About Us: Leadership

Tony Weeks

President & CEO

Tony Weeks is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Brenda Strafford Foundation. He has been contributing to health and long-term care since 1988 and has developed a collaborative leadership style that fosters a supportive and healthy culture for residents, patients, families, and employees.

Tony holds an MBA in healthcare administration from Taft University and has completed executive leadership programs with Cornell University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management. More recently, he has completed his ICD.D certification and the Board Dynamics Program through the Institute of Corporate Directors at the University of Calgary - Haskayne School of Business, and the University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management. He has been a member of the Canadian College of Healthcare Leaders since 2011, and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) since 2017. He has also served as an advisor to the ACHE Canada Regent’s Council, Board Director, and Chair of the Communications Committee.

Prior to joining BSF, Tony has worked in leadership roles across Canada, most recently as President and CEO of three New Brunswick companies focused on long-term care, senior's living, and aging research. Prior to this, he served as a health and long-term care consultant, hospital CEO, and held various senior executive roles in the Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario health systems.

Karyn Golem CPA, CA

Vice President, Corporate Services & Chief Financial Officer

Karyn Golem is The Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Vice President of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She is a Chartered Professional Accountant with 18 years of financial leadership experience in private corporation, public entity, and public sector industries.

Karyn obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Accounting from the University of Calgary, and she holds a Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation.

With a focus on building strong professional relationships that build trust, resiliency and loyalty, Karyn’s contributions to the BSF are grounded in employee engagement, open dialogue and developing a culture of risk taking that enables innovation and transformation in all levels of the organization.

Kara Gillespie LLB, CPHR

Vice President, People, Culture, & Belonging

Kara is an experienced executive with a background spanning private legal practice, in-house counsel, and human resources. She’s worked for private corporations in oil & gas, bulk transportation, and construction, as well as public health authorities such as Alberta Health Services. Her impressive career journey, combining a wealth of legal know-how with a deep understanding of human resources dynamics, makes her the perfect choice to drive a positive and inclusive workplace.

What makes Kara truly remarkable is her unwavering commitment to proactively prevent workplace conflicts and her heartfelt passion for ensuring we all find purpose in the work we do. She’s wholeheartedly dedicated to nurturing an environment where everyone feels not just valued, but truly heard and appreciated.

With Kara's leadership, backed by a strong Human Resources (HR) team, we look forward to further elevating our workplace culture and creating an environment where everyone can thrive both personally and professionally.

Carolyne Mondoux RD, MHA

Vice President, Continuing Care & Operational Excellence

Carolyne Mondoux is an experienced and open-minded leader who focuses on active leadership and a culture of empowerment. As The Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Vice President of Service Excellence, Quality, and Innovation, she is responsible for leadership and advancing strategy for our continuing care services, research and innovation, quality improvement, and resident/family liaison services.

Carolyne holds a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the Telfer School of Business, a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition Sciences, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. She is fully bilingual (French and English), a Registered Dietitian, Green Belt certified, and has been a member of the Canadian College of Healthcare Leaders since 2017, and a member of Dietitians of Canada since 2014. She also currently serves as a Board Member for the Alberta Continuing Care Association and as the Board Secretary on the Highland Park Community Association.

Prior to her current position, Carolyne was the Executive Director at our Wentworth Manor continuing care site, and she has held various leadership roles within the organization. She also has experience in leadership roles outside of the BSF, within healthcare organizations, federal government, and private retail.

Catherine Laing

Executive Director, Dr. Barrie Strafford Centre for Learning, Innovation & Quality

Catherine is a dedicated leader with a strong track record of driving transformative change through collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. With a deep commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals and fostering inclusive environments, she has taken the lead in diverse projects across multiple sectors.

As a dedicated team leader, Catherine spearheaded the development of a dementia program that blends person-centered care, global best practices, and innovative systems. This program is a testament to her commitment to making a lasting positive impact on vulnerable communities.

Through extensive experience, she has not only created impactful programs but also established lasting relationships with community groups, funders, politicians, and various organizations. Catherine’s passion for fostering positive change continues to drive her forward, and she is eager to connect with fellow change-makers who share the same vision.

Kevin Melanson

Executive Director, International Healthcare & Chief Social Impact Officer

Kevin is a non-profit professional who is passionate about ensuring every person, especially those living in disadvantaged situations, has an equal opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life. In his role as the Chief Social Impact Officer, Kevin is responsible for providing leadership to BSF's Community Programs, International Healthcare, Resource Development and Volunteer programs.

Kevin holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Athletic Training (Health Sciences), a professional certificate in Public Management for Development, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Global Challenges. Kevin has also completed trainings in global health, humanitarian response, and coaching.

Leveraging over 13 years of experience spanning healthcare, education, and non-profit management, Kevin has successfully led a variety of programs to deliver high quality outcomes in difficult settings. This includes local and national-level work in specialized medical care, emergency response, and strategic planning. He also previously served as the foundation’s Director/Administrator of Institut Brenda Strafford in Les Cayes, Haiti.

Dr. Jed Shimizu

Chief Medical Director

Dr. Jed Shimizu is the Chief Medical Director of The Brenda Strafford Foundation. In his role, Dr.Shimizu is responsible for overseeing the physicians working within Bow View, Wentworth and Cambridge Manors, as well as providing leadership to advance the quality and safety of clinical practice throughout the foundation.

Dr.Shimizu is a Care of the Elderly physician currently practicing in Calgary. His practice includes primary care in continuing care at the C3 seniors’ day program as well as consultative work through the Seniors Health Outreach Program and the Home Care Geriatric Consult Team.

Dr.Shimizu completed his Care of the Elderly training at the University of Alberta and spent his first five years of practice in both inpatient and outpatient geriatrics in Edmonton. He also helped develop the Misericordia Community Hospital Emergency Department’s geriatric evaluation and management service.