"DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PARTNERSHIP" 

A conference of community resources and public partners seeking strategies and models for improved access to services for Quebec's English-speaking communities.

James Carter is the former Secretary of the advisory committee to the Quebec government on English-language health and social services. He is an employee of Batshaw Youth and Family Centres on loan to the CHSSN to act as its coordinator. Jim is also involved in a number of projects, including the CHSSN Data Model, the Patient and Community Support Network, and the Holland Centre Dissemination Project. Jim is a member of the Health Canada Consultative Committee for English-speaking Minority Communities and sits on the Board of the Canadian Council on Social Development. Jim also teaches a course on public social services in Canada at the McGill School of Social Work.

Ron Creary is the executive director of The Butters Foundation and the former director general of The Butters Center, a readaptive (rehabilitation) center for intellectually handicapped persons in the Monteregie region. Mr. Creary has been a senior manager in the public social service network for over 25 years and an active fundraiser for the cause for the past 15 years. He is currently under contract with The West Montreal Readaptation center as counsellor to the Director General.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Kathy has been an educator at Metis Beach School, Metis Beach, Quebec, for the past 27 years. As well, she is currently responsible for the schoolÕs on-site administration. With a strong sense of community, she has participated in numerous committees and community-based groups such as the regional access committee of the regional health and social services board, a local historical society, the municipal council, church groups and local Caisse Populaire Desjardins.

Charlotte Dousett's interest in the area of health and social services dates back to the beginning of her career in nursing. She graduated from the Queen Elizabeth School of Nursing in Montreal's Class of 1962 and practiced in the field until retiring in 1997. Charlotte chaired the Health and Social Services Committee of the St Maurice Chapter of Alliance Quebec for many years and was a longtime member of the Provincial Health and Social Services Committee. She is currently serving her third term on the Standing Committee for Access to Health and Social Services in the English Language at the Régie Régionale de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec.

Sara Saber-Freedman is the Executive Director of the Missisquoi Institute, the research institute for Quebec's English-speaking communities. Founded in 1992, Missisquoi provides research on a variety of issues of concern to the various communities across the province, notably a major survey of the attitudes and experiences of English-speaking Quebecers in all administrative regions.

Darlene Johnstone is the Membership Coordinator for the Community Health and Social Services Network and has been the organiser for the Fifth Conference on Accessibility of Health and Social Services in the English Language. She was an active member of the 1st Provincial Committee on the Dispensing of Health and Social Services in the English Language and has held key roles in community groups in Montreal and Gaspé. A native Montrealer, she did undergraduate studies at Concordia University and is currently enrolled in the Special BSW program at McGill University.

Sheila Laursen is the Director of Community Development for the Downtown YMCA and the Director of the Montreal YMCA's International Programs. For the past 12 years, she has been a volunteer member of the Board of Directors of CLSC Lac-Saint-Louis, serving as Board President for ten years.

A native Townshipper, Erin Mallory is Executive Director of Townshippers' Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships. Erin has several years experience working with the Association's health and social services committee.

Mr. Walling is the Executive Director of Holland Centre, a community based organization created in 1991 to develop health and social services for the English-speaking minority population of the Quebec City region. Today, Holland Centre is an innovative model which combines resources from the original community based organization and four public establishments to offer a wide range of front line health and social services to the English-speaking community it serves. He is also President of the Quebec City's Regional Board's Committee on access to English-language services, a former member and President of the Quebec Government's Advisory Committee on access to English-language health and social services and Vice-President of Saint Brigid's Home.