2022 Core Team

Emily Olsen is the founder of The Connection Project Society. She facilitates workshops and community events as well as documentary and film production. She loves to write poetry, is the host of a podcast about well-being, and continues to work on a book about her journey back from depression. Emily lives in W̱SÁNEĆ Territory in Brentwood Bay, BC., with her husband Adam and two children, Silas and Ella. Emily is grateful for the support of family, friends, and the ever-growing Connection Project community and wishes to thank all those involved since its inception. emilyolsenpresents.com

Linda Hunter is an independent, professional writer and event planner who is dedicated to service, open to possibility, and who aspires to walk a path of grace. She is passionate about communal living, nurturing relationships, and doing death better.  Linda is the co visionary behind Deathly Matters – A Community in Conversation; you can find out more about her work at https://dyingwithgrace.ca/  Linda loves a number of people living with mental illness and is dedicated to serving The Connection Project as a member of this year’s event production team.  

Alwyn (Wyn) Crocker was born to lighthouse keepers on the remote West Coast of Vancouver Island and at the age of three moved to Bamfield. Leaving there at the age of 11, she then bounced between Ladysmith and Victoria for school, studied some History in Art and left University feeling very unprepared for life. Surprising even herself, she found love, community and satisfying work in Brentwood Bay where she’s been settled for almost a decade. In 2019, she joined The Peninsula Players to realize dreams of staging theatre and now for a third year in a row, she brings her organizational talents and sharp eye for visual details to the Connection Project’s Event Production.

Kirsten Mar graduated from Camosun College with an Associate’s Degree in Psychology and is pursuing further education at the University of Victoria. She intends to obtain her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and work with incarcerated populations one day.

Kirsten was a past speaker at the Connection Project annual storytelling event and is now the 2022 social media lead. In addition, she participates in mentorship roles as a team member and panellist with the Connection Project Society.

B. Joel Cran & Chantelle Mussell of Lot2 Media record and master the annual live event and bring magic to our online videos. Each year, they take on roles in many areas and have been speakers, Musicians, Co-Producers and Artistic Directors.

With over 11 years experience as a photographer and working with many local businesses and a well known magazine, this ambitious lady has decided on a new fun path of becoming an Artist in different forms besides those with a lens. Still taking photos for friends, family and projects close to her heart. Jo-Ann continues to bless the Connection Project with her amazing photographs.

PENÁĆ TŦE NE SNÁ, I, ĆSE LÁ,E SEN EṮ W̱SÁNEĆ. U, W̱ILṈEW̱ SEN E ȽÁ,E. I, SENĆOŦEN SEN. ȻȽ I,SCUL SEN E TŦE BFA I, U, Masters of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization. MEQ LE ȻEĆÁ E TŦE UVic. ĆȺI SEN E TŦE SENĆOŦEN SḰÁL E TIÁ, ÁNEȻ ȻNES W̱UĆIST I, LÁLET TŦE SĆȺs ȻS SȻENÁṈEȽ E TŦE I,TOTELNEW̱. My name is PENÁĆ and I am from W̱SÁNEĆ. I am Indigenous from here (W̱SÁNEĆ) and I speak SENĆOŦEN – “the W̱SÁNEĆ tongue.” I have my bachelor of Fine Arts and my masters of education in Indigenous Language Revitalization – all of which was at the University of Victoria. I work on SENĆOŦEN language today as a teacher and a resource and curriculum developer in support of those who learn. HÍ SEN U, ĆȺI NE ŚW̱ȻENÁṈET ȻSU NIȽ SENĆOŦEN. HÍ ȽTE ȻEĆÁ XÁLE E TŦE SENĆOŦEN ḰO,ḰEL. YEḴ SEN OL ȻS HELI,NOṈET TIÁ, SḰÁL E TŦE SṮELIṮḴEȽ E TIÁ, ÁNEȻ SU ȽEȻ,NOṈET ȻSU, NENIȽIYE ENÁ, SE NI. I work to help SENĆOŦEN. Speakers of SENĆOŦEN are extremely scarce. I simply wish for the survival of our language with our children today and for it’s continued succession to the coming generations unborn.

Elise is an enthusiastic, warm, and playful registered clinical counsellor registered through the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. She specializes in nature-based counselling for children, youth, adults, and families who wish to address difficulties related to depression, anxiety, ADHD, and more. She welcomes clients from all walks of life, including those who are LGBTQIA2S+ and neuroatypical.

Elise is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and a member in good standing of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

Hi, I’m Mitchell. Through lived experience, my life’s journey is to understand and help others to heal from trauma and addiction. I currently work part-time at Ravensview, a clinical treatment centre for PTSD and substance use disorder. I also study full-time at UVIC working towards a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Trevor Botkin (aka. T-Bot) is no stranger to volunteerism or giving back to community. With a long history of supporting various charities such as Habitat for Humanity, HeroWork and others. Trevor is a past Connection Project Speaker, a newly elected Board Member, and a volunteer for the 2022 Event.