MAPS Canada’s leadership, staff, and volunteers are dedicated to furthering the scientific understanding and practical application of psychedelic medicine to improve lives.
WHO WE ARE
Our organization is made up of a diverse group of scientists, researchers, students, advocates, and leaders from all sectors. We believe that to solve some of the biggest challenges in human mental health requires people from a diversity of backgrounds, identities, and experiences, who share a common vision: to improve lives through equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine.
Executive Director
Rielle Capler
Executive Director
Rielle Capler (MHA, PhD) has over 20 years of experience in the cannabis field, where she has engaged in research, knowledge translation, service provision, standards development, and community organizing. She has been engaged in psychedelics research for over 10 years, and in psychedelic-related education, advocacy and leadership for the past 3 years.
Rielle worked with Canada’s first medical cannabis dispensary for 8 years, where she helped lay organizational foundations, national strategy and direction. She developed guidelines and standards for Canadian and international dispensaries. She co-founded and led several nonprofits in the cannabis space including the Canadian Association for Medical Cannabis Dispensaries, Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers, Craft Cannabis Association of British Columbia, and Canadians for Safe Access. Rielle has provided consultations, testimony, and submissions to Canada’s federal government, and has provided briefings to various Canadian provincial ministries and municipal governments related to both cannabis and psychedelics. Rielle received the Governor General of Canada’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal acknowledging her contribution to Canadian society through her work with medical cannabis.
Rielle earned a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia, focused on access to medical cannabis under different regulatory frameworks in Canada. She has published various research articles and book chapters, and held a postdoctoral research fellowship at the B.C. Centre on Substance Use. She is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Population and Public Health, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Rielle was on the board of Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada for 3 years, and chair of the board for 2 years. She is currently the Executive Director of MAPS Canada.
Board of Directors
Reverdi Darda
(she/her)
Chair
Reverdi Darda, RN, BScN, brings more than three decades of frontline, executive, and entrepreneurial experience in Canadian healthcare to her role as Chair of the MAPS Canada Board. Reverdi has guided large interdisciplinary teams across acute-care hospitals, community health, and mental-health services, always championing equitable access and evidence-based innovation. She co-founded ATMA CENA Psychedelic Healthcare Solutions, an Alberta based organization that has created a national network of clinics and practitioner training dedicated to integrating psychedelic-assisted therapy into mainstream care. Reverdi’s governance experience spans private ventures, non-profits, and joint-venture partnerships, where she has negotiated investment rounds, built rigorous safety and quality frameworks, and mentored clinicians in emerging therapies.
Rick Doblin
Board Member
Rick Doblin is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) USA. He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana, and his Master’s thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients.
His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment.
Jarred Aasen
Board Member/Treasurer
Jarred Aasen is a licensed pharmacist living in Victoria, BC since 2015 after graduating from his hometown’s pharmacy program at the University of Saskatchewan.
Jarred spent five years working in an opioid agonist therapy focused pharmacy that focused on people experiencing homelessness, substance use issues, safe supply, and mental health. In 2018, Jarred founded Lantern Services which was an organization that received Canada’s first Section 56 Exemption for Drug Checking Purposes, and had worked closely with the University of Victoria team in implementing their drug checking service Substance. In 2021, he was acknowledged by the BC Pharmacists Association in granting him the Excellence in Patient Care Award for his work in this area.
Currently, Jarred co-authors a drug checking manual with the Drug Resource and Education Project (DRED Project), is a co-chair of the National Drug Checking Working Group, and consults/speaks nationally and internationally on topics relating to harm reduction, pharmacy, and drug checking. He spends July on the road, helping provide drug checking services at two major music festivals in BC.
Jarred is passionate about empowering individuals with relevant and accurate information so that they can lead more engaged and integrated lives. In his spare time, Jarred enjoys juggling, playing keyboard, boxing and scuba diving.
Harrison Jordan
Board Member
Sonia Brodie
Board Member
Sonia is a well-published neuroscientist, Clinical Research Professional, and a long-standing research nerd. She is passionate about building high-performing teams, and finding efficient ways to bridge the gap between research and reality in clinically meaningful ways. Her technical experience spans from protocol development, to regulatory applications, efficient study start-up processes, clinical trial management, establishing quality management systems and standard operating procedures, data analysis, and knowledge translation across a wide range of study types and interventions. She has consulted and advised on a variety of psychedelic research initiatives, including the world’s largest microdosing study, and established a clinical trials site for psychedelic research, which has consistently performed as the top enrolling site in Canada for several global Phase II and III randomized controlled trials.
