2019-20 Mill Woods Seniors Association Board of Directors

Deb retired from successful careers as: business owner of several web based IT education companies, Office Management for a large engineering company, and as an Executive Assistant for a blood banking board.

Over the years, she also held a variety of community volunteer positions including President and Treasurer for curling leagues and minor hockey teams, President of the Annual Confederation Minor Hockey Christmas Tournament, and 21 years with the MS Bike Tour.

Most recently, Deb held the positions of MWSA Board Secretary 2017-2019 and Committee Chair of the 2018 MWSA Gala.  These positions provided her opportunities to work in a team environment, building strategic plans, policies, bylaws and fund development that benefit all MWSA members. 

She is very passionate about the advantages seniors receive through continuous learning, being active, socializing, and exercise.  Her goal is to share her passions and to build a strong MWSA community that benefits all of its members.

SANDRA McCOLL, VICE-PRESIDENT

Sandra is a Branch Manager at Servus Credit Union, and a previous director on the Board for 4 years from 2014 to 2017. 

She had the opportunity to serve MWSA when it was located in the Mill Woods Recreational Centre, and during the transition to the new current location.

Now that MWSA has been in the current location for a few years and experienced some rapid growth (and a lot of changes), she looks forward to being a part of moving the association forward to embrace all the possibilities that come with that growth.

Pat Thompson has served with the Board of the Mill Woods Senior Association for the past 3 years as Chair of the Membership Committee, and a member of the Bylaw Committee.

Pat was born in 1935 at Mountain Park, Alberta. She is the mother to 5, grandmother to 7, and great-grandmother to 15.

She worked for Telus for 27 years before she retired in 1995. For the last 13.5 years, she has been employed with the Edmonton Catholic School District.

Pat has volunteered for many different organizations over the years, including the Fringe Theatre for 21 years, and the Edmonton Christmas Bureau for 15 years. She has enjoyed driving for various groups such as: Edmonton Folk Fest, Indy, 2005 Masters, 2007 Summer Games, FIFA, 2012 IIFA World Junior Championship, and 2013 Brier. She was also a Board member at the Beaumont Seniors Centre for 3 years. During those 3 years  at Beaumont Centre, she organized the Casino in Camrose, and learned to manage the Bingo program.

Pat looks forward to working with all the new Board members and working on the Board's new strategic plan.

PRAKASH MULLICK, SECRETARY

Prakash was born in Allahabad, India.  He came to Canada in 1962 on a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship for post graduate studies at the University of Toronto.  Upon graduation with an M.A.Sc. Degree in Metallurgical Engineering, he went to Sept-Iles, Quebec to work as an engineer at Wabush Mines’ pellet plant.

He relocated to Montreal in 1980 as Chief Metallurgist for Wabush Mines. Then in 1981, he moved to Calgary, Alberta to work for Alsands Energy Ltd.  Upon cancellation of the Alsands project, Prakash relocated to Fort McMurray to work for Suncor Energy Inc.  He took early retirement and set up his consulting business in 1999.

Upon the birth of his grandchild in 2008, Prakash moved to Edmonton.  Spending time with his grandchild gives him the most pleasure in life.

Prakash has volunteered for both professional and non-profit organizations in Toronto, Sept-Iles, Fort McMurray and Edmonton for the past 55 years.  He has held the positions of Director, President, Chairperson, Vice President - Program, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, and Member of Nominating Committee.

Prakash had helped seniors prepare their income tax returns for 10 years in Fort McMurray.  He received the Charles McDaniel Award from the Canadian Cancer Society.  He was a member of Waterways Toastmasters Club and President of Les Pioneers de l’Ouest Toastmasters Club, both in Fort McMurray.  He holds the CTM designation.

During his professional and volunteer work, Prakash has written or revised hundreds of policies, procedures and work practices.  He had worked with a group to write and then amend the no smoking bylaw for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Fort McMurray.

Prakash had joined MWSA’s Board as a Director in May 2018 and was the Chair of the Bylaws Committee.  In addition to English, Prakash speaks Hindi and French also.

DR. DESH MITTRA

Desh came to Canada in 1977 from India. He has Master’s degree in Physics and Ph. D in Geology. He worked as instructors of Physics/Geology in Grande Prairie Regional College from 1981 to 2011.

He was a founder member of four different societies in Grande Prairie and served in these societies as president and other positions for many years.

He loves working in the community for reforms, education, explorations and cultural activities. Even after retirement he continued serving the community of Grande Prairie.

In 2014 he moved to Edmonton to be with his three daughters and six grand children.  He works as a volunteer at MWSA and the Geology Dept. of University of Alberta.

He lives with his lovely wife, Meera Mittra.

ARUN BAKSHI

Arun is a Mechanical Engineer by education, who graduated from Bangalore University in India in 1987. Thereafter, he started a manufacturing business called Offset Printing Machines in Faridabad, an industrial suburb of New Delhi.

His family migrated with him to Canada in 2005, and they have been residents of Edmonton since 2007.

