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.
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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 was a passionate advocate, storyteller, and Honourary Champion for Bridge C-14. Through her own experience living with serious illness, Diane brought a powerful lived perspective to her advocacy, using her voice to promote compassion, dignity, and meaningful human connection for individuals and families impacted by medical assistance in dying (MAiD).
A courageous and respected leader, Diane spoke openly about the dimensions of serious illness and end-of-life care. Her work helped foster understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage
important conversations about choice, autonomy, and dignity.
As Honourary Champion for Bridge C-14, Diane championed the importance of peer-based, trauma-informed support and ensured that lived experience remained central to the organization's
mission. Her storytelling reminded us that end-of-life is not only a medical journey, but a profoundly human one shaped by love, meaning, and connection.
Diane also made significant contributions to the broader national conversation on patient rights and compassionate end-of-life options. In recognition of her lifelong commitment to advocacy,
education, and storytelling, she was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honours.
Diane passed away at her home in Stratford, Ontario, on May 8, 2026, at the age of 68. Her wisdom, courage, and unwavering commitment to others leave a legacy that will continue to
inspire the Bridge C-14 community and all those whose lives she touched.
Diane Sims, Honourary Champion
Volunteer Leadership
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Organizational Growth & Strategy Advisor – Jill MacLeod
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Communications Coordinator – Marilyn McDermott
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Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator – Gail Jordan
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Operations & Systems Manager – Julia Simon