The Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace is proud to be led by a diverse team of peace-builders from various walks of life.
Board of Directors
Reva Joshee - Co-Chair
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Reva Joshee comes from a family dedicated to creating a better world though peace, justice, and nonviolence.
Her parents helped to found the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace. As an educator and activist she continues to try to bring insights based on Gandhian principles into classrooms and communities. |
Jaime Fiddler - Co-Chair
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My name is Jaime Fiddler, and I am honored to have been part of the Gandhi Foundation for over 10 years. I am from Calgary, Alberta, and a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta. My ancestry is Welsh and Irish on my mother’s side; and Métis, Cree, and Swedish on my father’s side, with familial ties to the historic Métis community of Batoche, Saskatchewan. I currently live in Calgary with my wife Evelyne Asselin, and am a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Professionally, my background is in Education. I began my career as a high school teacher before pursuing graduate studies, earning an MA from the University of British Columbia and a PhD from the University of Alberta. My doctoral research focused on teacher experiences, professional learning, and narrative and arts-based methodologies.
After completing my studies, I returned to Calgary and joined the University of Calgary, where I had the privilege of teaching alongside other Indigenous educators teaching courses on reconciliation and diversity in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Working with inspiring mentors like Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt deepened my commitment to supporting educators engaged in reconciliation efforts. This passion led me to my current role as Learning Design Consultant for Curriculum Decolonization and Indigenization at Bow Valley College. Here, I continue to empower educators in creating meaningful change.
My contributions to the Gandhi Foundation have grown alongside my career. Initially serving as Education Coordinator, I now contribute to the Foundation’s reconciliation programming. I am deeply inspired by my fellow Board members, whose vision and dedication motivate me to work toward a just and equitable future where everyone can flourish. I am excited about this new chapter in the Foundation’s work and grateful for the opportunity to learn and contribute.
After completing my studies, I returned to Calgary and joined the University of Calgary, where I had the privilege of teaching alongside other Indigenous educators teaching courses on reconciliation and diversity in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Working with inspiring mentors like Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt deepened my commitment to supporting educators engaged in reconciliation efforts. This passion led me to my current role as Learning Design Consultant for Curriculum Decolonization and Indigenization at Bow Valley College. Here, I continue to empower educators in creating meaningful change.
My contributions to the Gandhi Foundation have grown alongside my career. Initially serving as Education Coordinator, I now contribute to the Foundation’s reconciliation programming. I am deeply inspired by my fellow Board members, whose vision and dedication motivate me to work toward a just and equitable future where everyone can flourish. I am excited about this new chapter in the Foundation’s work and grateful for the opportunity to learn and contribute.
Devinder Pannu - Treasurer
Netta Phillet - Executive Member
Netta Phillet was born in Edmonton and has a degree in Religious Studies from the U of A. She has been the coordinator of the Edmonton Interfaith Centre since 2006, is active in different capacities at Beth Shalom Synagogue and belongs to Temple Beth Ora and is treasurer of the Jewish Archives Society.
She was a founding member of the Phoenix Multifaith Society for Harmony and for 30 years has been a sister in the Arab/Jewish Women’s Peace Coalition. Much of the focus of her volunteer life is inter/intra faith dialogue and the place of women in religious ritual and observance.
She was a founding member of the Phoenix Multifaith Society for Harmony and for 30 years has been a sister in the Arab/Jewish Women’s Peace Coalition. Much of the focus of her volunteer life is inter/intra faith dialogue and the place of women in religious ritual and observance.
Simone Shirvell - Secretary
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I am a recently retired teacher who has focused my entire career on early childhood education. I have worked in child care, taught college level early childhood courses, held a variety of positions within the ATA’s early childhood specialist council, attained my MEd in early childhood education and spent 31 years in classrooms with 4 - 8 year olds. I value young children, their world views, strengths, wonders and what we can learn from them.
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I am exploring Indigenous world views as a path to connect myself and the children I have worked with to the natural world, the idea of reciprocity and the interconnectedness of all things. I value community in all its many forms. Gandhi’s messages of peace and nonviolence resonate with me. I feel most peaceful and connected when I am surrounded by nature.
Arief Ebrahim
Harchand Grewal
Daniel Hill
Irfanul Islam
Kwai Li
Somesh Moorthy
Shanti Singh
Born in Guyana, South America, Shanti Singh immigrated to Canada to attend the University of Alberta. She obtained degrees in Mathematics and Business Administration (B. Comm. and MBA) and a CPA Accounting designation. She has had a longstanding career in accounting and Finance in progressively responsible senior accounting roles at TELUS Corporation and subsequently, as a Senior Internal Controls Analyst at ATB Financial.
After retiring at the end of 2017, Shanti has been involved with various volunteer organizations. She joined the Board of the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation for World Peace in 2021. Prior to 2021, she had volunteered with this organization and has always been a firm believer in Gandhian principles. Shanti currently volunteers at the Edmonton Food Bank, the Edmonton Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, and she is a Director/Casino Chair of the Make a Dream Come True (Lions) Society.
Shanti is very people-oriented and delights in bringing family and friends together. Her passions include travel (having visited numerous countries on six continents), attending live theatre and concerts, yoga, Tai Chi, Spanish language lessons, reading and volunteering with various organizations.
After retiring at the end of 2017, Shanti has been involved with various volunteer organizations. She joined the Board of the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation for World Peace in 2021. Prior to 2021, she had volunteered with this organization and has always been a firm believer in Gandhian principles. Shanti currently volunteers at the Edmonton Food Bank, the Edmonton Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, and she is a Director/Casino Chair of the Make a Dream Come True (Lions) Society.
Shanti is very people-oriented and delights in bringing family and friends together. Her passions include travel (having visited numerous countries on six continents), attending live theatre and concerts, yoga, Tai Chi, Spanish language lessons, reading and volunteering with various organizations.
Anastasia Turnbull
kathrin winkler
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As a member of Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace; abolitionist feminist under construction; Grandmother of Eight; Board member of the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace; and Thousand Harbour Zen sangha member, kathrin leans towards the urgency of disarmament and nonviolent solutions to conflict.
War and displacement brought her across the ocean on the MS Transatlantic in 1954, as an immigrant child arriving on these shores. She loves swimming in the ocean and crochets endless white poppies for peace. The beauty of Nova Scotia protected by the courage of Mi’kmaq water walkers and land protectors is a geography of generosity and hope. Ardently hoping that the narrative of fracking and arming our way to peace is a fatal illusion, she feels blessed to stand in the shadow of the great feminist leaders of this province, past and present - Dr. Lynn Jones, Muriel Duckwoarth,El Jones, Betty Peters, Dorene Bernard, Dr. Karen Hudson, Louise Delisle, Maria Jax-Fraser, just to mention a few. |
Walking 200km for Peace in Nova Scotia and 180km in Tamil Nadu, has created momentum to support connection and education for peace and sustainable justice.
Advisory Council
Joe CloutierDr. Prem Kharbanda |
Jim EdwardsDr. Zaheer Lakhani, CM |
Lifetime Members
Jagjeet BhardwajGurcharan Singh BhatiaQuetzala CarsonDr. Jean ClandininHarchand Grewal |
Dr. Prem KharbandaDr. Zaheer LakhaniPurnima PrasadColleen RingHon. Douglas Roche |
Jitendra Shah
In Memoriam
Karuna Joshee |
Sushil Kalia |
Madan Prasad |
Dr. Hans Smits |
Dr. Steven Aung |
Dr. Horst Schmid |
