Top of Page

Warren developed his counselling skills over the 18 years that he lived in the B.C. Interior.  Among other things, he created a sexual abuse support group program for abused children and youth, as well as co-authored a comprehensive training manual commissioned by the Mental Health Services of B.C. for sexual abuse program practitioners.  He went on to be the District Special Counsellor for a school district for almost 10 years.  He also worked under contract for a number of agencies, including the Elizabeth Fry Society where he was a Child, Youth and Family Counsellor and a Men's Group Co-Facilitator.

During this time in B.C., Warren worked on 10 of the 17 Shuswap First Nations, and took language courses to better speak Secwepemctsin.  The families of the Canoe Creek/Dog Creek Indian Band in particular are very dear to his heart, after having spent so much time in their remote community.

Warren has two adopted children, both of whom are Aboriginal - Corrin is Metis and David is Cree.  Corrin and David now have children of their own, and continue to live in the west.  Warren moved back east in 1999 when one of his parents took ill.  Although born and raised in Toronto, and now technically "back home," Warren very much misses his family and friends in the west.  Re-connecting with the Aboriginal community through his work at Wigwamen helps him to bridge both his worlds, and being at the Aboriginal Housing Support Centre feels like a natural transition to him.

Putucw!  (Good-bye)

Top of Page

Clerical:

Alla Ponomarenko
Alla Ponomarenko has been with Wigwamen since March 2002.  Her responsibilities as Administrative Assistant include letter writing, filing, and various research projects.  She is also Wigwamen's official photographer! 

Alla graduated from Donetsk's Building Engineering Academy in Ukraine with an Honours Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering.  In 1999, she successfully completed a Property Management Career Preparation Course, gaining a thorough knowledge of the Tenant Protection Act.  Alla continues to update her education, having most recently taken computer and other courses at the Yorkdale Adult Learning Centre.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Alla immigrated to Canada with her family in 1999.  She has been an avid traveller since her adolescence, and very much enjoys site-seeing.  Creating a warm and comfortable home for her family in Canada is a priority for Alla. 

Top of Page

Wigwamen Non-Profit Residential Corp.

Top of Page

Tenant Relations and Rental Administration:

Lori Ball
Lori Ball has been with Wigwamen Non-Profit Residential Corp.'s Rural and Native Housing Program in Peterborough since its beginning in March 1996. Starting with 10 boxes of tenant and unit files and a hotel room as an office, Lori helped to launch what is today the very successful delivery of the Rural and Native Housing Program in the Peterborough area.

Top of Page

Maintenance:

Ron Timoon
As Maintenance Inspector for the Rural and Native Housing Program in the Peterborough and Owen Sound areas, Ron Timoon's duties include: ensuring regular maintenance work; coordinating emergency repairs; and preparing repair specifications and tendering contracts for vacant units.

Although he has been with Wigwamen since 1985, Ron's work background is diverse and extensive. Having taught construction and renovation methods, he also has experience in drafting and blueprint making, as well as having been an insurance adjuster and an automotive technician.

Raised in Toronto, Ron now resides up north in Stroud, near Barrie. He is the lead singer in a band called Switchbak, and would like to someday own a woodworking shop.

Top of Page

Clerical:

Elizabeth Else

Top of Page

RRAP Administration:

Top of Page

Staff Archives

Below are staff profiles from the past – individuals who worked at Wigwamen Incorporated or Wigwamen Non-Profit Residential Corp. for one year or longer.  They appear as they were written when they were staff of Wigwamen.  

Wigwamen Incorporated:

Melanie Brown (2001 – 2005)
Melanie Brown joined Wigwamen in November 2001. As Administrative Assistant, she performs such tasks as letter writing, filing, and front desk and telephone reception. She also takes responsibility for accounts receivable and payable for the RNH portfolio.

Melanie graduated from Montreal's McGill University in 2001 with an Honours degree in Religious Studies and International Development Studies. During her 4 years of university, she was actively involved at McGill and in the Montreal community doing extensive volunteer work, including visiting isolated seniors and providing childcare for single mothers attending Montreal universities. In May 2002, she received a certificate in volunteer management from her studies at Humber College. She hopes to continue to work in the non-profit sector.

In her spare time, Melanie enjoys reading, travel and spending time with her cat Sabrina.

Top of Page

Debby Dennis (1996 – 2002)
Debby Dennis is Wigwamen's Office Manager, responsible for overseeing the daily activities of the Toronto office including, among other things: researching major purchases; maintaining office equipment; ordering office supplies; arranging staff training; approving invoices; and supervising staff. Debby is also the Rental Administration and Collections Officer for the Rural and Native Housing Program, and in this capacity she is responsible for performing annual income and hardship reviews for the tenants, and for matters related to the collection of arrears. She also maintains a 600-plus unit data base and the administrative files for the RNH Program.

With Wigwamen since 1996, Debby's work and educational background have made her well-suited to her present position. She is knowledgeable of a number of computer spreadsheet and word programs, as well as accounting software programs. In 1999 she completed an Administrative Assistant course run by Skilpath Seminars. Through previous employment, Debby has acquired extensive experience in accounts payable and receivable, payroll, shipping and receiving, and inventory control.

Debby travels to work everyday from her home in Stroud. She enjoys gardening, camping, clothing and costume design, and for many years was an active member of the Innisfil hockey and figure skating fundraising committees.

