Please welcome Don Shackel to Initiatives for Just Communities! We are delighted that Don will join IJC as our new Executive Director.

Don brings many years of senior leadership experience and expertise in public sector non-profit program development, training, and education. For the last 24 years, Don has worked with the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC) as Assistant Director of Inclusive Education Services, Manager of Clinical Services, and FASD Educational Specialist. Before MFNERC, Don worked at Mount Carmel Clinic as a Program Coordinator of the Interagency FASD Program and as Program Coordinator, counselor and therapist at Sioux Lookout District General Hospital. 

Don has a Masters of Arts in Disability Studies and a PhD in Inclusive Education from the University of Manitoba. He has completed extensive research on the experiences of First Nations Peoples living with disabilities in Manitoba. Don’s PhD dissertation focused on approaches to inclusive First Nations schools from the perspectives of Manitoba Indigenous educators. Don is passionate about empowering leaders and front line staff to deliver social service programming that is inclusive and impactful for participants and their communities.

Don was raised in rural Manitoba and has been married to his wife, Jacquie, for 35 years. He has a son, daughter-in-law, and a new granddaughter in Ottawa, and a daughter and son-in-law in Winnipeg who are expecting their first baby in December.  

Don is very excited to get to know IJC staff and participants and to build on the outstanding services and supports currently provided at IJC.  

Don will begin his role as Executive Director of IJC on August 15. Hank Dixon, IJC’s Executive Director for the last 3 years, will retire on August 1.