Executive Director
Brontë Renwick-Shields
867-689-7225
executivedirector@bloodties.ca
The Executive Director is responsible for the management of Blood Ties, including: programs, financial, and personnel management. The Executive Director oversees program development, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The Executive Director fosters stakeholder community, funder and media relationships on behalf of Blood Ties, works closely with the board of directors, staff and volunteers to ensure Blood Ties is fulfilling it’s mission.
Program Manager – Jill Aalhus
867-335-8265
programmgr@bloodties.ca
The Program Manager is responsible for providing guidance and support to the front line team at Blood Ties. The Program Manager provides complex case management in health and housing services as well as leading in the delivery and coordination of the LWEH after hours housing support program delivered in partnership with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon. The Program Manager leads Blood Ties’ interdisciplinary work and engages professionals from other agencies and government departments in supporting clients with complex health and housing needs.
Health Education Coordinator
Felix O’Laney
867-332-8267
education@bloodties.ca
The Health Education Coordinator is responsible for the design and delivery of health promotion programming to Whitehorse communities. The Health Educator delivers prevention and health promotion services; develops and hosts special events; leads and coordinates volunteers; and develops programs to increase individual capacity to prevent sexually transmitted and blood borne infections among specific populations.
Harm Reduction Counsellor
Vacant 867-332-8268
harmreduction@bloodties.ca
The Harm Reduction Counsellor is responsible for leading and delivery of Harm Reduction programs and best practices for Yukon. They coordinate the delivery of services of the fixed site needle and pipe program, facilitates weekly Drug User Support Group, and works with the program team to deliver meaningful annual events such as Support Don’t Punish and Overdose Awareness Day. The Harm Reduction Counsellor leads in Blood Ties’ response to the opioid overdose crisis by providing Drug Checking services and overdose prevention and response education.
Wellness Counsellor
Breagha Fraser
867-332-8264
wellness@bloodties.ca
The Wellness Counsellor provides health navigation and health & justice case management for individuals using the services of Blood Ties. The position is responsible for the design and delivery of support programs including: advocacy, accompaniments, counselling, street life engagement and poverty reduction. The Wellness Counsellor conducts and coordinates client intakes and assessments and develops case management plans for people using the agency.
Administrative Coordinator
Susan Cornell
867-633-2437
admin@bloodties.ca
The Administrative Coordinator is responsible for the general day-to-day operation of the office. The Administrative Coordinator provides payroll, reception, secretarial and bookkeeping services and administrative support to the staff, volunteers and Board of Directors.
Community Harm Reduction Coordinator
Alex Hodgins
867-332-8269
community@bloodties.ca
The Community Harm Reduction Coordinator is responsible for leading the delivery of harm reduction programs and services in rural Yukon communities. The Community Harm Reduction Coordinator works closely with the Harm Reduction Counsellor to set best practice standards in harm reduction across the Yukon and ensures that Blood Ties delivers culturally meaningful harm reduction services in rural Yukon and delivers overdose education services and to-go fentanyl testing training. The Community Harm Reduction Coordinator works with Rural Partnership Coordinator in delivering Harm Reduction and Overdose Education programs to rural communities. This position also works with rural and remote communities to plan and implement harm reduction and overdose response needs assessments to find solutions that fit their communities and to come up with innovative, creative and community led harm reduction supports and programs to meet the needs of the Yukon’s rural and remote communities.
Rural Partnership Coordinator
Celia Pratt
867-332-8266
partnership@bloodties.ca
The Rural Partnership Coordinator coordinates and delivers health prevention education and capacity building and engagement programs to Rural Yukon Indigenous Communities. The Rural Partnership Coordinator also provides supports to individuals and families impacted by sexually transmitted and blood borne infections in rural communities; works with health and social service providers in rural communities to develop and build capacity to respond to sexually transmitted and blood borne infections.
Housing Coordinator & Case Manager
Dakota Hagan
867-334-4790
housing@bloodties.ca
The Housing Coordinator & Case Manager provides advocacy, case management and support to clients of the agency in addressing their housing needs and challenges. The Housing Navigator provides case management support to clients in our supported housing programs: the Steve Cardiff House and the Landlords Working to End Homelessness program. The Housing Navigator works collaboratively with other community service providers and organizations in addressing homelessness in Whitehorse.
