Sincerely,
The Northwestern Ontario Chapter Board
Events
HRPA Events
Keep up to date with the latest HRPA events.
Membership
At the Human Resources Professionals Association, we believe that better HR makes business better. Our goal is to ensure human resources professionals are recognized as an essential part of business success, and that our profession is as valued by organizations as those of other major professional associations.
We do this by equipping our members and students with the knowledge and tools that allow them to be specialized strategic thinkers relied upon to safeguard and futureproof Ontario businesses.
Interested in becoming an HRPA Member or joining as a Student? Learn more about member and student benefits and how to register.
Mentoring
Mentoring: The HRPA Mentorship Program encourages career growth and development by providing students – and HR Professionals who are early in their careers – with the opportunity to receive one-on-one coaching from more experienced Human Resources Professionals
Learn more about our HRPA Mentoring Programs
Volunteering
Volunteering at HRPA is a rewarding membership experience and volunteers are critical to the association’s continued success.
With the expertise and involvement of members, we create awareness of workplace issues, promote excellence in human resources management practices and provide services that support the HR community, knowledge-sharing and continuous professional development.
HRPA members and students are involved in a variety of volunteer service opportunities including:
- Board of Directors
- Committees
- Annual Conference & Trade Show
- Mentoring
- Local HRPA Chapter Board’s and Chapter Committees
Register as a Volunteer:
The first step to volunteering at HRPA is registering in our volunteer services database. If your registration is accepted, you receive a notification. When an opportunity that matches your preferences and/or skills becomes available, you may be contacted directly with more information about the available volunteer role.
About Leadership
Anna Grassia, CHRL
Chapter Chair
Anna is a life-long resident of Northwestern Ontario. She is the Human Resources Generalist at Resolute Forest Products Inc. Anna has worked in Human Resources for 14 years and holds her C.H.R.L designation. Her HR expertise encompasses benefit and pension administration, recruitment and retention, onboarding, HRIS and metrics management. Anna feels very fortunate and proud of her 25 years of employment in the forest product industry, a cornerstone of Canada’s manufacturing sector. She also had the pleasure of facilitating courses for Confederation College. Anna began volunteering with the HRPA Northwestern Ontario in 2012 when she joined the Chapter Executive. Her past positions were Secretary, Membership Director and Vice Chair. She currently holds the position of Chapter Chair.
Eric Robertshaw
Chapter Chair at Large
After working in the tourism industry for several years, Eric returned home to Thunder Bay in 2017 to attend Lakehead University and obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He then decided to pursue a career in Human Resources and recently completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Algonquin College. Eric is now employed as the Volunteer Coordinator for Shelter House Thunder Bay where he is developing his HR skills and competencies within the nonprofit sector. At his current organization, Eric’s role focuses on key areas of the HR industry such as recruitment and selection, health and safety, and volunteer/employee relations.
Eric began volunteering with the HRPA Northwestern Ontario Chapter in 2020 as a Director-at-Large. He looks forward to networking with other HR Professionals and promoting the occupation as a whole within the region.
Brandon Dove
Chair, Chapter Programs/Professional Development Committee
Brandon has an advanced diploma in Business Administration – Human Resources from Confederation College and also holds his CHRP designation Upon completion of his diploma, Brandon’s career path started with the Ontario Region of Superior Propane, first as Human Resources Coordinator followed by a promotion to Human Resources Advisor based in Mississauga. Brandon returned to Thunder Bay to assume the role of Human Resources Coordinator with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, as well as Human Resources Officer for North American Palladium at the Lac Des Iles Mine. Since 2017, Brandon has been employed as a Human Resources Officer for Contact North | Contact Nord based out of their Thunder Bay Operations Centre. He is excited to help promote and support the Human Resources profession in Northwestern Ontario.
Karolane Blais
Chair, Chapter Communications Committee
Raised in Red Lake, Karolane Blais is currently in her fourth year in the Bachelor of Commerce program at Lakehead University, majoring in Human Resources Management & Industrial Relations. She has worked for the past 3 summers as a Human Resources Student for various companies such as Evolution Mining and AGI, and spends her free time helping students prepare for the workforce.
Karolane began volunteering with the HRPA Northwestern Ontario Chapter in 2018 as the Student Liaison Chair, and is currently the Communications Chair. She is passionate about the value that HR Professionals provide to organizations and looks forward to connecting with community members from Northwestern Ontario and beyond.
Karen Ball, CHRL
Chair, Chapter Secretary/Treasurer
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Karen earned her Diploma in Business Administration – Human Resources at Confederation College. Along with her education, Karen holds her CHRL designation and has over 14 years of experience in the Human Resources field. In her current role as Human Resources Advisor at Tbaytel, she provides guidance and support in many areas such as performance management, policy development, recruitment and selection, psychological health and safety, leadership and employee training, as well as employment equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Karen is passionate about fostering respect, fairness and equity in the workplace. In support of this, she is chair of the Employment Equity Committee, sits on the Respect Committee as secretary, and has volunteered in, and organized events for, employee led initiatives for the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the United Way.
