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Alberta Primary Care
Nurses Association
About
The Alberta Primary Care Nurses Association is a provincial association of nurses (LPNs, RPNs, RNs,) who network and provide mentorship, tools, resources and educational opportunities to foster professional development, leadership and excellence in primary care.
Founded by a passionate group of nurses with a special interest in advancing primary care nursing, the association aims to strengthen the role of nurses within interdisciplinary healthcare teams and promote excellence in patient-centered care.
Through advocacy, education, collaboration, and professional development opportunities, the association works to elevate the voice of primary care nurses while fostering a supportive community for those practicing in diverse primary care settings. The organization is committed to advancing the future of primary care nursing and supporting nurses in delivering accessible, high-quality care to Albertans.
Interested in learning more, or becoming a member of the executive team? Send an email to apcna.executive@gmail.com
Meet the Executive Team
President
Gisele Gagne, RN BScN
Gisele graduated from MacEwan’s Rural Nursing program in 2002 and then earned her degree from the University of Alberta’s Post RN Rural Program in 2009. She started her career as a staff nurse at the Bonnyville Health Center and continues to work there casually in obstetrics and acute care. Gisele has been involved with the Bonnyville PCN since its inception, first as a community partner during her 8 years as Nurse in Charge at Kehewin First Nations, then as the OB program nurse lead. Gisele has been employed by the Bonnyville PCN since 2013 and is currently the Clinical Lead and continues to run the Obstetrics program. She is honored to accept the challenge and to help push forward the goals of the members of the APCNA.
Vice President
Sanjeet Sandhu, RN, MPH
is a Registered Nurse by background and one of the Managers of Clinical Services with the Edmonton West Primary Care Network. She has been working in primary care for the past 12 years and also holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Victoria. She is committed to enhancing the health of populations through holistic nursing approaches that leverage public and social policy.
Education Chair
Wendy Singh, RN, BScN, BSc
Wendy is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s after-degree RN program. She then worked in the Emergency Department for 13 years, only just recently leaving her casual position. Wendy also has experience working in forensic mental health, NICU, and adolescent psychiatry. Wendy transitioned into primary care in 2021 and has been working as a primary care nurse at the Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network (ESPCN). Since joining ESPCN, Wendy has been working at a fast-paced clinic where she has had the opportunity to be able to work to her full scope as an RN. She has now been transitioned into a Clinical Educator Role and is excited to support other nurses to working to their full scope. Wendy is a mom of 2 girls and is married to an advanced care paramedic and therefore, life is never boring!
Treasurer
Cristin Low, RN, BN
Cristin’s nursing career began as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 2009. She then continued her schooling through the Athabasca University LPN-to-RN Bridging Program, and graduated with distinction, as a Registered Nurse in 2015. Her varied experience includes rural acute care, surgical, obstetrics, emergency nursing, and critical care. In 2020, she transitioned to the Grande Prairie Primary Care Network (GPPCN), where she works to full-scope as a Chronic Disease Family Practice nurse. Cristin views Primary Care as the foundation to strong, resilient communities, and she is hoping to help optimize the understanding and utilization of Team-based care within the Patient’s Medical Home model. She is excited to work along-side, and learn from, her peers of the executive team at the Alberta Primary Care Nurses Association (APCNA).
Secretary
Laura Chapman, RN, BScN, CDE
Laura graduated from McMaster University and began her nursing career in Ontario on a surgical thoracics, head and neck unit. After relocating to Calgary, she gained valuable experience on an acute surgical floor and in the emergency department before transitioning into primary care. She has worked in a family practice setting and in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, providing essential nursing care to refugee populations.
Currently, Laura is part of the Calgary West Central Primary Care Network, where she is dedicated to advancing patient-centered care. She values the critical role primary care nurses play in disease management and prevention, and she looks forward to collaborating with the executive team to further strengthen and support primary care nursing initiatives.
South West Regional Representative
Larissa Hughes RN BN CDE
Larissa discovered her passion for Primary Care as a Nursing Student at the University of Calgary.
She worked in Public Health and then was fortunate to practice as a full time Primary Care Nurse for the Mosaic Primary Care Network (MPCN).
Larissa transitioned into leadership at MPCN in 2018, as a Nursing Lead, and then as the Manager, Chronic Disease Management until 2023.
Larissa is now the Director of Clinical Services at the Calgary Rural Primary Care Network (CRPCN), a position she loves. She is passionate about disease prevention and management, and being part of driving innovative programs and services to build healthier communities. She sees Primary Care Nurses as integral to a team based care model that advances equitable access to care in a patient’s medical home.
