Our Team

  • Michelle Capon, Ontario

    PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR SINCE 2017

    I got involved in CAP when I started looking for treatments for EPP. I then became interested in giving back and working with patients and health care providers in connecting each other nationally across Canada. We haven't made it there yet, but hoping to build our little organization into a big and brilliant one, tiny steps at a time.

  • Kelly Burns, British Columbia

    VICE-PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR SINCE 2021

    In 2016, I received a diagnosis of Variegate Porphyria and sought additional information about my blood disorder. I discovered CAP through a recommendation from a Porphyria group on social media.

    I joined the board because I have a strong passion for supporting others, particularly in the rare disease community, with a focus on patients dealing with Porphyria.

    I aim to make a difference for people with porphyria by raising awareness, advocating for improved healthcare resources, and fostering a supportive community for those affected by this rare disease.

  • Derry Wilcox, Alberta

    TREASURER, DIRECTOR SINCE 2014

    I originally got involved through the suggestion of my doctor as a way to advocate for my own care, then as I got more involved and learned more about the many realities people with porphyria are faced with, I really just wanted to use any skills I may have to help make those realities a little easier for all porphyria patients.

  • Jeannie Reimer, Alberta

    SECRETARY, DIRECTOR SINCE 2014

    When a family member was diagnosed with acute hepatic porphyria, I looked for information and help. I will forever be grateful for the support that I received from what was then a provincial porphyria group in Alberta. This provincial group went on to become the Canadian Association for Porphyria. I joined the board to continuing learning about Porphyria and to offer support to other patients and family members because I know first-hand how important this is. My hope is that our organization can be instrumental in educating the public and medical personnel about Porphyria so that individuals can get a proper diagnosis and then timely access to appropriate treatment & care.

  • Jean Brando, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2022

    When I became aware of CAP I was delighted that Canada had a Board representing Canadians with the various types of Porphyria. I felt I could share my knowledge gained through the years and be an asset to the Canadian Board. I saw how well other countries had supported people with Porphyria and wanted to assist our Board to be just as complete in providing referral links and information. We don't necessarily need to reinvent the wheel if the other countries are willing to share their knowledge but we do need to support Canadians with where to go for help and care. I wanted to be part of the team that supports our fellow patient/clients dealing with Porphyria.

  • Lindsay Watson, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2022

    I became involved with the Canadian Association for Porphyria/Association Canadienne de Porphyrie (CAP/ACP) because of the ever-present barriers to navigating comprehensive and timely access to care for my family members living with porphyria, members of the porphyria community and myself. As a healthcare professional and as someone with porphyria, advocacy, education, and equitable access to care are the biggest fundamental goals I work towards.

  • Tammy Wilcox, Alberta

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2016

    I got involved with this organization because Acute Intermittent Porphyria is in my family. I wanted to use my experience as an event planner to help raise funds and awareness for CAP/ACP. It was very important to me and my family to help bring access to treatment across Canada.

  • Amira Wadhwa Patry, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I am thrilled to be part of CAP, as a porphyria patient myself, I want to help others in their journey to healing and learning more about Porphriya!

  • Jim Bowie, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have personally benefitted from various EPP support groups throughout the years and hoping to be able to support others who are dealing with Porphyria.

  • Martine Desgagnes, Quebec

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I was introduced to porphyria in 2019 when my baby was diagnosed with Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria. For our little family, it was a plunge into the unknown. Since then, it's been a constant learning curve about what works and what doesn't, what she can and can't do, and many other challenges. If I had just one goal, it would be to raise awareness of the different types of porphyria and to share the various resources available to support sufferers and their loved ones. Of course, I'd like to develop French-speaking resources on our side of the Atlantic, because it was very difficult for us when we were first diagnosed.

  • Erin Dixon, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have a teenager with EPP and would like to help get available treatments approved for use and/or accessible to Canadians - ideally both adults and youth. I would also like to help increase awareness of Porphyria in the medical field and general population.

  • Ian McCool

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

  • Paula Williams

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have variegate porphyria and have become basically symptom free! I want to help others with porphyria.

