Meet The Team
Jon was born in Calgary but grew up in small-town Milestone, Saskatchewan. Once Jon gained proficiency in the field, he began aspiring for the freedom to provide prosthetic care without the stifling restrictions oftentimes imposed by outside influences. Jon’s devotion to his patients and the principle of holistic care led to the establishment of his first business, Alberta Artificial Limb, now Alberta Orthotic and Prosthetic Centre, in May of 2000.
Oddly enough, Jon’s interest in prosthetics began all the way back in grade 9 when he was assigned a report on Canada’s building plans for the space station. While exploring the engineering behind the Canadarm, a remote-controlled mechanical arm used on the Space Shuttle orbiters, Jon quickly realized that the Canadian Space Agency was applying research from the field of prosthetics. From then on, Jon was hooked and began his pursuit of a career in the wonderful world of prosthetics.
Although Jon was certain he wanted to be a professional in the field of P&O, he wasn’t yet sure how to do it. Jon then started a degree in chemistry at the University of Regina with the goal of studying biochemical engineering in order to one day reach prosthetic design. However, after 3 and a half years into his chemistry degree, Jon received an offer to attend BCIT for clinical prosthetics.
Jon graduated from BCIT with a clinical certificate in orthotics and prosthetics in 1996. Next, he completed his residency at the Wascana Rehab Centre in Regina and became a Canadian Certified Prosthetist in 1998. Since then, Jon has been the past president, vice-president and board member of the Alberta Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists and has held memberships to countless other boards and committees for P&O in Canada. Over the years, Jon has worked ad nauseum with paying agencies to negotiate fair reimbursement for the P&O services our clinic provides so that our patients have reasonable payment portions in return. Furthermore, Jon played a major role in transitioning Alberta to a new, service-based fee system in 2002. This concept was new to the P&O field and has since been adopted in some form across most provinces in Canada.
Although it can be difficult pulling Jon away from his work, his other leading passion is at home. Outside of the clinic, Jon enjoys spending quality time with his family; Myra, his wife of 26 years, and his three children, Kiera, Liam, and Nicolas. Family is everything to Jon and if he could claim his beloved BBQ as his fourth child, he would in an instant. Jon has also spent the past 12 years coaching everything from Timbit to Midget league hockey with his boys. When he’s not at the rink, Jon can be found at the barn taking his position as his daughter’s number one fan when competing in her equestrian competitions.
Jon Allen | CPc
Michelle Pickard | CPc
Michelle has always wanted to help people. Her interest in helping others started in high school, where she volunteered at a rehabilitation centre as well as a school for the disabled.
She says she always knew she wanted to be in healthcare but wanted to combine her interest in helping others with her creativity and interest in working with her hands. Prosthetics provided the best of both worlds, providing opportunities to be creative in finding unique solutions to better serve her patients.
She works closely with her patients, developing a trusting relationship that is so important in helping them achieve their goals. For Michelle seeing the difference she can make in their lives is one of her greatest rewards.
Clinical training at BCIT - 1998
Certified in Cleg, Genium Knee, X3, MyoElectric, MAS socket, Rheo Knee, Microprocessor feet and knee certifications, Willowwood Socket Design,
Residency at Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton.
Michelle joined AOPC 20 years ago.
Bio coming soon!
Vanessa Kato | COc
Emily joined AOPC in 2023 to start her training as a Prosthetic Resident. Originally from Ottawa, she moved out to Calgary shortly after graduating from the clinical program at GBC in Toronto, excited to explore a new side of Canada. Prior to the clinical program, Emily completed her Bachelor’s in Biomechanical Engineering from Queen’s University. She then completed her Master’s in Rehabilitation Science from McMaster University while completing the GBC program.
Emily entered the P&O field because it combines her love of working with others and her engineering background to create unique solutions that fit within the lifestyle of her patients. She has a special interest in pediatric patients, highlighted by her volunteer work at the ACH Rotary Flames House. Outside of work, Emily loves to be active. She enjoys hiking, playing volleyball, and biking around the city to explore new areas and coffee shops.
Clinical Training | GBC (2023)
Master’s in Rehabilitation Sciences | McMaster University (2023)
Bachelor’s of Biomechanical Engineering | Queen’s University (2021)
Emily Dunnion
Originally from Gdańsk, Poland, Kasia is our team member that has travelled the furthest away from home. After moving to Canada in 2013, Kasia soon joined AOPC as a receptionist in October 2015. To our delight, in 2020, Kasia transitioned out of her role at the front reception to a position as our office administrator. Due to her diligent and dependable nature, Kasia has quickly become our resident billing expert. Her extraordinary work ethic and enthusiasm for our patients’ well-being is showcased every day while financially counselling our patients and when corresponding with affiliated insurance associations.