Larissa is thankful for the opportunity to advocate for and promote Primary Care Nursing with other members at the APCNA.
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South East Regional Representative
Rachel Fynn RN
Rachel brings a diverse and well-rounded nursing background to her role as the South East Zone Representative. Since graduating from University of Alberta in 2018, she has worked in dermatology, corrections, and outpost nursing in Nunavut before joining the South Calgary Primary Care Network, where she currently serves as Clinical Team Lead- RN for the Medical Home Team.
Since transitioning to primary care in 2023, Rachel has found her professional home. She values the opportunity primary care provides to support individuals and families through every stage of life.
As South East Regional Representative, Rachel looks forward to strengthening regional connections, amplifying the voices of primary care nurses, and supporting the important work already underway in primary care.
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Central Regional Representative
Open Position
Calgary Regional Representative
Corrine Christian, RN BN
Corinne graduated from the University of Calgary School of Nursing in December 2005. She has worked in public health, occupational health, and now has found her passion in primary care working at a large and innovative family practice in Calgary since 2012. In her role as Clinical Nursing Resource, Corinne oversees the development and maintenance of nursing clinical care plans and clinic processes, with a shared vision to optimize nursing scope and the benefits of team-based care. Corinne recognizes the immensely valuable role nurses play in primary care and is excited and grateful to be joining the ACPNA team to continue to advocate for recognition and growth of this nursing specialty.
Calgary Regional Representative
Margot Bergevin, RN
Margot has been a practicing RN for 26 years; and in primary care for over half of this time. Her past experiences include surgery, medicine, long term care, and workplace health and safety. She feels the most supported and fulfilled and thus provides the best care within the primary care sphere. In her past time, she enjoys music, fitness and travelling with her husband.
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Edmonton Regional Representative
Kellie Willie , RN, BScN, BPE, CEP
Kellie Willie is an Edmonton-based Registered Nurse and leader with a passion for collaboration, innovation, and whole-person care. Her experience across acute and primary care, provincial policy development, and quality improvement fuels her commitment to advancing accessible and proactive primary care across Alberta.
In addition to her work in healthcare, Kellie is passionate about health promotion, physical movement, and empowering others to build sustainable wellness habits. As an Edmonton Representative for APCNA, she is excited to help strengthen connections among primary care nurses, support professional growth, and advocate for the evolving role of nursing in primary care.
Communications Chair
Jordan McPhee, RN, BScN
Jordan currently works at Crowfoot Village Family Practice (CVFP) in Calgary. She graduated from the University of Alberta’s collaborative nursing program in Fort McMurray in 2021. She then moved to Calgary and was welcomed into the world of primary care nursing. Since starting her career in Calgary, she has developed a passion and love for working as a primary care nurse and can see a an incredible amount of potential for nurses working within this space. Over the past year she has been involved with the Rainbow Project, which is a team - based care initiative at CVFP which focuses on maximizing the role of each multidisciplinary team member to enhance accessibility and quality of patient care. Outside of nursing Jordan enjoys spending times outdoors, working on crafts and spending time with family and friends.
Past President
Melissa Waddell, RN BScN
Melissa is an RN since 2012 residing and working mostly in Edmonton, Alberta. Nursing in Primary Care Practice became a passion of hers after switching from Emergency Medicine in 2018. Since entering a leadership role in 2019 her goal has been to enhance education and awareness of all the wonderful work Primary Care Nurses do within Family Practice. She serves as the Primary Care Nursing contact and representative for Alberta on the Coalition for Primary Health Care and the Canadian Family Practice Nursing Association. She's honored to lead the APCNA to contribute to enhancing this specialty in nursing and provide it the recognition it deserves.
Founding Member
Kim Daniels RN, BN
Kim graduated from nursing school at the University of Lethbridge in 2008. Kim had worked in Primary Care throughout her schooling and after graduation, took a position at the Campbell Clinic in Coaldale, where she spent the next 11 years offering Primary Care Nursing expertise and working alongside a multidisciplinary team to the full scope of practice. Kim moved into the position of Clinical Care Coordinator within the clinic adding Quality Improvement and process and policy management to the long list of skills and duties within the clinic.
In 2019, Kim moved to her current position as Clinical and Quality Improvement Lead with the Chinook Primary Care Network Central Support Office. This role allows Kim to put the Primary Care clinic voice front and center when it comes to process and policy-making strategies across the province and within the community.
Founding Member
Abbie Skrove RN
Founding Member
Chantal Rennie RN
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