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Dr. Rebecca Purc-Stephenson
Board of Directors
Rebecca Purc-Stephenson is an Applied Social Psychologist and Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus. She is also the Lead Researcher of AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network, as well as a research associate of the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities.
Her research focuses on health, resilience, and employment issues. Over the past 20 years, she has conducted studies that examined how individuals with chronic physical and/or mental health conditions adapt at work, what strategies help them build and sustain resilience to ongoing work stressors, and ways to improve access to timely and reliable healthcare for those living in rural and remote areas.
More recently, she has narrowed her research to one industry: agriculture. Working with community partners across Alberta, and collaborating with other researchers across Canada, she is examining the mental health and well-being among farmers, farm families, and those in the agricultural industry. This line of research is a natural fit for Dr. Purc-Stephenson as she has lived on a farm, worked as a farm labourer on large livestock operations and smaller family-run farms, and is a survivor of a childhood farming accident.
kim moffatt
board of directors
Kim grew up on a small farm in western Manitoba. She and her partner also farmed for many years raising cattle and growing crops. With a background in counselling, Kim has specialized in the area of Agricultural Mental Health for the last 22 years. Supporting producers has always been her passion. She is a facilitator for the University of Guelph ‘In The Know’ mental health literacy training for producers and the agriculture industry. She is cofounder of the Manitoba Farmer Wellness program where she continues her love of helping farmers and their families. Kim owns and operates her own private counselling business in Strathclair Manitoba where she specializes in helping farm and rural people.
Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton
Board of Directors
Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton is trained as a veterinarian and is an epidemiologist, Professor in the Department of Population Medicine, and Director of Well-Being Programming at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. She conducts mixed-methods research on the epidemiology of mental health and resilience in the veterinary and agricultural sectors. Andria has completed a certificate program in Applied Positive Psychology and is a certified resilience trainer. Andria loves the veterinary profession and Canadian agriculture, and is proud to work with Canadian farmers, veterinarians, and students. As a result of her many achievements, Andria has been awarded the Brigid Rivoire Award for Champions of Agricultural Mental Health, two Distinguished Professor Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching, and the Ontario Veterinary College Alumni Association Distinguished Young Alumnus Award.
Janine Lunn
Board of Directors
Janine Lunn was raised on a dairy farm just west of Ottawa. She resides with her spouse and family on a small mixed farm south of London, Ontario. With close to 20 years of experience working in rural and agricultural organizations, Janine has participated in many planning sessions around specialized supports for the farm community that are now being implemented. A long time advocate of farmer mental health, Janine serves the farm community as a Member Service Manager with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has recently completed certification in Non-Profit Management, Leadership and also in spiritual care.
Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton
Board of Directors
Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton is trained as a veterinarian and is an epidemiologist, Professor in the Department of Population Medicine, and Director of Well-Being Programming at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. She conducts mixed-methods research on the epidemiology of mental health and resilience in the veterinary and agricultural sectors. Andria has completed a certificate program in Applied Positive Psychology and is a certified resilience trainer. Andria loves the veterinary profession and Canadian agriculture, and is proud to work with Canadian farmers, veterinarians, and students. As a result of her many achievements, Andria has been awarded the Brigid Rivoire Award for Champions of Agricultural Mental Health, two Distinguished Professor Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching, and the Ontario Veterinary College Alumni Association Distinguished Young Alumnus Award.
Janine Lunn
Board of Directors
Janine Lunn was raised on a dairy farm just west of Ottawa. She resides with her spouse and family on a small mixed farm south of London, Ontario. With close to 20 years of experience working in rural and agricultural organizations, Janine has participated in many planning sessions around specialized supports for the farm community that are now being implemented. A long time advocate of farmer mental health, Janine serves the farm community as a Member Service Manager with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has recently completed certification in Non-Profit Management, Leadership and also in spiritual care.
The CCAW has partnered with several organizations across the country, including the Government of Canada, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, and Farm Management Canada, and all are working together to support the wellbeing of the farming community.
