Board of Directors

Shawna Joynt is a First Nations woman who is hard of hearing from the TR’ONDEK HWECHIN HAN NATION tribe in Dawson City, Yukon. She is known for her strong will, determination, kindness, respectfulness, and her desire to become a “listener and healer.” Creating safe spaces and showing respect are especially important to her. She strongly believes in teamwork.

Shawna communicates using American Sign Language and works as an ASL translator for several national and provincial non-profit organizations. She also teaches ASL in various locations across northern Canada, privately teaching for over 10 years provincially.

Currently, Shawna is learning French, LSQ, and Ojibway. She believes in learning other languages to foster better relations for future connections. She is presently contracted as an Indigenous Researcher for two years. Her goal is to remove barriers and increase vision education to enhance knowledge. Shawna is a member of Manitoba’s Accessibility Advisory Council, serving on a three-year contract.

In her free time, Shawna loves to spend time with her family and her pets. She enjoys adventurous activities and spending time in nature. Tending to her plants and gardening helps her mind feel at ease. She also enjoys reading novels, writing her book, and creating cultural crafts, making sure to make time for these activities.

Hélène Herbert
Vice President of Governance and Membership

Hélène first language is French and she learned LSQ as a teenager. She quickly became fluent in LSQ, she has basic knowledge of English and ASL. Hélène considers herself bilingual and bicultural. She has several university degrees, a bachelor’s degree in education – ortho pedagogy, a certificate in children’s literature, and a specialized graduate diploma in school administration. Hélène is a retired remedial teacher who taught both adults and youth at different levels. Teaching is her passion and she is proud to see the fruits of her labour have paid off. Currently, she is a co-editor and administrator of the magazine Voir-Dire and in the past she was the president of ReQIS (Réseau Québécois pour l’inclusion sociale des personnes sourdes et malentendantes) and the president and secretary for SCQS (Société Culturelle Québécoise des Sourds). As the National Francophone Director of the CAD-CAD, Hélène works to promote and defend the use of LSQ across Canada. It is important to her that communication and information regarding deafness be more fluid in order to avoid stigmatization between English and French Deaf people in Canada.

Crystal Wolfe
National Indigenous Director

Crystal Wolfe, an Indigenous Deaf artist, interpreter, educator, and advocate, played a key role in advocating for Bill C-91 (An Act Respecting Indigenous Languages) with the B.C. Hummingbird Society of the Deaf, which was successfully passed into law in 2019. Throughout her career, she has tirelessly championed the rights of the Deaf Indigenous community, striving to ensure their access to traditional ceremonies, participation in cultural duties, and establishment of safer spaces in wider society.

Crystal’s mission is to shine a spotlight on Indigenous Deaf individuals and their achievements nationwide, while also addressing and resolving ongoing oppressions within communities and promoting pride in Deaf Indigeneity. She actively records stories and leads ceremonies at various Deaf artistic events, including the annual SOUND OFF Deaf Theatre Festival. Additionally, Crystal has showcased her talent as a Deaf interpreter in various productions, such as “all these things collide inside of me” by Good Women Dance/Wild Mint Arts and “Bear Grease.”

Identifying as part of the Nehiyaw and Niitsitapi-Blackfoot Confederacy, Crystal resides and works on Treaty 6 land and is a member of the Neyaskweyaw (Ermineskin) Band of Maskwacis. Fluent in Plain Indian Sign Language and Nehiyawi ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐃᐧ, she also enjoys writing in Cree, traveling, and spending time with her nôsisimak.

Frank Folino
Past President

Frank Folino is the Past-President, a non-voting position where he brings his years of experience and knowledge to the organization. Frank was an enduring leader and advocate for human rights during his tenure as CAD-ASC President from 2013 to 2021.

Among his notable successes, Frank Folino passionately advocated for the inclusion of legal recognition of national sign languages in the landmark Accessible Canada Act. Additionally, he participated in conferences and meetings to provide his expertise on sign languages and accessibility related to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Frank served in a professional leadership role as an interim board member for the Canadian Administrator of Video Relay Services, mandated by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and as an Executive Member-at-Large at the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.

Frank has also received several awards recognizing his volunteer services in Canada, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Science from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Louis Belleau
National Francophone Director

Louis Belleau has been profoundly deaf since birth, and he also has a brother who is profoundly deaf. He is enthusiastic about working with the ASC team, an important association for deaf communities in Canada.

Passionate about politics and advocating for his community’s rights, Louis has held important positions in associations, including President of Centre de la Communauté Sourde de Montréal Métropolitain (CCSMM) and Treasurer at Réseau Québécois pour l’Inclusion Sociale des personnes sourdes et malentendantes (ReQIS).

He is committed to fighting for the rights of his community and meeting their needs. ASC is there for you, within the deaf and hard of hearing community, including those with Usher syndrome and blindness.

Lenesha Hall
National Youth Director

Bio is coming soon