Board of Directors

Dr. Melanie McLeod is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) and a recognized leader in mental health and addiction care within Saskatchewan. She currently practices with Mental Health & Addiction Services at the Saskatchewan Health Authority and serves as a psychopharmacology educator within the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan.

A passionate advocate for reducing stigma associated with mental illness, Dr. McLeod is a frequent speaker and educator for pharmacists, family physicians, psychiatrists, and psychiatry residents. Her work focuses on optimizing pharmacotherapy, advancing collaborative models of care, and expanding the scope of practice in mental health services.

In 2017, Dr. McLeod founded Canada’s first mental health-focused community pharmacy, Vital Care Pharmacy, addressing critical gaps in access to specialized psychiatric medication support. While she transitioned ownership in 2021, the pharmacy continues to serve as a vital resource for an underserved patient population — a legacy she remains deeply proud of.

Dr. McLeod brings to the RIFFA Board a strong commitment to community advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and meaningful social impact.

Alice Nguyen is a member of the Forensic Practice at KPMG. Alice holds a Bachelor of Business Administration major in accounting and is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over six years of experience in public accounting, audit services, as well as forensic investigations. Alice has worked with several high-profile clients from a variety of industries including Insurance, Financial Services, Pension Plans, Manufacturing, Crown Corporations, Public School Divisions, Not-For-Profits, Professional Sports, Gaming and Recreation. Alice has a deep passion for the performing arts, demonstrated through her active participation in dance showcases and music videos in Regina. As a member of the Board, she aspires to leverage her experience and enthusiasm to promote the growth and visibility of both film and performing arts within the Regina community.

Sam holds a BFA in Film & Video and a minor in philosophy, a certificate in Public Relations, and is trained in Organizational Innovation, transformation and design-thinking.

After a brief stint in the film and television industry her career grew to more than 15 years in creative communications and strategy. As Associate Creative Director at Phoenix Advertising Group she wrote and creative directed award-winning mass media campaigns for some of Saskatchewan’s largest brands including the Roughriders, Great Western and Original 16 beer, Casino Regina, Conexus Credit Union, and western Canadian brand Sport Select, collaborating with illustrators, designers, animators, and composers around the world. She has written and creative directed more than 60 broadcast spots and webseries’, some with upwards of tens of millions organic views.

As a consultant, Sam has developed new product brands, helped clients tell compelling stories, and identified business solutions in unconventional ways. This path has led to her current role as CEO of the RCMP Heritage Centre where she is leading the organization toward becoming Canada’s newest National Museum.

As a creative strategist, she is fuelled by curiosity. Sam has never encountered a problem she didn’t want to solve. She credits Imagination, collaboration, and empathy as core to her success.

In her spare time, Sam reads, writes, provides script analysis for emerging film artists, is a jury head for the Yorkton Film Festival, and sits on the Globe Theatre’s Board of Directors.

Jeanette Tonita is a highly respected figure in Regina, Canada, known for her dedication to both the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce and a multitude of volunteer organizations.

As the Events Manager for the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce, Jeanette shoulders the responsibility of planning and executing all Chamber events. This role requires her to be a skilled organizer and a reliable point of contact for event committees.

Beyond her professional role, Jeanette exemplifies a commitment to serving her community. For over 30 years, she has volunteered extensively, earning recognition through prestigious awards like the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Jeanette’s leadership qualities have been evident in her various board positions. She has served as President and Vice Chair of the MacKenzie Infant Care Centre, a vital organization providing childcare for student parents attending the Shirley Schneider Support Centre. Additionally, she has held leadership roles with the Provincial Vice Chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, the Regina International Film Festival & Awards (RIFFA), and the Friends of the Saskatchewan Dragoons Regiment. Her commitment extends to memberships in the Royal United Services Institute and the Can/Am Fire Police Games Committee.

Jeanette’s past contributions are equally impressive. She served for a decade on the Board of Directors for the Regina Housing Authority and held leadership positions with the Karnevalgesellschaft Harmonie, an affiliate of the Regina German Club. Her volunteer efforts have included involvement with Mosiac, a Festival of Cultures, the RCMP Charity Ball, the Lieutenant Governor’s National Support Our Troops Gala, and fundraising events for the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Saskatchewan Cancer Foundation. Furthermore, she has been a dedicated blood donor to the Red Cross for 35 years.

Jeanette Tonita’s unwavering commitment to both professional excellence and community service makes her a true asset to Regina.

Victor Lam is an actor from Regina, Saskatchewan. He has been a scenario actor and facilitator with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. As well he serves as the president of ACTRA Saskatchewan. His notable principal role was Lamb of Love (2013), produced by Access Communication, which won a Golden Sheaf Award at the Yorkton Film Festival.

Victor has roots as an immigrant from Hong Kong. He graduated with a BSc and MCP from the University of Manitoba and BFA from the University of Regina. Work brought Victor to Regina, first at the University, then provincial ministries, and finally SaskPower. Victor enjoys tai chi, yoga, and singing in choirs. His latest passion is backpacking through Europe and South America.

Sheila Petty is professor of media studies at the University of Regina and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. She has written extensively on issues of cultural representation, identity, and nation in African and African diasporic screen media, and has curated film, television and digital media exhibitions for art galleries across Canada. She is author of Contact Zones: Memory, Origin and Discourses in Black Diasporic Cinema, and co-editor of Directory of World Cinema: Africa. Her current research focuses on Amazigh and North African cinemas, and issues of citizenship and immigration in French cinemas. She is currently writing a book on Algerian feminist filmmaker, Habiba Djahnine (Edinburgh University Press).