Osheen Dayal
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Osheen Dayal is a graduate of the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She will begin her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Adler University in Fall 2025. Deeply passionate about mental health, social equity, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, Osheen is dedicated to bridging clinical psychology, community engagement, and inclusive advocacy.
Before moving to Canada, she founded and led a successful interior design and construction business across two cities in India, while also growing a YouTube channel from 10K to over 100K subscribers—reflecting her entrepreneurial spirit and content strategy skills.
Osheen currently serves as the Communications and Marketing Coordinator, YouTube Committee Lead, and Podcast Producer at MAPS Canada, where she creates and oversees digital campaigns that amplify psychedelic research and public education. Her work integrates storytelling, design, and strategy to drive engagement and promote evidence-based mental health awareness.
Volunteer Committee Leads
Francesco Kment
(He/Him)
EXPAND Study Committee Co-Lead
Francesco is a dedicated Registered Psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor, with a private practice at Mindful Conversations. Also working at an addictions rehabilitation centre and practicing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. He brings a wealth of experience and compassion to individuals facing challenges related to addictions, PTSD/trauma, depression, and anxiety. His therapeutic approach is grounded in helping clients become the best versions of themselves through evidence-based psychotherapeutic methods.
A strong advocate for harm reduction and mindfulness, Francesco has collaborated with tripsit.me, working on projects that address the needs of vulnerable populations within the areas of addictions and psychedelics. His passion for helping others extends to research, where he contributes as a researcher for MAPS Canada and Heroic Hearts Canada, focusing on the intersection of Canadian drug policy and the therapeutic use of psychedelics for PTSD treatment, particularly among Canadian veterans. In addition, he has conducted research on geriatric loneliness, exploring ways to address emotional isolation in older adults.
With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, Francesco integrates both academic knowledge and practical experience to offer a holistic approach to therapy. His commitment to harm reduction, mental health advocacy, and innovative therapeutic techniques positions him as a forward-thinking leader in the fields of psychotherapy and psychedelic therapy.
Shel Scott
(She/Her)
EXPAND Study Committee Co-Lead
Michelle (aka Shel) Scott (she/her) is an occupational therapist working in mental health in Toronto Ontario. She also leads the Toronto-based Policy and Advocacy group for MAPS Canada.
Her goal is to expand access to above-ground psychedelic medicines in a way that’s ethical, sustainable, and responsible. Her interests include mental health, cognitive science, philosophy, neuroscience, Indigenous ontologies and worldviews, meditative and contemplative practices, dialectics, and the intersection between science and spirituality.
In her free time she can be found going to concerts, dancing, playing music (alone or with friends), spending time outdoors, reading science fiction, watching hockey, and enjoying amazing food.
Chanté Brown
(she/her)
Knowledge Translation Lead
Chanté Brown is a recent graduate from University of Toronto, with a Bachelor’s degree double majoring in Cognitive Science and Bioethics. In her previous roles at other labs she helped investigate the role of high order language and the connection between mental health and creativity. Within these labs she contributed to the development of an assessment tool for higher order language to be implemented into schools. Her interests span predictive processing, neuroplasticity, psychedelics, and the ethical applications of AI in neurodevelopmental contexts. Chanté thrives in interdisciplinary environments, contributing to various labs, where she bridges empirical science with human-centered insights. A natural communicator and creative thinker, while leading initiatives in media engagement, internal development, and community outreach she strives to contribute to research in all her areas of interest and help shape the future of research by making it more ethical and accessible to everyone.
Celia Bildfell
(she/her)
Website Lead
Celia is the current website committee lead with MAPS Canada. She started volunteering with MAPS in May 2023, after completing her undergraduate Honours degree in Journalism and Law at Carleton University.
She also helps out with the weekly MAPS newsletters as well as on the webinar series with the policy and advocacy committee. Celia has a background in website editing and building particularly with WordPress.
Her interest in psychedelics peaked when she wrote an article in her undergraduate degree which discussed the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a new form of treatment for varying mental disorders. Celia hopes to continue her studies and work in the field of drug policy.
Navin Sahjpaul
(he/him)
Social Media Lead
Navin Sahjpaul is a Music Therapist (BMT), Certified Yoga Teacher, Artist (Musician, Writer), Mental Health Advocate, and is currently completing an M.A. of Counselling Degree at the City University of Canada, studying to become an RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor).
