Faces of Wellness

Bailey Doucette

Finalist

Bailey is a peace officer with Alberta Health Services (AHS) Protective Services and an advocate for gender diversity. Assigned female at birth, Bailey grew up feeling different and and lived with chronic pain and anxiety disorder. There was much he didn't understand about gender and did not have the access or resources to relate what he was feeling into words.

Working as a security guard at the Alberta Children's Hospital, and in seeing many young clients exploring their identity, Bailey was inspired to research and learn more about gender diversity. Their stories resonated with Bailey, inspiring him to finally say, “I am transgender.” With feeling more at home in his gender identity, Bailey's persistent pain and anxiety have become manageable, and he is going through transition, buoyed by his colleagues' support. This year, he was appointed as a peace officer and continues to work with AHS Protective Services. Bailey volunteers as a peer mentor with the Skipping Stone Foundation, helping to connect gender-diverse individuals with resources and foster affirming experiences.

“To any adult who is coming to terms with their gender identity later in life, I say this: you are brave and it is never too late to live as your authentic self!”

Marlin Ortiz Californias

Finalist

Marlin is co-president of the Let's Talk T1D club and is a passionate advocate for diabetes awareness. Growing up in a small town in Mexico, Marlin witnessed family members with diabetes struggling to access care but didn't fully grasp the significance until much later. In later years, while attending the University of Alberta, Marlin was diagnosed with prediabetes. This came as a wake-up call, not just for his own personal health, but of the broader social issues surrounding diabetes.

This diagnosis propelled Marlin into action. He became a passionate advocate for those facing similar challenges, joining Let's Talk T1D, a student group focused on raising awareness and funds for people living with Type 1 diabetes. In collaboration with the Juvenile Diabetes Research fund, this group donated more than $1,000 towards research and providing resources to those in need. As co-president of the club, Marlin continues his important work of raising awareness and helping to educate and support folks affected by diabetes.

“I believe that my education in kinesiology, combined with my personal experiences, has given me a unique perspective on wellness.”

Jarret Esslinger

Finalist

Jarret dedicated himself to lifestyle changes when faced with his own family challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jarret and his wife were struggling with unexplained infertility in their efforts to grow their family. After extensive tests and treatments, they found themselves at an impasse. Together, they began a fitness journey, as the only thing they could control in this fertility journey was their own physical health.

Jarret began a small fitness routine, including running and biking and continued building upon these changes every day. After many In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments, he and his wife welcomed the birth of their son. Jarret's first steps on his fitness journey inspired him to maintain his level of health and to create a strong foundation of wellness for both himself as a father and for his family. He has found passion in road cycling and completed his first marathon in Edmonton this past summer. His commitment to wellbeing, taking it one day at a time, is a story that resonates with many.

“A small journey of just moving more than you did the day before can lead to incredible lifestyle changes that can last a lifetime.”

Shawna Rose Goss

Finalist

After facing abuse, human trafficking and confinement, Shawna Rose Goss turned to her community. To help with her healing and personal wellness, she developed relationships with those around her at work and within her community. Both Shawna and her husband were active community members, but Shawna's world was shattered in 2016 when she lost her husband in a workplace accident.

Shawna felt lost and alone. She suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and found she needed more support than what her manager and co-workers were able to offer. She tried counselling services, but this resource didn't fully fit her situation.

After years of navigating her mental health needs and wellness, Shawna reached out to her manager and started a peer support group at her organization. Now, she holds seminars in various departments and encourages her team members to contact her whenever they are in need.

Sundas Shamshad

Finalist

After fighting breast cancer at a young age, Sundas Shamshad noticed her city was missing resources and supports for people like her. Throughout her diagnosis, she felt lonely and wanted to make an impactful change.

She founded the only cancer support group in Fort McMurray—Sisters in Cancer. This support group offers peer-to-peer programs, alongside financial and mental health aids, for cancer patients. Sundas is also an advisory board member for EXercise for Cancer to Enhance Living well (EXCEL). Through her work, she helps support cancer patients and survivors through mental, physical and emotional aids.

Sundas advocates for mental health as a board member and ambassador for the Compassion House Foundation and through many aspects of her work and volunteer roles. She is currently the interim executive director of Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta where she works to create positive change for girls to break free from gender stereotypes.

