About Us
Learn more about the team behind the Canadian Prostate Cancer Guide.
About us
We can assist you in receiving the support, information, and guidance you need. Together we will help you along the way no matter where you are in your prostate cancer journey.
Staff
Jackie Manthorne – BA, BEd
President & CEO
Jackie Manthorne, BA, BEd, is President and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, a national network of patients, families, survivors, friends, community partners and sponsors. Its mission is to work together by taking action to promote the very best standard of care, support, follow-up and quality of life for patients and survivors. It aims to educate the public and policy makers about cancer and encourage research on ways to alleviate barriers to optimal cancer care in Canada.
Manthorne is currently Lay-Reader-in-Training at St. Martin’s Anglican Church in the Diocese of Ottawa and is studying towards a B.Th. at Thorneloe University, which is part of the Laurentian University federation and affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada. She is on the Board of Directors of Beechwood Cemetery, the national cemetery of Canada, which, in addition to being home of the National Military Cemetery, the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery and the Ottawa Police Service Memorial Cemetery, is the final resting place for over 75,000 Canadians from all walks of life and of all religious affiliations.
Manthorne was President and CEO of the Canadian Breast Cancer Network for 12 years. She was a representative on the Global Metastatic Breast Cancer Advocacy Board; a member of the Episodic Disabilities Network; an external reviewer for Health Canada’s Population Health Fund and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Ontario Chapter; a judge on the Radio Science Programs Panel and the Annual Book Award of Science Writers & Communicators Canada; and a member of the Project Advisory Group of the Ovarian Cancer Information Project.
Manthorne was also national administrator of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts; executive director of the Canadian Centre for International PEN (PEN Canada) and is a director of www.womencan.ca. She was the 2017 recipient of the Jack Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Cancer Action Network (CCAN).
Mona Forrest
Operations Manager
Mona Forrest, CAE, has been an Executive Director in the not–for–profit field for more than 25 years and has contributed as an association manager in a variety of fields, including social services, vocational, international development, health and arts, and culture. She is the current Operations Manager.
She has worked with many non-profit organizations in a Senior Administrative capacity responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day management of human, fiscal, and material resources to attain operational, program, and financial success.
She was Director of Regional Operations for Ontario for The Arthritis Society and founding Executive Director of the National Office of the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada. She was appointed by the Ontario government as a member of the Ontario Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, where she served as an adjudicator for a three-year term. At present, she is the Operations Manager at the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network and President of Breast Cancer Canada.
Mona has been recognized with awards from the United Way, the Montreal Citizenship Council, the Women Who Make a Difference Award, the People who Make a Difference Award, and the federal government Citation for Citizenship.
Her interests are social media for non-profits, start-up organizations, finding money for charities, fixing problems, and financial management.
Jennifer Spence
Bookkeeping and Administration Coordinator
Jennifer is our Bookkeeping and Administration Coordinator. Her primary role is to implement CCSN’s financial plans and policies and maintenance of its fiscal records. She also helps with various administrative duties as required.
Jennifer’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts from Lakehead University, an Executive Business Administration Diploma from Willis College and a Bookkeeping Certificate from Algonquin College.
In her free time, she enjoys long walks with her dog and spending time with her family.
Lindsay Timm
Community Engagement Manager
Lindsay Timm is our Community Engagement Manager. Before joining CCSN on staff, Lindsay was a volunteer helping to organize fundraising events and always coming up with new and innovative ideas and project proposals for fundraising. As a staff member, she started out as our Administrative Coordinator and has, over her time with us, gained new skills and taken on new tasks that will aid her in her new role.
Lindsay is a graduate of the Early Childhood Education program at Algonquin College. She is also working on completing the Office Administration course at Algonquin. She enjoys knitting, reading, music, and listening to podcasts. She enjoys walks throughout her neighbourhood with her dog.
Trevor Smith-Millar – BA
Communications Manager
Handles communications, website maintenance, social media, webinars and the monthly e-newsletter. Former radio personality at various stations. Has worked for stations in Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, Kemptville, Prescott, Bolton, Brockville and Ottawa. Born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. Has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa and a certificate in Radio Broadcasting from Algonquin College.
Is an avid writer and has written for multiple websites. Interested in cooking, geography, history and politics at the municipal, provincial, federal and international level. Has two cats and a dog.
Nir Hagigi
Public Policy Analyst
Nir Hagigi is currently a student at Carleton University pursuing a Bachelor of Global and International Studies with a specialization in Global Development and a concentration in Economics.
