Sonshine Community Services is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are committed to leading with integrity, quality and compassion.

Board Chair

Ken Boessenkool

Ken Boessenkool lectures and writes for the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University (he is a former J.W. McConnell Professor of Practice at the School). He is also a Research Fellow at the CD Howe Institute, contributor to The Line and and The Hub as well as President and founder of Sidicus Consulting Ltd. Ken has held numerous roles in the private sector, including several public affairs firms, finance, and energy. Ken has played senior strategic and policy roles in four national election campaigns for the Conservative Party of Canada under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He has been Chief of Staff to former Premier of British Columbia Christy Clark, a senior policy advisor to three national Conservative leaders, two Alberta Finance Ministers, and an Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader. Ken has published numerous policy and academic papers on a range of key national issues and is a frequent contributor to numerous online and print publications.

Treasurer

Barbara Feit

Barbara Feit is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Eau Claire Distillery Ltd. following many years spent in executive financial roles in the consumer goods, electricity and oil and gas sectors. She obtained her CPA designation in Calgary after completion of her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan. She has served on various non-profit boards in the past and currently sits on the board of Western Sky Land Trust. Barbara has had the opportunity to live and work in the United States and Eastern Europe and is thrilled to share her love of hiking, biking and world travel with her husband.

Directors

Megan Van Huizen

Megan is a born and raised Calgarian, with strong connections to the Christian Reformed Community. In 2010, Megan graduated from The King’s University in Edmonton with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, History and Economics and a Micah Certificate in social justice studies. In 2015, Megan graduated with her Juris Doctor in Common Law from the University of Ottawa and now practices as a Labour and Employment lawyer with Brownlee LLP in Calgary. Megan has past experience working and volunteering for various inner-city organizations and pro bono/legal aid initiatives. She currently serves on The King’s University Board of Governors.  

Billie Korsunskiy

Billie Korsunskiy is the vice president, Corporate Services responsible for the Human Resources, Communications, and Community Investment functions for ConocoPhillips Canada. Korsunskiy began her career with Phillips Petroleum in 1991 and has held various HR corporate and business partner roles in upstream and downstream business lines in the United States and overseas. Following the ConocoPhillips merger in 2002, Korsunskiy served as a business partner in the new Houston corporate headquarters. In 2005, Korsunskiy transferred to Moscow, where she became the HR Manager, Russia & Caspian Region. From 2009-2014, she worked in Anchorage as the HR manager for the Alaska business unit. Most recently, Korsunskiy was the manager of HR Shared Services for ConocoPhillips in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Korsunskiy is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.

Dr. Kelly Schwartz

Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz is Associate Professor, School and Applied Child Psychology, at the University of Calgary. He holds a PhD in Social Psychology and an MSc in School and Community Psychology from the University of Calgary. As a registered psychologist, Kelly and worked extensively with children and adolescents who had severe learning and/or social/emotional needs. From 1996 to 2008, he was on faculty at Ambrose University College where he served as Program Head of Behavioural Science. From 2008 to 2015, Kelly served as Clinical Director for the U of C Applied Psychological and Educational Services (UCAPES), and more recently as Director of Internships.  

Regarding community and professional service, Kelly has served as a member of the College of Alberta Psychologists Hearing Tribunal/Complaint Review Committee and Credentials Review Committee, and also served as Vice-President of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta Board of Directors. Over the years, he has kept a small but active private practice. Personally, Kelly has coached hockey and softball provincially and nationally for over 15 years. He is most proudly the husband of Jody, and father of three emerging adults – Alanna (Jordan), Adam, and Lauren. 

Dr. Heather Bensler

Dr. Heather Bensler is an Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, at the University of Calgary. She holds a doctorate in Educational Research (University of Calgary) and an MSN (Trinity Western). As a nursing leader for over 25 years, Heather works in the field of Indigenous health, anti-racism, nursing education, global health, and women’s health. Her clinical work ranges from hospital obstetrics to medical work in the jungles of South America.

Richard Semenya

I am currently retired but have spent most of my accounting career in public practice servicing small to medium sized business.  While in public practice I was the senior in charge of audits of some larger not for profit organizations in the education and ministry related fields.  The last few years before retirement, I was the financial controller of a small airline management company. I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and obtained my CGA accounting designation (now CPA), I also have a diploma in General Bible Studies from the Peace River Bible Institute.  I currently serve on a church board as treasurer and I am on the board of Village Missions Canada and chair the Audit and Finance Committee.  I have been involved in cross-cultural ministry in Japan managing a Mission Guest House as well as serving as a speaker for a pastor that took a 3-month sabbatical.  I enjoy photography, cooking and do some woodworking.

Rebecca Blain

Rebecca is a lawyer who practices in the areas of family law and wills and estates. Before law school at the University of Calgary, Rebecca pursued an education in the arts and obtained a BA in English (with a minor in Music) from Ambrose University, and an MA in English from the University of Alberta. She decided to pursue law as a career after working at a boutique law firm that helped survivors of Indian Residential Schools through the Independent Assessment Process, and learning about her own family’s history and attendance at Indian Residential Schools. Always learning, Rebecca is currently in the process of becoming certified as a mediator and a collaborative lawyer as the practice of family law has many opportunities to work with and help others through listening, peace-making, and conflict resolution. When she is not working, she can be found spending time with her family, reading and talking about books, or treasure hunting at a thrift store looking for her next great find.  

Scott Wall

Scott serves on the pastoral team of Commons Church. Prior to moving (back) to Calgary, he studied at the University of British Columbia (MA) and the University of Waterloo (PhD). Scott’s academic research and writing focused on social change in Canada, with particular emphasis on the impact of federal immigration policies on religious communities. He has volunteered in migrant advocacy in three different provinces since 2007. In addition to these areas of professional interests and personal service, Scott is an avid hiker and apprenticing fly-fisherman.