Top of Page

Mel Dokis (1993 – 2001)
Mel Dokis' involvement with Wigwamen Incorporated is long-standing. For 12 years he served on the Board of Directors of the organization before taking up the position of Maintenance Coordinator in 1993. He has since taken up additional responsibilities as Maintenance Manager. In his present position, Mel's workload includes, among other things: supervising maintenance staff; ensuring that a comprehensive preventative maintenance program is in place; coordinating home inspections and the tendering process; and preparing and monitoring the maintenance and replacement reserve budgets.

Prior to his employment with Wigwamen, Mel's work experience was in the area of manufacturing. He was a Senior Purchasing Agent for such companies as Canadian Admiral Corporation, Rubbermaid Canada Inc., and Landcaster Colony Inc.

Mel has made his home in Toronto for a number of years, although he is originally from Northern Ontario. During the summer months, he enjoys boating and fishing at his cottage on the French River.

Janet Esquimaux (1996 – 2002)
As Manager of Wigwamen Terrace, a 102-unit apartment complex for Aboriginal seniors, Janet Esquimaux's duties include: general tenant relations; new tenant selection; arrears; administration of maintenance and repair work; office administration; and the coordination of activities and events for the tenants. Always energetic and willing to try new things, Janet is responsible for the development of the popular "Wigwam to Wigwam," a monthly newsletter for Wigwamen tenants.

Before coming to Wigwamen in 1996, Janet worked for the City of Toronto Housing Department in the Home Share Program. Previous to that, she received a diploma in health sciences with an emphasis in geriatrics from Cambrien College in Sudbury, as well as a certificate in Microcomputers from George Brown College. She is very active in the Aboriginal community of Toronto, having spent a number of years with the Aboriginal Head Start Program, a cultural program for pre-schoolers. Now that her twin daughters are 5-years-old and in school, Janet is directing her energy into being a member of the Consultative Committee for the Aboriginal Peacekeeping Unit of the Toronto Police Services. Most recently however, she completed the "Management of Maintenance Systems" from the Institute of Property Management. It is fair to say that Janet brings valuable skills to her position at Wigwamen.

Although she has been living in the city now for 10 years, Janet still considers Sucker Creek First Nation on Manitoulin Island to be her true home. This is where she grew up, where her family still lives, and where she visits at every chance she gets.

Sarah Howden (2001 – 2002)
Sarah Howden joined Wigwamen in 2001. As an Administrative Assistant, her duties included typing, dictaphone transcription, letter writing, filing, and various other office-related tasks.

In October, she was promoted to the position of Counsellor for the Aboriginal Housing Support Centre. She is responsible for the development and operation of the Centre which is designed to assist Aboriginal families and individuals experiencing housing insecurity. She provides counselling services and referrals for the Centre's clients regarding, among other things, temporary housing options, avoiding evictions, and general advice on making ends meet. She is also responsible for coordinating a series of workshops and support groups of interest to Aboriginal tenants.

Sarah recently graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English and Anthropology. During her 4 years at U of T, she developed a strong interest in Aboriginal issues which led her to pursue several courses in that field of study, including an introductory course in the Ojibway language. She hopes to go on to graduate studies in socio-cultural anthropology and to continue working in the area of social services.

In her spare time, Sarah indulges in one of her main vices - reading. She also likes to try her hand at writing fiction, and hopes to have something published in the near future.

Susan Steiner (1999 – 2001)
Susan Steiner came to Wigwamen with a strong background in collections, having been employed as a Collections Officer for firms such as Cantel Cellular, Bell Mobility, and most recently, Bayshore Leasing. She was also a licensed Private Investigator from 1980 to 1995. A graduate of Seneca College's Law Enforcement Program, where she made the Dean's Honour List, she was also a Teaching Master at the college in the area of security in business and industry.

As Collections Officer at Wigwamen, Susan is responsible for all matters related to the collection of arrears for all of Wigwamen's 215 family housing units in Toronto, and 587 Rural and Native Housing units. When she isn't busy chasing after tenants for unpaid rents, representing Wigwamen at the Rental Housing Tribunal in eviction cases, and combing through files to pursue collections through Small Claims Court, Susan may be found jogging in the park with her dog or relaxing with a book.

Ramona Toulouse (1999 – 2001)
Joining Wigwamen Incorporated in 1999, Ramona Toulouse was first an Administrative Assistant where her diverse duties included telephone and front desk reception, typing, dictaphone transcription and letter writing, as well as processing the applications for Toronto Social Housing Connections received by Wigwamen.

In 2000, she was promoted to the position of Counsellor for the Aboriginal Housing Support Centre. She is responsible for the development and operation of Centre which is designed to assist Aboriginal families and individuals experiencing housing insecurity. She provides counselling services and referrals for the Centre's clients regarding, among other things, temporary housing options, avoiding evictions, and general advice on making ends meet. Ramona is also responsible for coordinating a series of workshops and support groups of interest to Aboriginal tenants.

Originally from Sagamok Anishnabek in Northern Ontario, Ramona has been living in Toronto for a number of years and has been very active in the Aboriginal community. Of note, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Native Women's Resource Centre, and was the Youth Representative at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Ramona has also worked part-time as a librarian at First Nations House at the University of Toronto, and before that, as the coordinator of a youth conference for Spirit of the People, an organization to help Aboriginal ex-offenders.

Besides her work at Wigwamen and her involvement in the Aboriginal community of Toronto, Ramona is kept busy raising her 4-year-old daughter Amethyst.

Top of Page

Jennifer attended Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, and has worked for non-profit agencies for the past nine years.  She moved to the Peterborough area in 2000 and enjoys reading, hiking, photography and playing with her chocolate lab Riley.