WEVAS® Ripple Effect
From Us to You and Beyond

Founders

Michelle (she/her/elle) Clinical Director / CEO, WEVAS® Facilitator Trainer since 2014.
Masters degree in Applied Developmental Psychology, University of Guelph (1994).
Psychologist for many school divisions in rural and urban areas across Manitoba for 30+ years.
Psychology Consultant for Manitoba Education: supervised psychologists, Specialist for Emotional Behavioural Disorders (EBD), provided professional development in a variety of areas including a mental health initiative in collaboration with psychiatrists from the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre (MATC), Department’s representative on many committees focused on supporting students with diverse needs.
Instructor of WEVAS® at the University of Winnipeg’s Continuing Education department
Presented at a variety of conferences, including the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents (MASS), Aboriginal Circle of Educators (ACE), and the Manitoba Education Summer Institute.
Served on the Manitoba Association of School Psychologists (MASP) executive board since 1999 as Vice President, Member-at-Large, Publications and Communications Chair, and Issues Committee member. Developed the original MASP website, founded the MASP Award of Excellence, and supported psychologists across the province since 1994. Networking and sharing professional information have always been important to her as demonstrated in her life's work.

Read and reflected deeply in the areas of racism, Indigenous education, Truth and Reconciliation, spirituality and developed her practice to reflect this, although as a white, settler, middle-class, able-bodied, cis-gendered, heterosexual, Canadian woman, she still has a lot to learn. Makes mistakes and works to improve, turning fear into love. Believes that we are all unified in the spirit of love, happiness and peace and her purpose is linked to reconnecting and healing.

Dr. Neil Butchard (he/him) Founding President and Clinical Supervisor for WEVAS® 1993-2014.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1980
Interned at the Children’s Medical Center in Oklahoma.
Worked for over 25 years as the senior consulting psychologist for Manitoba's Department of Education and was involved in the hiring, supervision and professional development of psychologists in rural and northern Manitoba. Specialist in Emotional / Behavioural Disorders and supervised two of Manitoba's committees to develop programming for students with behavioural concerns. Department's representative on the Child and Youth Secretariat for four years and studied programs and research from across North America in working with children / youth-at-risk.
Received the Manitoba Association of School Psychologists Award of Excellence (2005) in recognition of his contribution to psychology in schools in Manitoba.

Bob Spencler (he/him) Founding Director of Program Development and Staff Training for WEVAS® 1993-2014.
Masters in Developmental Psychology from the University of Manitoba in 1971 and completed doctoral coursework in Learning Disabilities and Counselling in the Counselling Psychology program at the University of Victoria; advanced to candidacy in 1973.
Worked as a Psychologist in Southern Manitoba. Involved in developing the Adler Association of Manitoba
Developed the Province's Diagnostic Support Centre in 1981 to provide programming support for children with severe learning and behaviour difficulties who did not respond to concerted efforts at the local level; managed the Diagnostic Support Centre for 13 years.
Consultant for Emotionally / Behaviourally Disturbed (EBD) at Manitoba's Department of Education and served as the province's consultant for Safe Schools and the consultant for Learning Disabilities.
Awarded the National Excellence of Education Award from the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada.