Our team

We are a partnership between people with cancer experience, clinicians and researchers from the University of Alberta, University of the Fraser Valley, and Queen’s University supported by Bird Communications.

                         Mary Morgan (she/her) – Co-founder and community partner

Mary was a social justice activist and a community organizer from Powell River, a small community in British Columbia. She lent us her expertise as our community partner from the initial discussions of what Queering Cancer should be. Mary’s story was the first one we highlighted on the site, and she set the direction, and the ethos, for the QC project. Mary died aged 64 from Multiple Myeloma, choosing to cross over with family and friends present.

Dr. Evan Taylor (they/them) – Co-founder

Evan is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work & Human Services, at the University of Fraser Valley (British Columbia). Evan’s research focuses on on sexuality and gender-diverse communities and their doctoral research explored sexual and gender diversity, and experiences of cancer health, support and care. They live in Vancouver with their husband and rescue puppy.

Dr. Amanda Bolderston (she/her) – Co-founder

Amanda works at the University of Alberta in the Radiation Therapy Program. Her doctoral research investigated the experiences of lesbian and gay healthcare professionals in practice. She is an educator who has developed organizational guidelines, policies and education in sexual and gender diverse (SGD) affirming care. She lives in Edmonton with her wife Kim and occasionally her teenage son Sam.

Meghan McInnis (she/her) – Co-founder

Meghan is a PhD Candidate in the Clinical Psychology program at Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario), and she is completing her graduate research in the Sexual Health Research Laboratory. Her Master’s research examined prostate cancer survivorship. Meghan lives in Kingston. In her spare time, she enjoys seeing musicals, playing video games, and curling up with a good book.

Kim Meeking (she/her/they/them) – Content and creativity

Kim is an oncology clinical trial specialist with a background in radiation therapy. Kim’s Masters research explored the role of social media for people with cancer. Kim is a creative introvert, a keen cook and appreciates a good notebook. She lives in Edmonton with her wife Amanda and occasionally her teenage stepson Sam.

Laura Imayoshi (she/her/they/them) – Community partner

Laura is a queer, white, settler living in the unceded and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall of 2020 and has completed cancer treatment and is now cancer free. Laura is also a spouse and a parent and she shares that “life is full!” Read more here.

Tristan Bilash (he/him) – Community partner

Tristan is a transgender man and clinical oncology social worker living in Regina, Saskatchewan. He was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer about 18 years ago and had extensive surgery. Tristan is a sexual and gender diversity representative for the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology’s Advocacy Committee, and an advisor for the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Read more here.

 

Check out our team’s research highlights


QC media mentions: