Biographies

Christie Reaume, President

Christie lives in Windsor, Ontario and graduated from the St. Clair College, American Sign Language/English Interpreter Program in 2001. During her tenure in the profession, she has worked in two provinces, two countries and several cities.

After serving AVLIC as the coordinator for the Public Relations Committee from 2003-2006, she ran for the position of second vice president, in 2008 became first vice president and is now serving in the capacity of president for the 2010-2012 term. She has also held the position of vice president for the Ontario Association of Sign Language Interpreters.

In 2002, in Halifax, Christie was formally introduced to AVLIC. Recognizing the personal and professional opportunities afforded to volunteers, she became a member of the Public Relations Committee. When the opportunity to become the coordinator of the committee arose, she didn’t think twice and has never looked back.

Christie enjoys spending time with her family, baking, reading, travelling and attending University of Michigan college football games.

Favorite quote: “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

Colleen Friel, Past President

Colleen lives in Oakville, Ontario and graduated from two recognized Interpreting Education Programs: Sheridan College ASL-English Interpreting program in 1995 a year prior to its closure and continued her education at Red River Community College's ASL-English Interpreting Program graduating in 1996. She is currently in her fourteenth year of interpreting.  

Colleen has served on two Affiliate Chapter Boards before joining the national Board. She held the position of Newsletter Editor for the Maritime Association of Professional Sign Language Interpreters (MAPSLI) and served as the Membership Coordinator for the Ontario Association of Sign Language Interpreters (OASLI). At that same time, had enjoyed serving on national committees to gain an understanding of issues across the country. In 2002, Colleen joined the AVLIC Board of Directors as second vice president; she served in this position for two terms, continued on the Board of Directors as the first vice president for one term. From 2008 to 2010, Colleen served as AVLIC's fourteenth president and is currently serving the Board of Directors as the past president.

Colleen is passionate about volunteering and giving back to the interpreting community that has provided her with support and continued mentorship within all aspects of the work we do. Her goal is to see AVLIC continuing to blossom towards its optimal potential, she is proud to be a long standing member committed to the achievements of the association and thrives to be at the forefront of professional standards, integrity, values and believes that make this a truly progressive, Canadian organization for professional Interpreters.   

Colleen's other passion is spending time with her family, relieving daily stresses with various activities including yoga, walks, running, soccer, watching movies. She loves photography, sewing, designing/decorating/fashion magazines and if money was not an object she would have the perfectly designed home to return to between her travelling adventures around the world. 

Favourite quote:  “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Jocelyn Mark Blanchet – First Vice President

Jocelyn graduated from Douglas College, Program of Sign Language Interpretation in 2004, upon graduation she relocated to Gatineau, Quebec where she still resides and works as an interpreter.

As part of Jocelyn’s commitment to furthering her education, she enrolled part time and graduated from Carleton University in 2008 with a BA in Psychology. 

Jocelyn’s interpreting association volunteering has included: her local Affiliate Chapter, Sign Language Interpreters of the National Capital Region (SLINC) as secretary from 2005 to 2006, member of the Directory Committee and as of April 2011 as co-secretary. Jocelyn first joined the AVLIC Board of Directors in 2006-2008 as secretary, continued to serve as second vice president (2008-2010) and is currently first vice president; she has also been the coordinator of the Board and Committee Development Committee since 2006.

Volunteering is a great passion for Jocelyn; she strongly believes that getting involved is about being curious, learning, giving back and making a positive impact for the future. She encourages everyone to be interested and get involved – there is always a task for everyone. 

Jocelyn also enjoys spending time within her local community and family, baking and doing the odd crafty type thing when time allows. 

Favorite quote: “I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Lisz Keallen – Second Vice President

Lisz Keallen, COI

In 1993, Lisz graduated from the Sign Language Interpretation Program at Douglas College in New Westminster, BC, and currently resides in Vancouver, BC where she has been interpreting full time since graduation.

In 2009, Lisz obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies from Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC. From 2005 to 2008, Lisz served as the WAVLI Chair of Professional Standards. More recently, Lisz was a member of AVLIC’s Health and Safety Committee from 2009 to 2010.

Serving is what gives Lisz a sense of being alive. As a volunteer on the AVLIC Board, Lisz is supporting the advancement of interpreting’s best practices and that serving her association and its members connects with her passion for experiential learning and further develops her as an interpreter and human being.

When not volunteering, Lisz can be found bird watching, backpacking and reading poetry.

Favorite quote: “Resolve to be always beginning – to be a beginner!” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Cindy Haner - Treasurer

Cindy graduated from Douglas College, Program of Sign Language Interpretation in 2006 and currently resides in Coquitlam, British Columbia with her husband and two teenage daughters.
 
Before entering Douglas College, Cindy received a Diploma in Hospitality from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1992 and has an extensive background in both Hospitality and bookkeeping for a family owned business.
 
Cindy joined the AVLIC Board of Directors in 2010 as treasurer and is excited to see what the future holds for AVLIC.
 
