Meet the Team | Bridge C-14

Our Board of Directors

Dr. Tracy Powell PhD, RN - Chair of the Board of Directors and the Leadership Team

Dr. Tracy Powell BScN (Western University), MN (University of Calgary), Ph.D. (University of
Victoria) (she/her/hers) is a Registered Nurse and a tenured Associate Professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta.

Tracy teaches in the School of Nursing and Midwifery in
the Faculty of Health, Community and Education at Mount Royal University. She has a clinical background
in oncology, cancer care, and palliative care and over 25 years of combined
experience in clinical practice and academia.

Tracy has been connected to medical assistance in dying since it was
legalized in Canada, with her research program focusing on medical assistance in dying
(MAID), family member caregiving, nursing ethics, and public policy.

Jill MacLeod - Director

Jill MacLeod recently retired from a career specializing in executive search, leadership
assessment and coaching where she worked with a wide range of clients including Ernst & Young, Lafarge Group, Siemens and Johnson & Johnson.

She currently volunteers with Bridge C-14 facilitating 10-Week Grief Support Groups and Drop-In Sessions.

Additional volunteer roles have included Judging/Mentoring the Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Program at Richard Ivy Business School and Kids Help Phone.

Jill is a PCC Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and trained in multiple leadership
assessment tools.

Tania Stilson - Director

Tania Stilson is a long-time entrepreneur and community volunteer with a strong background in executive leadership. She is the CEO of a successful insurance brokerage and has been recognized with several honours in leadership throughout her career.

Tania has been sharing her family’s MAiD journey (Track 2) since her Dad’s passing in early 2023. She aims to socialize and normalize conversations about death and dying so that Canadians can make informed decisions about choices at the end of life that best align with their values.

Tania has been a volunteer with Bridge C-14, facilitating nationwide Drop-In Sessions. Her other MAiD volunteer work includes peer support and presentations to service clubs, death cafes, and healthcare settings and conferences.

Dr. Janet Kusler - Director and Acting Secretary

Dr. Janet Kusler is a psychiatrist providing consultation for end of life care in British Columbia.

Janet believes that death must be brought into life with conversations about choice, hope, and possibility.

Janet facilitates a support group and review panel for MAiD clinicians and participates in committees and conversations at provincial and national levels about how we can bring about change in end of life care.

Diane Sims, Honourary Champion

Diane Sims is a passionate advocate, storyteller and Honourary Champion for Bridge C-14. Having navigated her own journey with serious illness, Diane brings a powerful lived perspective to her work, using her voice to foster greater compassion, dignity and human connection for individuals and families impacted by MAiD.

Throughout her personal and professional journey, Diane has been a courageous voice for those facing some of life’s most profound and complex moments. She speaks openly about the emotional, relational and existential aspects of serious illness and end-of-life care, helping to break down stigma and create space for meaningful conversations. Her leadership reflects the core values of Bridge C-14 - autonomy, resilience, compassion, and community.

Through her role as Honourary Champion, Diane helps amplify the importance of peer-based, trauma-informed support and ensures that the voices of those with lived experience remain central to how we support people navigating MAiD. Her storytelling reminds us that end-of-life care is not just a medical journey, but a deeply human one, filled with love, meaning and courageous choice.

Beyond her work with Bridge C-14, Diane has made a lasting impact on the broader national conversation around patient rights, dignity, and compassionate end-of-life options. In recognition of her lifelong contributions to advocacy, education, and storytelling, Diane has been named to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours.

We are proud to have Diane as part of the Bridge C-14 community, helping us create a more compassionate and connected future for all those touched by MAiD.

Diane Sims, Honourary Champion

Volunteer Leadership

Organizational Growth & Strategy Advisor – Jill MacLeod
Communications Coordinator – Marilyn McDermott
Volunteer Coordinator – Julia Rose
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator – Gail Jordan
Operations & Systems Manager – Julia Simon

What is MAiD?

Our Board of Directors

Diane Sims, Honourary Champion

Volunteer Leadership

Communications Coordinator – Marilyn McDermott