Members of the Board of Directors
Nathalie Lachance
Chair of the Board of DirectorsNathalie Lachance (she) was born in Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, a suburb on the north shore of Montreal. She describes herself as a Franco-Albertan by choice. Nathalie worked as a development officer at the Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta and served as a school trustee for the Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord for 11 years, including three years as president. With over 25 years of professional experience in the field of Indigenous health, Nathalie is the Director of Strategic Intelligence and Health Partnerships at the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada in Alberta. Before joining the federal government in 2003, she worked at the National Aboriginal Health Organization and the National Métis Council.
Nathalie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Institutional Administration from Concordia University in Montreal, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Moncton, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Athabasca University. Nathalie’s doctoral thesis focused on healthcare collaboration among federal, provincial, and First Nations governments. She teaches graduate-level courses at Athabasca University.
Nathalie resides in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), in the traditional territory of Treaty No. 6 and the Métis Nation. Nathalie and her husband Lyle have a large multigenerational blended family. She is a mother to one child, stepmother to three children, grandmother/kôhkom to eight children, and great-grandmother/chapan to four children.
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Nathalie Lachance (elle) est née à Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, une banlieue de la rive nord de Montréal. Elle se décrit comme une franco-albertaine par choix. Nathalie a travaillé comme agente de développement au Campus Saint-Jean de l’Université de l’Alberta et a siégé comme conseillère scolaire pour le Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord pendant 11 ans dont trois à la présidence. Nathalie a plus de 25 ans d’expérience professionnelle dans le domaine de la santé autochtone. Elle est directrice de l’Intelligence stratégique et des partenariats en matière de santé à la Direction générale de la santé des Premières nations et des Inuits de Services aux Autochtones Canada en Alberta. Avant de joindre le gouvernement fédéral en 2003, elle a travaillé à l’Organisation nationale de la santé autochtone et au Ralliement national des Métis.
Nathalie est titulaire d’un baccalauréat ès arts en économie et d’un diplôme d’études supérieures en administration institutionnelle de l’Université Concordia à Montréal, d’une maîtrise en administration publique de l’Université de Moncton et d’un doctorat en administration des affaires de l’Université Athabasca. La thèse de doctorat de Nathalie portait sur la collaboration en matière de soins de santé entre les gouvernements fédéral, provinciaux et des Premières nations. Nathalie enseigne des cours de deuxième cycle à l’Université d’Athabasca.
Nathalie habite à amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), dans le territoire traditionnel du Traité no 6 et de la nation métisse. Nathalie et son mari Lyle ont une grande famille mixte multigénérationnelle. Elle est maman d’un enfant, belle-mère de trois enfants, grand-mère / kôhkom de huit enfants et arrière-grand-mère / chapan de quatre enfants.
Nathalie Lachance
Chair of the Board of Directors
Chair of the Board of Directors
Nathalie Lachance
The ACFA will soon be celebrating its 100th anniversary. Our board of directors has the honor and privilege of planning the celebrations that will take place in 2026. As we establish our priorities in the coming weeks, we are aware that we must continue the work started by our predecessors, including the modernization of the ACFA structure, the improvement of the continuum in education, and the provision of French-language services. We also recognize the growing diversity of our Francophone community in Alberta and will continue to strive for greater inclusion and a stronger sense of belonging.
Emilie Champagne
Edmonton RegionEmilie Champagne is the Executive Director of Ortona Gymnastics and has led Champagne Living Consulting since 2014, a firm specializing in governance, strategy, and organizational development. A graduate of the Executive MBA program at the Rotman School of Management, she supports organizations, research institutes, and expert networks internationally in designing collaborative structures, managing virtual teams, and integrating artificial intelligence to enhance performance and governance.
Her approach combines strategic rigor, technological innovation, and human-centered leadership to help organizations evolve with coherence and impact. Recognized for her ability to bridge research, practice, and technology, she contributes to strengthening organizational culture and informed decision-making in complex and international environments.
xEmilie Champagne
Edmonton Region
Christophe Danumah
Edmonton RegionDr. Christophe Danumah is a bilingual (French/English) research and development scientist, technology consultant, and community leader/champion with over 30 years of experience in community engagement, including 20 years within Alberta’s Francophone minority context.
He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Université Laval and has made significant contributions to advanced technology research and development within major Canadian institutions, including the University of Alberta, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), and InnoTech Alberta. His work focuses on improving and developing innovative materials for pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical products, fuel production, biodegradable plastics for food packaging, and the control of water, soil, and air pollution, among many other applications.
Since January 2020, Dr. Danumah has been the Founder and Director of Alberta CCE Consulting Ltd., a science, innovation, and networking consulting firm serving academia, small and medium-sized enterprises, industry, individuals, and university, government, and private analytical laboratories. Among other activities, he also supports non-profit community organizations in building their capacity.
