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 – but all are committed to preventing the spread of Lyme disease and other tick borne diseases, improving diagnostics, and improving treatment. Tick borne diseases disease do not discriminate by language, education, financial standing, academic standing, religion, race, colour, sex identity, age, or wealth. We are driven by passion led by compassion.
Janet Sperling, PhD
Edmonton, AB
President, CanLyme, Entomologist
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 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 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 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 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
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
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 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 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.