Meet Us

Volunteer Staff

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Ainsley Robertson co-founded The Princess Shop with Chantal Hounjet (nee Moloney) in 2007, and enjoys the opportunity to work with our community to develop this local initiative and increase The Princess Shop’s reach and impact.

Ainsley moved from Lloydminster to Saskatoon in 2005 and completed her B.Comm. with the Edwards School of Business at the U of S in 2009.

In other volunteer roles, Ainsley is Chair of the SIFE Saskatchewan Advisory Board and sits on the Canadian Youth Business Foundation Loan Review Committee, Greystone Heights Community Association, and the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce’s Youth & Knowledge Development Committee. Ainsley has enjoyed a number of recent speaking engagements, including the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association’s 2011 “Growing Saskatchewan” Conference, the Edwards School of Business “Women of Influence Breakfast,” and TEDx Saskatoon. Ainsley was the 2011 recipient of the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award and was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in 2008 and 2011.

Saskatoon Program Director

Rayne Robertson is originally from Edmonton, and moved to Saskatoon in 2007 to attend the Edwards School of Business. Rayne completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2011 with a major in Human Resources. She had joined The Princess Shop’s volunteer staff in 2010 as the first Fairy Godmother Program Coordinator and moved into the role of  Saskatoon Program Director in May 2011. And to clear up any confusion – she and Ainsley are no relation to each other!

Fairy Godmother Program Director

Michelle Neufeld grew up in Saskatoon and is currently studying Sociology at the U of S. Before attending university, she completed the Youth Care Worker Certificate program in 2008 and has enjoyed her experiences working with youth. She was looking for a volunteer experience that would allow her to utilize her education for community contribution. The Princess Shop was an obvious fit so she joined the team in 2011. She is also the proud mother of a five year old son.

Scholarship Program Director

Ashlen Kirkwood grew up in Viscount and moved to Saskatoon to attend Edwards School of Business 2001. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2011 with a major in Marketing, Ashlen began working with Farm Credit Canada in Tisdale, May of 2011. She joined The Princess Shop in 2011 as the Scholarship Program Coordinator and continues to work with The Princess Shop from out of town.

Lloydminster Satellite Office Coordinator

Jen Boyer was born and raised in the northern community of Meadow Lake, SK. She moved to Edmonton in 2003 and acheived certification in cosmetology, body piercing and other hair styling based courses. After attaining certification she moved to Saskatoon to persue employment. In 2006 she moved to Lloydminster to persue employment in the oil and gas industry and has been in Lloydminster since. Jen wanted to get involved in non profit work, but wanted to find something that was of a high interest to her. What better than to utilize Jen’s education based on fashion and beauty, but with the magic of knowing it goes far beyond outside image. Jen nows lives in Lloydminster AB with her little boy.

Volunteer Representatives

Board of Directors

Leah Bitternose is a Cree woman from the George Gordon First Nation in Treaty Four Territory. Leah is a private practice lawyer with her own firm working primarily with First Nation clients. She received a Juris Doctor in Laws from the College of Law University of Saskatchewan and is completing a Masters in Laws there as well.

Leah is the chair of the Aboriginal Law Section, Saskatchewan Branch (North) of the Canadian Bar Association; Executive Member, National Aboriginal Law Section, CBA; Member of the Saskatchewan Law Society; Member of the Indigenous Bar Association of Canada; Member of the Aboriginal Graduate Students Association, U of S; Member of the Alumni, First Nations University of Canada; Past President of the Aboriginal Law Student Association; a Member of Masala Model & Talent Agency and a Board member on The Senator Hilliard McNab Foundation.

Leah adds, “Had the Princess Shop been in existence when I graduated from Grade 12, I would have qualified as a recipient.Each of the Princess Shop’s programs fill a very essential gap for young women, whose potential should know no bounds.”

Kelly Gould is a lawyer with Wallace Meschishnick Clackson Zawada. Kelly received post-secondary education from the University of Saskatchewan where she completed a Bachelor of Arts (High Honours) in Political Studies in 2003 and a Bachelor of Laws in 2006. She graduated at the top of her class as the most distinguished Political Studies graduate and completed her law degree with Distinction. Kelly also received the CPLED Student Award for outstanding performance in the Bar Admissions Course.

Kelly’s practice focuses on general corporate commercial law, mergers & acquisitions and securities. She has acted as both issuer’s and agent’s counsel in securities law matters and can handle the corporate needs of businesses of all sizes. She is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association Business Law and Securities Law North sections and is involved in the community through various committees and boards. She was nominated and selected as a finalist for the Saskatchewan Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs Young Professional of the Year Award in 2010 and has had several articles published in Sask Business magazine.

