our team
JAcquie Meyer
HER Victory was founded by Jacquie Meyer, who currently serves as Executive Director. Armed with an entrepreneurial spirit and a professional background in strategic business development, investment and commercial property management and owning/operating her own business for over 20 years, Jacquie has the unique knowledge, experience and empathy required to facilitate and enable HER Victory to make an impact in women’s lives.
Jacquie founded the organization with a driven heartfelt commitment to restore and support individuals involved in sex work, being exploited and at risk of or currently being trafficked. Armed with strong leadership and a passion to see change and freedom restored, HER Victory has become a leading beacon of hope in assisting those being exploited.
Founder & Executive Director
Katiera Edquilane
Director of Case Management, Registered Social Worker
Katiera was born in Saskatchewan but was raised and has lived in Southeast Asia most of her life, experiencing diverse cultures, speaking other languages, and walking alongside those in at-risk situations. At a young age, she was exposed to the vulnerabilities and realities of human trafficking. This ignited a passion for advocating for and championing those who are vulnerable.
With a heart to advocate and see more individuals walk in freedom, she travelled across Europe supporting those exploited in refugee camps, trafficked within gangs, and working alongside the UN advocating for those trapped in sex trafficking. Committed to seeing systemic change and awareness, Katiera moved to Canada and got her Social Work degree in 2021. Since then, she has immersed herself within Calgary’s social community, facilitating outreach programs to support those caught in cycles of addiction and exploitation. Katiera is passionate about walking alongside individuals wherever they are at, with a heart to see holistic healing and transformation.
Pamela Werkman
Pam uses her personal and career experiences to empower those in need and advocate for justice. God has given her a heart of compassion for women who have faced trauma and oppression. She had the tremendous honour to serve on a team while they fundraised and built a girls’ home in India for survivors of human trafficking. She felt called to the issue of combatting sexual exploitation in her own backyard and joined the team at Next Step Ministries in 2021. She considers it an honour when survivors share the stories of their lives with her and is continually inspired by their tenacity. She now has the honour of working with the HER Victory board & staff in finance, building partnerships in the community, and working with an incredible team of volunteers.
Director of Operations
Karen Lavoie
Karen is a Christian personal trainer whose viewpoint on health and wellness is grounded in biblical principles. Karen uses her own experience of recovery to help others. Her passion is to make a difference in people’s lives. The skills required as a trainer, such as patience, empathy and understanding, are skills that enable Karen to communicate and develop trusting relationships with the clients at HER Victory. Karen is prepared to advocate, equip them with the resources they need, and encourage them to live healthy, flourishing lives.
“I meet the clients exactly where they are at. I have heard many stories of clients being forgotten and abandoned. My goal at HER Victory is for the clients to be loved and cared for. I am passionate about the mission at HER Victory. This experience has changed the way I serve and walk with Jesus.“
Volunteer & Donation Coordinator
Colette Griffin
Colette is in the final year of her Master of Arts in Counselling program. She considers it a privilege to be joining the Her Victory team for her practicum as a counselling student. Her passion is to help people who have experienced trauma and grief and walk alongside them in their healing journeys. She is also trained as a spiritual director and previously worked for a missionary organization for 22 years. She and her husband are currently in pastoral ministry, leading the Compassion and Care department.
Student Trauma Counsellor
Breanne Gilchrist
Breanne was born and raised in Calgary and worked in the Oil and Gas industry for 11 years before shifting gears into entrepreneurship, building a business of her own since 2014. Moving abroad to Brisbane, Australia, in 2011, she travelled extensively through SE Asia for months at a time. She witnessed exploitation and trafficking on a daily basis as it is very much out in the open in SE Asia. From that moment, Bre and her husband committed to helping vulnerable people exit the dark life of exploitation and create awareness to help prevent others from being exploited. Moving back to Calgary in 2013, they began researching and understanding the human trafficking and sexual exploitation that was happening here locally in Calgary. They would hit the streets of Forest Lawn regularly to talk and help in any way they could for vulnerable people. They began building relationships with other people who were also actively taking steps to stand up for, to love and care, and to create exit strategies for people who are sexually exploited. Bre’s heart is for the holistic healing and transformation of people who are exploited.
Outreach & Creative Coordinator
Ministry Leads
Stroll: Cathie
Strip Club: Tanya
Parlour: Kelsi