Outreach Van Coordinator
Stacey Taylor
For Stacey call: 867-335-3841 For the Outreach Van call/text: 867-334-1647
outreachvan@bloodties.ca
The Outreach Van Coordinator provides coordination, advocacy, and delivery of the community outreach van program. The Van Coordinator facilitates communication and training among the van staff and the van management team. The Van Coordinator represents the van and its mission in the broader community. The Van Coordinator advocates on behalf of service users and other vulnerable populations in Whitehorse.
Program Assistant
Jamie Brown
867-687-5851
projects@bloodties.ca
The Program Assistant position works collaboratively throughout all program areas of Blood Ties. The Program Assistant works regularly on the Outreach Van and provides support, advocacy and education in the Needle and Pipe Program and in our Drop-in Program. The Program Assistant also participates in the coordination and delivery of special projects such as research activities and agency events.
Summer Program Assistant
Zoë Sage
867-687-4548
scaleup@bloodties.ca
The Program Assistant position works collaboratively throughout all program areas of Blood Ties. The Program Assistant works regularly on the Outreach Van and provides support, advocacy and education in the Needle and Pipe Program and in our Drop-in Program. The Program Assistant also participates in the coordination and delivery of special projects such as research activities and agency events.
Rural Support and Outreach Summer Position
Jenn Smith
867-332-8268
harmreduction@bloodties.ca
Rural Support and Outreach Summer Position works with the Community Harm Reduction Coordinator and Rural Partnership Coordinator on providing education and outreach support outside of Whitehorse. This position also coordinates drug checking outreach services for summer events including music festivals.
Team Lead
Karissa Bascom
867-687-4545
teamlead@bloodties.ca
The Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) Team Lead manages the day to day operations of the SCS including the delivery of harm reduction education, support for individuals utilizing the site and responses to overdoses. The Team Lead supervises the SCS team and works to build relationships with partners and community members.
Support Worker – Supervised Consumption Site
Bradley Balmforth
867-687-4546
supportworker@bloodties.ca
Support Workers for the Supervised Consumption Site provide support, education, referrals and advocacy to individuals accessing the site. They are trained to respond to overdoses and also work to build relationships with people using the site.
Support Worker – Supervised Consumption Site
Maria Francis
867-687-4547
SCSworker@bloodties.ca
Support Workers for the Supervised Consumption Site provide support, education, referrals and advocacy to individuals accessing the site. They are trained to respond to overdoses and also work to build relationships with people using the site.
Support Worker – Supervised Consumption Site
Lexi Helem
867-687-6658
SCSsupport@bloodties.ca
The Peer Support Worker for the Supervised Consumption Site provides support, education, referrals and advocacy to individuals accessing the site. They are trained to respond to overdoses and also work to build relationships with people using the site.
Harm Reduction Workers – Outreach Van
867-334-1647 (call/text)
Harm Reduction Workers are responsible for providing harm reduction education, resources and supplies to clients of the Outreach Van. Harm Reduction Workers provide harm reduction education and supplies, support services such as: referrals, lay counselling, education and advocacy to van clients.
Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG):
LEAG is a group of eight individuals with lived and living experience that meet on a bi-weekly basis in order to provide support, guidance and advice to the Blood Ties team on our programming, advocacy efforts and policy. LEAG also participates in their own advocacy efforts in the community. LEAG’s involvement in our organization helps us ensure our work is meaningful, relevant and inclusive.
Board of Directors:
Dan Bader, Laura Gohl, Grace Dalgarno, Laura Beattie, Ashley Hope and Tyler Gerbert
Blood Ties is administered through a volunteer Board of Directors. This Board is an administrative Policy Board, operating as a resource and support to staff and volunteers for the provision of client service. The Board: offers strategic direction, supports staff to implement direction, has an administrative or policy focus, has the services of an Executive Director to coordinate service delivery policies, are provided with information on service delivery by the Executive Director, creates their own vision and mission statement, interprets community needs and interests, makes policy decisions and reflects these to the organization they are accountable to (i.e. funders).
For more info about governance opportunities: executivedirector@bloodties.ca