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Chloe Vance

Founder

A catalyst and creator, Chloe's passion lies in building resilient communities and guiding people of all ages through the experiential learning process. Be it working to connect and engage young adults with Type 1 diabetes through Connected in Motion, inspiring a local food movement through the creation of school gardens with Alpine Edible Schoolyards or supporting First Nation's students on their educational journeys with the Canadian Rockies Public School Board, Chloe thrives on mobilizing people to tackle big global problems by making small personal changes.
Adventure-seeker and life-long learner, she has circumnavigated the South Island of New Zealand by bicycle, traveled the Yukon by dog sled, and guided expeditions on numerous Arctic and sub-Arctic rivers.
Chloe lives in Canmore, Alberta with her husband Rob and their German Shepherd Chile. When she's not playing in the mountains, experimenting in the kitchen or teaching her dog new tricks, she is the Aboriginal Success Coach for Canmore Collegiate High School.

Jen Hanson, MEd, RKin, CDE, OCT

Executive Director

Jen has grown up with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed in 1987, she has never let diabetes stop her from pursuing her passion. Jen is the Executive Director of Connected in Motion, where she works to bridge the gap between clinical care and 'real life' for adults with Type 1 diabetes. Jen also works with the Children with DIabetes youth program, as well as the Type 1 Think Tank. She has volunteered around the world with the Young Leaders in Diabetes, and been involved with Camp Huronda and the Diabetes Education and Camping Association. Jen is on the Leadership Council with Beyond Type 1. She loves to travel, be outside, and spend time at her cabin with her family. Jen is a Registered Kinesiologist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Teacher. She has a Masters Degree in Education, focused on Experiential Diabetes Education.

Lucy McGroarty

Managing Director

Lucy completed the Master of Design program at Emily Carr University in Vancouver. Her work as a designer combines storytelling with her interest in wellbeing. The 1 Club, the story of a secret T1D society, seeks to inspire individuals experiencing burnout to seek refuge in the community. Lucy presented The 1 Club at the first-ever TEDxEmily Carr event, and continues her work through 1 Talks, a podcast about the everyday experiences of living with T1D. Lucy loves spending time with people, enjoying life’s small pleasures: sipping a cuppa hot tea, swimming in the warm rain, lying on a yoga mat, or dancing in the kitchen after a late dinner. She is very excited to join the Connected in Motion team!

Mike Last

Website Manager

Mike has been traveling and enjoying the outdoors his whole life. He's traveled through England, Ireland, France, Italy, Switzerland and Spain. After finishing a 4 year Managerial and Organizational Studies degree at the University of Western Ontario, Mike moved to Toronto where he is currently working in marketing and photography. He’ll continue to bring Connected In Motion's adventures online. Check out his photo work at www.mikelastphoto.com.

Hank De Vos

Film + Media Manager

When he isn’t day dreaming about ripping down a mountain in knee deep powder, you can find Hank behind a camera. His passion for film and media began when he was a young child– seeing blockbuster films had him hooked. Whether it’s on a mountain, or inside a studio, the need to tell a story through images consumes his time. His love for the outdoors and filmmaking collide head on in his role with Connected in Motion as their video producer.

Beatriz Pardal Costa

TikTok Specialist (Volunteer)

Beatriz is a Media Production Major at X University, concentrating in Television and Video and minoring in Music and Culture. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 15 years old and has since become very interested in learning more about it and educating others. She actively works to diminish the stigmas that revolve around diabetes. Apart from that, Beatriz has a huge passion for music and media. She loves to sing, learn how to play new instruments, write music, film and edit videos, take photos, and manipulate images in photoshop. Beatriz aspires to be a music video director and editor.

Julie De Vos

Slipstream Lead

Julie has spent much of her life volunteering and working in the T1D community. These passions led her to a degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences and a career path in the diabetes industry, focused on building programs and communities for not-for-profit diabetes organizations. Today, Julie is a Registered Kinesiologist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Health Coach. She is passionate about living life to its fullest and helping those in the diabetes community thrive.

