CMHA Saskatchewan Division Staff

Trevor Gates, B.A.(Hons.), M.A.

Trevor has over twenty-seven years of experience in program leadership and management experience in the area of protection and care for vulnerable youth, adults and their families. Trevor has worked extensively within both government and community-based organizations. Trevor has a Bachelor of Arts with Honors’ in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Regina. Trevor also enjoys spending time in nature with his Labrador retriever, riding his motorcycle and participating in Spartan races.

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 234

Rebecca Rackow, BA (Hons.), BSW, RSW

Rebecca Rackow has completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Social Work with a strong focus on research and Canadian policy development and is currently working on her Masters as a graduate student. Rebecca has over 20 years of frontline experience with seniors, at-risk youth, children, and families. She is also a mother of five children. Rebecca has been involved in creating the Mentally Safe Minecraft Server (MS 2 ), Friday Night Games Night, Caregiver Affected Recovery Education (C.A.R.E.) program, the Emergency Wellness Response Lines (During the COVID-19 pandemic) and the Youth Support Programming at CMHA-Sask. She also takes calls from people looking for help, is working on a number of collaborative research projects, has spoken and presented to audiences both locally and Nationally regarding a number of mental health issues, and advocates for accessible mental health services for all.

Program Relevant Training includes:

Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games Level One Training for Mental Health Professionals

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Training for Trainers

Living Life to the Full (Youth Add-on), Facilitator Training

Peer Support Worker Training

Mental Health First Aid

Early Childhood Educator (Level 1)

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 224

David Nelson,

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 224

Peter Chaya, MBA

Graduate of Bellevue University.

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 227

Md Shofekur Rhaman, MBA

Md Shofekur Rhaman is the Payroll/Benefits Clerk of the CMHA SK Division. He is responsible for recording and processing financial transactions such as payroll/benefits, invoices, income, and expenditures. He has 15 years of experience working in various financial institutions in accounting, management, banking, sales, and customer service departments. He graduated from the University of Dhaka (MBA) & Jahangirnagar University (MSc), Bangladesh.

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 229

Angie Paull,

Angie Paull is an Executive Assistant/Payroll Administrator with Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Angie’s role is important with the day-to-day operations of CMHA, ensuring seamless administrative functions and efficient payroll management.

Angie has an Office Education Certificate from SIAST Wascana Campus, where she developed her skills in office management and administration. Her organization and diligence makes her an asset to her team.

Outside of her professional life, Angie enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends at their cabin, creating lasting memories around the firepit and on the water. Angie is passionate about fitness and in her free time she is often found working out at the gym.

Angie’s mix of professional knowledge and personal passions make her a well-rounded and lively individual, committed to both her work and personal health

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 231

Jayne Melville Whyte, B.A. (Psych), PWLE

Jayne celebrates 50 years as volunteer and contract worker with CMHA in May 2025.  CMHA allowed her to contribute lived experience of mental illness through education and advocacy. A teacher certificate at U of S in 1967 and a B.A. with a major in Psychology from U of Winnipeg in 1993 were steps in lifelong learning and teaching.

CMHA Sask commissioned Pivot Points: a fragmented history of Mental Health in Saskatchewan (2012). Then she archived the CMHA Sask files (1985 to 2012) for Provincial Archives. Jayne is compiling a lifetime of her personal archives. Her love of research and writing inspired CMHA SK Newsletter in 2022; she co-facilitates the Writing For Your Life group with Regina Branch. Currently she provides clerical support for the CMHA Life Promotion/ Suicide Prevention Community of Practice.

Jayne was born in 1947, lives in subsidized housing in Regina and often is consulted for as a low income older adult. Reading, podcasts, CBC radio, online solitaire, pulling weeds, and visiting friends enrich her life.

Julius Brown,

Julius Brown, OSI-CAN Director, is a dedicated military veteran with a career focused on enhancing mental health support for veterans, public safety personnel, and their families. As the current Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Saskatchewan’s (CMHA SK) OSI-CAN Support Initiative, Julius brings a wealth of experience and compassion to his role. Before this position, he contributed significantly to CMHA SK’s Justice Community Support Program. He is nationally certified in Peer Support through Peer Support Canada and actively participates in the Saskatchewan Peer Support Network and the SK First Responders Mental Health Committee. Additionally, Julius has served as a member of the Atlas Institute, showcasing his commitment to advancing mental health initiatives.

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 222

Alternative Phone: 1-888-495-6068

Ronley D. Arnold,

Ron is honoured to be part of the CMHA Saskatchewan Division team as the OSI-CAN Communications Coordinator and a member of the SGEU. Accompanied by his service dog, Kodiak, Ron brings a wealth of experience to his role. Formerly a Corrections Officer in the province, he has been on a journey of PTSD recovery with the support of the OSI-CAN program. Prior to this, Ron served in the Canadian Forces within the Cadet Instructor’s Cadre. His experiences have motivated him to contribute to OSI-CAN by enhancing their online and social media presence. Additionally, Ron is involved in OSI-CAN’s fundraising and awareness activities and serves as a Peer Support Leader in Regina.

Qualifications:

• ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
• MHFA (Mental Health First Aid)
• OSI-CAN Peer Support Facilitator Course
• The Violence De-escalation course we took last year as a staff meeting that John O’Connor facilitated
• Ombudsman Training
• Harassment Investigation
• Get Found Digital Marketing Course
• Opioid Overdose Naloxone Kit operation (Nasal and Syringe)
• Red Cross First Aid/CPR Instructor
• BA Justice Studies with Minor in Sociology from the University of Regina
• Unit Human Rights Advisor/Conflict Management Advisor
• Unit Public Affairs Officer Course
• Lieutenant Qualification (leadership and instructor) Course
• Labour Law Familiarization Course – SFL
• Varied Self-Defence and Protective Equipment Training Courses
• H2S Alive/Rescue
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods

Office Phone: 306-540-7576

Photo credit to Dheilly Fire Photography: Dheilly Fire Photography.

