Joy Bacon, Chair
New Brunswick
Joy Bacon has more than 35 years of experience in the health and social services field, focusing on community involvement and helping others. Throughout her career she has co-chaired the Federal/Provincial planning group for Deputy Ministers of Social Services, acted as the interim Executive Director for the Canadian Mental Health Association and the New Brunswick Association for Community Living, and served as a Task Force member for the review of Mental Health Services in New Brunswick.
Joy is the Past-President of Inclusion Canada, having completed four years as President, and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Mental Health Association provincially. She just completed her two year term as President of the Canadian Mental Health Association nationally. Joy has been a member of the IRIS Board of Directors for the past five years.
Robin Acton, Vice-Chair
Saskatchewan
Robin Acton is the current President of Inclusion Canada. She has been extensively involved in the movement for inclusion playing multiple leadership roles in her local community and at the provincial, national and international level. Robin brings to the IRIS Board extensive knowledge of the issues facing individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families rooted in her own family’s experience and her advocacy efforts with hundreds of other families and individuals with intellectual disabilities over her 25 year history. She has consulted in the area of organizational and leadership development in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Currently, Robin, her husband and children operate their family enterprise located in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.
Barb MacIntyre, Treasurer
Alberta
Barb and her husband live in Edmonton, Alberta. Together, they are the proud parents of two young men, one of whom has an intellectual disability. Their youngest son was fully included throughout school, university and is employed full time. All this was possible because of the strength and support of Inclusion Alberta and the network of families connected to the organization.
For the last 25 years Barb has worked as a Financial Controller with experience in hotel management, commercial development and oilfield services. Prior to that she spent several years as a Senior Accountant in a public accounting firm.
Barb is the current President of Inclusion Alberta and has held this position since April 2017. She served as President 2010-2012 and has been on the Executive since 2008. She also served as President of Inclusion Edmonton Region. She discovered Inclusion Alberta through the family leadership series. Finding others with shared values for inclusion and who were passionate about creating positive social change for individuals with intellectual disabilities made all the difference to her and her family.
Barb is proud to be part of this movement and values the national organization, other federation members and families. She is committed to being a strong voice for inclusion and for families. She is looking forward to fulfilling the responsibilities of Treasurer for Inclusion Canada, Inclusion Canada Foundation and IRIS and to providing Board support to ensure people with intellectual disabilities and their families are able to participate fully in all aspects of society.
