Board Of Directors

Christine Collings– Vice President

Christine has been a part of the MDSS board since 2018. She has 4 children, her youngest Analeigh (6 yrs) has DS.  Since joining the board, she has taken over as coordinator of the annual fundraiser Walk With Us.  Although Covid has meant the walk has been virtual the past couple years, she looks forward to when restrictions lift and the MDSS family can walk together united again.

Rick Sawyer – Treasurer

Rick started as treasurer on the Board in 2007, as a way of indirectly supporting his Daughter Courtney, born in 2001 with Down Syndrome. He has enjoyed volunteering with other parents in the DS community, which has led to many friendships and opportunities for his daughter and family.

He is a major sports fan and enjoys watching, attending and supporting the local teams, especially when being accompanied by Courtney or her younger sister Nicole.

Ian Coupland

I grew up near Benito, Manitoba with many siblings including a foster sister who has Down syndrome. I moved south to complete university and then worked in the disability field for about 10 years with various organizations in Winnipeg I transitioned away from paid employment in the disability field to full time with the Canadian Armed Forces, working with the Cadet Program and volunteering in the not for profit social services sector. In 2019 my wife Amber and I welcomed our seventh child, Chloe, and she came with a birth diagnosis of Down syndrome. We live in the RM of Morris near Rosenort, Manitoba, but both work in Winnipeg. We have had a lot of support from the Down syndrome community, and all our networks, and I look forward now to working with the MDSS to give back some of what we have received over the past few years. I am excited to support the organization in its endeavours to provide support, information, and opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome as well as for their families and support systems.

Lorraine Baydack (Past President)

Lorraine is known to most people as ‘Ryan’s mom’! Ryan, who is now 30 years old, was the catalyst for her work as an MDSS board member for many years between 1997 and 2015.  She is excited to work with so many Board members who are sure to have new and exciting ideas.  Lorraine taught in Early Years classrooms for 38 years and was a Resource Teacher for the last 21 of them.  She is happily retired now.

As a past Board member, Lorraine initiated and saw through projects to help ensure education, support and social networking. Some of these include From the Heart (the CDSS National Conference held in Winnipeg in 2002), the annual See Me Beautiful Conference for parents and educators, and the original social club Livewires. Lorraine also hosted Coffee and Chat evenings (a topic, a presenter, questions and chat time) for a number of years. These activities brought Lorraine and Ryan the best benefit of all – lifetime friends, some of whom are like family.  We attend all kinds of local events together throughout the year – Celebrations Dinner Theatre, bowling, Rainbow Stage, visits to Gimli.  We counsel and support each other through transitions, and celebrate our children’s lives.

Val Surbey – Past President

Val has been a long member of the Manitoba Down Syndrome Society from its inception to the present.  Val is mom to Timothy, 31 years of age.  Tim was adopted at birth by Val and Vince and we have never looked back.  At present Val is involved in other organizations for individuals with intellectual disabilities and is an inclusion advocate.