Since 2018, Navin has been an active volunteer for MAPS Canada. His primary contribution includes being the lead on their Instagram account for the Social Media Committee, responsibilities that include creating and sharing posts, reels, captions, and stories, and overall managing the growth of the social media platform. MAPS Canada’s Instagram currently has an 18K follower count
For the past two years, Navin has been actively working as a Music Therapist (BMT) within Vancouver, BC, focusing on how music and sound can be utilized in therapeutic, healing environments to improve one’s quality of life and to help individuals overcome mental health challenges. His practice includes working in the Healthcare system in Addictions & Mental Health, and also extends to facilitating workshops, presenting at conferences, and offering private and group Sound Meditation/Healing/Bath experiences for Community Wellness Events & Corporate Wellness Classes.
As a musician, Navin is a multi-instrumentalist (Piano, Guitar, Flute, Voice) who records, composes, and performs original music under his name using the computer software programs of Logic Pro X and Ableton Live. His latest album release on Bandcamp, Medicine Music, consists of 26 original compositions that are designed to be used in conjunction with other healing modalities (Yoga, Breathwork, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy) and serves as an album within which one can seek solace in, a place of calm away from the busyness and chaos of life, an auditory haven to be conducive for inner rest, stillness, and growth.
He holds a Bachelor’s in Music Therapy from Capilano University and a Foundations of Music Therapy Diploma from Douglas College, receiving the Amanda Todd Legacy Award during his time at Douglas College. Navin also holds a 200 Hour+ Yoga Teacher Training Certification from Arkaya Yoga, a certification from Gabor Mate’s 2-Day Training, Compassionate Inquiry, and Certificates of Completion for Didactic and Experiential training from Therapsil’s Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy and MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD Training Programs.
He is a Community Leader for Flying Sage, a facilitator at Ritual Urban Retreat, serves as Co-Chair on the Marketing Committee for ICMSV (Indian Classical Music Society of Vancouver, and since 2018 has been an active volunteer on the Social Media Committee for MAPS Canada (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). https://www.navinsahjpaul.com/
Aakanksha Sahu
(she/her)
Research Room Lead
Aakanksha Sahu recently graduated from the University of British Columbia and has gained valuable experience in healthcare and academia through various research, project management, and consulting roles.
Her research has focused on using neuroscience and patient-centered approaches to improve patient outcomes. Aakanksha is deeply passionate about human rights and advocacy, having worked with several non-profits to raise mental health awareness and drive social change. She is committed to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), ensuring that diverse cultural practices are integrated into holistic approaches.
Aakanksha has been volunteering with MAPS Canada since 2022, contributing to the Graphics Design, Knowledge Translation, and Policy & Advocacy Teams. She is excited to bring her expertise in research and knowledge translation to further MAPS Canada’s mission.
Ross Magill
(he/him)
Videography Team Lead
Ross Magill is a video editor and multimedia designer from Co. Wicklow, Ireland, currently based in Vancouver, Canada. He recently completed his Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Cognitive Science and Computer Science at the University of Toronto.
As Videography Team Lead, Ross combines his technical skills with a passion for visual storytelling to help bring ideas to life. Outside of MAPS, he is also a musician, a game designer, and has a strong interest in consciousness studies, digital media ethics, and the role of narrative in shaping mental health discourse.
He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Digital Media at the Centre for Digital Media in Vancouver, a graduate program jointly accredited by UBC, SFU, BCIT, and Emily Carr University.
Joelle Adams
(she/her)
School of Psychedelics Lead
Joelle Adams is a PhD student in Applied Transpersonal Psychology at the Alef Trust/Liverpool John Moores University, investigating the paths experiencers take when integrating psychedelic and other exceptional experiences. She is involved in research projects related to wellbeing following lucid dreaming, near-death, psychedelic and other experiences of altered states. She completed her BA in English at Western University in London, Ontario and also holds a Master’s degree in Professional Practice in Higher Education from Bath Spa University. Joelle teaches at Santa Monica College and splits her time between Ontario, California and the UKs
Emily Fewster
(she/her)
Special Access Program - CoP Lead & Clinical Research - CoP Co-Lead
I have been passionate about psychedelic research since high school, which led me to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Neuropsychology and an MA in the Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science program at York University. Outside of my academic and MAPS Canada related work, I serve as a Lead Research Associate at the Canadian Centre for Psychedelic Science, where I helped conduct a clinical trial exploring the efficacy of psilocybin microdosing for treating Major Depressive Disorder. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, camping, and playing volleyball.
Gillian Moore
(she/her)
Clinical Research - CoP Co-Lead
I have an educational and professional background in engineering and a deep personal interest in psychedelics, which has complimented my passion for meditation and mindfulness. In the future I hope to get more involved in the psychedelic industry with a focus on community and education. Outside of work I enjoy cafe hopping, cooking, and yoga!