Rebecca Rackow, B.A. (Hons.), RSW, BSW

Rebecca Rackow has completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Social Work with a strong focus on research and Canadian policy development and is currently working on her Masters as a graduate student. Rebecca has over 20 years of frontline experience with seniors, at-risk youth, children, and families. She is also a mother of five children. Rebecca has been involved in creating the Mentally Safe Minecraft Server (MS 2 ), Friday Night Games Night, Caregiver Affected Recovery Education (C.A.R.E.) program, the Emergency Wellness Response Lines (During the COVID-19 pandemic) and the Youth Support Programming at CMHA-Sask. She also takes calls from people looking for help, is working on a number of collaborative research projects, has spoken and presented to audiences both locally and Nationally regarding a number of mental health issues, and advocates for accessible mental health services for all.

Program Relevant Training includes:

Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games Level One Training for Mental Health Professionals

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Training for Trainers

Living Life to the Full (Youth Add-on), Facilitator Training

Peer Support Worker Training

Mental Health First Aid

Early Childhood Educator (Level 1)

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 224

Cathy White, , B.Voch.Tech.Ed, M.Voch.Tech.Ed & Retired Non-Practising Psychiatric Nurse

Cathy is a retired psychiatric nurse who was registered until this year and is no longer practising. Cathy hold(s) a BVoch.Tech.Ed. and an MVoch.Tech.Ed. and retired from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, where she served as a psychiatric nursing instructor. With extensive experience as both a home caregiver and a professional caregiver,  Cathy has co-coordinated and facilitated both online classes and in-person Caregiver Affected Recovery Education (CARE) workshops. And in the in the winter and spring of 2023-2024, Cathy also had the opportunity to co-facilitate some of the HOPE Learning Centre’s courses.

Ian Morison,

Comedian Ian Andrew Morrison lives in Regina Saskatchewan Canada and has been doing comedy since the age of thirteen. He is a graduate of the Humber College School of Comedy Writing and Performance in Toronto Ontario and has performed in various venues during his time as a comedian. These venues include such famous Canadian comedy clubs as Yuk Yuk’s and The Laugh Stop. Ian is also a published writer and a professional musician. He is the founder and facilitator of a nonprofit organization entitled “Healing Through Humour,” a group that teaches people living with mental illness or mental health issues the art of comedy writing and performance. The Healing through humour course has also been turned into a case study which is available to marketing students at Universities in Japan as well as Harvard in Boston Massachusetts.

Ian wrote and directed his first independent short film in 2013 and his second short film in 2014. The first feature film by Healing Through Humour was shot in July 2016 and on a modest budget of only $4000. Ian has also been a professional actor since the age of thirteen and received a great deal of his training and education through a theatre group in his hometown of Regina Saskatchewan. He has appeared as an extra in multiple productions throughout his teen years as well as a principle role in the movie Painted Angels in 1996.

Ian is also a graduate of the Western Academy Broadcasting College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and has worked as an on-air radio personality. Ian’s debut comedy rap album by his alter ego General Spanky, was released in 2015 and the first single, “Dollars and Sense” has spent over 100 weeks on the Official European Independent Music Chart. Ian also wrote and published an article about living with mental illness and running Healing Through Humour, in the October 2015 edition of Moods Magazine.

He has also received an award by the Canadian Mental Health Association of Saskatchewan for his work with comedy and mental illness. Ian has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Regina, as well as a speaker at the 2014 improvisation symposium concerning mental health and improvisation. He has also appeared on multiple television and radio programs on the Canadian broadcasting corporation as well as other programs within the province of Saskatchewan. Healing through humour has also done over 20 performances across the province since 2010.

Ian continues to live and work in Regina and plans to keep gaining exposure for his comedy and, “Healing through Humour.”

Office Phone: 306-352-3006

Angela Hounjet,

With her skills and passion for empowering others, Angela works to be a catalyst for change. With an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology and Special Education, Angela addresses mental health with an integrative approach. Angela utilized her education and experience in offering counselling services, which instilled a profound appreciation for the intricacies of the human experience. She began with the Canadian Mental Health Association in 2024 to continue her outreach work within trauma recovery and recovery capitol frameworks. When Angela isn’t working, you will catch her enjoying the outdoors and enjoying any sunshine that is available.

Office Phone: 306-525-5601– ext 225

Etchu Besong,

Etchu Besong recently completed his undergraduate studies in Social Work in 2020. He is a registered social worker. His previous experiences include working with adults with disabilities, senior citizens, and with children and families. He currently facilitates mental wellness sessions for youth and adults; and responds to calls from individuals who need help finding additional mental health resources within the community, under the Youth Support Programming and systems navigation umbrella at CMHA-Sask. Etchu has been involved in local presentations on mental wellness and to create awareness of the availability of local CMHA-Sask support services for youth. He came to Canada five years ago following studies in South Korea. He originally hails from Cameroon. Etchu lives with his wife and two sons. He is a strong supporter of customizing community mental wellness resources to suit the unique needs and experiences of Black and other marginalized groups in Saskatchewan and in Canada.

Office Phone: 306-525-5601 ext. 239

Mareike Johnson, PhD

Office Phone: 306-525-5601 ext 223