Prior to moving her life to Canada, Kasia completed her Bachelor of Arts in History at University of Gdańsk in 2009. Kasia’s inquisitiveness and appetite for knowledge led her to continue her studies in Warsaw where she graduated with a masters in cultural studies in 2011.
Kasia is adept with learning languages which is one of the many reasons why she loves to travel. At home, she fills her spare time with yoga, art, reading and taking her dog Kleks on his cherished walks around the city. Kasia continues her passion for photography and is now pursuing her newest avocation: roller skating.
Bachelor of Arts in History | University of Gdańsk (2009)
Master of Cultural Studies | Warsaw University of Social Sciences and Humanities (2011)
Kasia Hupert
Born and raised in Calgary, Hailey joined AOPC in October 2016. She began as a technical assistant and was taught from the ground up by our accomplished team of clinicians. Using her experience crafting our in-house foot orthotics, Hailey quickly became a product and materials expert.
Hailey has been known to wear many different hats within the clinic from assisting administrative staff at the front desk, offering technical assistance in the back shop, but she primarily oversees all shipping, receiving and inventory for our clinic to ensure the best possible outcome for our patients, She maintains the dependable, trackable and cost-effective system designed for the movement of all items into, out of and within AOPC. Hailey’s patient-centric point of view and direct collaboration with the AOPC team allows for the speedy delivery of both in-house and out-of-house devices to our patients.
Hailey has also facilitated the scripting and production of our growing library of educational videos and building and maintaining the AOPC Website.
Prior to joining our team, Hailey attended the Toronto Film School in 2014 and studied in Film and Video Production. This led Hailey’s journey back to Alberta where she worked on the set of the two outstanding TV series Hell on Wheels and Fargo. In 2020, Hailey received her diploma in Web Development from InnoTech College. In her spare time, Hailey loves spending time outdoors hiking, exploring wildlife and riding horses. Hailey’s other hobbies include writing, videography, and coding.
Diploma in Web Development | InnoTech College (2020)
Hailey Foss
Samantha has been creating leading-edge orthotic devices for AOPC’s patients since May of 2016. Occasionally, Samantha also collaborates with our prosthetic team to fabricate innovational devices that beautifully combine both P&O.
Originally from Grande Prairie, Samantha moved to Edmonton to study engineering specializing in nanomaterials at the University of Alberta. Sam switched to a degree in Kinesiology after two years in engineering to pursue her deeper passion for anatomy and biomechanics. During the fall of her last year of kinesiology, Sam arranged for a full-time winter semester practicum with the Syncrude Motion and Balance Lab at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton where she was introduced to the P&O field. The Kinesiologist at the Glenrose recommended to Sam that she explore the O&P field due to her interests in biomechanics, anatomy and gait study as well as her vast fabrication skills; it became the perfect fit. Sam shadowed the P&O clinic at the Glenrose over the Christmas break and applied to the P&O technical school in a Toronto soon after.
Samantha graduated from the University of Alberta in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, and then made the big move to Toronto. In 2015, Samantha completed her diploma in the Prosthetic-Orthotic Technician Program at George Brown College in Toronto which contained two separate month-long practicums at Troppman Prosthetics in Edmonton, October 2014, and at Boundless Biomechanical Bracing in Mississauga, March 2015. Soon after graduating, Samantha began an Orthotic Internship at Orthopedic Bracing Solutions in Kitchener, ON on a one-year contract. In hopes of moving back to Alberta, Samantha was introduced to the AOPC team in need of a skilled orthotic technician. After joining AOPC and another year to complete her internship, Samantha officially received her Registered Technician certification in orthotics from Orthotics Prosthetics Canada (OPC) in September of 2017.
In 2018, Samantha bought her first house and has now made it a home with her two cats, Clementine and Constable Higgins. When Samantha isn’t busy creating works of art in the backshop, she’s busy creating at home with endless sewing and art projects. Samantha also loves playing the piano and spending time with her family who live across Alberta.
Samantha Chabot | B.Sc.Kin. RTO(c)
Kleks
Originally from California, Kleks made the big move up north to be rescued by his mom, Kasia Hupert, from Furever Homes in October 2016. After destroying the door frame at his new mom’s house, Kleks joined the AOPC team and we couldn’t be happier to have him. As a mental health support dog, Kleks has been trained to ensure our patients never leave our clinic without a smile on their face. Kleks’ skills involve almost catching gophers and subduing larger dogs with his vivacious personality. Some of Kleks’ greatest achievements include hiking up Tunnel Mountain and squeezing under not one, but two, dog park gates in an attempt to recreate the classic film ‘The Great Escape’.
Outside of the office you can find Kleks napping on his comfy blankets, napping in the sun, napping on his mom’s bed and stealing any cheese he can get his paws on. Kleks also has an endless love for long walks, open car windows and his rat stuffies.