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Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors are volunteers members of the legal assistant and paralegal professions with a wide variety of experience and knowledge.

Ryan McDougall, MA, ARP, Q.Med, PM President Acting Director-Conduct Review

Ryan McDougall, Q. Med, ARP, CLC

Ryan began her career 20 years ago and has specialized in family law matters. Completing her mediation and dispute resolution training in 2012, Ryan started a mediation practice focusing on keeping families out of the court system. Ryan returned to school and completed a degree in Governance, Law & Management in 2015.

Ryan continues her legal work employed at The Outreach Centre in Red Deer, AB where she assists victims of domestic violence needing protection orders and help navigating through the justice system.

She is passionate about the wealth of knowledge and experience paralegals can bring to citizens and is active on pursuing the regulation of the paralegal profession.
And she loves dogs.

Vanessa Wilson
Vice-President

Director of Membership

Vanessa Wilson

Vanessa has built a diverse career in the legal field. Starting her legal journey in 2006 as a full-time temp, this provided Vanessa with exposure to various firms of different sizes and cultures in Calgary, as well as the ability to gain valuable exposure to multiple different areas of law. In 2009 when she decided she wanted to move into a full-time noncontract role, Vanessa enrolled in the Legal Assistant Diploma program at SAIT at the guidance of industry professionals.

Upon leaving SAIT in 2011 Vanessa joined a family law boutique firm that specialised in child welfare. However, due to her family moving to Regina in 2013, she temporarily transitioned to an alternate career path due to difficulties finding legal assistant work in Saskatchewan. Upon returning to Calgary in 2015, Vanessa briefly continued her sales career before venturing back into full-time temporary work, gaining knowledge in pension law. Since the Spring of 2017 Vanessa has been working with a growing mid-size firm as a litigation paralegal, with her primary focus being on criminal defence and civil litigation.

Outside her professional endeavors, Vanessa has been pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice through online studies with Athabasca University, developing a deep passion for access to justice in Alberta. She has dedicated her time to volunteering with the 538 “Buffalo” Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron since 2016. Apart from her involvement with Cadets, Vanessa tries to be an active member of the Calgary burlesque community, and in her personal life, Vanessa embraces the joys of being a cat parent to three delightfully chonky cats with her partner, as her human children are now all adults and have moved on with their respective lives.

Crystal Hallett, ARP
Treasurer

Crystal Hallett, ARP

After graduating from college, Crystal started her career in Lloydminster Saskatchewan Throughout her 10 year career, she has worked in various assistant positions mainly centering on Family, Civil and Litigation Law.

In 2019, she relocated to Red Deer to work for the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic as a Family Law assistant, and in 2020, she was given an opportunity to run a unique program as a Tenant Advocate. She is currently working towards designation in Certified Mediation and Dispute Resolution.

Crystal joined the AAPP as an active member in 2013, and became a Director at Large in 2020. In 2021, she became Treasurer. She also sits on the AAPP’s Education Committee and looks forward to all the upcoming adventures this committee has in store.

Outside of work, Crystal has a variety of hobbies including stained glass, fishing, quadding, reading and hiking in the mountains with her family.

Michaela Rutherford, ARP
Student Honour Roll Society

Post-Secondary Education Public Relations

Michaela Rutherford

Michaela graduated from Red Deer College in 2017 and currently works for the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic as a Family Law and Estate Planning assistant.

Michaela joined the Board of Directors in 2020 as a Director-at-Large and moved into the Secretary seat in October 2020. Michaela also sits on the AAPP’s Education Committee, and does speaking engagements with students to promote the AAPP and our profession.

Outside of work Michaela enjoys reading, listening to music, bullet journaling and learning how to not kills plants.

Aimee Auclair, ARP
Director – Communications and Social Media

Aimee Auclair

Aimee graduated from Grant MacEwan Community College’s Legal Assistant Program in June 2003. Since graduating, she has had opportunities to work in various types of law in various size law firms, in both public and private sectors.

Aimee has been in the legal industry for almost 20 years and a litigation paralegal for 15 of those years. During this time, she has been part of a training team in a trainer role assisting in providing training in various software programs and technology, law firm policies and procedures, as well as law firm etiquette.

Aimee grew up in the town of Drayton Valley. She has 2 dogs and enjoys baking, cooking and event planning. She finds volunteering for events is a great opportunity to get out there and meet people.

Samantha Jones
Secretary

Samantha Jones

Samantha graduated from the Red Deer College Legal Assistant Diploma Program in 2006. As an Estates Paralegal, she has developed a profound understanding of estate law and in managing complex estate cases.

Samantha is involved in various committees both within and outside of her employment. she is passionate about continuous learning, attending LESA seminars and completing courses like the Indigenous Canada certificate from the University of Alberta and the Science of Well-Being certificate from Yale University.

Previous board and committee involvement includes President of the Legal Assistant Society at Red Deer College, school councils, fundraising societies, and connection with my Metis community. guest speaking on the Paralegal Perspectives podcast, assisting in preparation of LESA materials, and participation in panels for MacEwan University’s paralegal program.

Personally, Samantha enjoys spending time with her two children, spouse, and furbaby, hiking, and participating in various athletic activities.

Whether in the legal trenches or the tranquility of nature, Samantha is driven by a commitment to excellence and a deep appreciation for every moment and lesson life has to offer.

Director-Sponsorship-vacant

Bio coming soon

Kristine Jeffels
Director – Mentorship

Bio coming soon

Tanya Dechaine, ARP
Director-Awards and Events

Tanya Dechaine, ARP

Tanya brings to us over 22 years of experience working in the legal profession and while she has dabbled in all areas of law, her passion is family law. Tanya has worked in the judicial system as a court clerk with the Court of King’s Bench for almost 10 years and in private practice starting as a legal assistant and graduating to a family law paralegal. She believes that working in both sides of the system has given her a wealth of knowledge that she now carries forward. Tanya recently started her own private practice offering paralegal services for uncontested divorces and estate planning matters.

Tanya has been married for almost 25 years and has 2 grown sons who have always been active in activities. She loves to chase after those and watch them do whatever they love and her and her husband love to travel as much as possible!

Kristie Mahieux, ARP
Director-Webinars and

Professional Development

Kristie Mahieux, ARP

Education Director

Kristie started her legal career in 2014, learning residential real estate. Enjoying her work, she enrolled in the Bow Valley College distance learning Legal Assistant Diploma Program in the evenings and graduated in 2017. Since graduating, Kristie has obtained her Level 3 CORES and APPRES Accreditations. She moved from residential to commercial real estate and corporate law and does some estate planning and estate work. Joining North & Company LLP in 2024, Kristie focuses solely on corporate and commercial law.

Kristie has a grown son and two beagles named Bonnie and Clyde. She enjoys knitting and hanging out with her pups in her spare time.

Ashley Stasiewich, MA
Director-Credentialling

Ashley Stasiewich, B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.

Ashley is a post-secondary educator with nearly two decades of experience in the legal industry, where she has excelled in a variety of non-lawyer legal professional roles. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree, with her research centered on themes and contexts in paralegal education. Outside of her professional and academic endeavors, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family and her pets, a cat named Pig and a dog named Hera. She is also an avid reader with a deep passion for learning.