CBC Manitoba announces new Community Advisory Board

CBC Manitoba's Community Advisory Board provides insight into the way our station covers the province. The board helps ensure that CBC Manitoba authentically represents the diversity of experiences, stories, concerns, and perspectives of the communities we serve.

Launched in 2022, the Community Advisory Board includes a range of community members from across the province. Board members are appointed for two-year terms, this time with six returning and 15 new members. Board members are invited to share their opinions and perspectives, inform about issues, and provide feedback about CBC Manitoba's content and coverage.

"It's so crucial that the public broadcaster fairly and accurately represents the range of perspectives and experiences in our province," says Nadia Kidwai, CBC's senior producer of Community Connection. "We're living in incredibly polarizing times and a board like this can really role model what it means to create a space where a diverse group of Manitobans can come together and share their diverse stories and differing beliefs. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this group will deepen nuance in our coverage".

Meet our board members

CBC Manitoba's community advisory board is made up of 21 members who reflect the ethnocultural, socio-economic, geographic and political diversity of Manitoba.

Aaron McKay

Aaron McKay is Anishinaabe from Rolling River First Nation and Swan Lake First Nation. He completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at Brandon University. He has experience working in secondary and post-secondary education, and with Parks Canada. He is also the founder of Giiwe Media, a business with the goal to educate others about the history of his community and culture through his photography and storytelling.

Aaron joined the CBC Community Advisory Board to bridge communities and individuals. Passionate about storytelling, he wants to support and elevate Indigenous voices of Manitoba. He also plans to encourage Indigenous youth to make and follow their own paths. With thousands of years of knowledge passed down to guide him, Aaron will continue his work with others to create a brighter future for generations to come.

Amos Wiebe

Amos Wiebe is a lifelong resident of south-eastern Manitoba. He has an enthusiast's interest in a diverse range of topics including history, politics, religion and physical fitness. He works as a public administrator for a local municipality and enjoys international travel. He also is a member of the board of the Menno Home Foundation and also sits on the board of the Provencher Conservative Electoral District Association, of which he is a past president.

He believes the public broadcaster should be a place where all Canadians can see themselves reflected. He hopes to bring a positive conservative and rural perspective to the board.

Andrea Ritter

Andrea Ritter was born and raised in Winnipeg's North End. After relocating to Toronto to pursue her graduate degree, Andrea remained in Ontario's capital for 25 years before moving back to her hometown with her two young children. Andrea is currently a full-time professional communicator in the education sector, a full-time single parent and an active volunteer with several local not-for-profit organizations.

Having grown up in a household where CBC was a main media source, Andrea has been a long-time critical listener and fan of CBC programming. She looks forward to connecting with new people and lending her voice to discussions of key issues of importance to Manitobans.

Bobbi Montean

If no one speaks up for and educates others about our north, then we all lose out on some incredible stories. Bobbi is trying to make sure that doesn't happen. Bobbi is a tireless volunteer and has discovered that even during a pandemic, she can be involved virtually.

Bobbi started volunteering for Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre in the 1980s and joined the Red Cross effort in 1989, helping thousands of people evacuating from Thompson. More recently, she implemented the Coats for Kids program in her region and was the lead organizer for Canada Day, Winterfest and Santa Parade festivities.

Brandi Woodhouse

Brandi Woodhouse is the owner and founder of RezGal Lashes Inc. She is Anishiniaabe Ikwe from Pinaymootang First Nation, in Treaty 2, Canada, where she grew up and is currently raising her three sons. Her Indigenous heritage is Ojibway and Cree. RezGal launched in August 2020, and lash orders have already reached around the world. Her goal is to build a high-quality, affordable and accessible brand that young Indigenous girls everywhere can relate to and feel pride for. Her products aim to help Indigenous youth change the narrative of what it means to grow up on a reserve.

Being an Indigenous woman often means overcoming obstacles and breaking cycles that are greatly misunderstood, she hopes to bring awareness to these issues and become a role model for Indigenous girls all over Canada.

Dalili Lokwa

Dalili Lokwa is a refugee from the Congo who came to Canada as a teenager in 2013. He later got a job working with newcomer youth and has been doing that ever since.

