Mission

Connect and support those living with, or impacted by, epilepsy and improve their independence, quality of life and community participation.

Vision

A community where everyone living with or impacted by epilepsy can thrive.

Purpose

Epilepsy Association of Calgary is a charitable social service agency established to address community, individual, and familial needs related to epilepsy.

Board of Directors

Gina Ross, Board Chair
Gina is a senior lawyer at the Calgary law firm of Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer, working to find solutions for her clients (including pro-bono legal work for a number of not-for-profit organizations) with respect to all aspects of employment law (policies, litigation, human rights, and transactional work). Gina graduated from the University of Calgary law school in 1988 and also has a certificate in Advanced Investigation Techniques.

She balances work with her involvement in the equestrian community, including as a volunteer, Equestrian Canada official and riding and showing her horses.

Geoff Dixon, Director

Geoff Dixon brings expertise in finance, regulation, and policy, along with a strong commitment to community service. He is a Financial and Economic Analyst with the Canada Energy Regulator, focusing on adjudicative processes, financial analysis, and regulatory compliance. Previously, he served as Manager of Regulatory Affairs with the Alberta Department of Energy, working on regulatory analysis, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy.

Geoff has dedicated many years to volunteer service, finding fulfillment in helping organizations strengthen their impact. He led workplace fundraising campaigns for the United Way and has served on volunteer boards and committees, contributing to governance, financial oversight, and community-focused programs. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and a Master of Management from Queen’s University. Outside of work, Geoff enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, and attending live music events.

Tasha Engel, Director
Tasha works as the Executive Vice President, People Services for Long Systems, where she’s been helping their over 1,200 employees since 2002. As their first HR professional, she has had the opportunity to see them through tremendous growth into their offices across North America.

Tasha has spent much of her free time advocating for young breast cancer patients through her volunteer work for Rethink Breast Cancer. Their initiatives have brought awareness to Calgary that breast cancer is not just a disease that happens to older women and has helped to educate our community on the benefits of early detection through cutting-edge and innovative campaigns.

In November 2012, Tasha was named one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 and in January of 2011, she was named by the Calgary Herald as one of their 20 people to watch out for. She is also featured in the Canadian Screen award winning documentary “About Her”, as one of nine young women sharing their unique cancer journey.

Lisa Farstad, Director

Lisa Farstad is the Vice President, Corporate Services with Freehold Royalties, where she is responsible for the areas of human resources, culture, information technology, cyber security, data innovation & analytics, communication and administration.

Lisa enjoys giving back to the community and has previously served as a Director with Wings of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation and as a Mentor with the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Alberta mentorship program. Lisa joined the Epilepsy Association Board of Directors in 2024 as growing up, Lisa saw her sister struggle with epilepsy and would like to support the work of the organization as she understands the impact this can have on individuals and families.

In her spare time Lisa loves to keep active with pilates, pickleball and golf or can be found in the kitchen cooking up a feast for her large family.

Grace Fung, Director
Grace Fung is a partner in the Risk Management group at KPMG. This is a national role that helps to support audit risk throughout the KPMG Canada.  Previously she spent over fifteen years working in the audit practice. She has a strong financial background and has worked with clients of all different sizes.  At KPMG, she has been part of many initiatives to support developing people including being a recruiter, running training and acting as mentor/performance manager for many at the firm.

Grace enjoys volunteering and being involved in the community. She previously was the Treasurer for the Mount Royal Suzuki Parent’s Association as she has two kids who play piano. In her spare time, Grace enjoys travelling and spending time with her friends and family. She likes to stay active with HIIT workouts and in the winter enjoys skiing. She is currently trying to learn badminton to keep up with her kids!

Dr. Julia Jacobs -LeVan, Director
Dr. Julia Jacobs is the current Director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at Alberta Children’s Hospital. She is an Associate Professor affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Calgary and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Freiburg, Germany.

Born in Germany, she trained in pediatric neurology before coming to Canada for the first time as a fellow at the Montreal Neurological Institute. After completing her fellowship, she moved back to Germany for 10 years where she worked most recently as the Director of the Department of Pediatric Neurology in Freiburg. She moved to Calgary in October 2019.

Dr. Jacobs is a clinician scientist aiming to bring new diagnostic tools and treatments to children with rare and difficult to treat epilepsies. Her most recent work focuses on helping to understand the individual risk of patients to develop seizures and treatment strategies that might prevent severe epilepsy in children. Her research has been awarded several international prizes.

Dr. Jacobs is married to a fellow researcher and Canadian, whom she met in Montreal. She has two sons that love the multicultural fun and great outdoors that Calgary has to offer.

Tyler Kilborn, Director
Tyler Kilborn is a Chartered Professional Accountant and is currently an audit manager at KPMG LLP, where he has spent several years auditing not-for-profit organizations. Tyler graduated from Mount Royal University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, subsequently obtained his CPA designation in 2020, and is working to obtain his Master of Science in Accounting with Cognitive Analytics in 2023.

