Contact us

CEO

Candace Bennett, FNHP, CIL, CAPA

Phone: (613) 299-3810

Email: Candace@fnhpa.ca 

Candace is a resident status member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, located about 1.5 hours west of Ottawa, where she has lived for the past 40 plus years. Candace is a specialist in the field of First Nation housing management and policy development. She has extensive experience in the analysis of on-reserve policy development and implementation and has 24 years of experience working within the First Nation Housing Industry. Her long-time career has exposed her to the many facets of delivering First Nations Housing and the many gaps present for Housing Managers. Her breadth of exposure spans across First Nation grass roots, provincial, national, political, and private industry.

Candace earned her designation as a First Nation Housing Professional (FNHP) with FNHPA in December 2020, she achieved her Certified Indigenous Leader (CIL) designation in January 2023 and her Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA) designation in February 2024 both through the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association.  She is committed to expanding her education and learning in the area of First Nation administration and assisting in making a positive imprint in First Nation communities across Canada

Housing and Wellness Program Manager

Brooke Duggan, FNHP

Phone: 416-346-4321

Email: brooke@fnhpa.ca 

Brooke is a member of the Acadiens-Métis Souriquois (AAMS) of Nova Scotia. She graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 2021 with a degree in Health Sciences. Through her studies of the social determinants of health, she discovered her passion for promoting healthy and safe housing. In her role as the Housing and Wellness Program Coordinator, she will help create and deliver tools and resources to support healthy housing in First Nation communities.

Corporate Manager

Farren Saulis Rogers, FNHP

Phone: 343-550-0212

Email: farren@fnhpa.ca 

Farren is Anishinaabe from Nipissing First Nation and Wolastoqiyik from Tobique First Nation (Neqotkuk). She has worked for various national Indigenous organizations over the past decade and is committed to bettering the lives of Indigenous peoples in Canada. As the Corporate Manager, she will support the FNHPA staff and Board to ensure business activities are organized and efficiently and effectively executed, to advance the goals of First Nations housing departments and support existing and future housing professionals.

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Kateri Amikons, FNHP

Phone: 343-540-9746

Email: Kateri@fnhpa.ca 

Kateri is a member of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, and a graduate from Algonquin College’s Office Administration - Executive Program and is currently enrolled at Conestoga college in Social Media Marketing.  She has been utilizing her skill set over the last 9 years in roles of increasing responsibility for organizations like the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation and Whitewater Welding, as well with Ontario Power Generation.

Membership Administrator

Sharon Perrault 

Phone: 343-598-0985

Email: sharon@fnhpa.ca 

Sharon is a member of Sheshegwaning First Nation, ON. With a background in office administration, she brings a variety of skills and knowledge to aid in the needs of our members and staff. As the Membership and Administrative Clerk, she is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our members in a responsive and attentive manner.

Education Administrator

Kelsey Gagnon

Phone: 343-596-9753

Email: kelsey@fnhpa.ca 

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Kelsey is a member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. She graduated from Algonquin College’s Computer System Technician Program and brought with her educational, customer service, team management and administrative experience.  She joined FNHPA as the Education Administrator and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to support the students, instructors, and members of the Association on their learning path.

Education Manager

Allystarr Johnson

Phone: 782-503-0695

Email: allystarr@fnhpa.ca 

Allystarr is Mi’kmaw and a member of Eskasoni, First Nation, NS. She has experience working with First Nation’s Data on a regional and national level. Her educational background being Community Studies and Education.  Ally is the Education Manager, some of her duties include overseeing, developing curriculum for the FNHP Certification program.

Manager, Matrimonial Real Property

Carrie Zeppa, FNHP

Phone: 249-535-0145

Email: carrie@fnhpa.ca 

Carrie is a member of the Garden River First Nation with 9 years experience working in First Nation Housing specializing in training and managing housing programs and services with a focus on building capacity and developing wealth creation for our First Nations.  Carrie joined the FNHPA in December 2023 as the Manager, Matrimonial Real Property and is responsible for leading the transitional development and implementation of the MRP Program on-reserve. With the goal of First Nations communities operating their own independent MRP Programs, the Program Manager provides guidance and oversight to Regional MRP contractors who will assist with MRP education and awareness for Housing Program staff in First Nations communities. 

