Ontario Slipstream 2022

Tina Sartori

Tina has been rocking the world of living with T1 for 25 years. Her connection to the T1 community and outdoor adventures started at Camp Huronda where she worked for 17 summers, the final few as the Assistant Director. She was thrilled at the idea of an organization like CIM coming to fruition after her camp days ended as she realized the strength and knowledge of a T1 community is vital for managing this disease. She has taken Adam Brown’s writing in Bright Spots and Landmines to heart, with regards to eating and insulin management. Tina is the Executive Director at Montessori Academy of London, where she tries to get on every outdoor field trip as possible.

Amy Burrows

No stranger to CIM, Amy Burrows has had type one diabetes for 30 years. Hailing from Beaverton Ontario Amy enjoys spending time outdoors (mainly canoe tripping) with her friends, family, fellow T1's and her dogs Jet and Sarge. She spends her days working in dentistry as a Level 2 assistant and treatment coordinator in Uxbridge. Amy co-guided CIM's 2022 Adventure Team Trek!

Leisa Wierenga

Leisa attended Nipissing University where she obtained her BPHE and B.Ed degrees. After University, she lived and taught abroad in the UK, gaining a huge love for travel and the outdoors. When Leisa is not working, she loves to be surrounded by friends and family, having time on the water, playing sports, visiting markets and listening to live music. Leisa was diagnosed with diabetes in 2003 at age 11.

Sarah Gaughan

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! Sarah is CIM's Adventure Coordinator.

Justin Spear

Justin is a graduate of Fleming College's Forestry Technician program, and has been working (and playing!) in the outdoor education industry since last summer at Bark Lake Leadership Centre. His greatest passions are paddling, hiking, outback camping, and travel, with a special emphasis on sharing these passions with others! He was just recently diagnosed with T1D on New Years Eve of 2019, and it has been a huge learning curve for him during 2020. Justin's dream job is to live in South America and work in the Adventure Tourism industry, preferably somewhere on the water!

Siva Swaminathan

Siva's passion for cooking started in her grandmother’s kitchen in South India when she was 4 years old. Being transplanted in Canada in the 70s, she helped her mom make daily meals. Being close to the kitchen was Siva's comfort zone as a teenager. After working in the IT field for 12 years, Siva perused her dream of being a chef by attending George Brown Culinary program where she worked alongside many of Canada's top chefs. She was diagnosed with Type1 diabetes in 2005, and has been using her culinary skills to develop Low GI, healthy meal planning for people with chronic diseases (diabetes, celiac, and cardiovascular issues) since 2007. Siva is working on 2 cookbooks for people with diabetes.

Anissa Gamble

Anissa Gamble is a professional hockey player, diabetes researcher, and soon to be dentist. Throughout her hockey career, she has played NCAA Division 1, CWHL for the Calgary Inferno and Toronto Furies, and now the Toronto PWHPA division. As a student-athlete, she obtained her BSc. from Robert Morris University majoring in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Med, and a minoring in Chemistry. She went on to complete her MSc in Experimental Surgery from the University of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. Shapiro. Today she’s a dentistry student studying at Western University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. Her research has evaluated different diabetes areas like islet cell transplantation, telemedicine, implementation, and oral health. When she’s not working you can find her outside hiking, biking, or camping.

Tammy Hand

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.

Antoine Gibson

I am Antoine Gibson, a type 1 diabetic of 20 years (January 2002) from Atlanta, GA. Along with being a huge diabetes advocate, I am also a saxophonist recording artist and music arranger. I have a few acting/big screen credits to my name, participating in movies such as Drumline 2: A New Beat, Coming 2 America, and in the upcoming film “A Jazzman’s Blues”. I am an avid learner and student of astro physics and geography. I have also been blessed to perform for many crowds, my most favourite being Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta.

Jordan Trottier

Jordan Trottier is a Type 1 diabetic of 20 years and a Professional Lacrosse Player for the Fort-Worth Panther City Lacrosse Club competing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Born and raised in Ottawa, ON. Jordan has an older brother, Colter Trottier, who is also a Type 1 Diabetic of 22 years. Jordan enjoys staying active and hopes to give back to the TID community by sharing personal experiences and hardships while managing competitive athletics, exercise and Type 1 Diabetes.

Amanda Coschi

CLINICAL MANAGER WITH TANDEM DIABETES CARE, RN, BScN, CDE
Amanda Coschi is a Clinical Diabetes Specialist with Tandem Diabetes Care Canada. She has been living with diabetes since 2002 and went on to become a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator with a passion for teaching and spreading awareness about managing diabetes. Amanda has been involved with Connected in Motion over the years including being a part of the 2017 Adventure Team hiking the North Coast Trail. You will often find her canoe tripping or hanging out with her foster dogs.

Beatriz Pardal Costa

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.

Paula Belliveau

Paula recently completed her classes in Humber College's Fundraising Management post grad certificate program. She has planned and orchestrated various events for the non-profit sector for over 5 years. Paula is passionate about learning and practicing languages and cultivating a sense of belonging for newcomers and refugees. She is always up for an adventure, loves spending time in her garden and her favourite outdoor activity is portaging in Algonquin! Paula enjoys joining in on CIM adventures and meeting new diabuddies!!

Hank DeVos

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.

Savannah Lee

Savannah is a Masters in Social Work candidate from Simmons University with a special interest in working with People with Diabetes and more specifically the complicated relationships around food and body image. I was diagnosed with Type 1 in 2016, but grew up with my sister who also has T1D and felt as if I had to be an advocate for her, and now that she’s grown up, I can do that with others in my practice.

Tianna Thatcher

Tianna Thatcher was born and raised right here in Orillia, ON and lives here currently with her husband and little boy! She is a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie working in the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic for the past three years. Tianna absolutely loves working with the Type 1 Diabetes community and is happy to be apart of this incredible weekend!

Laura Hurst (Social Worker)

Erika Weishar (Dietician)