Emilee Friesen
Founder/FacilitatorEmilee is the courageous founder of Animo.
Following her own mental health challenges and the murder of her best friend, Jordan, and four others at a Calgary house party, Emilee struggled with debilitating PTSD, entering in-patient psychiatric care and spending many years in therapy.
When friends asked how they could access mental health resources, Emilee decided to start a support group using techniques she learned in a previous self-help program. Recognizing the need to incorporate new tools, Emilee modernized Animo and built it into what it is today with the help of her entrepreneur mom.
Animo’s values reflect Jordan’s spirit of integrity, authenticity and compassion by offering a safe, non-judgmental space for people to learn to be intentional and gentle with themselves and the world around them.
Emilee is a graduate of the Funeral Services Program at Mount Royal University, and still holds her licence as an Embalmer. She is also a Certified Life Skills Coach through Rhodes College and is trained as a Peer Support Worker. She lives in British Columbia with her partner, Nicolle, and their two cats, Pippi and Leeland.
Blythe Friesen
Founder/FacilitatorBorn and raised in Alberta, Blythe is not only Emilee’s twin sister but also a vibrant free-spirit who thrives in her varied roles. As an Early Childhood Educator, she enjoys sharing the tools of Animo with the children in her care, equipping them for a future with emotional balance. Outside the classroom, she styles hair with flair as a part-time hairstylist. Her education as a Life Skills Coach from Rhodes Wellness College helps her skillfully guide Animo groups through the weekly topics and skills. When she’s not shaping futures, Blythe enjoys unwinding with yoga, exploring new destinations, playing video games and violin, and spending time with her beloved cats, Li’l Brudder and Nandor.
Eunice Friesen
FounderEunice is a Registered Nurse with a Certificate in Mental Health Leadership from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She has spent countless hours advocating for vulnerable Albertans with medical, physical, and mental health challenges, and rarely says no to someone who needs her support. Eunice supports program development with Animo with the goal of making the emotional health support more accessible for everyone.
As a lifelong learner, Eunice is a trained Peer Support Worker certified in Trauma Informed Care and a Reiki Level II practitioner. She loves flower gardening, reading, and travelling to new destinations near and far. She lives in Alberta with her husband, Doug, and their cats, Miss Puss and Mouse.