Matrimonial Real Property Coordinator

Darlene Chevrier, FNHP 

Phone: 819-629-4845

Email: darlene@fnhpa.ca 

Darlene Chevrier is a proud Anishnabek from the Timiskaming First Nation an Algonquin community in Northern Quebec. She is the mother of 4 adult children and 8 wonderful grandchildren.

Darlene has been involved in the housing sector as the community’s Director of Housing since December 2010 after graduating from the University of Quebec with a certificate in administration. Prior to that she was the Secretary/Dispatcher for the Public Security Department.

In 2017 she received an Attestation in “Techniques en Gestion de l’Habitation pour les Premières Nation” from Cégep Garneau. She is interest in obtaining PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) certification as a First Nations Housing Professional (FNHP).

She is an active member of the First Nations Housing Community of Practice (CoPH), its mission is to enable its members to work together to improve the well-being of communities, through collective capacity building, mutual aid and sharing of good practices.

Regional Relations Coordinator- Northern Manitoba

Candace Garson 

Phone: 204-583-0572

Email:  candace.g@fnhpa.ca 

Candace is a proud mother of three and a proud grandmother of five.  Fisher River Cree Nation is her home community which is located two hours North of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She have lived there most of her life with leaving to attend College in Brandon for a few years. The past twelve years she has worked in the housing department as an assistant then becoming the Housing Manager. Candace obtained her First Nations Housing Management Certificate in 2021 that was offered by SAIT, then decided to go for her designation through the PLAR path and becoming a First Nation Housing Professional on January 15, 2024.  Candace said making the decision to apply for and work with an association that strives to help our People in the area of housing is the best decision I’ve made. Being able to be a part of an amazing team that does this is what excites me about this opportunity. I look forward to working with First Nations Housing Professional Association and assisting our communities.  

Ekosi

Regional Relations Coordinator- Southern Manitoba

 Jeremy Parsons 

Phone: 204-583-0790

Email: jeremy@fnhpa.ca 

Jeremy Parsons is a member of Hollow Water First Nation, but was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has been working in First Nations Housing for over a year now and has learned so much during this time. He is currently working towards achieving the Building Code Inspectors certification from Red River Polytechnic as well as the FNHP designation through the Manitoba Intensive Program offered by the First Nations Housing Professionals Association.

In 2018 Jeremy graduated from the Business Administration program offered by Red River College here in Winnipeg where he learned and studied the different aspects of business such as, marketing, business ethics & law, human resources, project management, and accounting.

After graduation, he worked different jobs over the years and in 2023 and started his career in the Advisory Department at Southeast Resource Development Council Corporation. That is when he was introduced to the First Nations Housing world. After visiting communities and working with community members and staff, he quickly gained interest and knew he wanted to pursue a career in Housing.

Jeremy's goal is to inform, educate, and help wherever he can to improve housing for First Nations communities.

Housing and Wellness Coordinator

Sally Duff

Phone: 902-497-5766

Email: sally@fnhpa.ca 

Sally Duff is from Pictou landing First Nation located in Nova Scotia. She has been in the housing field since 2011. Sally started as the Housing Director in her community. Served as the Director for 10 years.  She obtained my Housing Education with VIU in 2019 and received her Designation June of 2022. Sally then went onto work with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq in Millbrook N.S as the Housing Project Manager and Community Planning and Development Manager for 2.5 years. She is a mother of three,  A grandmother of four, and has a dog his name is Hunter with a hamster named Gus Gus.

Regional Relations Coordinator- Atlantic

Kateri Stevens

Phone: 902-717-2431

Emai: kateri.s@fnhpa.ca 

Kateri Stevens is from Eskasoni First Nation. She is our new Regional Coordinator for FNHPA. Kateri is very grateful for the new journey and is very excited to work with you all. Kateri's background is engagement, business, and communications. She has a B.A degree from Cape Breton University, a Business Administration Diploma from NSCC, and is currently in the process of completing her Masters in Business in Community Economic Development. Importantly,  she enjoys working for our people, and is thankful for the opportunity to be involved with people who are passionate about positive and meaningful impacts in first nation communities across turtle island.

Regional Coordinator- Alberta

 Dustin Gorst, FNHP

Phone: 587-334-7806

Email: dustin@fnhpa.ca

Dustin Gorst is a Flying Dust First Nation Band member.  Dustin has worked in construction most of his life and comes from the Flying Dust Housing Corp.  Where he was the supervisor for 3 years and then as Housing Manager for 3 years.  Dustin has lots of experience as a Housing Manager, as he had a 40 person construction crew, rent collections, Tenant relations, his own Home Maintenance courses and a Housing committee to work with.  Dustin earned his FNHPA certification in summer of 2024.

