Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy

University of Regina
Regina, SK S4S 0A2
10 March 2014
To the Selection Committee:
Congratulations on the recent establishment of the Womens Advocacy
Voice of Edmonton (WAVE) in the Edmonton city council. I am writing to
support the application of Michaelle Haughian for a position on the WAVE
committee.
I have known Ms. Haughian since 2012 and have since grown familiar
with her work as an educator, historian, community volunteer, parent,
and postsecondary student. As a researcher and university teacher on
womens and gender issues, I am aware of the important gender
dimensions of Ms. Haughians professional, volunteer, and personal
contributions. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you more about
her important work.
Ms. Haughian is a dedicated and informed individual with both
professional and experiential expertise in the precise social and gender
issues that will form this committees focus. A lifelong Edmonton
resident, Ms. Haughian completed her extensive postsecondary education
in Edmonton. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a postsecondary
certificate in Heritage Resources Management. She has completed a
number of university courses in Education and, in 2014, will return to the
University of Alberta to complete her degree in Education. Much of Ms.
Haughians formal education was focused on issues of gender and racial
inequality, including numerous courses in Womens and Gender Studies,
Aboriginal History, and Aboriginal Education. In 2011 she was recognized
as the most outstanding student in her university program. This recent
accolade reflects Ms. Haughians strong capacity for well reasoned and
intellectual thought one of the first characteristics I noticed about her.
As a professional historian and educator, Ms. Haughian has made notable
contributions to the citys educational, cultural, and historical
infrastructure. She has worked in museum curation and collections
management for the Royal Alberta Museum and Fort Edmonton Park and
has volunteered hundreds of hours to develop historical education
programs for local museums. She has substantial expertise in

organizational management and board governance, which she gained as

Executive Director for The Friends of Rutherford House Society.
Ms. Haughian also has strong experience in board and committee work.
She served as a Director with BC Libraries and has chaired a committee to
produce a local history book. Her ability to manage and build
organizations from the ground up, as well as her extensive experience
with boards of directors, will prove highly beneficial to WAVE. Further,
Ms. Haughian presents her work at professional conferences throughout
the country and will soon publish an article on her historical work; these
accomplishments prove her capacity for effective public speaking and
written analysis.
Much of Ms. Haughians volunteer work has been focused on womens
and gender issues. She has volunteered at a womens shelter and for an
Alberta food bank, giving her a strong understanding of the gendered
dimensions of violence and poverty. She has also volunteered as a mentor
for young women through the Big Sisters of Edmonton.
I have noticed her keen ability for social and policy analysis. She has an
impressive ability to analyze current issues and to suggest practical,
realistic solutions. Her skills in this area seem akin to that of a
professional policy analyst. She has a solid understanding of political
events and is familiar with the responsibilities of each level of
government, including municipal government.
I am confident that Ms. Haughians professional and personal
experiences, as well as her notable ability to analyze social and policy
issues while suggesting realistic solutions, will prove a great asset to the
WAVE committee. Further, I would like to add that Ms. Haughian is a very
reasonable and pleasant person. She possesses the interpersonal skills
necessary to work effectively and to discuss issues in a reasoned and
collaborative way. I highly recommend her for a position on the WAVE
committee.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions about
this recommendation.
Best wishes,
Dr. Amber Fletcher, Ph.D.
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
University of Regina