Sarah Gaughan

Adventure Coordinator (Seasonal)

Sarah has always had a love for the outdoors and has worked as an Ontario Junior Ranger, a canoe trip guide, and outdoor educator. Diagnosed with type one diabetes in 2017, she considers herself extremely lucky to have crossed paths with Connected in Motion soon after, and has been involved with CIM ever since. Sarah completed a BSc in marine biology in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and hopes to attend veterinary school in the future. In her free time Sarah enjoys hiking, camping, canoeing, snowboarding, birding, and planning dream trips!

Amy Burrows

Slipstream Lead + Adventure Guide

Amy has had type one diabetes for 34 years. Hailing from Beaverton ON, Amy enjoys spending her time outdoors canoe tripping and hiking with her friends, family, partner Jeremy and her dogs. She spends her days working in dentistry in Uxbridge.

Tina Brown

Slipstream Lead

Tina has been rocking the world of living with T1D for 30 years, using all kinds of platforms and systems. Her connection to outdoor adventures started at Camp Huronda, where she worked for many summers, the final few as the Assistant Director. She learned very early in her diagnosis, the power of a community that has a shared understanding and the rich knowledge exchange that happens when together. She finds it to have the most impact on her diabetes well-being and this is the magic that drives her work with CIM. In her daily life she is the Executive Director at Montessori Academy of London, where she tries to get on all the outdoor field trips! You can also find her riding her bike, fishing for bass or hiking the trails.

Tammy Hand

Adventure Guide

Tammy Hand grew up in Scarborough Ontario. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 10 – sadly it was just after Halloween and her brother got to eat all of her candy. On the good side, she started going to Diabetic Camp where she got in touch with her natural self. Tammy spends her days at her dream job instructing at one of the Peel District School Boards Outdoor/Environmental Education Centres. To her, outside doing stuff, experiencing life = fun. Tammy is excited to be joining the CIM Adventure Team heading to Gros Morne this summer because she is stoked to explore a place she has never been, to push her limits and to spread the word to others that life with Type 1 Diabetes can be full of possibilities.

Michael smiling and wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a backpack while hiking.

Michael Gaudet

Adventure Guide

Michael has been an athlete his entire life. The day he left the hospital for his T1D diagnosis, he went to a friend's house and played basketball. Michael decided right then that he would do everything he could to live past 50 years old (his Doctors' prognosis for him at that time). Since then Michael has been an amateur racing cyclist, race car driver, mountaineer, and powerlifter.

Jordi Cumber

Adventure Guide

Jordi Cumber is a passionate maternity nurse, mother, wife, climber, biker, hiker, swimmer, baker and nap taker. She and her family are honored to call Squamish, British Columbia home. She has lived (and thrived) with Type 1 for the last 22 years.

Marcel Plug

Adventure Guide

Marcel is a father, a husband, an avid runner and an aspiring hiker. He grew up among the lakes and trees and has always felt at home there. Marcel loves to canoe, hike and run on the trails. He and his wife, Sarah, have always talked about doing the West Coast Trail - but when he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 27 he seriously doubted if he would ever be able to do a trek like that. In many ways the Chilkoot trail Adventure Trek is Marcel's way of proving to himself that he can do a serious hike and not let Type 1 diabetes get in the way of his goals.

Mark Davis

Slipstream Lead

Mark has been managing diabetes since 1985. His parents and Camp Huronda were instrumental in learning to navigate the complex autoimmune disease. Mark is the owner and operator of @WoodnMuskoka, a small woodworking company located in Ontario.
Mark connected with Chloe and Jen at the second annual CIM Slipstream. His background in adventure programming and group facilitation makes him a solid fit in the framework of CIM and its community. Mark enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his wife and 3 dogs.

Meghan Lowry

Slipstream Lead

T1D for 35+ years. Meghan holds an MBA in Hospitality & Tourism and has a great passion for working with people. She is a Family Studies and Social Science Highschool teacher where her primary focus is in Nutrition & Health. She is always encouraging her students, no matter their dietary & health concerns, to be adventurous in the kitchen and never be afraid of playing with their food - adding some friendly competition can only add to the fun!