Education Clerk

Shauna Bowman

Phone: 519-502-1557

Email: shauna@fnhpa.ca 

Shauna is a member of the Sheshegwaning First Nations from Manitoulin Island. Shauna comes with 10 years experience with an Office administrative background. She joins the Education Team bringing with her a passion to advocate and make changes happen to better the lives of our people.

Financial Controller

Lily-Anne Mt Pleasant

Phone: 343-598-7696

Email: lily-anne@fnhpa.ca

Lily-Anne (Lily) Mt Pleasant is a Kanienkeha’ka (Mohawk) woman from Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Southern Ontario. She studied International Business in London and Paris and graduated with distinction from Grenoble Ecole de Management in 2018. Since returning to her community in 2018, Lily has primarily worked in finance – holding positions at the Royal Bank of Canada and in corporate finance with various First Nations owned private businesses. She began at Six Nations Housing in March 2021 as a Financial Control Officer and was promoted to Senior Manager of Six Nations Housing in June 2022. Lily sat on the FNHPA Board of Directors in the youth board member position from September 2023 to August of 2024, helping to provide a youth perspective on First Nations’ housing and assist in advancing FNHPA youth initiatives – like our Keeper of my Home resource. Lily continues to advocate for youth in housing and hopes to continue providing essential support to FNHP’s and First Nations communities across the country.

Training and Events Administrator

Alex Boudrias 

Phone: 613-329-0251

Email: alex@fnhpa.ca 

Alex is a proud Anishinaabe from Val-d’Or, Quebec, with family ties to both Timiskaming First Nation and Lac Simon First Nation. He graduated from the Aboriginal Studies program at Algonquin College. Since graduating, Alex has worked exclusively with Indigenous peoples and organizations. His professional background includes a mixture of both community based and administrative work, something he believes will aid him greatly in better supporting FNHPA’s wide clientele.

Financial Support Administrator

Keri-Lynn Walker 

Phone: 613-329-0932

Email: keri-lynn@fnhpa.ca

Keri-Lynn Walker is from Golden Lake, Ontario, adjacent to the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Her career in accounting and continued her knowledge growth to include becoming a licensed electrician, working as an electrical inspector with the Electrical Safety Authority, owning and operating a restaurant, and a Developmental Service Worker supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities. She is a mother of two boys, has one grandchild, and a lovable black lab. Keri-Lynn's hobbies include hunting, fishing, camping, reading, snowshoeing, cross-stitching, and home renovations. 

Executive Coordinator

June Smith

Phone: 226-378-4979

Email: june@fnhpa.ca

June Smith is a proud Anishnaabe from Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation which is located along the North Shore of Lake Huron. She has over 10 years of experience working with First Nations organizations, focusing on health and wellness, office administration, community development and governance. In her current role as the Executive Coordinator, she is committed to providing dedicated support to the CEO, Board of Directors, and staff. Her role allows her to contribute meaningfully to the success of our people by fostering collaboration, efficiency, and growth within the organization.

Outside of work she enjoys engaging in our cultural practices, ceremonies and learning our language. Her hearts joy is making her children’s traditional regalia’s, and her favorite place to be is at the beach.

June is proud to be apart of this work and look forward to continuing to support and uplift our First Nation communities across Turtle Island.

Regional Relations Clerk

Regional Relations Manager

Darlene Marshall, FNHP 

Phone: 705-627-0680

Email: darlene.m@fnhpa.ca 

Human Resources Manager

Sabrina Shahidi

Phone: (514)206-0552

Email: sabrina@fnhpa.ca 

Sabrina Shahidi is from Montreal, Quebec. Her educational background included a Bachelor’s of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences – Occupational Therapy, an Applied Masters of Science in Occupational Health, a Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management and the Certified Human Resources Professional designation. She worked for over 10 years, including Human Resources and DEIA-related work in governmental and not-for-profit organizations in Montreal.

She has also worked in Ottawa, Mississauga and Toronto. Sabrina is passionate about working with First Nations communities and making a strong impact on empowering individuals to live life to their fullest and grow in their professional careers. Her hobbies and interests include swimming, kickboxing, Zumba, walking, biking, traveling, cooking, baking, and spending time with family and friends. She is fluently trilingual in English, French and German.