Leanne Gallant
Executive Director
lgallant@deafculturecentre.ca
Optimistic. Determined. Enthusiastic. Creative. Leanne Gallant (Riverview, NB), Executive Director, Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD) is all four of these, and so much more! She has a passion for life and strives to take part in every opportunity that comes her way. Leanne’s personal and professional experiences and leadership roles at local, provincial, and national levels have provided her with knowledge and drive to give back to the Deaf and hearing community.
Many of her experiences have shaped her into becoming the positive, energetic, and dynamic Deaf woman that she is today. Leanne is a strong organizer with particular expertise managing projects and people having served as a Program Manager, Project Coordinator and Youth Director in the Maritimes, prior to serving as CCSD Executive Director. Leanne’s experience with Deaf Arts projects includes hosting the Deaf Excellence of Youth Awards, hosting paint nights with Deaf Artists, and setting up filmmaking workshops alongside a Deaf producer. One of Leanne’s passions and strengths is her ability to secure funding and apply for grants. She has been building this capacity for fundraising since she was a kid working and being involved in many community events alongside her family. Leanne is passionate about Youth Development and Leadership and established the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Youth Association on her own initiative. She believes that the future is in the hands of the younger generation of Deaf! She prides herself on being a role model for many individuals, those deaf and/or hearing and she works effortlessly in promoting acceptance of diversity as an important aspect of Deaf Education, Deaf Culture, and Deaf Arts.
Leanne is the proud recipient of a National Award from the Council of Canadians with Disabilities in recognition of her valued contribution to the Disability Rights Movement in Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Medal, and the Deaf Youth Role Model in Canada award.
During her spare time Leanne enjoys spending time with her family, camping, swimming, and spending time with youth.
Melissa Hope
Marketing and Administrative Assistant
mhope@deafculturecentre.ca
Melissa is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where she developed her passion for culture and community through her studies in anthropology. Inspired, Melissa pursued the Community Worker Diploma at George Brown College. Today she pairs this passion and experience with her Graduate Certificate in Museum and Cultural Management from Centennial College in her efforts to support communities in the arts and culture sector. She has experience volunteering with a variety of organizations, and was previously a placement student and volunteer with CCSD. Always learning, Melissa continues to study American Sign Language. She is passionate about equal access to information and opportunities, working with the Deaf community, and promoting Deaf arts.
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys reading, crafting, and visiting museums and galleries.
Victoria Meusel
SLIC Administrative Assistant
info@slicanada.ca
Victoria is an Administrative Assistant, Sign Language Institute Canada (SLIC) under Canada Cultural Society of the Deaf. Her administrative work experiences and expertise include scheduling and correspondence include office management, organization, and computer programs for more than 7 years.
Victoria has experienced in connecting and good working relationships with several Deaf local and provincial organizations in the Province of Alberta and across Canada. Victoria is excited to have working and learning opportunities to expand her professional skills and gain work experience in the SLIC office.
Victoria enjoys her hobbies including walking, baking, and gardening.
Maryam Hafizirad
Curator
mhafizirad@deafculturecentre.ca
Maryam Hafizirad is an international award-winning Deaf Canadian Persian painter and sculptor. She is a freelance visual artist, curator, teacher, mentor, and advocate for Deaf artists. A graduate of Isfahan University of Fine Arts (2002), she was recognized as “Most Competent Art Student” at Kashan University in Isfahan, Iran (2002–2004). Her work has been exhibited internationally in Iran, China, Germany, Malaysia, India, Canada, and the United States.
Maryam’s early Persian classical works were dark in tone and subject, shaped by cultural restrictions on women’s representation. After moving to Malaysia and later settling in Canada, her art transformed dramatically. She began working with Persian symbolism and Deaf View/Image Art (De’VIA), using bold colours, rich textures, and mixed media to express Deaf experience, identity, and values. Her paintings frequently feature pomegranates symbolizing hidden love released, fish representing sincere human beings in a silent visual world, and birds embodying freedom as a Deaf woman.
Her practice has expanded to include De’VIA sculpture, large-scale Deaf identity installation art, and visual animation media. She studied sculpture with award-winning sculptor Keyvan Fehri, specializing in ancient Persian firing techniques. Her installation De’VIA: Seeds from Within was featured at the Co-Motion Festival at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, in 2022. Maryam is recognized as one of the first Deaf Canadian art curators and has an upcoming ceramic exhibition program based on her installation Contours of My Life at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
Erika Stebbings
Scheduling & Logistics Coordinator
estebbings@deafculturecentre.ca
Erika Stebbings, M.A., has been an ASL educator for 12 years. Erika has experience teaching sign language and training instructors in a variety of educational settings, including nonprofits and colleges and universities. Erika offers training in sign language instruction that includes presentations and sessions on the Signing Naturally series (Units 1–25), Deaf Culture, ASL Structure, and Linguistics. Erika has created the curricula for numerous courses pertaining to ASL.
Erika has a master’s degree in education with a sign language concentration from Gallaudet University and a bachelor’s degree in social work. Erika’s completion of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment is attested by her SLIC ASL Instructor Certification and a certificate from the Sign Language Institute Canada.
She likes to spend her free time with her young adult child, go for walks in parks and shopping malls, and watch reality TV.
Chris Dodd
Theatre Interpreting Specialist
cdodd@deafculturecentre.ca
Chris Dodd is a Treaty 6 based (Edmonton) award-winning Deaf actor, playwright, accessibility advocate and Governor General Innovation Award finalist. He is the founder and artistic director of SOUND OFF, Canada’s national festival devoted to Deaf performance. Chris holds a degree from the University of Alberta’s Drama program and has been working within Edmonton’s theatre community, and across Canada, for over 25 years. His play, Deafy, has been touring across Canada since 2021 and recently had its first international performance in The Hague, Netherlands in October. In 2019 he was the recipient of the Guy Laliberté Prize by the Canada Council for the Arts for his innovation and creative leadership and in 2025 he was a recipient of the Order of Canada.
Mark Aldrin Encarnacion
Accounting Manager
accounts@deafculturecentre.ca
Mark Aldrin is currently an Accounting Manager at the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf Inc., where he works in an accessible and inclusive environment that supports effective communication, collaboration, and meaningful connection with colleagues. Previously, he had professional experience as a Digital Marketing and HR Administrative Assistant.
Mark Aldrin brings experience from both professional and volunteer roles, having worked with a variety of organizations and built a strong, trusted community of friends and colleagues. These experiences have contributed significantly to his personal and professional growth and continue to shape his career path.
In his spare time, Mark Aldrin strives to build a comfortable and fulfilling life by engaging in meaningful and interesting activities.
