Carol Bilson, PhD student

Deeply compassionate and inclusive community educator and project manager with a passion for advancing community health and wellness with a focus on gender-based violence, healthy masculinities, anti-colonial work, and transformative justice.

Over twenty years supporting social advocacy and non-profits across western Canada. Demonstrated expertise in incorporating trauma-informed, anti-racist, culturally respectful, and intersectional practices into projects and initiatives. Excels at developing programming that translates complex social issues and abstract theory into accessible, practical plans for meaningful action. An avid collaborator and networker, draws in community stakeholders and builds partnerships founded on a clearly articulated vision and cutting edge approaches.

• Extensive experience planning, organizing, and managing complex projects to support strategic goals; hands-on style ensures multiple deliverables within hard deadlines and highly informative post-project evaluations
• Solid research skills acquired from graduate studies, including primary research and literature reviews; elastic and critical thinking allow for understanding of differing perspectives and clear alignment with research goals
• Informative, engaging speaker and trainer well-versed in conference planning and workshop facilitation; readily adapts training to suit different learning styles and sensitive to using appropriate language for marginalized groups
• Dedicated coach, mentor and “talent scout” driven by a sincere desire to develop others into confident leaders; remains attuned to each person’s unique talents and aspirations, and appreciated for constructive feedback
• Leads teams with purpose and intention,including each member in achieving team goals by providing opportunities aligned with their strengths and interests; sets “ground rules” to ensure members feel safe, welcomed and valued
• Proficient with MS Office applications, social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, YouTube), and experienced with a range of photo editing software

Work experience

Equity Consultant, Equity and Human Rights UVIC    

Victoria, BC
2022

• Supporting BIPOC persons 
• Facilitating human rights investigations 
• Liaising between institutions and students
• Development of action plans and training for staff and faculty in implementation

Education and Volunteer Coordinator, Victoria Women’s Transition House

Victoria, BC
2017 – 2022

• Develop, coach and manage a team of 52 volunteers across five locations, including two emergency shelters
• Recruit, interview, and deliver training program to incoming volunteers; facilitate training for staff
• Manage volunteer performance and initiate disciplinary action as required
• Facilitate workshops on Intimate Partner Violence in Victoria and surrounding communities
• Evaluate and continuously update volunteer training materials and information
• Collaborate with other employees and volunteers to plan, organize and manage special events such as fundraisers

Key Achievements

• Developed a solid team of volunteers recognized across the organization as the strongest team in recent history
• Delivered a talk to University of Victoria law students on how to interview clients through a trauma-informed lens
• Provided training to Victoria General Hospital nursing staff on strategies to support mothers experiencing intimate partner violence
• Introduced new themes in staff and volunteer training programs

Social Program Developer / Writer / Mental Health Counsellor, Inter-Tribal Health Authority

Victoria, BC
2017

• Initially hired to develop men’s wellness programming and workshops; role soon expanded into include a mental health counselling component for First Nation community members
• Developed and delivered workshops covering topics such as substance abuse, managing anger / violence, and improving emotional literacy
• Trained governance structures on suicide awareness and prevention strategies
• Provided counselling in community to nine nations across Vancouver Island including: Esquimalt, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke, Tsaycum, Lake Cowichan, Penlakut, Snaw-naw-as, Homalco, and kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis

Director, Anti-Violence Project, University of Victoria Sexual Assault

Centre, Victoria, BC
2013-2016

• Oversaw Centre’s strategic direction and implementation of best policy and practices
• Conceptualized and led community collaboration initiatives and various outreach projects
• Managed $100K budget and compiled regular fiscal reporting
• Provided mental health and emotional support / referrals to sexual assault survivors
• Advised university administration on various prevention campaigns and specialized projects
• Coordinated print and social media campaigns; developed content for Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
• Facilitated educational presentations on sexual consent to psychology classes

Key Achievements

• Highly successful social media campaign played a key role in raising public awareness and garnering support for the passing of Bill 23 (Sexual Assault and Misconduct Act)
• Provided expertise and content for university’s Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Policy
• Presented at the Gathering Our Voices Youth Conference on consent, gender-based violence and the connection to colonization
• Secured a $15K grant to establish a men’s circle on campus
• Developed support program for victims of sexual violence and trained staff along with three cohorts of volunteers to facilitate program
• Introduced bystander intervention training to university and developed a training program for students

Program Coordinator – NAPI Program, University of Calgary Native Centre

Calgary, AB
2007-2009

• Trained, led and managed a team of seven student ambassadors
• Developed a three-tier leadership program that was facilitated across Alberta and British Columbia
• Provided administrative and emotional support to First Nation students navigating post-secondary institution

Community Outreach Worker, Métis Calgary Family Services – Parent Link

Calgary, AB
2006

• Provided life skills training, support and essentials to First Nation / Metis mothers
• Conducted home visits and provided additional support for mothers with FASD
• Planned and facilitated family events and community gatherings for families in parenting programming
• Coordinated referrals and resources for families dealing with substance abuse, poverty, and other issues

Education & certifications

University of Victoria
BC Master of Arts, Human and Social Development – Indigenous Governance
2011

University of Calgary, AB
Bachelor of Arts, Communication and Culture – Political Science / Women’s Studies
2007

Certificates

Occupational First Aid Level I (WorkSafe BC) | ASIST Suicide First Aid | SafeTALK: suicide alertness for everyone | Foodsafe Level I | REIKI Level I

Conferences coordinated

C2C Campus to Campus: Cultivating Consent Culture

Victoria, BC, 2015
Part of University of Victoria Anti-Violence Project | Trained 12 universities on a sexual consent program; program later adopted by all 12 universities

Tutu a lá kup: Echoing Aboriginal Women’s Wellness

Pauquachin, BC, 2013
Managed six volunteers and coordinated all aspects of conference held at Saanich Fair Grounds

Workshops developed

UVic Pride Retreat

Cowichan Lake, BC ORG, Victoria, BC
Strengthening our Anti-Oppressive Lens for LGBTQ2S Community (2014/15)

Victoria, BC

Co-Creating Decolonial: Futures Understanding Colonization Impacts on non-Indigenous Peoples

Tsartlip First Nation & Wet’suwet’en First Nation

S,TWO,: NEW IDEAS NEW BEGINNINGS (community-building event)

Victoria Youth Correctional Facility, Victoria, BC

History of Spirits and Nations (youth workshops)

POWERSHIFT BC, Victoria, BC

Anti-Oppression Training (Youth and Climate Change Conference)

Cracks in the Concrete, Victoria, BC

Understanding Colonization through our Lived Experience (VIPIRG conference)

Youth Skill Share, Vancouver, BC

Colonization and the Occupy Movement

Embracing Shades of Action, Victoria, BC

Strengthening Young Women through Cultural Resurgence

Volunteer / community engagement

Victoria Stolen Sisters Memorial March

Core Organizer

Alt-Pride

Baker, Driver, Event Assistant

Bridges for Women Society

Breakfast Cook

Heart and Hands Health Collective

Intake Receptionist

Mapuche youth hunger strike in prison

Translator / Media Communiqué

Honduras Aid Concert

Event Assistant

International Women’s Day

Event Assistant / Presenter / Discussion Group Facilitator

Take Back the Night March

Event Planner / Communications and Marketing Support

Afrikadey Festival

Event Assistant / Marketing Support

Published works