Currently Arun is employed as the Post Press Manager with Great West Newspapers LP at their plant in St. Albert.

Furthermore, he has completed the Occupational Health & Safety Course from University of Alberta. He also has the additional responsibility of coordinating the Health & Safety program. He is adept at building successful teams and work by building goal-oriented consensus between team members.

In addition, He is a Level 1 certified official for Speed Skating and have officiated at a Canadian Junior National meet.

He enjoys making new friends and sharing experiences and thoughts. Smiling and having fun is what he is about.

As a board member of the Mill Woods Senior Centre, he hopes to work towards making the center more accessible to seniors belonging to different cultures, and to motivate the existing members to contribute their vast experience in improving the programs available.

DON BRIGGS

Don is a retired teacher and spent the last 21 years of his career in Mill Woods. He has been a resident of Mill Woods for 45 years, and started volunteering with the MW Soccer Association when his 3 boys started playing soccer.

Later he helped introduce indoor soccer in various school gyms. Two of his sons were also with the Edmonton Harriers Track clubs,  where he became a director, coach and track official.

As well, for 5 years, he was the track referee for the Edmonton Journal Games. In 1988, while on a teacher Exchange Program in Australia, he coached and officiated at various track meets; he also was the Asst. Track Manager for the 2001 World Track Championships and in 2005 the World Masters Games.

When he was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, he got involved with the Edmonton Celiac Chapter, as a volunteer for 14 yrs., Director for 4 yrs., President 5 yrs. and is now the Past President for the past 3 yrs.

He and his wife have enjoyed the time spent at the special events, programs and meals (especially the gluten free ones!).

He hopes his past volunteer experience will help him to transition onto the board of the MWSA. Hopefully, the diverse population of MW will continue to find the MWSA a place where they can have fun, socialize, enjoy the programs and the special events.

DHARAM PAUL MAHAJAN

I have been nominated to run for Director at Mill Woods Seniors Association (MWSA). I have been an active member of this organization since 2016. I am one of the organizers of MWSA’s Friendship Group. We arrange guest speakers on various topics of interest and education for our members, from physicians to politicians. These include: Dr. Miral Mehta, Dr. Bhoomi Bhatt, Dr. Parvin and Dr. Sonu Walia, and the Honorable Rod Loyola, MLA.

I am a retired Mechanical Engineer and I have served the Jammu & Kashmir (India) Government for 35 years. I also have experience in public health and irrigation and food control.

I am a certified Nutrition and wellness advisor helping the communities by giving them information about healthy eating. I am currently a member of Board of Directors of MWSA.

Fred Sawka

Fred has been an entrepreneur for most of his life. He was also the Computer Literacy Outreach Manager at MacEwan University for 15 years before his retirement.

He joined Toastmasters in 2008 and earned the designation as DTM.

“l am a firm believer in lifelong learning. Now that I am retired, I feel volunteering with MWSA will help satisfy my desire to give back from what I have learned through life.”

During his first year on MWSA's Board, he was the Chairperson of the Communications Committee, member of the Bylaws and Policy Committee, and a member of the Fund Development committee.

He designed and implemented a Virtual Office where Board members and staff can access important documents, list of MWSA personal, list of committees, chairs and members, administrative calendar, forums, to-do-list, related seniors sites, resources and most important, an electronic file room where all documents will be kept.

He was very instrumental in setting up the MySeniorCenter, helping to make a two month job into a two day job. He was also responsible for the technical side of the website at www.mwsac.ca, adding the Volunteer with Us” form on the website, which has had over 136 on-line submissions.

Fred is on his last year as a Board member.

SUDHIR SOMAIYA

Sudhir is a familiar face at MWSA. He has been an active member of the organization since 2015, as a coordinator with the Friendship Group (Cultural Group) trying to build a bridge between the community.

As a coordinator, he has organized meetings and lectures on various subjects like: Law, Health, Immigration, to name few.

In Mumbai, India, he was a practicing lawyer since 1970.

He also has a background in accounting for the past 45 years, largely focusing on tax law. 

It is a pleasure for Sudhir to serve on the MWSA Board, with responsibility and accountability.

WOODY MCHUGH

Born in Jamaica, Woody came to Canada in 1972 to make Canada his home. He began working as an Electrician, and eventually enrolled at NAIT to upgrade his certifications.

In 1980, the same year Woody became a Citizen of Canada, he also received his Journeyman Electrician’s certification.

Woody has lived in Mill Woods since the 1980s.

He is married with four children ranging in age from 35 to 17!  Woody’s wife works as a nurse. They are both very active in their community, and believe that it is important volunteer to serve in the organizations, and participate in activities that are in their communities.

Woody has been part of Mill Woods Seniors Association since it was one small room in the Mill Woods Rec Centre. He is a floor curler, pool player and a regular attendee at special events.

For the past 2 years, Woody has been part of the Bylaw committee, and when the chance to run for the Board came up he welcomed the opportunity.  He enjoys the camaraderie of committee work, and is looking forward to helping set the direction of the organization for the next year!