Ethel Hoeksema

Founder, Executive Director

Ethel is a Certified Life Skills Coach (4500h training program), having graduated in 1996 from the Life Skills Training Centre in Edmonton, AB. She received a 2-year Diploma in Social Work from Mt. Royal University, Calgary, AB in 1989. She also has her Level Two in Bookkeeping from The Academy of Learning in 2004. She is a volunteer with Narcotics Anonymous in Lethbridge and has represented Narcotics Anonymous in their booth at Project Connect (Lethbridge) for the past 6 years. In addition to her other accomplishments, Ethel was a board member of the Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Society, Lethbridge for 3 years, Board Member for Epilepsy Lethbridge for 5 years and speaks Blackfoot. With dedicated effort on her part the Wellness Through Living Society received its federal charity number on September 25, 2012 (82719 2881 RR0001).

Cassandra Chalifoux

Director-at-Large

Cassandra Chalifoux is a proud Mi’kmaq woman from the Indian Head Clan of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. She has lived in Lethbridge and the surrounding area for the last 14 years. Her Indian name is Sspopiiaki which means turtle woman and stands for Motherhood, Wisdom, Patience, and Longevity in the Blackfoot culture and was gifted to her in summer of 2024.

She has worked closely with the Urban Indigenous population for the last 3 years as the Community
Engagement Officer for Native Counselling Services of Alberta. She runs the Lethbridge Indigenous Sharing Network, where she works diligently to bring organizations together to support the needs of the Indigenous population in and around Lethbridge.

She has also volunteered her time to the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee with the City of Lethbridge, which worked toward fostering reconciliation between the people and the City of Lethbridge, and volunteered to help many different organizations with their events around the city.

Samantha Many Grey Horses 

Director-at-Large

Samantha Many Grey Horses is a proud Indigenous woman from the Blood Tribe First Nations, who has dedicated her career to serving and uplifting her community through her career and volunteering. She graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Lethbridge College in 2008.

For over a decade, She has worked passionately to support individuals navigating the justice system and to
create opportunities for meaningful change within Indigenous communities. She is currently employed with
Native Counselling Services of Alberta as an Indigenous Criminal Court Worker. In this role she assists individuals in understanding and navigating the complexities of the court system, advocating for their rights, and ensuring they have access to appropriate resources and support.

Samantha is also a licensed Realtor, a position she began in December 2023, where she helps families and individuals find homes and achieve their real estate goals. Before these roles, she served as a Probation Officer with the Kainai Transition Centre Society for 15 years. This experience allowed me to work closely with individuals on their paths to rehabilitation and reintegration, fostering accountability, and supporting personal growth. Her work has always been driven by a deep commitment to justice, equity, and community well-being.

Beyond her professional commitments, she has been actively involved in community development. From September 2023 to June 2024, she volunteered her time on the Community Well-being and Safety Strategy Committee with the City of Lethbridge. This initiative focused on fostering safer, healthier neighborhoods through collaborative strategies and community engagement.

As a single mother of two incredible daughters who both play hockey, her life is a dynamic blend of professional dedication and personal joy. Her daughters inspire her every day with their passion and
determination, and she is committed to being a positive role model for them and for others in our community. Through her career and personal life, she remains steadfast in her dedication to creating a brighter, more equitable future for Indigenous communities and beyond.