Meet the staff supporting HEAL and CHARM study participants across Canada
When you take part in the HEAL and CHARM studies, you’re contributing to research that will help us better understand diet, physical activity, and health across Canada.
But behind every survey, reminder, and dataset is a team of people working carefully, often behind the scenes, to make this research possible.
From answering your emails to designing questionnaires and supporting participation, here are a few of the people helping bring this study to life.
Carla Woitas: Research Associate
What’s your favourite part of your role?
“Chronic conditions and cancer have affected my loved ones. I have witnessed many advances in health care over the course of my 31 years in the field. Being part of this research brings a smile to my face, knowing that the valuable work in the project will help build a better understanding of the relationship between physical activity and the diets of Canadians. Research is an important part of today, tomorrow and the future.”
What do you wish participants knew about the behind-the-scenes work?
“A research project such as HEAL does not happen overnight based on an idea. The HEAL study is very detailed with many moving pieces that need to be managed in a very attentive, meticulous, ethical way. I always think of research as being a “detective.” Always verifying information, putting together the pieces, troubleshooting to achieve the outcome.”
What’s your favourite way to stay active?
“Activity is so important. I had a hip replacement in August 2025 and a knee replacement in October 2026. My rehabilitation is continuing by stretching and strengthening every day to help keep me mobile. I love yoga and walking my fur baby. I have lots to do and see in my life so keeping fit and mobile are important factors.”
Bud Skiffington: Research Associate, Participant Engagement Lead
What’s your favourite part of your role?
“We support our participants by helping them overcome barriers to participation and by reaching out to stay connected with those we haven’t heard from in a while. I enjoy connecting with Albertans who believe in supporting cancer and chronic disease research and who want to contribute meaningful information to help build a healthier future. I am proud to be part of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, where we work closely with participants to support them in sharing their information and samples to advance important research.”
What do you wish participants knew about the behind-the-scenes work?
“With tens of thousands of people taking part in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, every experience can be a little different. Our small call centre team does its best to help with every question and situation that comes our way. Sometimes responses may take a bit of time, and some surveys can be tricky, but we are always learning and improving. We appreciate participants’ patience and continued involvement—working together, we almost always find a solution.”
What’s your favourite way to stay active?
“I enjoy a variety of recreational sports. At the moment, my main training goal is cycling as I’m training for the Tour Alberta for Cancer where I plan to ride 200km over two days in July 2026. Otherwise, I play recreational hockey, downhill ski, curl, hike.”
Allison Kolly: Research Assistant
What’s your favourite part of your role?
“Supporting MTP participants in contributing to the largest diet and physical activity database in Canada which will help us better understand the habits of Manitobans and Canadians.”
What do you wish participants knew about the behind-the-scenes work?
“MTP staff personally respond to all of your emails and voicemails and do our best to provide personalised troubleshooting advice.”
What’s your favourite way to stay active?
“Playing soccer or futsal or going to the gym.”
Rachel Chepesiuk: Research Operations and Access Officer
What’s your favourite part of your role?
“Probably setting up the questionnaire in our survey software, specifically setting up the validation logic and skip patterns, and sometimes the questions and response options themselves. Translating the questionnaire content from a written document to the software can present new puzzles to work through. For some questions, we work through several iterations to strike the right balance between data validation and making the question more participant-friendly to answer. It’s also satisfying to see everything working after testing.”
What do you wish participants knew about the behind-the-scenes work?
“Though it may seem like we’re asking a lot of questions, these questions result in data that can make or break a proposed analysis or enhance an analysis plan. Since I also handle the access side of the data in my role, I’ve seen how important any variable can be for a project, and how having certain data collected make using the cohort data more attractive to use for research projects. We strive to collect only what’s needed – we can’t ask everything of participants – so the questions that have been included have been selected for a purpose. But having gone through the questionnaire multiple times for testing (not to mention the recall questionnaires), I get it, it can be tiresome to answer them all. We appreciate whatever you can do.”
What’s your favourite way to stay active?
“Cycling: what was something I first started doing to save money and get me to school, work and errands, has become an activity that allows me to explore my surroundings, spend time with friends, meet new people, and still get me to work and errands. I’ve gained a new appreciation for the beauty of Ontario’s environment through cycling through different parts of the province and it has provided me the opportunity to meet many wonderful people. And it’s quite efficient.”
Thank you for being part of this work!
Every response you provide, every survey you complete, and every moment you spend contributing helps move this research forward.
As you’ve seen, there’s a dedicated team behind the scenes designing questionnaires, answering your questions, and making sure your data can be used to support meaningful research.
We know it takes time and effort. And we don’t take that lightly. Thank you for being part of this study and for helping build a healthier future for all Canadians.
Keep an eye on your inbox for opportunities to take part in HEAL and CHARM activities.
We share study updates regularly. Visit our webpage to stay connected and learn more.