Through his studies, along with a minor designation in Women and Gender Studies, Nir is a strong advocate with a dedicated passion to cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers. He also gained valuable experience as the Lead Community Outreach Organizer for Starbucks in the National Capital Region, where he oversaw a major fundraiser across 25+ locations to raise money for Camp Quality, a nonprofit organization that sends kids affected by cancer and their siblings to the camp for free.
As a Public Policy Assistant for the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, Nir engages with policymakers and stakeholders to promote the organizations advocacy initiatives and to raise awareness about the needs of cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers.
Nir is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers through his work with the CCSN. He believes that by working together to promote health and educate others, we can create a more equitable, supportive, and sustainable healthcare system for all.
Clara Stéphenne
Translator
Clara is passionate about helping people in the community. Some of her main tasks at CCSN include translating content relating to website populating and social media publications.
Martin Dufresne
Translator
Martin Dufresne is a profeminist translator, coordinating the web-based TRADFEM translation portal and involved in publishing French versions of writings by Andrea Dworkin, Julie Bindel, Lundy Bancroft, Kajsa Ekis Ekman, John Stoltenberg, Helen Joyce – and organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Survivors Network.
Édouard Beaudry
Translator
Édouard Beaudry loves to translate content relating to health and women’s rights. His bachelor of Fine Arts has allowed him to teach drawing both to children and adults, surrounding him with creativity. He is also a spin instructor, eager to motivate a crowd to push the limits of what can be achieved, and much enjoys cycling around beautiful Vancouver.
Brad sterling
Advisory Committee
Jeff Greig
Jeff Greig is a prostate cancer survivor, and was diagnosed at a relatively young age of 54. Jeff underwent a successful radical prostatectomy in April 2021, and is an advocate for taking a proactive approach to one’s health to ensure early detection and survivorship. Jeff is a trained Peer Navigator with the True North Peer Navigator program that supports men who have been recently diagnosed with or treated for prostate cancer. Jeff is also a co-leader of the North Shore Prostate Cancer Support Group in North Vancouver, BC, and co-captain of the “Butts in a Boat” dragon boat team, Canada’s first dragon boat team for men living with, or surviving prostate cancer.
Brad Sterling
Every man diagnosed with prostate cancer has a different story. Mine started with my first biopsy when I was 53 years old. Within 3 months my PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) went from 4.7 to 5.7 and with a Gleason score 7 (3+4) I underwent surgery before I turned 54. Since then, the cancer has returned. I have undergone chemotherapy, ADT (androgen depravation therapy) and radiation. ADT has stopped working and I was able to enroll in a study involving a recently approved drug. 3 years later at age 68, I am still in remission with my PSA undetectable at <0.1.
I retired from Royal Bank after 37 years and now volunteer with PROSTAID Calgary Society, a local support group for men and their families along their cancer journey. I am one of the luckier men, with a favourable response to any treatment I have undertaken and, who has minimal side effects. My spouse attends all my doctor appointments and keeps me on track. I have a supportive family and a well-informed support network of friends whom I met in PROSTAID Calgary.
Arminee Kazanjian – DrSoc
Dr. Arminée Kazanjian, is Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada.
A Sociologist by training and a recognized health services researcher for 30 years, her more recent work has focused on research on cross-cultural cancer care, psycho-social oncology and cancer survivorship. Dr Kazanjian pioneered a program of intervention research, the True NTH Prostate Cancer Peer Navigation Solution: Peer Empowered Partnership in Prostate Cancer (PEP_PC) funded by the international Movember Foundation.
Dr. Kazanjian has consulted in British Columbia and across Canada on various issues pertaining to health systems and health policy, to foster health equity and inclusion for deserving populations. She co-leads the Canadian Cancer Survivorship Research Consortium (CCSRC).
John Roth
John is the Webmaster and past co-chair of Prostate Cancer Support Toronto. He is a 20 plus year prostate cancer survivor.
Al Carl
Chair, PCS Ottawa
Leanne Kopp
I have spent over twenty-five years supporting and leading non-profits in their work, with twenty years of those as Executive Director at Island Prostate Centre. Through these experiences I have enjoyed working with amazing and inspiring people on some highly fulfilling initiatives.
With strengths and experience in revenue development, community engagement, facilitation, and strategic planning, my life’s work has focused on the charitable sector and it has been my privilege to make a difference in my community.
My approach to work is to communicate well, think outside of the box, and produce strong results with great care. I bring these values to everything that I do.
Sue Sohnle
My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010 at the age of 54, and since then we have been very involved with the prostate cancer community. Since 2017 I have been leading a women’s peer support group for spouses of men with prostate cancer in Edmonton. I was also the inaugural chairperson of the Prostate Cancer Support National Council with Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada in 2020-2021. I’m pleased to take part in this initiative to make reliable and Canada-focused medical and support information available and aggregated all in one place.