SIM Symposium Presenters

Louise Moir RN, BScN- Organizer

Louise has been working in nursing education for over 25 years with most of that time spent in healthcare simulation. Her extensive training in experiential learning has led her to become recognized provincially and nationally as a content expert in the development, implementation and evaluation of nursing and interprofessional simulations. She has also worked as a consultant with other organizations offering training courses in healthcare simulation. She is a co-organizer for the Northern Ontario Simulation Symposiums and has had the opportunity to present at several provincial and national simulation conferences. Her greatest honour was working with local Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and researchers on developing Biigiiweyan, an Indigenous cultural safety training program that utilized simulations to train pre and post licensure healthcare professionals on Indigenous Knowledges and the importance of cultural safety.

Allyson Béland- Co-Organizer and Presenter

Allyson is a Biomedical Sciences (BSc) graduate and the Manager of the CNFS (Consortium National de la formation en santé) at Collège Boréal. Passionate about healthcare education and workforce development, she is committed to strengthening bilingual training opportunities to address the critical need for French-speaking healthcare professionals. Through the implementation of cutting-edge simulation-based learning, she works to equip future frontline workers with the skills and confidence needed for their clinical placements and careers. Her mission is to promote equitable access to healthcare for Francophone minority communities by ensuring they receive high-quality, culturally, and linguistically appropriate care.

Yvonne Galbraith RN, BFA, MMIE- Co-Organizer and Presenter

Yvonne is a nurse, artist and simulationist. She has many years of combined nursing/education experience. Currently she works for Simulation Canada and Georgian College as an Academic Pathway lead.

Yvonne has enjoyed sharing and learning through the community of practice using Faculty Development Competency Framework tools with CTL

Alysha Hemsworth

Alysha is a highly motivated and accomplished registered nurse with expertise in research, mentorship, leadership, and clinical practice. Currently serving as a Full-Time Professor at Canadore College, Alysha lectures, oversees clinical practice, and facilitates simulations in maternity and pediatrics. Drawing on Keystone Simulation training from Simulation Canada, Alysha emphasizes immersive, hands-on learning to help students develop strong clinical skills.

Alysha earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nipissing University and is currently pursuing a PhD focused on maternity orientation practices for Canadian nurses. With eight years of extensive clinical experience in obstetrics, medicine, surgery, pediatrics, geriatrics, and palliative care, Alysha is well-versed in various healthcare settings. Her research background includes literature review, critical appraisal, research methodology, data analysis, and publishing. A proven leader and effective communicator, Alysha excels at collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to ensure exceptional patient outcomes.

Breanna Guertin

Breanna is a registered nurse (RN) since 2018, with a strong passion for education and cultural competency in healthcare. Over the years, she has been deeply involved in patient care and nursing education; recognizing the importance of integrating cultural awareness into nursing curricula. Currently, Breanna is pursuing a master’s in nursing, where the focus of her research project is finding ways of enhancing nursing practice through simulation and innovative teaching strategies. With a commitment to lifelong learning, Breanna is dedicated to improving the nursing profession by fostering inclusive, culturally sensitive environments for both students and patients.

Franck Koman

Franck Koman has been a Project Officer for the CNFS (Consortium national de la formation en santé) since September 2023, where he stands out in administrative management and coordinating health and education projects for Francophone communities in minority settings. Alongside this, he teaches part-time at Collège Boréal, giving him a deep understanding of students’ pedagogical needs. Holding a Master’s degree in Finance and currently pursuing an MBA in Management Consulting, he is sharpening his strategic and analytical skills. Previously, as Coordinator of the Ivorian Fair Trade Network, he launched the first two editions of the National Fair Trade Days in Côte d’Ivoire, collaborating with prominent partners such as the French Development Agency and Fairtrade Africa. Passionate about Francophone education and partnership collaboration, Franck is eager to contribute to innovative and inclusive projects.

Hilman K.F. Yee- Canada Account Manager for Limbs & Things, Inc.

With over 16 years of experience in the simulation field, Hilman has observed the rapid advancements in technology, from AI to Virtual and Augmented Reality. Limbs & Things is at the cutting edge, integrating these innovations with task trainers to improve experiential learning, fostering confident clinicians, and ultimately delivering better patient outcomes.

Holly Sarvas

Holly Sarvas is a Simulation Educator at the Health Sciences North Simulation Lab. Born in Thunder Bay, raised in Sudbury, Holly is a Registered Nurse by background, with additional degrees in bioethics and health professions education. She has previously presented on topics related to: accessible simulation, gamification in simulation, inter-professional simulation, and social justice in simulation. Holly loves the challenge that arises when combining gamified elements and healthcare learning objectives to create fun and engaging sessions.

Jacob Sirois, Simulation Technologist – College Boreal

Jacob Sirois is a dedicated and innovative Simulation Technologist with a passion for enhancing paramedicine education. Since 2018, Jacob has been at the forefront of healthcare simulation, assisting in the setup and implementation of cutting-edge technology across Ontario in 7 campuses and 10 different healthcare programs.

Graduating from paramedicine in 2013, Jacob has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as Cégep de Chicoutimi and Cégep de Drummondville. His unique approach to simulation emphasizes repairing mistakes to boost student confidence. Jacob's commitment to excellence and innovation in healthcare simulation has made him a valuable asset to the educational community.

