OUR TEAM

Viktoria has worked in the gender-based violence and education sector developing and facilitating survivor-centric learning and supports for over 10 years. She is the founder and director of the Dandelion Initiative and has worked across Turtle Island with diverse organizations, communities and sectors teaching and developing policy, programming, and trauma care services for survivors and allies. Viktoria has a deep devotion to intersectional-feminist and arts-based recovery and healing interventions and practices for survivors. Viktoria is passionate about gender-based violence prevention and response development in workplaces and policies. Viktoria is a teacher, survivor, an immigrant, Romani-Hungarian Woman, an 2SLGBTQ+ community member and a passionate advocate for women and children’s rights. Viktoria is responsible for all of our training, workshops, policy and survivor sessions with our small team of two-three staff. She lives in Ontario with her wife and animals.

As The Board of Director’s Treasurer, Alina is responsible for the review of the Board’s activities related to financial responsibilities. 

Alina is an experienced Accounting professional who has a passion for helping others.  She regularly gives back to her home twin-island state of Antigua & Barbuda by donating gently used clothes and toys to the Bolans Community.  

Alina earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Ontario Tech University. She has been professionally providing bookkeeping services to small businesses since 2018 and is employed as a Property Accountant.   

Laur has been a part of the Dandelion Initiative since 2017, where they support community members and staff with one on one and group peer support. They also facilitate workshops on fostering resiliency through care, and survivor-centric principles for peer support. The trauma care they offer rests on the belief that recovery is a journey of continually redefining safety, and reclaiming agency and self-worth. Their work draws on their learning from survivor-centric principles, peer support, Buddhist practice, and unsettling/decolonizing efforts. They have lived and living-experience with intimate partner violence, mental illness, chronic illness and pain, and addiction. In addition to being a counselor and educator with the Dandelion Initiative, they are a facilitator at the AIDS Bereavement and Resiliency Program of Ontario, a facilitator at 3 Jewels Recovery, and privately offer community support and spiritual care. Laur lives in Dish with One Spoon territory with their wife, dog, lizard, many plants, and books

Chantelle Gabino is a Canadian-Filipino hospitality professional with over a dozen years of experience in the food & beverage industry. An award-winning bartender, beverage and brand consultant, events and program manager, as well as President / Chair of the ‘Dandelion Initiative’; Chantelle has shifted her expertise and focus towards celebrating a new age of imbibing, conscientious consumption, and community care in Canadian legalization.

Andrea joined the Dandelion Initiative as a board member in 2019 and later moved into a staff role in 2021. She is currently the project lead for MOTHS, a trauma care program for front-line workers and women in health services. Andrea has dedicated her time to advocating for the creation of spaces that are inclusive, survivor and feminist-centric. She believes that these practices will change the way in which we heal and care for others.

Larissa Donovan is a community advocate who has been volunteering with Dandelion Initiative since 2016. She is a service industry veteran who worked 12 years in various industry positions. Larissa received her law degree in 2021 and hopes to continue supporting service workers and precarious workers in her practice. Larissa is passionate about creating healthy workplaces and supporting community healing. Today, she works as a conflict resolution specialist and workplace investigator. Larissa is working towards broadening her experience in systemic advocacy and trauma-informed practice.

Narmeen is a Pakistani-Canadian community leader who is committed to an intersectional approach while leveraging her privileges to create lasting social change. She is an avid volunteer and has participated in 2SLGBTQ+ community panels, facilitated workshops, and currently serves as the Director of Operations at Feminuity, a diversity, equity and inclusion consulting firm.