Enessa Habib

Finalist

In 2021, Enessa Habib started YEG Honeycomb, a project designed to bring bees to historic locations throughout Edmonton. YEG Honeycomb works with residents at Alberta Hospital Edmonton's Facility for Mental Health and Addiction and the Grierson Centre to help patients successfully transition out of the facilities and into the community. The bees have homes at Edmonton City Hall, Chancery Hall, Fort Edmonton Park, the Alberta Aviation Museum, Magrath Mansion, Old Man Creek Nursery and the Rossdale Power Plant.

"The journey has been healing for me and others as we care for and tend to the bees in a gentle way. This creature is more vulnerable and fragile than us. It allows us to reflect inward and look at what we need to do to take care of ourselves and where we fit within nature."

From the thrumming of their wings, bees have a healing frequency that is known to have many benefits. Over extended periods, the frequency can retune the cognitive dissonance of a brain impacted by post-traumatic stress disorder. Through beekeeping, Enessa hopes to help vulnerable and marginalized groups benefit from positive social connections and moments of mindfulness.

Crystal Phillips

Finalist

At 19 years old and at the height of her speed skating career, Crystal Phillips was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Despite the news, she didn't let it stop her or her dream. She co-founded the Branch Out Neurological Foundation, which funds research for non-pharmaceutical alternatives for neurological disorders.

Crystal inspires those around her with her story and MS patient advocacy. Thanks to her positive attitude and drive, she continues to inspire innovation for neurological disorder treatment.

Deb Hymers

Finalist

Deb Hymers is the founder of NSTEP (Nutrition Students Teachers Exercising with Parents), a not-for-profit registered charity based in Alberta providing hands-on nutrition and physical activity programs directly into classrooms, community centers and afterschool programming. NSTEPs mission is to educate and motivate children to eat better, walk more and live longer; and its programs work directly with children and youth in both school and community settings to inspire teachers, students and parents to make small simple changes for lifelong health benefits.

The program has provided support to more than 50,000 children and youth since its inception. Deb is a tireless champion for children's wellness and also has a strong commitment to promoting health equity and working specifically with schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across Alberta.

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk

Finalist

When Dr. Marie Holowaychuk was thriving as a veterinarian, public speaker and educator, her chronic stress was taking a toll on both her body and mind. She was beginning to experience burnout from her busy life working locally and travelling as a small animal and critical care specialist.

That all changed in 2014 when Marie was in car accident that served as a wake-up call to slow down. Not only did she have to put work on hold for several weeks while she recovered, she also recognized that she needed to make changes in her life that would allow her to balance the work she loved with the life she wanted to live.

Marie began to prioritize her mental and physical health. She sought counselling and worked with her physician and naturopathic doctor to address some of the causes and consequences of her chronic stress and overwhelm. She also did an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program, became a certified yoga teacher and completed a meditation teacher program.

After recognizing the prevalence of compassion fatigue, burnout, suicide, mental health stigma and other issues within veterinary medicine were not being spoken about enough, Marie decided to share the lessons she had learned through her website, marieholowaychuk.com where she provides free resources on the topics of mental health, burnout, setting boundaries and more. She also shares information on her biweekly Reviving Vet Med podcast and with social media posts on several platforms.

Sydney Hampshire

Finalist

At age 9, Sydney Hampshire had an ischemic stroke that left her completely paralyzed on her left side. The doctors told her parents that she might never walk or speak again.

"I remember waking up after my stroke, being told what had happened and breaking down,” says Sydney. “I could not understand why this had happened to me."

For Sydney the only choice was to get better. And with some creative modifications, she's able to do whatever she puts her mind to including snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, camping and canoeing. She also helps empower others to get outside through the University of Alberta's outdoors club. “Heck, if I can climb a mountain, so can you.”

Every facet of Sydney's life has been impacted by her stroke, from enduring frequent Botox injections to ensuring she's able to remain physically active through physiotherapy and daily workouts.

Sydney used her experiences as a child to obtain a masters of rehabilitation sciences. She also co-founded Click&Push Accessibility Inc. and created an app called The Atlas which people with mobility limitations can use to ensure they do not encounter barriers that impede access, increase the risk of injury and deplete energy reserves.

"I always encourage others to work towards the life they want for themselves, regardless of the hand they have been dealt, and continuously strive to uplift others."