Our Team

When I learned that male suicide makes up 3 of every four suicides in Canada I was shocked. And yet, my childhood best friend committed suicide as a young man. I have heard many of our clients talk about how they considered suicide to end their pain. Men struggle to find a safe place to share their feelings and face traditional attitudes and stigma around expressing their emotions.

The difference CCMF’s programs make to improve the lives of men, families and our communities is real. Many men have told us “CCMF saved my life”. I am honored to be a part of this ongoing effort to support men and their families.

I have had a passion for men’s issues for as long as I can remember. I believe that men deserve to have services that treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve, without purporting to know better than they do how to lead their own lives. As CCMF’s counselling program coordinator and resident therapist, I am fiercely committed to ensuring that our counselling program is here to serve the needs of men in a way that respects their own goals and individual ways of healing.

Wes has worked for many years in Health Care and in Private Practice as a Clinical Supervisor and Counselling Psychologist. He has a passion for service delivery committed to clinical excellence, and to the inherent dignity and abilities of clients and their families. Wes is an enthusiastic supporter of CCMF in its vision for men and for honouring the essential role we play in our families and communities.

Francis Akinnuoye has called Calgary his home since the age of three. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Calgary, a Bachelor of Laws from Cardiff University in Wales, and a Master of Laws from the University of British Columbia. He was originally called to the Law Society of British Columbia in 2013 but has been practising as a member of the Law Society of Alberta since April 11, 2014. He has appeared as legal counsel at all levels of Court in Alberta, namely: the Alberta Court of Justice, the Court of King’s Bench and the Alberta Court of Appeal. Francis’ primary areas of practice are Family Law, Personal Injury and Administrative Law. Francis has previously served as a volunteer for the Canadian Centre for Men & Families and has given legal presentations in the community to other family-focused organizations such as: Parents for Equality and The Remarkable Man Project. Outside work, Francis enjoys ice hockey, and soccer.

I work with CCMF to honour the men in my life who have been sidelined and mistreated, and especially to help fathers be present and active in their children’s lives. It’s time we were all reminded of the value that men and boys bring to families and society.

Bob Dawson has called Calgary home since 1988. Following a 25-year career in oil & gas as a project geologist, Bob has pivoted towards mental health peer support. Introduced to CCMF in 2023 as a practicum student of CMHA’s School of Peer Support, Bob facilitates once or twice a month in the Men’s Peer Support Group (MPSG) program. He also volunteers as a crisis line responder at the Calgary Distress Centre, and has begun training as a coach. Through lived experience, and navigating the medical and alternative options available, Bob offers insight into what healing long-standing mental/emotional challenges can look like. Bob is a certified TRE (Tension & Trauma Release) provider and completed mindfulness meditation teacher and psychology coursework. Bob has been married since 2001, has three adult children and an 11-month old granddaughter. He loves skiing, mountain-biking and attending classical music concerts.

Elaine Hartrick is a Calgary-based hospitality executive, strategic advisor, and entrepreneur with deep roots in Alberta. As the founder of Redwood Fitness Retreat & Wellness Spa—a 32-room luxury health resort set to open near Priddis in Spring 2026—Elaine brings visionary leadership and operational expertise to the wellness tourism sector. Her work advising retreats and resorts across North America emphasizes holistic wellness, sustainable growth, and exceptional guest experiences. Elaine’s longstanding support for CCMF stems from witnessing the unique stigma and discrimination men can face as victims of intimate partner violence and parental alienation. This experience led her to become a passionate advocate for balanced support and greater awareness—particularly around the issue of parental alienation. She is a keynote speaker, the founder of Parental Alienation Calgary, and the author of the bestselling memoir 10,000 Hours of Fear. Elaine is the proud mother of a son and daughter. Her favourite form of self-care is spending time with her family and friends, especially if it includes hiking in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where she finds peace, perspective, and renewal.

https://redwoodfitnessretreat.com/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainehartrick/
https://www.amazon.ca/10-000-Hours-Fear-Memoir/dp/B0CQFF71PB

Colin Ferguson was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and has called Calgary home since 2012. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from St. Francis Xavier University.

Since relocating to Alberta, Colin has built a strong foundation in group insurance, having worked with two of Canada’s largest insurers before transitioning into consulting in 2024. His expertise lies in organizational mental health, with a focus on return-to-work strategies and absence management.

Colin is passionate about helping clients better understand their workplace culture and how it impacts disability rates, productivity, and employee turnover. He has supported organizations in implementing effective mental health initiatives while also helping them manage risk and optimize their benefits programs.

Outside of work, Colin enjoys spending time with his wife, Nicole, and their dog, Prince.

Raju Hajela moved from India to Canada in 1974 at age 15. He quickly navigated high school and a couple of years of universitystudies with a Physics major, before committing to a life in medicine starting in 1978. He got his MD from Dalhousie University in1982. He joined the Canadian Forces in 1979, with a commitment to keeping people healthy rather than just treating disease. Heobtained his Master of Public Health at Harvard (1988), with a focus on International Health and Health Policy and Management. His military career included a UN posting in the Middle East and a NATO posting in Germany and USA in the early years; and a posting to the Surgeon General’s Office and the National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa, with the culmination serving as the Director of the Addiction Rehabilitation Centre in Kingston, Ontario. Dr. Hajela is a Certificant and Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, with an added specialty designation in Addiction Medicine. He is a founding member of the Canadian and International Societies of Addiction Medicine. He is an honourary life member of the Canadian and distinguished Fellow of the American and International Societies of Addiction Medicine. He has held faculty positions in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry at Queen’s University and University of Calgary. His work has included interactions with the three levels of government in Canada and numerous local, national and international organizations related to health care and policy issues. He has been a Rotarian since 2021, currently a board member for the Rotary Action Group on Addiction Prevention (RAG-AP). He is the founding President and Medical Director of Health Upwardly Mobile Inc. in Calgary since 2009. www.healthupwardlymobile.net Dr. Hajela’s work in Addiction and Mental Health has included advocating for parents (men and women) in difficult situations personally, esp in relation to family therapy, parental alienation and custody issues. He has been a supporter of CCMF over the last decade, encouraging men in need to seek support there. He is the Founding Medical Advisor to the Foundation of Addiction and Mental Health www.famh.ca

A 13x Guinness World Records holder, award-winning motivational speaker, and frisbee ambassador, Rob McLeod – akaFrisbee Rob – is on a mission to inspire resilience, confidence, and movement. R

ecognized as the 2021 PDGA/EDGE Educator of the Year and a 2020 Calgary Booster Club Honoured Athletic Leader,Rob has visited more than 600 schools, empowered over 200,000 students, and champions healthy screen habits and physical literacy through high-energy, interactive talks.

Beyond the stage and the field, Rob served as Digital Media Manager for CCMF Alberta from 2020 to 2022, where he led digital strategy, content creation, and social media to elevate the organization’s voice and visibility. He managed the website, launched campaigns, and delivered measurable results across platforms – all while staying ahead of emerging trends.

As a global speaker and World Flying Disc Federation board member, he’s helping grow the sport in 100+ countries whileusing his record-breaking achievements to spark real change in communities worldwide.

Jim Hogan has been in various sales and management positions for 38 years and is now residing in Lethbridge, Alberta working as a Resident Manager and running a small business. He is an advocate for change and has a passion for young people, founding a youth program that still exists today. Jim has been alienated from his four children, one of whom is impacted by disabilities, for the past decade.

As an activist, Jim has a passion to see change in the family law system and is enthusiastically coaching parents across Canada who are going through the system providing support and guidance.

Jim is a strong leader and takes pride in creating a better life for those impacted by system failures and supporting the most vulnerable in society. From 2017 until late 2021 Jim was connected with CCMF Alberta, first as a lost soul trying to connect with other dads in the same situation as himself and then becoming a volunteer peer support person in both the Men’s Peer Support Group and then the Domestic Abuse Recovery Program that is now known as NEXUS. He looks forward to contributing great things as CCMF Alberta grows.