Who are we?

Parastou Haghi

Artist – Cultural Mediator

Parastou is an illustrator, painter, and cultural mediator who has published around thirty works with various publishers. She holds a master’s degree in Visual and Media Arts from the University of Quebec in Montreal.

For Parastou, collaborating as part of a team within PAAL, while working on exciting and varied projects, represents a major opportunity. She was captivated by our organization’s values and commitment from the very beginning!

Xueying Wang

Facilitator – Direction Assistance

Xueying holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Montreal, but her great passion is dancing. Since the age of 3, Xueying has specialized in Chinese folk dance and ballet, even achieving the highest level of the “Certificate of Arts Grade Examination of China”. She has participated in numerous dance and martial arts performances in Montreal and China. In 2013, Xueying won 2nd place in the World Kung Fu Championship in China in two categories, Tai Chi Fan and Tai Chi Chuan. In Montreal, she is a certified Chinese language teacher, working with children and she brings her versatility to our organization.

Diana Benavides

Communication and Marketing

Diana Benavides holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design and a master’s degree in Management (Marketing). She is a versatile professional who has worked as a designer, project manager and consultant on customer strategy and digital experience design for startups and large professional services firms. Diana has also been involved in her community as a volunteer interpreter.

Carol Vertiz

Consultant – IDÉ Trainer

Carol Vertiz Kroetzsch graduated in Psychology in Mexico. She specialized in helping relationships with a humanistic approach, dance therapy, meditation and mindfulness. She has extensive experience in facilitating workshops and developing psychosocial intervention programs aimed at children, women, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses or homelessness in Mexico.

Throughout her career, she has focused on promoting mental health and community well-being by integrating creativity and art as means of development, expression, and transformation.

Luz Maria Sotelo

Consultant on intercultural education

Luz María holds a master’s degree in education and has also been a high school teacher in Mexico, where she was responsible for creating and organizing cultural activities with students. She specializes in learning workshops, culture, and facilitation. Luz believes that reading and culture open up unexpected worlds and serve as tools for bringing people closer together. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to mediation and legal counseling for elderly people in rural areas.

Katia Macias-Valadez

President

Raphael Guyard

Vice-president

Ibtisam Tafdiste

Secretary

Bernest Durandisse

Treasurer

Robyn Dalton

Administrator

Elisabeth Liston

Administrator

Pascale Chimi

Administrator