Changes

<big>Over the past 30 years, Dylan has been mentored by Wisdom Keepers and Spiritual Advisors from the Omushkego, Anishinaabe, Algonquin, Haudenosaunee, Tuscarora and Métis Nations, and as a sanctioned Two-Spirit Knowledge Keeper, and Storyteller, Dylan lives by and shares teachings imparted by his Elders, Teachers, and Guides.</big>

<big>Over the past 30 years, Dylan has been mentored by Wisdom Keepers and Spiritual Advisors from the Omushkego, Anishinaabe, Algonquin, Haudenosaunee, Tuscarora and Métis Nations, and as a sanctioned Two-Spirit Knowledge Keeper, and Storyteller, Dylan lives by and shares teachings imparted by his Elders, Teachers, and Guides.</big>

<br /></big>[[File:Headshot - Mark Mindel.jpg|alt=|left|frameless|282x282px]]

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[[File:20211102SUK0980D001-edit (1).jpg|alt=|left|frameless|206x206px]]

====<big>Mark Mindel, Program Officer, Integrity Services Branch, Employment and Social Development Canada, Service Canada</big>====

====<big>Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Pat Stevens, Indigenous Advisor to the Chaplain General, Royal Canadian Chaplain Service, Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence</big>====

<big>Mark Mindel is growing their career in government by working out of the Prince George Service Canada Centre in British Columbia’s North! As a people person, Mark strives day-to-day to provide excellence in client services.</big>  

<big>Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Pat Stevens's career reflects his strong commitment to both his nation and his cultural heritage. His journey began in 2001 with the Canadian Forces Aboriginal Entry Program, leading to eventually sailing aboard HMCS Halifax. It was in Thunder Bay where his commitment to exploring and embracing his Anishinaabe roots began. As a sonar operator turned mentor and instructor in Halifax, and later at CFLRS-St Jean, Stevens not only guided new recruits but also vigorously promoted Indigenous representation and cultural practices within the military.</big>

<big>Mark’s non-linear path in gender identity is an experience Mark uses in their elected role for their union to lead the non-binary conversation.</big>  

<big>As the Quebec military co-chair for the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group, he was a strong advocate for Indigenous rights, contributing to the establishment of a cultural center that would allow spiritual practices to flourish. His return to HMCS Halifax saw him undertaking overseas deployments, during which he worked to maintain spiritual connections among Indigenous crew members.</big>

<big>That conversation is one that falls alongside Mark’s layers as a parent to three adopted Indigenous children, recent marriage to their husband, and Mark’s Euro-Punjabi roots.</big>

<big>In 2021, Stevens was appointed as the second Indigenous advisor to the Chaplain General for the Royal Canadian Chaplain Services in Ottawa. In this capacity, he continues to support and advocate for the spiritual and cultural needs of Indigenous military personnel. Through his efforts, Stevens contributes to preserving and enhancing the legacy of his predecessors, ensuring that the spiritual needs and cultural rights of Indigenous service members are acknowledged and upheld.</big>

<big>Mark’s passion for diversity is best understood by their emphasis on ensuring that all voices get brought to the table.</big>

[[File:Vanessa Brousseau.jpg|alt=|left|frameless|320x320px]]

 

[[File:Andrea.jpg|left|frameless|241x241px]]

<big>Vanessa is a family member and survivor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls and two spirit. Her sister Pamela Holopainen has been missing for over 20 years. Vanessa has directly experienced abuse, neglect, racism and poverty.</big>

====<big>Andrea Monrad, Communications Security Custodian, Environment and Climate Change Canada</big>====

<big>Vanessa is also an artist and owner of Resilient Inuk Creations where she uses ethically sourced materials such as sealskin and porcupine quills for her art.</big>  

<big>Andrea Monrad joined the Communication Reserves in 1988. She worked within the Forces at Esquimalt, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and the Golan Heights before transitioning to public service in 2009, still within the Department of National Defence. Her military career covered radio and teletype, the start of computer networking and on to supporting Defence Wide Area Network and classified networks at home and deployed. Throughout her military career, she has focused on communication, security, and IT. In 2017, Andrea moved over to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to become the Communications Security (ComSec) Custodian, supporting Classified networks and then, in 2020, moved over to the Cyber Security and Policy office.</big>

<big>Andrea is a proud single dad of a twenty-year-old queer kid who ‘came out’ in her teens and helped Andrea realize her own identity journey. Her path led her to become the co-champion of ECCC’s Pride Network, the co-chair of the Public Service Pride Network’s Interdepartmental Working group on Chosen Names and Gender Marker Modernization, and an active participant in both GC and ECCC DIEE and identity issues.</big>

<big>Vanessa enjoys creating content and works everyday to create awareness on Indigenous issues on her social media handle "ResilientInuk".</big>  

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<big>Vanessa truly believes that with truth and sharing, we can work together towards a better future for all.</big><br>

=== <big>Meet our co-hosts</big> ===

=== <big>Meet our co-hosts</big> ===

[[File:Alfonso.jpg|alt=|left|frameless|307x307px]]

[[File:Darlene Bess.jpg|alt=|left|frameless|307x307px]]

 

====<big>Alfonso Ralph Mendoza Manalo, Junior Policy Analyst, Anti-Racism Unit, Royal Canadian Mounted Police</big>====

<big>Darlene holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and completed her Chartered Accountant Designation with Price Waterhouse in 1996. Darlene is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA).</big>  

<big>Born in Manila and based in Toronto. Alfonso Ralph Mendoza Manalo is an openly-gay Filipino-Canadian public servant. He is currently a Junior Policy Analyst in the Anti-Racism Unit. Prior to this, Alfonso worked as a Policy Advisor in the RCMP's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit and the Race-based Data Collection (RBDC) Team, and as a Research Assistant for the Information Management Policy Section. He has worked on a variety of EDI files, i.e. the founding of the RCMP’s Pride Network, co-writing the RCMP Addressing Systemic Racism Budget Submission, RBDC, and advocating for the inclusion of an anti-Asian racism and religious-based discrimination sub-module in the RCMP’s United Against Racism course (authoring the former). He is currently the co-chair of the RCMP’s Pride Network.</big>

<big>Outside of the RCMP, he has worked in a variety of research and policy roles for the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, the Scarborough Campus Student Union’s Racialized Students Collective, the Filipino Centre Toronto, and the Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. He has published on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, East/Southeast Asian politics and history, and migration and diasporas. He recently graduated from the University of Toronto, with a double major in Public Policy and Global Asia Studies and a minor in Critical Migration Studies.</big>

<big>Darlene is a Diversity and Inclusion Champion and enjoys mentoring and sponsoring individuals from equity-seeking groups.</big>

 

[[File:Emilie Plows CG.jpg|left|frameless]]

<big>Rob joined Infrastructure and Environment at the Department of National Defence in November 2017 and has been serving as the Assistant Deputy Minister since June 2019. He has been a federal civil servant for more than 20 years, dividing his time between central agencies such as the Privy Council Office, Treasury Board and the Department of Finance, and line departments such as Employment and Social Development Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. He studied political science at Acadia University in Nova Scotia and is a graduate of the National Security Programme at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. He served in the Primary Reserve with the 30th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Rob and his wife, Nancy, have two children, Adrian and Keira.</big>

== '''Mission: Ask Me Anything series''' ==

== '''Mission: Ask Me Anything series''' ==