Meet the Team

Meet the Volunteers Who Were Part of It's Just 700

Marie-Claude Gagnon, Founder & CEO March 2015 - Feb. 2021 (volunteer)

Marie-Claude Gagnon

MC is a former naval reservist, an Accessibility Policy Officer and an activist for the needs of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) survivors. She created the group in 2015 to ensure access to basic support for survivors of MST, to raise awareness about MST in the military community and to entice sustainable changes to support MST survivors. She managed It's Just 700 from 2015 to February 2021.

MC est une ancienne réserviste de la marine, une agente des politiques en accessibilité, et une militante pour les besoins des personnes qui vivent avec un Traumatisme sexual dans le militaire (TSM). Elle a créé ce groupe en 2015 pour offrir du soutien aux personnes qui vivents avec un TSM, pour sensibiliser la communauté militaire aux TSM et pour instaurer des changements durables pour soutenir les personnes qui vivents avec un TSM.

Christine Wood, Volunteer Strategic Engagement (2015-2021) & CEO (Feb. 2021-May 2021)

Christine Wood

Christine is a former Air Force reservist. She is also an Military Sexual Trauma survivor. Like many new recruits, Christine was assaulted in 2011 while completing her training at CFB Borden. She medically released in 2014 after being diagnosed with PTSD. Christine is married and has a daughter. She is committed to assisting in reforming the CF's policies to protect members from sexual violence.

Lori Buchart, Volunteer Operations Coordinator (2015-2021)

Lori Buchard

In addition to holding a Doctorate in Business, where she researched successful organizational change, Lori brings a diverse background in developing and facilitating leadership programs. With over 35 years of combined CF Reserve and civilian work experience, her work has taken her into large public sector as well small, medium and large private sector and non-profit organizations consulting in a number of strategic and organizational change and culture areas. Lori`s master’s level research focused on strengthening interpersonal working relationships through personal leadership practice and effective conflict resolution/communication.

Lori focuses her efforts always on fostering empathic and compassionate practices and relationships for improving both personal and organizational success. She encourages these relational practices through reflective methods and personal leadership development by always encouraging “curiosity”. Her passion while volunteering is to nurture individual and organizational stakeholders to be the change they want to see.

While at MRU, Lori completed research in the area of investigating Returning to Work After a Life Threatening Illness. She identified the issues, challenges and opportunities from both an employer/employee perspective and revealed how all stakeholders can work together to create a best practice model for a successful return to work. Some of this work focused on the trauma of illness how to manage self-care.

Lori has worked with such organizations as WestJet Airlines, City of Calgary, Gibson's Energy, Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, EPCOR Center for the Performing Arts, Critical Mass, Catalyst Accounting, Wellspring and the City of Red Deer in supporting various human capital initiatives.

Lori retired from Mount Royal University in 2013 as a tenured professor, where she was nominated for a distinguished teaching award by her students. She retired from the Canadian Forces Reserve as Lieutenant-Commander in 1996. Her formal therapy to overcome the trauma from MST, has been augmented by purchasing and refurbishing a sailboat with her husband, Lawrence. She splits her time between Calgary and Victoria as well as travels when able – looking for the next winery, great recipe to try at home, and the bike trail! Her two adult children are in Vancouver and Calgary, where they are both pursuing post-secondary studies.

Marguerite Samplonius, Volunteer Instagram (2015-2021)

Marguerite Samplonius

Marguerite has over 30 years of Reserve Force service and is a MST survivor. Like many others, her first assault happened during her recruit training when she was 17 years old.
With the recent assurances of the Chief of Defence staff to address harmful behaviours within the military and provide support for victims, Marguerite would like to use her facilitator skills in ethics, occupational health & safety and anti-harassment to help other MST survivors come forward.
She also hopes her previous policy experience at National Defence Headquarters will provide insights for the group to go forward with viable options on recommendations for revised policies that truly combat harmful behaviours because whether it happened 30 years ago or 30 days ago, the trauma feels the same.
Marguerite believes real changes will happen, but everyone needs to collaborate and become part of the healing process that too many men and women have put off through fear of reprisal.

"It's NOT just 700 anymore"

I would also like to thank the following people...

A big thank you to our class action lead representatives, the contributors of our Vlogs and Blogs, our moderators and our numerous members who took the time to use their voice and experiences so MST members can be heard at parliamentary committees, in the media, in research and stakeholder meetings.