Our Team

  • Michelle Capon, Ontario

    PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR SINCE 2017

    I got involved in CAP when I started looking for treatments for EPP. I then became interested in giving back and working with patients and health care providers in connecting each other nationally across Canada. We haven't made it there yet, but hoping to build our little organization into a big and brilliant one, tiny steps at a time.

  • Kelly Burns, British Columbia

    VICE-PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR SINCE 2021

    In 2016, I received a diagnosis of Variegate Porphyria and sought additional information about my blood disorder. I discovered CAP through a recommendation from a Porphyria group on social media.

    I joined the board because I have a strong passion for supporting others, particularly in the rare disease community, with a focus on patients dealing with Porphyria.

    I aim to make a difference for people with porphyria by raising awareness, advocating for improved healthcare resources, and fostering a supportive community for those affected by this rare disease.

    Contact me@ kburns@porphyriacanada.ca

  • Derry Wilcox, Alberta

    TREASURER, DIRECTOR SINCE 2014

    I originally got involved through the suggestion of my doctor as a way to advocate for my own care, then as I got more involved and learned more about the many realities people with porphyria are faced with, I really just wanted to use any skills I may have to help make those realities a little easier for all porphyria patients.

  • Jeannie Reimer, Alberta

    SECRETARY, DIRECTOR SINCE 2014

    When a family member was diagnosed with acute hepatic porphyria, I looked for information and help. I will forever be grateful for the support that I received from what was then a provincial porphyria group in Alberta. This provincial group went on to become the Canadian Association for Porphyria. I joined the board to continuing learning about Porphyria and to offer support to other patients and family members because I know first-hand how important this is. My hope is that our organization can be instrumental in educating the public and medical personnel about Porphyria so that individuals can get a proper diagnosis and then timely access to appropriate treatment & care.

  • Jean Brando, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2022

    When I became aware of CAP I was delighted that Canada had a Board representing Canadians with the various types of Porphyria. I felt I could share my knowledge gained through the years and be an asset to the Canadian Board. I saw how well other countries had supported people with Porphyria and wanted to assist our Board to be just as complete in providing referral links and information. We don't necessarily need to reinvent the wheel if the other countries are willing to share their knowledge but we do need to support Canadians with where to go for help and care. I wanted to be part of the team that supports our fellow patient/clients dealing with Porphyria.

  • Lindsay Watson, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2022

    I became involved with the Canadian Association for Porphyria/Association Canadienne de Porphyrie (CAP/ACP) because of the ever-present barriers to navigating comprehensive and timely access to care for my family members living with porphyria, members of the porphyria community and myself. As a healthcare professional and as someone with porphyria, advocacy, education, and equitable access to care are the biggest fundamental goals I work towards.

  • Tammy Wilcox, Alberta

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2016

    I got involved with this organization because Acute Intermittent Porphyria is in my family. I wanted to use my experience as an event planner to help raise funds and awareness for CAP/ACP. It was very important to me and my family to help bring access to treatment across Canada.

  • Amira Wadhwa Patry, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I am thrilled to be part of CAP, as a porphyria patient myself, I want to help others in their journey to healing and learning more about Porphriya!

  • Jim Bowie, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have personally benefitted from various EPP support groups throughout the years and hoping to be able to support others who are dealing with Porphyria.

  • Martine Desgagnes, Quebec

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I was introduced to porphyria in 2019 when my baby was diagnosed with Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria. For our little family, it was a plunge into the unknown. Since then, it's been a constant learning curve about what works and what doesn't, what she can and can't do, and many other challenges. If I had just one goal, it would be to raise awareness of the different types of porphyria and to share the various resources available to support sufferers and their loved ones. Of course, I'd like to develop French-speaking resources on our side of the Atlantic, because it was very difficult for us when we were first diagnosed.

  • Erin Dixon, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have a teenager with EPP and would like to help get available treatments approved for use and/or accessible to Canadians - ideally both adults and youth. I would also like to help increase awareness of Porphyria in the medical field and general population.

  • Ian McCool

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

  • Paula Williams

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have variegate porphyria and have become basically symptom free! I want to help others with porphyria.