Dalili hopes that serving on the board will allow him to provide insights and lived experiences as a refugee in this beautiful city and province. He also aims to get input from the youth and their families to better understand what topics and perspectives they feel need to be addressed in the media. Being part of the minority community, he aims to voice concerns and advocate for topics on behalf of his community. With more coverage comes more exposure and with exposure, we find solace, solidarity and solutions.

Divya Sharma

Divya Sharma is a determined and driven young woman with a passion for giving back to our community. She is experienced with community engagement, the public and non-profit sector, government, and student politics in addition to being the youngest board member of several organizations. Divya carries the spirit of seva with her after moving to Winnipeg at the age of 9 and takes pride in continuing to volunteer.

Multifaceted experiences across politics, social enterprise, the non-profit and business sector, have cultivated a deep-rooted commitment to fostering inclusive spaces within Divya. Joining CBC Manitoba's Community Advisory Board is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to her mission of making our community a better place by growing diverse, informed, and inclusive media representation.

Falilat Ibrahim

Falilat Ibrahim was born and raised in Nigeria. She came to Canada in 2014 to pursue her LLM and chose to make Manitoba her home. Her passion for the legal profession and social justice issues started in Nigeria, where she studied law and was called to the Nigerian Bar. For her, it was inevitable that she would continue to practice law in Canada.

As a Black immigrant and female lawyer, Falilat is comfortable sharing her lived experience in Canada. She is a firm believer in listening to and hearing diverse perspectives. As a member of the CBC advisory board, she is committed to ensuring that different points of view are considered and respected. She hopes to use her tenure to foster collaboration, fairness, and equitable treatment while advancing representation for members of the Black community.

Izzeddin Hawamda

Izzeddin Hawamda was born and raised in a rural village just outside of the city of Nablus in the West Bank, Palestine. He has lived in Canada for over 15 years and currently works as a high school teacher. He is currently working toward a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the

University of Manitoba. Izzeddin, along with Jewish-Canadian, and Quaker colleagues, is a co-founder of Gaser and has been speaking publicly and offering interactive workshops about the power of dialogue and the importance of sharing, listening, and respecting diverse perspectives and narratives. Izzeddin is also working to develop opportunities for Indigenous students and newcomer students to share spaces and stories in an effort to build bridges and break down the barriers,and has worked with different school divisions to examine ways to address conflict in culturally responsive ways. In addition, Izzeddin is a member of the CRRIC board and a member of the Countering Radicalization to Violence in Manitoba Schools.

He was selected to join the first CBC Manitoba Community Advisory Board, and is a member of the Community Stakeholder Relations Committee of Mediation Services of Winnipeg. Izzeddin also serves on the Peacebuilder committee of the Winnipeg Rotary club and is passionate about bridging the gap between local and international peacebuilding efforts. Izzeddin is a proud member of the BIPOC Advisory committee of MARL and works to promote voices of marginalized communities. He is also passionate about storytelling, poetry, and the use of dialogue inpeacebuilding.

Janelle Marie Emond

Janelle-Marie Emond is currently a student. She wanted to join the CBC Manitoba Advisory Board because she felt it would provide her an opportunity to bring her own lived experience as a young woman with a newly diagnosed disability making her a wheelchair user. She feels that this, along with wanting to provide inspiration for others with disabilities, will help to create a safe and inclusive environment for people to talk about issues and concerns, especially in our diverse communities.

She is very excited and committed to be able to offer her personal insights and experiences when it comes to the very important issues and topics that Manitobans are interested in.

Jennifer Brisson

Jennifer Brisson works with inmates across Manitoba through her role as program manager with Initiatives for Just Communities. Jennifer has spent the last decade volunteering and working with inmates across Manitoba with Initiatives for Just Communities.

Alternative responses to harm and crime became a pivotal interest while completing a criminal justice degree at the University of Winnipeg. Jennifer's passion for community building in unlikely ways and spaces brought her to the CBC's Community Advisory Board.

Justin Langan

Justin Langan, a passionate 25-year-old Mtis activist and advocate for ecological sustainability, mental health awareness, and Indigenous prosperity, hails from the rural community of Swan River, Manitoba. His commitment to these causes grew during his studies at the University of Manitoba, leading to active roles in various community and advisory groups. Justin's approach uniquely blends traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern environmental practices.

