Board of directors

Parkinson en mouvement (PEM) is governed by a hardworking board of directors, which ensures that its mission is carried out. The board validates decisions and continues to develop partnerships with the community and various organizations. PEM is an officially recognized non-profit organization with authority to issue donation receipts for tax purposes.

KIM BARTLETT has enjoyed dance since the age of 5. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009. Thanks to PEM classes, support from family and friends, she continued working full-time as Director of Admissions at McGill until 2019. Now “retired”, Kim continues to dance, socialize, study and enjoy her grandkids. She is currently the president of PEM.

WILFRED BUCHANAN completed undergraduate studies in Science at McGill and a Masters in Theology at Vaux sur Seine, France. His career was in teaching theology in Sherbrooke, Edmonton and Montreal. After retiring, he did translation of texts from home and simultaneous translation at various conferences. He was diagnosed with PD in 2013.

PAULA DUFFY is a Creative Arts Therapist and registered dance movement therapist based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. She holds a master’s in Drama Therapy from Concordia University and completed her Alternate Route dance therapy training at the National Centre for Dance Therapy in 2018. Paula currently works as a creative arts therapist in the public health system, in youth mental health. She began teaching with PEM in 2022 and is now a Board member.

BARBARA HARBERT was a Special Education Teacher at the English Montréal School Board for many years. Due to circumstances related to Parkinson’s disease, she resigned from her position. She joined PEM in 2016 and became a board member in 2023.

SARAH HUMPHREY organized one of the first daycare centers in Quebec in the early 1970’s. She then used her organizational skills at a Quebec coop housing organization. In 2007, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, Sarah co-founded Parkinson en mouvement (PEM).

DIANE PATENAUDE has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Her career focused on health networks. Because of Parkinson’s Disease, she had to leave the work force at the age of 44. She is the author of several books which describe her duel with PD. Diane is serving on the boards of both PEM and Parkinson Montréal-Laval (PML).

DOROTHY POCOCK has a PhD in Biological Sciences from McGill University and taught Neurochemistry and Biochemistry at Concordia University. She was a Research Associate for thirteen years in the Centre for Behavioral Neurobiology at Concordia University. Dorothy serves as an advising elder on the PEM board.

JOANABBEY SACK is a board-certified Dance Movement Therapist and registered Drama Therapist with extensive training in Social Sciences, Laban Movement Analysis, Theatre Arts and Music. Joanabbey was Dance Therapist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital for 12 years and is a part-time faculty member in Concordia University’s Department of Creative Arts Therapies and Centre for the Arts in Human Development. Joanabbey co-founded the Parkinson’s Dance Project “Parkinson en mouvement” in 2007 with Sarah Humphrey. Now vice president of PEM, Joanabbey continues her work with Parkinson’s as a teacher, researcher and writer.