Claude Hounjet obtained a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan in 2007, obtained his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation in 2009 while articling with KPMG LLP  in Saskatoon, where he worked with clients in the Uranium mining and aviation industry as well as clients in the not-for-profit sector. He is currently the Director of Finance and Administration at the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan where he oversees the areas of budgeting, risk management, financial reporting, human resources and administration.  When he is not working as an accountant, Claude is a dj and promoter on the forefront of the electronic dance music scene and has held monthly and weekly residencies at various clubs and lounges in Saskatoon for the past few years.

Tracy Kendel was born in White Rock, BC and is a long time resident of Saskatoon. She has a Legal Administrative Assistant Diploma from the Saskatoon Business College as well as a Bachelor of Arts and Science Degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Tracy is currently a Commissioner for Oaths in and for the Province of Saskatchewan as well as a Notary Public. She has had the opportunity to work with some of the top law firms in Saskatoon as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal. Tracy currently works at Fairway Divorce Solutions in Saskatoon, a franchise that she and her business partners opened in March 2008.

Paul Magnuson started his academic career in Australia (SAE), continuing studies at the Edwards School of Business in Saskatoon (U of S), and finishing at the Jönköping International School of Business in Sweden. He currently holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree as well as a Audio Engineering Diploma. By day Paul is directing the business development department at Tap Communications, where he has the privilege of working with some of Saskatchewan’s largest corporations and charitable organizations. By night he is a passionate DJ and VJ, playing in clubs across the prairies and some of Canada’s largest music festivals. His past positions include: Account Executive with UPS Canada, Marketing Coordinator with the City of Saskatoon, and Special Projects Lead with blaqMAP, as well as sole proprietor in a number of start up ventures. Paul is well versed in strategic marketing and advertising, specializing in competitive brand positioning and brand evolution.

Paul’s wife, Ivana, is currently lecturing at the Edwards School of Business and they have recently celebrated their two year anniversary. He credits Ivana with changing the way he views the world, and giving him the inspiration to pursue his passion projects.

Dr. Dee Dee (Shirley) Maltman is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine, Class of ‘85. She works at the 8th St. Mediclinic with Metabolic Syndrome patients and also has a particular interest in Senior Care. Dee Dee currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, the Women’s Mid-life Health Centre and the Saskatoon Chapter of Bicycles for Humanity. She works on many other committees of local charities and particularly enjoys working with start up and grass roots organizations. DeeDee is married to Tom Maltman, an Equine Veterinarian and Developer. Dee Dee and Tom’s first priority in life is their 4 children, Tyler, Crombie, Reid and Tasha. As a family, they are committed to working locally and globally to serve others through various charitable organizations. Deedee is excited to be a member of the inaugural Board of Directors of The Princess Shop!

Silvia Martini is the Vice President of Strategy & Market Development for Interlink Research Inc., a property management and development firm, with consulting services in new building technologies. Her work has passionately focused on efficiently and effectively aligning strategy to successful outcomes, both in her own businesses, for her clients and employers, as well as in her diverse volunteer capacity.

An entrepreneur and market developer, Silvia’s career spans 30 years with successful market development initiatives provincially, nationally and internationally. Most recently in her position as Vice-President of Marketing for Tourism Saskatoon, she was instrumental in the successful new brand development for the organization, raising Saskatoon’s profile as a desirable destination of choice for conventions, events and leisure travel.

Together with her business partner and husband, she was instrumental in the market positioning of a new product – the vanEE Heat Recovery Ventilators. Their company, Conservation Energy Systems, Inc. was sold in 1993. The vanEE trade mark is still recognized today as a leader in the industry, and preferred amongst discerning purchasers.

She is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, married to her business partner and the mother of two daughters, Nicole and Alison.

Bernie Ness is Director of Business Development at the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA). Her current work entails business attraction and business retention and expansion initiatives for the Saskatoon region. Prior to this Ms. Ness held the position of Labour Market Coordinator for two years when she joined SREDA in 2007.

Ms. Ness holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a two-year Certificate in Indigenous Business Administration from the University of Saskatchewan. Ms. Ness is currently in the final stages of completing a Masters of Business Administration from Cape Breton University.

Ms. Ness has experience with a wide range of organizations, including University of Saskatchewan, SaskEnergy and the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre.

Maria Rideout attended the University of Alberta, where she received her BSc in Human Ecology, majoring in Family Studies and obtained her PHec.  Maria moved to Lloydminster in 2006, where she and her husband currently reside.  She has worked for the Lloydminster Catholic School Division as a School Counselor since 2006. She is passionate about inspiring positive change in the schools and community and is a founding member of Beyond Borders Circle of Change.

Wanda Underhill (bio to come soon)