Cindy enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and watching her daughters' various sporting events.

Caroline Tetreault – Secretary

Caroline graduated from the Program of Sign Language Interpretation at Douglas College in 1997. She currently resides in Burnaby, British Columbia and works at the Provincial School for the Deaf. 
 
Caroline served as the Membership/Directory Chairperson for WAVLI from 1998-2002 and on the WAVLI Newsletter Committee from 2002-2004 as the layout artist. After taking a break from volunteer work for a few years, Caroline rejoined the Newsletter Committee in 2009 as proofreader and became the secretary for AVLIC in 2010.
 
When not working or volunteering, Caroline spends time in the garden with her partner Craig or doing Internet research with her best friend Google.

Monique (Bozzer) LeDrew – Director of Evaluations

Monique Bozzer, COI

Monique graduated from Sheridan College's Interpreter Training Program back in 1990. She holds accreditation with AVLIC as a certified interpreter (COI), Ministry of Attorney General (MAG) and the Canadian Hearing Society's Ontario Interpreting Services (OIS). 

Monique resides in Ontario and currently holds the position of director of evaluations. 

With over 20 years experience interpreting, she has served on both the national and provincial level professional associations (AVLIC & OASLI) with OASLI as president, past-president and ethics positions with AVLIC as the director of evaluations for 8 years.

Her hobbies include Jeep off-roading, motorbike trips and archaeological finds. She volunteers her time with AVLIC because she believes in contributing to the profession as well as the need for quality service for all consumers.

Favorite quote: There is only one way to make a difference, get involved. 

Jennifer (Yim) Jahnke – Member-at-Large

Jen resides in Burnaby, B.C., graduated from the Douglas College Interpretation Education Program in 2004 and has been working for the past 7 years in various interpreting settings. Upon graduating from Douglas College, she enrolled in part-time studies in the Community Rehabilitation Disability Studies program from
University of Calgary and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Community
Rehabilitation.

Jennifer has been involved with her Affiliate Chapter: 2005-2007 WAVLI member-at-large, 2009-2011 public relations committee member and 2010-2012 AVLIC member at large.

Jen recognizes the value of AVLIC and enjoys the opportunity of being part of a professional organization that can drive our professional forward and support it's national members.

When not working or volunteering, Jennifer enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and recent interest of kickboxing as well.

Favorite quote:  "The reward for all the toil we put in is not in what we get because of it, but in what we become because of it..." ~ unknown author – from David Still

Shelley Williams – Member-at-Large

Shelley is a graduate from St. Clair College (1990) and now resides in Saint John, NB for the past 17 years. Aside from interpreting in post-secondary settings and community settings Shelley is very active with the Saint John Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and Deaf community in the area. She is also a founding member of AVLI-NB (1997) and has held several positions, repeatedly, within the organization. She has also been involved with AVLIC on committees such as the Video Relay Interpreting Committee and the Dispute Resolution Committee.

She now turns her attention to the Board of AVLIC as member-at-large, liaising with the Affiliate Chapter presidents and the Public Relations Committee. The decision to join the board was an easy one for her as she has always valued the work the professional association has done and is doing. Shelley has always enjoyed volunteering her time for various events and organization as she has learned over the years that it allows her to do something positive, use skills that are not used everyday, meet new people, learn new skills and gain knowledge about the interpreting profession that would not be other wise learned. She strongly believes that you only get something out of your membership by putting something into the membership.

There is little time left in the day for Shelley to enjoy other activities however when the time allows she makes the most of it by spending time with family and friends, reading a good book, camping or when funds allow taking a trip.

Jane Pannell - Administrative Manager

Jane lives in Squamish, British Columbia. She graduated from the Douglas College Program of Sign Language Interpretation in 1998 and with 13 years in the field, Jane has been pleased to serve on the WAVLI Board of Directors (Co-Editor of The Ripple newsletter - two years) as well as the AVLIC Board of Directors (Member at Large - one year of a two year term). She has also hosted many ITP practicum students, volunteered with the Deaf Children's Society and other community organizations.

Hired as the full time administrative manager for AVLIC in July 2010, Jane is working hard to learn all the behind the scenes workings of the Association. Drawing on her experience at the B.C. Provincial School for the Deaf (one year), the post secondary setting for nine years, freelance interpreting and in a non-interpreting planning/management role at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (Whistler), Jane is eager to put her interpreting, interpersonal and organizational skills to work. She also continues to take on freelance work to keep her skills as an interpreter current. 

When she's not working for AVLIC, Jane enjoys taking in one of the many activities in "the outdoor recreation capital of Canada", including mountain biking, road biking, cross-training, cross country/downhill/backcountry skiing, running the trails or hiking with her partner Volker and her dog Jessie Bean. When she's not partaking in the Squamish recreation scene she can be found doing volunteer work in Squamish or Whistler, playing in her garden or with friends and family.

Jane's motto: "all things happen for a reason". While the reason my not be immediately evident, she believes it often reveals itself when the moment is right.