Our Team

  • Michelle Capon, Ontario

    PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR SINCE 2017

    I got involved in CAP when I started looking for treatments for EPP. I then became interested in giving back and working with patients and health care providers in connecting each other nationally across Canada. We haven't made it there yet, but hoping to build our little organization into a big and brilliant one, tiny steps at a time.

  • Kelly Burns, British Columbia

    VICE-PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR SINCE 2021

    In 2016, I received a diagnosis of Variegate Porphyria and sought additional information about my blood disorder. I discovered CAP through a recommendation from a Porphyria group on social media.

    I joined the board because I have a strong passion for supporting others, particularly in the rare disease community, with a focus on patients dealing with Porphyria.

    I aim to make a difference for people with Porphyria by raising awareness, advocating for improved healthcare resources, and fostering a supportive community for those affected by this rare disease.

  • Derry Wilcox, Alberta

    TREASURER, DIRECTOR SINCE 2014

    I originally got involved through the suggestion of my doctor as a way to advocate for my own care, then as I got more involved and learned more about the many realities people with porphyria are faced with, I really just wanted to use any skills I may have to help make those realities a little easier for all porphyria patients.

  • Jeannie Reimer, Alberta

    SECRETARY, DIRECTOR SINCE 2014

    When a family member was diagnosed with acute hepatic porphyria, I looked for information and help. I will forever be grateful for the support that I received from what was then a provincial porphyria group in Alberta. This provincial group went on to become the Canadian Association for Porphyria. I joined the board to continuing learning about Porphyria and to offer support to other patients and family members because I know first-hand how important this is. My hope is that our organization can be instrumental in educating the public and medical personnel about Porphyria so that individuals can get a proper diagnosis and then timely access to appropriate treatment & care.

  • Jean Brando, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2022

    When I became aware of CAP I was delighted that Canada had a Board representing Canadians with the various types of Porphyria. I felt I could share my knowledge gained through the years and be an asset to the Canadian Board. I saw how well other countries had supported people with Porphyria and wanted to assist our Board to be just as complete in providing referral links and information. We don't necessarily need to reinvent the wheel if the other countries are willing to share their knowledge but we do need to support Canadians with where to go for help and care. I wanted to be part of the team that supports our fellow patient/clients dealing with Porphyria.

  • Lindsay Watson, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2022

    I became involved with the Canadian Association for Porphyria/Association Canadienne de Porphyrie (CAP/ACP) because of the ever-present barriers to navigating comprehensive and timely access to care for my family members living with porphyria, members of the porphyria community and myself. As a healthcare professional and as someone with porphyria, advocacy, education, and equitable access to care are the biggest fundamental goals I work towards.

  • Tammy Wilcox, Alberta

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2016

    I got involved with this organization because Acute Intermittent Porphyria is in my family. I wanted to use my experience as an event planner to help raise funds and awareness for CAP/ACP. It was very important to me and my family to help bring access to treatment across Canada.

  • Amira Wadhwa Patry, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I am thrilled to be part of CAP, as a porphyria patient myself, I want to help others in their journey to healing and learning more about Porphriya!

  • Jim Bowie, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have personally benefitted from various EPP support groups throughout the years and hoping to be able to support others who are dealing with Porphyria.

  • Martine Desgagnes, Quebec

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I was introduced to porphyria in 2019 when my baby was diagnosed with Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria. For our little family, it was a plunge into the unknown. Since then, it's been a constant learning curve about what works and what doesn't, what she can and can't do, and many other challenges. If I had just one goal, it would be to raise awareness of the different types of porphyria and to share the various resources available to support sufferers and their loved ones. Of course, I'd like to develop French-speaking resources on our side of the Atlantic, because it was very difficult for us when we were first diagnosed.

  • Erin Dixon, Ontario

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have a teenager with EPP and would like to help get available treatments approved for use and/or accessible to Canadians - ideally both adults and youth. I would also like to help increase awareness of Porphyria in the medical field and general population.

  • Ian McCool

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

  • Paula Williams

    DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

    I have variegate porphyria and have become basically symptom free! I want to help others with porphyria.