People

Staff

Ginette Lafrenière

Director, Social Innovation Research Group

Ariel Kroon

Research Project Coordinator and Writer

• With SIRG since: June 2024
• Research interests: Solarpunk, queer and feminist theory, posthumanism, science fiction, ecocriticism, social justice topics.
• What do you appreciate the most about SIRG?: The flat hierarchy. It really encourages trust and community with your colleagues and allows you to be involved in a variety of different projects and conversations.
• What is your favourite memory of working at SIRG?: So far, I'd have to say presenting at the 2025 Social Innovation conference at the University of Calgary. It was an amazing opportunity to travel and gain experience at a conference.

Utamika Cummings van Zyl

Project Coordinator and EDI Consultant

• With SIRG since: December 2022
• Research interests: Black experiences in academia.
• What do you appreciate the most about SIRG?: I appreciate the comradery in learning and the priceless mentorship we receive through practice.
• What is your favourite memory of working at SIRG?: Planning SIRG's 20th anniverary celebration.

Sid MacDonald

Research Associate and Project Coordinator

• With SIRG since: January 2025
• Research interests: Experiences of unhoused community members; housing and homelessness policy; gender-based violence, as well as its intersection with women and gender-diverse people's right to housing.
• What do you appreciate the most about SIRG?: I have created meaningful relationships with colleagues and mentors across a multi-disciplinary landscape. SIRG has become a home for me in which I have grown and continue to grow as a researcher through connections with academics, graduate students, and people with lived expertise.
• What is your favourite memory of working at SIRG?: Any SIRG meeting or gathering in which Ginette makes her famous, homemade lasagna.

Abigail Leonard

Research Assistant

• With SIRG since: January 2026

Jessica Houlachan

Research Assistant

• With SIRG since: Spring 2026

Current Practicum Students

Robyn Dunbar

Master of Social Work student

Emily Quint

Master of Social Work student

Kath Hopkins

Master of Social Work student

Current Post-Doctoral Researcher

• Halina (Lin) Haag, Post-doctoral researcher