CanLyme board of directors

Residing from coast to coast, CanLyme’s Board of Directors each has a unique connection to the cause.

Some are Lyme survivors, some are scientists, and some are friends or family members of Lyme victims. Each one volunteers their time and expertise — and all are committed to preventing the spread of Lyme disease and other tick borne diseases, improving diagnostics, and improving treatment. Tick borne diseases do not discriminate by language, education, financial standing, religion, race, gender, or age. We are driven by passion led by compassion.

Janet Sperling, PhD
Edmonton, AB

President, CanLyme, Entomologist 

Janet Sperling smile with her lab coat on at the University of Alberta.

Janet Sperling has personal experience navigating the complexities of Lyme diagnosis and treatment for her family. A Master’s in Entomology, and now a PhD, has given her the tools for understanding the biological diversity and diagnostic complexity of arthropod-vectored illnesses. Janet is currently also a lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta. More about Janet.

Suzanna Wong, PhD
黃 素 霞 (she/her) Edmonton, AB

Treasurer CanLyme

Suzanna So Ha Wong smiles through her glasses, infectiously.

Suzanna So Ha Wong is an adjunct Professor & an Associate Lecturer at the College of Social Sciences & Humanities, Faculty of Education (Elementary Education), University of Alberta. She has two primary research areas. One is understanding young children’s home digital literacy practices. The other is the connections between literacy learning and makerspaces in elementary classrooms. More about Suzanna.

Robert G. Murray (DDS)
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Dentist

Robert Murray smiles in a cardigan in front of a lush green hedge.

Robert Murray has a biology background, with summer employment from the National Research Council and Department of Fisheries, while he studied dentistry (Dalhousie). He established a dental practice in the first collaborative Medical/Dental Centre in Lunenburg in 1973. Rob retired after a 40 year practice. More about Robert.

Mary Keating
Niagara Region, ON

Technology and Corporate Communications

Mary Keating leans in while smiling with glasses and her eyes are shining.

Mary is committed to applying her expertise in communications—developed over a career in executive and communications consulting roles—to improve Lyme literacy and to help advocate for better diagnostics and treatments for all tick-borne diseases. Her passion for supporting the cause of Lyme comes from personal and family experience. More about Mary.

Dr. Sarah Keating
Toronto, ON

Anatomic Pathologist

Sarah Keating, PhD, smiles in her study in front of a bookshelf full of books.

Sarah Keating has witnessed the barriers to diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in a close family member. She is committed to spreading awareness of the potential causative role of tick-borne diseases in mental illness, promoting education of Canadian health care practitioners and policy makers in tick-borne diseases, and promoting the role of tissue diagnosis to increase our understanding of these diseases. More about Sarah.

Dr. W. Reuben Kaufman
Salt Spring Island, BC

Professor Emeritus of Zoology, Uof A

Dr. W. Reuben Kaufman smiles with large blue glasses and a blue shirt.

A Professor at the University of Alberta from 1977 to 2012, Reuben Kaufman has conducted research on numerous aspects of tick biology since 1968.  He retired to Salt Spring Island from U of A in 2012, and through the courtesy of Dr. Justene Tedder he was given space at the Gulf Islands Veterinary Clinic to continue his research on the mechanical properties of the tick cuticle. More about Reuben.

Herman Green  BEd., MEd
Buffalo Point, Manitoba

Councilor and Land/Office Manager

Herman Green stands with a slight smile and wearing glasses and a zipper cartigan.

Land Manager, Jan 2008, and still Councillor for the First Nation, Director for the Buffalo Point Development Corporation, Administrator of both Council/Board activities. Employed with Southeast Resource Development Council, 1985, as First Nation Government Development Advisor, worked with 9 First Nations. Buffalo Point is an endemic area for Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections as is most of Canada now.  Herman has witnessed the effect lack of proper diagnostics and access to appropriate treatment has had on people in his community. More about Herman.

Chris Robinson, MA
Cavendish, PEI

Health Economics/Epidemiology

Chris Robinson stands by the water on a sunny day with his glasses and beard and looking very dapper.

Chris was an epidemiologist/manager with Public Health Agency of Canada from 2000 to 2012. He led a $3 million federal / provincial research culminating in CANRISK diabetes screening protocol & risk scoring tool and a urinary sodium survey in Eastern Ontario to assess dietary salt intake in general population. He was Senior health Economist in New Brunswick, Health and Community Services (1992 to 2000). He has worked as a Public health advocate with various CBC interviews & letters to editor regarding tick borne disease; creating PEI defibrillator registry; and ambulance / emergency medical services.

Dr. Linda Laidlaw
Edmonton, AB

Associate Professor, Faculty of Education; University of Alberta

Linda Laidlaw’s research is in the area of literacy, curriculum, diversity, and complexity theory. After witnessing her own daughter’s struggle with Lyme disease and diagnosis, Linda developed an interest in the cognitive problems associated with chronic Lyme disease, and how parents and schools can best address those issues. Linda’s daughter has made a substantial recovery, and her positive response to treatment has moderated her doctors’ previously skeptical view of Lyme disease.

Jim Wilson
West Kelowna, BC

Past President and Founder;  Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation

Jim Wilson wearing a collared button down shirt with Van Dyke facial hair, smiles.

Jim Wilson has been involved in networking with Lyme victims and providing information for over 25 years. He contracted Lyme disease in 1991 in Dartmouth, N.S. and his daughter contracted Lyme disease in 2001 in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. With a background in investigating medical malpractice and legal liability matters, Jim provides unique insight into medical research from a perspective of conflict of evidence.

Team members

CanLyme also works with a valued team of consultants that work with the board to implement the many programs and services CanLyme has to offer.

Catherine Kinsella
Victoria, BC

Healthcare Advancement
Retired RN, BScN

Catherine Kinsella sits on a bench in the rainforest on the West Coast of Canada.

In addition to her writing and editing work for CanLyme, Catherine is integral in the delivery of CanLyme initiatives including the Looking at Lyme Podcast and the CanLyme Education Grant Program, supporting clinicians as they work with their patients in finding effective solutions for the treatment of this complex disease.

More about Catherine.