Our Team
Our team of addiction specialists are dedicated to helping your child succeed. We are passionate about recovery and recognize that it takes care, compassion, and diverse skills to reach youth battling with the disease of addiction.
Clinical Team
Donny Serink, BCC, MSW, RSW
Executive Director
Donny Serink has served as Executive Director of the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC) since October 2025, following a decade of progressive clinical and leadership roles within the organization. He is committed to advancing AARC’s family-centred, evidence-informed, 12-Step model of care, helping youth and their families achieve lasting recovery.
Donny earned a Bachelor of Communication and Culture with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Calgary before completing his Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work at the University of Waterloo. His interdisciplinary education has shaped a leadership approach rooted in integrity, thoughtful communication, ethical decision-making, and a commitment to building on the values, relationships, and clinical model that have made AARC a leader in youth addiction recovery.
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As a Registered Social Worker, Donny has worked in hospital, primary care, community mental health, and addiction treatment settings. His clinical practice is grounded in AARC’s family-centred, 12-Step model of care and integrates family systems, trauma-informed, person-centred, existential, and evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). His leadership is further informed by his own lived experience of recovery, reinforcing his belief that recovery is possible for every young person and every family.
Recognized for his commitment to clinical excellence and community service, Donny received the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work Recognition of Excellence in Field Education Award (2020) and the Calgary Police Chief’s Exceptional Recognition for Community Service Award (2017). As Executive Director, Donny is focused on preserving the values and clinical excellence that have defined AARC while thoughtfully strengthening the organization’s impact for future generations.
Dr. Vause, PhD
Senior Advisor
Dr. Dean Vause is the Senior Advisor of the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (“AARC”), a long-term, intensive treatment program for severely addicted youth and their families. AARC is the culmination of Dr. Vause’s over 35 years of research into adolescent addiction. Dr. Vause started his career in high schools where he taught, counselled, and developed programs to help youth in the education system. His master’s dissertation, “A School Drug Program” was developed to address the drug issue in the education system. Dr. Vause’s Ph.D. Program (“Adolescent Substance Use Disorders”) focused on a model and facility for treating addicted youth and their families.
Dr. Vause is considered to be a leading expert in the field of adolescent addiction, and his advice is sought by other professionals and communities. He has provided many presentations on substance use in schools in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, British Columbia, and parts of the United States.
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Dr. Vause’s legacy is AARC’s success in saving youth from the ravages of addiction. Outside research has confirmed that many of AARC’s graduates are sober and are living meaningful and productive lives.
Dr. Vause has been recognized for his service to the community, province and country, and has received numerous awards:
Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship, the highest honour in Rotary International.
Calgary Citizen of the Year in 2004.
Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005.
Was a keynote speaker in the Magnificent Men Leadership Lunch Series in 2015.
Received the Calgary Police Chief’s Award for Exceptional Recognition for Community Service in 2017.
Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta) in 2023.
Awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.
Jolene Steenson, BCST
Clinical Counsellor
Zaynah Hassan, BA
Clinical Counsellor
Taylor Yantz-Wells, CCAC
Clinical Counsellor
Lorne Hass
Family Counsellor
Yvonne Schallhorn
Family Counsellor
Jeannie Idio, RN
Registered Nurse
Jeverly Reyes, LPN
Licensed Practical Nurse
Jennifer Scheible
Clinical Support Staff
Tyler Paton
Clinical Support Staff
Taylor Leslie
Executive Peer
Spencer Arnett
Executive Peer
Bella Gibbons
Executive Peer
Abigail Plesa
Executive Peer
Sid Smillie
Junior Peer
Kaden Dewar
Peer
Dante Carrera
Senior Peer
Eric Fair
Junior Peer
Tayla Norris
Senior Peer
Operations Team
Carl Aparece
Chef
Mark Ashlee
Building Operations Manager
Raquel Chan
Cook
Veronica Dawe
Accountant
Nicole Edwards, CPA, CMA
Director of Fund Development and Events
Lua Mondor
Executive Assistant / Clinical Secretary / Receptionist
Joshua Moses
Administrative Assistant for Fund Development/Events & Community Engagement
Darryl Power, MBA
Fundraising and Development Consultant
Pam Stordy
Acting Community Engagement Manager
Kathy Terpstra
Director of Operations
Therapeutic Partners
AARC partners with independent, highly regarded experts to bring enhanced care to our clients.
Dr. Lori Hogg, M.Sc., MD, FRCPC | Independent psychiatric services
Dr. Lori Hogg is AARC’s consulting child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Hogg received her MD from the University of Calgary in 1989. As a psychiatrist, she provides consultations to clients and families, as well as prescribes medical treatment for clients if necessary. Dr. Hogg often maintains long-term care for those clients with mental health needs and even extends this relationship after clients graduate the AARC program.
Dr. Elizabeth Wallace, MD, FRCPC | Independent psychiatric services
Dr. Elizabeth Wallace has provided clinical consultations to staff at AARC since 2016, and has served as Chair of the AARC Clinical Committee since 2017. Dr. Wallace has practiced as a psychiatrist for over three decades, specializing in adult psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. She received her BScN from the University of Alberta and her MD degree from the University of Calgary, before going on to train in psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Wallace has a private practice, contributes to a group psychotherapy program through AHS, and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary.
Joel Mader, M.Ed., R.Psych| Clinical Consultant
Joel Mader is the founder and director of Prairieview Psychology. He is a psychologist with over 10 years of experience working in the mental health and addictions field. He also serves as a clinical consultant for AARC. Joel holds a Bachelors of Psychology and Masters of Counselling Psychology, both from the University of Lethbridge.
Make a Call to Get Started
We understand and are here to listen with empathy, care, and compassion.
“My passion is with youth as they are specifically vulnerable. I believe that we have a responsibility as adults to take care of our youth.”
Donny Serink, BCC, MSW, RSW
Executive Director
Change a life with your donation
At AARC, every donation has the power to transform lives. We support young people and their families during their toughest times. Your contribution is a gift of hope for those who need us the most.
