Family Network Steering Committee

Carrie Costello is the Implementation Support Coordinator for The Center for Implementation (TCI). She is a graduate of the University of Victoria BFA program and came into research after her middle child was diagnosed early in life with a profound intellectual disability. She has been a parent partner in research on over 15 projects and is the primary co-investigator on two of these research studies.  She specializes in facilitating conversations with children and youth.

In her work with parents and youth, the most common complaint about research is how long it takes to actually make stuff happen. She is passionate about finding ways to put the research into action. Before joining TCI, Carrie worked in patient engagement at the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and the CHILD-BRIGHT research network (which she is still involved with). She won the Frank Gavin Patient Engagement Leadership Award and the Made With Patients Rising Star award for her work. Carrie is also an award-winning playwright for young audiences and an avid puppeteer.

Tasha Ellis

Tasha is delighted to join the Family Network Steering Group, to combine her professional experience as a board member, career counselor and HR consultant, with her personal experience as a mom of three young daughters who have required support from medical and allied health professionals. Tasha's passion for advocacy and solutions-focused approach to tackling challenges have inspired her recent return to law school.

Pam is a proud mama of 3 and resides in Calgary, Alberta. In 2014 when her second child was born prematurely with complex medical needs, Pam’s life quickly changed as she was thrown into a world she wasn’t familiar with. Through that experience, Pam was asked to become a peer mentor volunteer at the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) and since then has developed a passion for patient and family centred care, the value of sharing the lived experience and supporting families who are beginning a journey with a medical child. Pam was a part of the ACH Family Advisory Council from 2017-2023, serving as the co-chair for 3 years. She also sits on many other committees and has several volunteer roles including a member of the Alberta Health Services (AHS) Maternal, Newborn, Child and Youth (MNCY) Strategic Clinical Network, Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, the ACH NICU Parents in Partnership Care Committee and is an integral part of the ACH Family to Family Connections program. 

When she’s not busy with her kids and passions above, Pam loves spending time with family and friends, trail running, getting out in nature and works full time. 

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much” - Helen Keller

Anita Simon

Anita Simon holds a PhD in Nutrition and Physiology from the Semmelveis Medical University and a Masters in Science from University of Alberta and has over 20 years’ experience in health management, research and education from all sectors: academia, industry, government and non-profit organizations. Her personal journey navigating and accessing mental health care services for her 11 year old daughter led to her experience first-hand many of the mental health care challenges facing our youth and to shift her efforts towards advocacy and the community.

Anita co-founded the community nonprofit organization, Calgary Silver Linings Foundation, to expand care for those suffering from eating disorders and currently serves on: Family Steering Committee of Children’s Healthcare Canada, Albertans for Health Research Council, the Family Eating Disorder Advisory Council for Alberta and the Child and Youth Mental Health group for Imagine Citizens Network in Alberta. Her deepest wish is for all youth to thrive and reach their full potential and to be a catalyst for positive health reform so youth and their families have equitable, compassionate, culturally sensitive, quality health care when and where they need it.