Joining CBC's Community Advisory Board, Justin brings a perspective emphasizing integrating Indigenous values and environmental consciousness in media discourse. He aims to ensure that these critical viewpoints are represented and heard, fostering a more inclusive and ecologically aware conversation within the CBC community.

Kai Solomon

Kai Solomon (they/them) is an Educational Assistant with high school students with exceptional needs. They are trans non-binary, live with mental illness, and have spent their off time advocating for that. They co-facilitate the DEN (a non-binary/gender diverse group) through Rainbow Resource Centre as well as sit on the steering committee for Trans Manitoba. They absolutely love spending their downtime playing video games, spending time with their dog Captain Hook, their cat Alex, and their partner.

As part of the Community Advisory board their goal is to be a small but significant voice for the trans community. Using their own lived experiences and their own transition, they are passionate about educating people about trans issues, trans rights, trans youth and gender diversity. With what is happening in the world, and even in our province when it comes to trans rights and trans youth, they are so proud to be a change and a part of the Community Advisory board.

Katrina Martin

Katrina Martin (pronouns: she/her) is a teen clinic nurse and research coordinator. Katrina completed her Master's in Nursing at the University of Manitoba with a research focus looking at Filipino youth's experiences and perceptions of sexuality. In 2020, she was awarded with the Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba's Medal of Excellence.

She hopes that with her education and professional background she will be able to offer a different perspective on current events. Katrina looks forward to being part of this board which will allow her to stay up to date with the community and afford her the opportunity to learn from others.

Kent Dueck

Kent Dueck is the Founder of Inner City Youth Alive. He has served in Winnipeg's North End for 38 years. He is a frequent media commentator on issues related to the North End. He is a founding member of the North End Community Renewal Corporation, a member of the Provincial Task Force addressing student absenteeism, and has been active on numerous community efforts to address, crime, gangs, and justice-related matters.

Kent wants to serve on this advisory committee to offer his heart for the well-being of our whole city and Province. He hopes to bring his knowledge of some of the key community issues to bear on the stories we tell through the media. He looks forward to serving with our community's interest in mind.

Naomi Letkemann

Naomi Letkemann is a lifelong Winnipegger who grew up in the North End. She received her education degree from University of Winnipeg and subsequently taught at both private and public schools. She has also been active in several non-profit organizations. She's married to Jonathan and currently they're raising two active toddlers. Their family enjoys traveling, being outdoors as well as taking in art, museums and theatre. She abhors laundry and dishes and finds herself at odds with mosquitoes, ticks and deadlines.

She's drawn to this board because of her curiosity about the ideas that inform CBC's reporting and programming. She believes CBC is a powerful medium and should be scrutinized; especially as its role as Canada's public broadcaster. She joined this board to raise questions, give feedback, participate in healthy conversations, and work towards diversity of thoughts and opinions.

Dr. Patlee Creary

Dr. Patlee Creary is the author of several academic and non-academic articles and book chapters on gender, youth, and military roles and identities in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Patlee is noted for her work with non-profits and social support groups that seek to improve capacity, confidence, and resilience among clients with lived experiences of disruption and major transition.

Raised in Kingston, Jamaica and now living in Pinawa, Manitoba, she brings a rich intersection of identities and experiences to her role with the CBC Community Advisory Board. Patlee is passionate about community mental health and well-being and believes in the power of stories to change outlooks, transform relationships, and build connections so that every Manitoban can feel like they truly belong.

Robert Frederick Smith

Robert Smith was born in 1959 and has lived almost his entire life in the same house in the town of Edrans, Manitoba. The house was a T. Eaton catalogue home which his grandparents built for $5,000 in 1921. Robert took the International Agricultural Exchange Association program in 1977-78 and received a Diploma of Agriculture from the University of Manitoba in 1982.

Robert joined this board because he believes in public service; he was school trustee in the Pine Creek School Division for over 20 years, has contributed to many agricultural organizations and is a longtime Legion member. Robert hopes to bring the perspective of a lifelong rural Manitoban in a fast-changing world.

Sandra Sukhan

Sandra has been a teacher-educator for more than 30 years serving as an educational quality assurance auditor. She holds a doctorate in Environmental Studies, teaching degrees and is a Red Seal Journeyperson in Hairstyling. In addition to her professional life, she is serving her eleventh year as the first Honorary Consul for Guyana in Manitoba as well as in several volunteer roles.