Alongside his scientific career, Dr. Danumah serves on several committees and boards and participates in numerous activities in Alberta (workshops, annual general meetings, conferences, etc.). He has in-depth knowledge of Alberta’s Francophone community and the operations of associated non-profit organizations. This involvement enables him not only to remain informed about key challenges and issues facing the Francophonie, but also to contribute his extensive experience in engagement, leadership, and capacity building.
His experience also extends to post-secondary teaching, facilitation, program and project management and coordination, support in grant writing, strategic planning, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), as well as networking across academic and research, government, consular, diplomatic, and private sectors.
Dr. Danumah embodies a comprehensive and strategic profile, representing a concrete added value to governance, modernization, and organizational development.
xChristophe Danumah
Edmonton Region
Justine Fallu
Edmonton RegionJustine is originally from Montreal and graduated from the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law in 2019. While at U of A Law, Justine co-founded the Francophone Law Students Association and participated in the inaugural year of the Michel-Bastarache Moot Court Competition.
She continues to contribute to the teaching of language rights by occasionally acting as a trainer for students who participate in the Michel Bastarache Moot Court Competition. Admitted to the bar in 2020, she primarily practices family law. Justine has been a member of The Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Alberta (AJEFA – French-speaking Legal Professionals Association of Alberta) since 2020.
xJustine Fallu
Edmonton Region
Gloria Livingston
Edmonton RegionGloria Livingston was born in a small village in southern British Columbia and grew up surrounded by strong family and community values. After moving to her grandparents’ farm near Brooks, Alberta, she discovered her passion for Alberta’s Francophonie. She attended École le Ruisseau, where she nurtured her love for the French language and began actively engaging in the community.
She later had the opportunity to serve for seven years on the Board of Directors of Francophonie jeunesse de l’Alberta, including two years as President. She also held various leadership roles with the Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française and on the national council for the Government of Canada’s First State of Youth Report, representing Franco-Albertan youth across the country.
Gloria holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, where she also expanded her knowledge in law, history, and Indigenous realities. During her studies, she served as Vice-President External of the Association des universitaires de la Faculté Saint-Jean and organized the first Indigenous Cultures Celebration Week at Campus Saint-Jean in 2023.
She currently works as a Policy Advisor with Alberta’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations, where she strives to integrate a truth and reconciliation perspective into public policy.
Gloria remains deeply committed to community engagement, Francophonie, and reconciliation in Canada.
xGloria Livingston
Edmonton Region
Georges Pigoué
Calgary RegionProfessionally, Georges Pigoué has been teaching at École de la Rose Sauvage in Calgary for 17 years. In terms of his community engagement, he was a board member of the Calgary Francophone Newcomer Welcome Centre (CANAF) for over four years, and was a board member and President of the Skyview Ranch Community Association (SRCA) in Calgary for six years. Georges has chaired the Calgary Canadian Cameroonian Association (ACCC). Under his leadership, the association was recognized as the best-organized ethnocultural association in Calgary by the ACFA regional of Calgary at the 2023 Annual Gala. Also, in his spare time, he has been a referee and soccer coach for over 25 years. Finally, Georges is in the process of obtaining a license from the Alberta Insurance Council.
xGeorges Pigoué
Calgary Region
Gabriel Risbud-Vincent
Calgary RegionGabriel Risbud-Vincent was born in Ottawa and grew up in the Edmonton area, where he attended a francophone school. He completed his high school education in Calgary but decided to return to Edmonton to begin his engineering studies at Saint-Jean Campus.
Since 2020, he has been working in the renewable energy sector in Calgary. A passionate advocate for language rights, Gabriel is committed to giving back to the community that raised him. He aims to dedicate his efforts to ensuring the future of French expression into the West.
xGabriel Risbud-Vincent
Calgary Region
Paul Rovin
Grande Prairie RegionPaul Rovin left Montréal in 2013 to settle in Fort McMurray, and moved to Grande Prairie a year later. He has devoted a significant portion of his free time to volunteer work, collaborating with several local organizations such as the City of Grande Prairie, Crime Prevention, the Bear Creek Festival, the Grande Prairie Regional ACFA, and the Grande Prairie Centre for Newcomers, among others. His work has focused particularly on supporting the settlement and integration of Francophone newcomers in the region.
Seeking to better understand the diverse cultures within his community, Paul participated in the City of Grande Prairie’s Cultural Integration Academy, where he earned a Multicultural Leader Certificate.
In September 2015, he became the first-ever coordinator of the Local Francophone Immigration Committee (CLIF) in Grande Prairie and a member of the regional ACFA. He also took part in Francophone integration pathway planning conferences organized by IRCC and delivered by RIFA in Alberta.