Driven by a passion to see students become the next generation of healthcare workers who will take care of us, Jacob's work ensures that learners are well-prepared and confident in their skills.

Jennifer Taun

Jennifer Taun is full-time faculty with the Social Service Worker Program at Canadore College. With a Master’s in Social Work, Jennifer also operates a private practice in North Bay, specializing in the treatment and assessment of trauma. Her extensive experience in this field enhances her teaching, as she integrates real-world insights into her academic work.

Jennifer has a commitment to experiential learning and simulation, effectively bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application. She brings innovative approaches, where she translates community experiences into meaningful educational opportunities for her students. By continuously adapting her curriculum to reflect current community needs and trends, Jennifer ensures that her students receive relevant and impactful training.

Jennyfer Leblanc - Paramedic Simulation professor - College Boréal

Jennyfer has been an Advanced Care Paramedic for 13 years and has spent over six years teaching paramedic students in simulation labs at Collège Boréal where she uses hands-on, high-fidelity simulation to develop students’ critical thinking and lifesaving skills.

At the symposium, she will discuss the efficacy of simulation-based learning, with a focus on the “rinse, debrief, and repeat” method—a strategy designed to enhance skill retention and decision-making in high-pressure situations.

Through her work, she is committed to advancing paramedic education by leveraging simulation to create more confident and capable future healthcare professionals.

Joelle Lachance-Artindale

Joelle is a registered nurse (RN) and a professor with the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at College Boreal in Sudbury. She is currently in her second year of the Interdisciplinary Rural and Northern Health PhD program at Laurentian University, where her research focuses on looking at health outcomes and needs of Indigenous people living in remote and isolated communities in northeastern Ontario. She is passionate about nursing education, health equity policy development and equitable access to healthcare services in northern Ontario for Indigenous and francophone populations.

Kindra McMillan

Kindra McMillan is a PhD Candidate in the Rural and Northern Health program at Laurentian University and a Professor and Coordinator in the School of Community Justice and Police Foundations at Canadore College. Kindra strives to make experiential learning and connection to community a central focus in her classroom, with an additional emphasis on mental health and wellness for individuals working in the justice system. Her current research is focused on occupational stress and access to mental health resources for police officers working in Northern Ontario.

Krista Leckie

Krista has been working as a Nursing Technologist since September 2023 at Canadore College. Krista brings a rich background in Emergency, Obstetrical, and Northern Remote Fly-In Nursing.  Since transitioning from bedside nursing to education she has fully embraced the opportunities to facilitate simulations alongside her colleagues. Having completed the Keystones Simulation course through Simulation Canada, Krista has developed a solid foundation to deliver high-quality simulations to students. She feels simulation is such an incredible way for students to be involved in realistic scenarios, that offer great learning opportunities, all while maintaining a safe learning environment. Simulations can also offer experiences that students may not encounter in their clinical rotations, preparing them for the challenges they will face in their future careers.

Melanie Burke

Melanie is a proud First Nation individual from Wiikwemkoong First Nation, born and raised in Sudbury, ON. She is currently the Vice-President of the Indigenous Education Council at her place of work, Collège Boréal. With a background as a Medical Radiation Technologist, Melanie has spent 8 years in healthcare simulation, where she is passionate about advancing healthcare education through realistic, hands-on training. Through a combination of professional experience and cultural perspective, Melanie is committed to improving healthcare education, ensuring that learners are engaged and feel supported.

Richard Meilleur

Rick is the Elder in Residence at Collège Boréal where he serves as a bridge between Indigenous traditions and the academic community, fostering understanding and respect for Métis Algonquin heritage. He is also a passionate musician and Indigenous Ceremony Educator. By sharing his music and ceremonial practices, Rick preserves and promotes Indigenous culture, ensuring it is passed down to future generations. As a grandfather, father, and former miner with 32 years of experience, Rick's life journey embodies resilience and strength, serving as an inspiration and role model within his community and beyond.

Sophie Lanteigne

Sophie Lanteigne has a background in literature and psychology and currently works as a recruitment agent for the CNFS (Consortium national de la formation en santé) at Collège Boréal. A former French immersion and secondary school teacher, she is passionate about preserving and promoting the French language and culture. In her current role, she plays an active part in planning and implementing recruitment and training activities in the healthcare field, collaborating with various community and institutional partners. Through her work, she strives to support bilingual healthcare accessibility, ensuring the continued presence of French in this vital sector.

Tammy Dwyer

Tammy has been a faculty member in the PN Program at Canadore since September 2015 and is a graduate of the Keystones of Healthcare Simulation Program in 2019. Tammy brings a plethora of knowledge and experience in both Critical Care Nursing and health care education. She has worked in Emergency Nursing, Acute Medicine and the Surgical Program both as a bedside nurse and as a clinical educator. Tammy has had the opportunity to educate a variety of health care students across multiple programs at both the college and university levels and to bring that knowledge and experience back to her practice. Tammy has a strong foundation in simulation education and looks forward to continuing to incorporate the realism of nursing today into the Practical Nursing Program through the continued use of health care simulation. She feels that simulation can provide a rich learning experience for students that is both interactive and informative to their scopes of practice.