People

Staff

Joe Wickenhauser

Executive Director

Joe Wickenhauser is a passionate community organizer who has worked with schools, healthcare workers and community groups to provide diversity training on how to support LGBT+ people in an organizational setting. After completing his Master’s thesis on LGBT+ history in Moose Jaw and Saskatchewan, his work has focused on bringing communities together to support gender and sexual diversity in smaller centres. Joe regularly delivers presentations and workshops on LGBT+ issues and was nominated for a Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union in 2016.

Laura Budd

Education Coordinator

Laura Budd is an impassioned Human Rights advocate and ally who is driven to create a society where all people are celebrated and respected. She has worked with students (from pre-K to University), educators, health care professionals, women’s shelters and service groups to offer diversity training on gender and sexual diversity which includes her own lived experiences. With the unique ability of speaking from her scars, not her wounds, Laura also does motivational speaking to dispel the myths and stigmas of mental health challenges and suicide.

Board of Directors

Amanda Farnel, Acting Chair

Director since: September 29, 2016

Amanda was born and raised in Moose Jaw. She is Operations Coordinator at the Saskatchewan Festival of Words and has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Statistics.

Kelly Carty, Vice Chair

Director since: March 2017

Michelle Blakley, Treasurer

Director since: March 2017

James Szwagierczak, Volunteer Coordinator

Director since: October 29, 2015

James is 25, gay and a former foster kid. Outside of serving on the board of directors for Moose Jaw Pride he is also secretary on board for Saskatchewan Youth In Care and Custody Network, as well as being secretary of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Moose Jaw (GLAMJ).

Sara Artiga, Acting Secretary

Director since: September 29, 2016

Sara was born in Regina, raised in Moose Jaw and lived for time in Toronto where she worked various jobs as a nanny, in retail and as a freelance makeup artist on a silent film called: “Prey”. Sara moved back to Saskatchewan to be closer to her family and now fiancé. Sara currently works as a nanny to two beautiful and wonderful toddlers and an amazing family. As a Latina-Canadian, Sara is passionate about making a difference and working towards equality and inclusion in this community.

Jenn New, Member at Large

Founding Member

Director since: February 6, 2014

Jenn is is a person who copes with the impacts of ventilator dependent quadriplegia and has 24 hour care attendants. Jenn attends university part time and enjoys a variety of activities including art/drawing, listening and attending music events, and gatherings with friends. Even though she has physical limitations, Jenn actively strives to live with a barrier free attitude.