In 2017, Paul assumed the role of Executive Director of the community organization Canada In Progress, which is dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and social inclusion—particularly for women and youth—while facilitating the integration of Francophone immigrants in minority settings in Grande Prairie and surrounding areas.
Paul received the City of Grande Prairie’s 2024 Outstanding Citizen Award in recognition of his commitment to promoting cultural diversity and social inclusion, as well as his efforts to strengthen community connections for Francophone newcomers in support of their rapid integration.
Paul is deeply passionate about the growing diversity of Alberta’s Francophonie. He joined the provincial Board of Directors of the ACFA in January 2025 and is committed to contributing to greater inclusion and a stronger sense of belonging within the community.
xPaul Rovin
Grande Prairie Region
Patrick Tefouet Tonlio
Calgary RegionPatrick Tefouet Tonlio is a teacher at École de la Source in Calgary, where he actively contributes to the education and support of young Francophone students. As First Vice-President of the Satellite Campuses of the Association universitaire de la Faculté Saint-Jean (AUFSJ) in Calgary and spokesperson for the 2023 cohort of Education students from the satellite campuses, he is recognized for his leadership, service-oriented approach, and strong commitment to the educational community.
Deeply involved in Calgary’s Francophone community life, Patrick served for five years on the Board of Directors of the Centre d’Accueil des Nouveaux Arrivants Francophones (CANAF), where he worked to support the integration and well-being of newcomers. He also held the position of Secretary General of the Association Camerounaise Canadienne de Calgary (ACCC) for four years, coordinating a wide range of cultural, social, and educational projects aimed at strengthening community cohesion and development.
Patrick also facilitates a community cooking program that provides a welcoming space for learning, sharing, and connection, where participants discover how to prepare healthy meals while building relationships around Francophone and multicultural gastronomy.
In his free time, he is a beekeeper and manages the apiary of the Land of Dreams project of the Calgary Catholic Immigrant Society (CCIS)—an initiative focused on regenerative agriculture, sustainability, well-being, and the transmission of Indigenous knowledge, carried out in collaboration with Elder Herman Many Guns of the Piikani Nation.
Driven by a passion for education, the environment, and community engagement, Patrick Tefouet Tonlio dedicates his expertise and energy to advancing an inclusive, dynamic, and transformative Francophonie in Alberta.
xPatrick Tefouet Tonlio
Calgary Region
Isabelle Laurin
Executive DirectorIsabelle holds a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from the University of Montréal and a certification in Leadership and Management Skills from the Leadership Institute. She has extensive experience in the community field. After many years in the dance field, she began her role at the ACFA in May 2007 as a development officer in the heritage and history sector. A year later, she became the Communications Director before being appointed Director of Public Affairs.
In December 2014, she became Executive Director of the organization. After an 18-month period at the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques as director of communications, she has been back as the Executive Director of the ACFA in March 2020.
In her spare time, Isabelle enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, participating in community activities, and taking long walks with her dog Luna.
xIsabelle Laurin
Executive Director
The provincial board of directors of the ACFA is composed of the following members :
- The Chair of the Board of Directors ;
- Six to eight directors;
- The Executive Director, without voting rights.
The Board of Directors (BoD) shall have the following powers and responsibilities:
a) Approve, by a simple majority vote of the BoD, the recommendation of the Chair of the Board to appoint the Vice-Chair and Treasurer for a two-year term (and approve the individuals who will fill any vacant executive positions, if applicable). The Chair’s recommendation must be made after consulting all members of the Board of Directors;
b) Oversee the administration of the ACFA and exercise all powers of the ACFA that do not require the authority of the General Assembly;
c) Be responsible for implementing the strategic framework for Franco-Albertan affairs and ensure its annual evaluation;
d) Ensure the development of mechanisms necessary for proper coordination of community efforts;
e) Be responsible for liaising with the Government of Canada to ensure that granted funds support the achievement of community objectives;
f) Recommend amendments to the Bylaws and Regulations;
g) Appoint a legal advisor;
h) Decide on the incorporation, guardianship, or dissolution of a regional chapter, local circle, or affiliated organization;
i) Establish policies;
j) Ensure good governance of the ACFA’s committees and services;
k) Delegate, at its discretion, its powers to any standing or ad hoc committee appointed by the Board;
l) Approve the ACFA budget;
m) Receive financial statements and reports on a regular basis;
n) Identify community priorities by regularly consulting ACFA members as well as representatives of Francophone organizations;
o) Review the wishes of the General Assembly;
p) Supervise the Executive Director, receiving a report from the Executive Director at each Board meeting;
q) Oversee the Executive Director, including hiring, evaluation, and dismissal.