As a Retired Social Worker, I have mainly worked within the Disability realm, providing assistance in the context of Employment and Community Living. I have also had training working with the Deaf Population and mentored a couple of Deaf Practicum students while working in Child Welfare and with Community Living BC.
After Graduating from UNBC my first Employment with Community Living BC was overseeing services with People with Developmental Delay concerns in the North Peace Region. This followed with working with numerous First Nations Organizations in Central BC in the context of Guardianship Social work. My final years up to retirement focused on finding employment for those individuals with Disabilities in a private firm as well as the Provincial Work BC Program.
I continue to be active in a number of Boards including the Board Voice Society of BC, BC Seniors Association #58, and the local Fort St. John Literacy Society. I enjoy assisting where I am able to enhance the health and well being of those with significant challenges.
Dr. Henry G. Harder
Dr. Henry G. Harder is Professor and past Chair of the School of Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia.
He currently holds the Dr. Donald B. Rix BC Leadership Chair in Aboriginal Environmental Health. He is a registered psychologist. Dr. Harder has been in the fields of mental health, rehabilitation and disability management for over 25 years. His research interests are in aboriginal health, disability issues, workplace mental health, and suicide prevention. He is a Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded scholar.
Dr. Harder is a published author and has made presentations and conducted workshops throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia. He is a member of the College of Psychologists of British Columbia, Network Environments for Aboriginal Research in BC, Canadian Psychological Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, and other professional organizations.
Cynthia Heslop RN, BSN
Cynthia Heslop is a resident of Burns Lake, BC, and is employed at the Southside Health and Wellness Centre.
Her 16 plus years working in various capacities in Public Health has certainly been asset to the NBIA over the years she has sat on the board. In addition to NBIA, she is involved in the Child and Youth Committee and Burns Lake Interagency Committee.
Her interest and involvement in the Northern Brain Injury Association stems from observing the impact of brain injury on patients and their families. She believes there is great need for supports and prevention in the North.
Alison Hagreen
Alison Hagreen is a founding member of the Northern Brain Injury Association.
Mrs. Hagreen is one of a handful of people responsible for originally spearheading brain injury supports, services and awareness throughout British Columbia. Alison has positively transformed aids and services for survivors of brain injury in northern British Columbia.
Some of her efforts include the creation the Prince George Brain Injured Group’s ‘Bank’, to assist survivors to manage their limited finances, and she is a co-author of rehabilitational strategies so awesome that they are sought by brain injury professionals around the world. In addition, Alison has presented at brain injury conferences throughout western Canada, and has sat on many boards of directors, including that of the BC Brain Injury Association (now known as Brainstreams.ca).
In 2013, Alison was nominated for the Prince George Citizen of the Year. She currently participates in a number of advisory and other committees, but has restricted her board of director participation to just the Northern Brain Injury Association since 2005.
Please support the Northern Brain Injury Association. Your gift will be used to help people in crisis to get the help they need, when and where they need it.
