Meet The Team
Chair
Shelley Petit
Shelley hails from the Saint John region and moved to Fredericton in 2020. A teacher out on long-term disability due to multiple chemical sensitivity/TILT (MCS), she was also a sports coach, a community volunteer, and a Girl Guides of Canada leader (which she still does today virtually). She joined the Coalition in 2020 and believes in the importance of this Grassroots’ movement to improve the lives of all New Brunswickers with any form of disability.
Vice Chair
Finance
Elisa
Akcakiryan
Elisa works as a Project Manager for a corporate
digital e-learning company in Fredericton. She grew up in the heart of Oromocto and holds a BA in Criminology from St Thomas University. She is an advocate for promoting inclusivity, diversity,
and growth in New Brunswick.
Edward (Ted) Robak
Ted is a professional engineer and a professional forester who taught forest engineering at UNB until his retirement for health reasons in 2011. He has worked on projects in many countries around the world and speaks English, French, Spanish and Ukrainian.
Recording Secratary
Murielle Pitre
Communications
Social Media
Kaitlyn Layden
Murielle is co-founder of the NBCPD & spent most of her career at ExxonMobil. She started her work life at Canadian Paraplegic Association and Canadian Rehabilitation Council for The Disabled. She has a diploma in radio broadcasting & journalism, a certificate in graphic arts & enjoys photography, writing and fabric arts. Murielle has Spina Bifida but never lets her disability define her.
Kaitlyn lives with Cerebral Palsy, but she does not let that stop her! She recently completed the Business Abilities Program offered by Ability NB, and started her own little keepsake business. She is a strong self-advocate and has been fighting to change Policy 6.1 from Social Development.
Membership
Krista Wilson
Resides in Fredericton, Krista has Cerebral Palsy, studied Information Systems and is a Coordinator for a senior center. An army brat who enjoys music, crafts, baking.
Priority Focused Board Members
Housing
Kathleen Leger
Mental Health
Carly Dewitt
Mental Health
Suzanne Labelle
Transportation
Shawna-Leigh Morgan
Kathleen experienced a spinal stroke in 2009. A mother to a 19 year-old son and part-time worker for an amazingly supportive company, Kathleen stives to help wherever she can and is involved with Ability Transit, Inclusion Advocacy SENB & have been with NBCPD since its creation in 2020..
Carly has Congenital Hydrocephalus and Chari Malformation. She has been a member of the Youth Relations Council, where she advocated for youth and children with disabilities She was also part of the Inclusion Advocacy Board and now will be helping NBCPD's efforts to help people with disabilities deal with the isolation brought on by the pandemic.
Suzanne became disabled over 10 years ago and is the mother of an adult son with complex medical needs. She moved to New Brunswick in 1995 and has enjoyed the lifestyle and the people. She has volunteered for many different groups and organizations.
Dr. Mario Levesque, PhD; Associate Professor
Mount Allison
Advisor, NBCPD
Mario Levesque is a professor at Mount Allison University, who does research into changes in public policy and administration related to disability policy (e.g., political participation, labor market agreements, accessible transit) and environmental policy. His interests lie in the areas of political dynamics, namely, intergovernmental relations, institutional analysis, community-based governance, citizen engagement, federalism and power dynamics.
He teaches various related courses in Canadian politics, public policy and administration such as Environmental Conflicts in Canada, Canadian Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations and Canadian Public Policy.
Source:
Mario has graciously and enthusiastically decided to be part of the NBCPD team as an Advisor and has lead a team of students into doing some very valuable research for the organization.
Our members come from all over NB, and are not necessarily disabled themselves. We welcome families, allies, businesses, etc. We consider our members to be an important part of our team!