Kassia Harbinson
Chair, Chapter Student Liaison Committee
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Kassia is currently in her 4th year at Lakehead University in the Bachelor of Commerce program, majoring in Human Resources & Industrial Relations. She holds several years of experience working in a leadership role, and has a specific interest in employee recruitment and retention as well as training and development.
Kassia began volunteering with the HRPA Northwestern Ontario Chapter in 2020 as the Student Liaison. She is looking forward to meeting new people who share the same passion for Human Resources, and is excited for the opportunity to promote the HR profession in the region.
Anna Grassia, CHRL
Chapter Chair
Anna is a life-long resident of Northwestern Ontario. She is the Human Resources Generalist at Resolute Forest Products Inc. Anna has worked in Human Resources for 14 years and holds her C.H.R.L designation. Her HR expertise encompasses benefit and pension administration, recruitment and retention, onboarding, HRIS and metrics management. Anna feels very fortunate and proud of her 25 years of employment in the forest product industry, a cornerstone of Canada’s manufacturing sector. She also had the pleasure of facilitating courses for Confederation College. Anna began volunteering with the HRPA Northwestern Ontario in 2012 when she joined the Chapter Executive. Her past positions were Secretary, Membership Director and Vice Chair. She currently holds the position of Chapter Chair.
Eric Robertshaw
Chapter Chair at Large
After working in the tourism industry for several years, Eric returned home to Thunder Bay in 2017 to attend Lakehead University and obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He then decided to pursue a career in Human Resources and recently completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Algonquin College. Eric is now employed as the Volunteer Coordinator for Shelter House Thunder Bay where he is developing his HR skills and competencies within the nonprofit sector. At his current organization, Eric’s role focuses on key areas of the HR industry such as recruitment and selection, health and safety, and volunteer/employee relations.
Eric began volunteering with the HRPA Northwestern Ontario Chapter in 2020 as a Director-at-Large. He looks forward to networking with other HR Professionals and promoting the occupation as a whole within the region.
Brandon Dove
Chair, Chapter Programs/Professional Development Committee
Brandon has an advanced diploma in Business Administration – Human Resources from Confederation College and also holds his CHRP designation Upon completion of his diploma, Brandon’s career path started with the Ontario Region of Superior Propane, first as Human Resources Coordinator followed by a promotion to Human Resources Advisor based in Mississauga. Brandon returned to Thunder Bay to assume the role of Human Resources Coordinator with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, as well as Human Resources Officer for North American Palladium at the Lac Des Iles Mine. Since 2017, Brandon has been employed as a Human Resources Officer for Contact North | Contact Nord based out of their Thunder Bay Operations Centre. He is excited to help promote and support the Human Resources profession in Northwestern Ontario.
Karolane Blais
Chair, Chapter Communications Committee
Raised in Red Lake, Karolane Blais is currently in her fourth year in the Bachelor of Commerce program at Lakehead University, majoring in Human Resources Management & Industrial Relations. She has worked for the past 3 summers as a Human Resources Student for various companies such as Evolution Mining and AGI, and spends her free time helping students prepare for the workforce.
Karolane began volunteering with the HRPA Northwestern Ontario Chapter in 2018 as the Student Liaison Chair, and is currently the Communications Chair. She is passionate about the value that HR Professionals provide to organizations and looks forward to connecting with community members from Northwestern Ontario and beyond.
Karen Ball, CHRL
Chair, Chapter Secretary/Treasurer
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Karen earned her Diploma in Business Administration – Human Resources at Confederation College. Along with her education, Karen holds her CHRL designation and has over 14 years of experience in the Human Resources field. In her current role as Human Resources Advisor at Tbaytel, she provides guidance and support in many areas such as performance management, policy development, recruitment and selection, psychological health and safety, leadership and employee training, as well as employment equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Karen is passionate about fostering respect, fairness and equity in the workplace. In support of this, she is chair of the Employment Equity Committee, sits on the Respect Committee as secretary, and has volunteered in, and organized events for, employee led initiatives for the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the United Way.
Kassia Harbinson
Chair, Chapter Student Liaison Committee
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Kassia is currently in her 4th year at Lakehead University in the Bachelor of Commerce program, majoring in Human Resources & Industrial Relations. She holds several years of experience working in a leadership role, and has a specific interest in employee recruitment and retention as well as training and development.
Kassia began volunteering with the HRPA Northwestern Ontario Chapter in 2020 as the Student Liaison. She is looking forward to meeting new people who share the same passion for Human Resources, and is excited for the opportunity to promote the HR profession in the region.