About the Alberta Society for the Visually Impaired

Julia Roy
President

Julia Roy has been involved with ASVI Edmonton for over a decade. She worked with preschool children with disabilities and their families for 15 years. Out of a desire to further help those she worked with, she returned to school and graduated in the spring of 2020 with a Master’s degree in Human Ecology, Family Studies. She and her husband have two children, the oldest of whom has achromatopsia, a vision impairment resulting in low visual acuity, light blindness, and colour blindness. Julia is a passionate advocate of public education and believes every child should have barrier-free access to participate fully in school.

Gabrielle Heselton
Vice President

Gabrielle Heselton is a registered provisional psychologist in private practice. She completed her Master of Counselling degree from Athabasca University. Before returning to school to become a psychologist, Gabrielle was a teacher with Edmonton Public Schools, working exclusively with students with disabilities in a variety of settings, including PUF and specialized elementary programs. She hold a Master of Education from the University of Alberta in Special Education and has experience working with blind and visually impaired children who have co-occurring complex developmental disabilities. Gabrielle also has lived experience of vision loss, having been diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease as a teenager.

Stephen Bly
Treasurer

Stephen is new to the board but has been involved in the visually impaired community for 5 years. He volunteers with the Goalball program. He strives to see change in the province for children who are blind and visually impaired. He also has a passion for photography.

Stephen also is a National Technical Official for Canadian Blind Sports Association as a Ref for the Paralympic sport of Goalball

He is also a youth coach for the Alberta youth goalball teams with his wife Brieann

Suzanne Dodd
Secretary

Suzanne Dodd started to become involved with ASVI in early 2024 and decided to join the Board of Directors to become more involved with advocacy for children with low vision and blindness.

Suzanne has a son that was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Donnai-Barrow Syndrome which contributed to losing his sight during his early teenage years.She is currently Senior Director Business Development for the 8760 Group, an expense management firm servicing many businesses throughout Canada. Her son’s journey highlighted the important work that ASVI has been doing to ensure that every child with a vision impairment has the supports and adaptations necessary to be successful in school. “ When I first learned about ASVI it brought a sense of relief , initially when my son lost his vision it was difficult to navigate his new world and access adequate support. ASVI has provided insight, support, and access to additional resources. I believe that ASVI’s work, and dedication has contributed to many improvements for children facing the challenges of low vision and blindness.

Brieann Bly
Member at Large

Brieann Baldock joined the board in 2018. She has oculocutaneous albinism and is legally blind. In September 2020, Brieann started her fourth year of a bachelor of education degree at the university of Alberta. She also has an Early Learning and Childcare diploma and Special Needs Education Assistant certificate from MacEwan University. Brieann has grown up playing sports and being very active. She has been playing competitive goalball for 10 years and has been to both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

“ASVI has had a major impact on my life whether it be the family support, interaction and advocacy, throughout my personal and educational journey.  ASVI has provided equipment, programs and many amazing opportunities that have helped me become the person I am today. I am so incredibly happy and thankful to be on this board and give back to this amazing organization.” 

Catherine Kirugi
Member at Large

Catherine Kirugi has a son who is diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis. She would like to see every child with a visual Impairment have the opportunity and means to be the best they can.

Ratidzayi Nyenya
Member at Large

Ratidzayi Nyenya is a biologist by profession. She and her husband have 3 children. Their son has low vision due to albinism, a congenital condition that results in lack of pigment in the eyes, hair, and skin. Ratidzayi is passionate about issues of inclusion and advocacy for children who are blind and visually impaired. She draws her passion from personal experience bringing up a child with visual impairment and experiences shared with other families who daily have to navigate many challenges to ensure their children get the accommodations they need to maximise their potential and be successful in life, in spite of their disability. 

Niels Nicolajsen
Member at Large

Niels first joined ASVI in 2000 and has previously served as a Member at Large on various committees. Secondary-trained as a Social Studies and English teacher and having graduated with his Bachelor of Education degree in 1999, he soon thereafter began and completed his Master of Special Education in Blindness and Visual Impairment from the University of British Columbia, and has been working as a Teacher of Students with Vision Loss since 2003. He also completed the Orientation and Mobility Licensure program out of the University of Northern Colorado in 2007, and has been a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) since 2008.

Kelly Baldock
Past President

Kelly Baldock, is the manager of Partnerships with Careers: The Next Generation and comes from a media background. Kelly and her husband have 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren, her daughter Brieann has Albinism OCA type 2. Kelly has actively been part of the ASVI board for over 20 years in various roles and is very passionate about helping families navigate supports for children with visual impairments. Kelly currently is director of operations for the Alberta Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind and finance director for Canadian Blind Sports Association. “Over the past 24 years of raising my daughter, I have learned so many things that have really shaped and guided me towards my professional career and I truly find joy in connecting and helping families.”