Tyler was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 3 years old and after several experimental medications and specialists, was fortunate enough to be seizure free since he was 6 years old. Tyler remembers the challenges his family faced during this difficult time and looks forward to helping others in similar situations.

Tyler has been married since 2022, is dad to two boys and spends his free time vacationing with family or playing pocket billiards.

Derek Payne, Director
Derek Payne is a Chartered Professional Accountant and is currently an active member of Calgary’s start-up and emerging business Community, where he acts as an advisor, mentor, or board member to a number of growing companies. Prior to this, Derek held several senior roles including Chief Financial Officer of DIRTT Environmental Solutions and Treasurer & Vice President Finance of WestJet Airlines.

Derek was initially diagnosed with epilepsy in 1999 and due to the increasing severity of his seizures beginning in 2007 and then again in 2013 Derek opted to have surgery in 2015 in an effort permanently control them. Derek has been seizure free ever since and over the last several years has been proactive in his willingness to share his own personal lived experience of having gone through the surgical process with others who themselves may be contemplating surgery.

Derek has been married for over 25 years, is the father of two boys and spends his free time, volunteering at the Universities in Calgary where he enjoys working with students, as well as playing golf, cycling and both participating in and coaching CrossFit classes.

Dr. Shaily Singh, Director

Dr. Shaily Singh is a staff neurologist and epileptologist at Alberta Health Services and an Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary.

Dr. Singh completed her neurology residency at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. She then pursued advanced training with a two-year epilepsy and EEG fellowship at the University of Calgary, followed by a six-month research fellowship focused on advanced neuroimaging techniques for epilepsy.

Her clinical interests are centered on the care of patients with complex epilepsy, particularly the surgical management of drug-resistant epilepsy. Dr. Singh is deeply committed to not only providing exceptional medical care but also addressing the broader challenges faced by individuals living with epilepsy. This holistic approach is what motivates her involvement with the Epilepsy Association of Calgary (EAC), where she seeks to make a meaningful impact beyond the clinical setting.

Victoria Tulk, Secretary

Victoria works as Legal Counsel at Pembina Pipeline Corporation, based in Calgary. She has a broad corporate commercial legal background with a focus on commercial transactions in the energy sector, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate and securities matters. Prior to joining Pembina, Victoria practiced as an associate lawyer at Bennett Jones LLP.

Victoria is passionate about the Calgary community and has volunteered with several organizations that have a strong local presence, including Little Warriors and Pro Bono Students Canada.

Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Victoria enjoys baking, spending time outdoors and relaxing at home with her two cats, Lily and Dori. She is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for the Epilepsy Association of Calgary.

Rylea Yanke, Director
Rylea is a commercial litigator with a dynamic background in both law and business. Called to the bar in 2023, Rylea earned a Juris Doctor and a Master of Business Administration through the joint JD/MBA program at the University of Calgary. During law school, Rylea volunteered with Student Legal Assistance as a trial division caseworker. During her the MBA, Rylea was an active member of the UCeed Haskayne Student Fund, where she sourced seed and pre-seed start-up ventures for investment, conducted due diligence, and mentored new associates. This dual academic foundation allows Rylea to approach complex legal issues with a sharp understanding of both the legal and commercial landscapes.

Prior to attending law school, Rylea received her Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society, with a minor in Management and Society, at the University of Calgary. Rylea was born and raised in Calgary. In her free time, she enjoys competing in Powerlifting, and Bodybuilding, and participating in hiking, kayaking, and traveling.

Laura Dickson, Executive Director
Laura has served in senior leadership roles in Calgary’s non-profit sector for over a decade. In addition to her role at EAC, she was elected President of the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance in 2023. Her past roles include Executive Director at the Women in Need Society (WINS) and Chief Operating Officer at the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

Laura’s non-profit career is complimented by roles in the public and health care sectors in Ontario and Alberta. She holds an MBA in Executive Leadership from Royal Roads University and a BSc from the University of Toronto where she was recognized as an Alumni of Influence at University College (2017). Laura also holds an ICD in Non-Profit Governance Essentials.

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Impact Report

Our Strategic Priorities

Funding Sustainability

Stability:

Sustainable funding ensures organizational stability, allowing effective program planning and execution without financial uncertainty.

Impact:

Reliable funding enables consistent delivery of services, positively benefiting the epilepsy community.

Growth:

Sustainable funding supports growth, innovation, and adaptation to evolving needs.

Program Impact

Quality of Services:

Our programs offer high-quality services tailored to the unique requirements of individuals with epilepsy. This includes nonmedical, psychological, educational, and social support.

Community Alignment:

Programs are designed to align with the specific needs and demographics of the local epilepsy community. Understanding community context ensures relevance and effectiveness.

Measurable Outcomes:

Impact is measured through indicators such as improved health outcomes, increased knowledge, reduced stigma and enhanced social participation.