She looks forward to serving on the CBC Community Advisory Board where she believes her contributions from multiple perspectives and identities (e.g., volunteer, health advocate, educator, 55+ non-profit leader, scholar, activist, woman of colour, family member and storyteller) will add to, and enhance conversations and fruitful discussions leading to actions for positive change in Manitoba and the larger Canadian milieu.

Tasneem Vali

Tasneem Vali was brought up is Sharjah, UAE and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Detroit, MI. She worked as a Project Manager in healthcare for 9 years in MI and IL. She moved to Karachi, Pakistan for 10 years in 2002 and then in 2012 to Winnipeg, MB. While in Karachi she worked as an educator.

Tasneem currently operates a long-haul trucking company while being involved in the community through Girl Guides of Canada, an ex-community member on the Winnipeg Public Library advisory committee, and the Manitoba Islamic Association. She is a proud mother to three young adults.

About CBC's Community Advisory Board

How our board works

• Mission/Purpose

• Authority

• Membership

• CBC Manitoba's responsibilities

• Board member responsibilities

• Board member rules and limitations

• Terms and time commitment

• Remuneration and acknowledgement

• Termination

Mission/Purpose

CBC Manitoba challenges ourselves and our audience to make this a better place to live. We aspire to integrate diversity in all aspects of CBC Manitoba, from ensuring representation at the decision-making level to our editorial choices to the makeup of our newsroom to how it is reflected in our content.

CBC Manitoba's Community Advisory Board exists to help inform the way CBC Manitoba covers the province and reflects the communities we serve.

Authority

The CAB helps ensure that CBC Manitoba authentically represents the diversity of experiences, stories, concerns, and achievements of the community we serve.

The board is not a decision-making body; rather, it is an opportunity to provide valuable perspectives and insight for consideration by CBC Manitoba's editorial team.

Membership

Public members appointed to the CAB live in Manitoba and are representative of the communities in which CBC Manitoba operates.

A membership recruitment process is used to encourage people from diverse backgrounds and communities to participate. CBC Manitoba editorial leaders select board members based on applications, interviews and/or reference checks.

Membership of the CAB may include, but is not limited to: a mix of gender identities, a mix of income levels, a mix of ages, a mix of geographic locations, diversity of thought and perspective, Indigenous communities, people with disabilities, visible minorities, newcomers and refugees, and LGBT2SQ+.

Each CAB member's unique intersectionality provides further contributions to the group and process.

CBC Manitoba's responsibilities

• Provide an inclusive environment in which CAB members can openly and respectfully share feedback and observations about CBC Manitoba's content and coverage.

• Develop processes and systems to extend insights learned from the CAB to CBC Manitoba's broader newsroom.

• Share feedback, transparency and insight about how the CAB process informs CBC Manitoba's editorial decisions.

Board member responsibilities

• Engage in robust discussions about the role of public broadcasting and how CBC Manitoba can best serve all our communities.

• Provide general feedback on programming, coverage, specific reporting projects and long-term editorial goals or outlooks.

• May serve as a sounding board during breaking news events or form smaller boards for specific coverage needs.

• Help CBC Manitoba identify opportunities for community engagement and voice in alignment with the newsroom's strategic priorities.

• Maintain a respectful and constructive dialogue with all members of the group, allowing all members an opportunity to voice their opinions.

• Disclose real or perceived conflicts of interest.

Board member rules and limitations

• Anything discussed during the advisory board meetings, as well as the overarching editorial plans for CBC Manitoba, are to remain confidential.

• Statements made during the meetings are for background purposes only; members will not be quoted in CBC Manitoba reporting.

• We strive to maintain an environment that welcomes openness and honesty, and requires that all participants honour and respect the experiences and perspectives of those involved.

Terms and time commitment

Each CAB member's term is two years. Board members will attend a maximum of six advisory board meetings annually, which may be virtual or in-person.

Smaller boards may be formed for specific coverage needs.

Remuneration and acknowledgement

CAB members receive an honorarium of $75 per meeting attended. CAB members may be acknowledged or credited on CBC websites.

Termination

CBC Manitoba reserves the right to dismiss a board member who is not upholding their responsibilities, has broken stipulations indicated in these terms, or who has failed to attend two meetings without notice.

A board member may choose to withdraw from the board at any time, with written notice to CBC Manitoba.