Welcome to Heartfire Homes
Where warmth, care, safety and growth are paramount
We are a child- and family-centered residential care provider committed to care, healing, and growth.
Guided by integrity, kindness, and accountability, we blend Indigenous teachings with evidence-informed practice to support meaningful, lasting change.
We are deeply passionate about cultural revitalization. Culture is not an addition to our work, it is woven into daily living within our homes.
Our homes are safe, stable, and nurturing spaces where children experience belonging, build resilience, and grow in confidence and hope.
Two Eyed Seeing
Guided by the principle of Two-Eyed Seeing, we honor both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing.
We infuse cultural teachings, connection to land and spirit, and community wisdom together with evidence-based practices and supports.
By embracing the strengths of both perspectives, we provide care that is balanced, respectful, and holistic.
We strive to provide culturally responsive and indigenous-informed care for all those we serve.
Trauma-Informed Care
All care provided at Heartfire Homes is trauma-informed.
We understand how trauma impacts behavior, development, and relationships, and we acknowledge the trauma that Indigenous children, youth, and families have and continue to endure.
Our staff respond with empathy, consistency, and evidence-based strategies that support emotional safety, trust-building, and resilience.
Child and Family Centered Care
Our child and family-centered approach recognizes that a child’s well-being is inseparable from their family, community, and culture.
We partner with families as respected collaborators, ensuring each young person’s voice, strengths, and lived experiences guide their care.
Culture is intentionally woven into daily life through teachings, language, ceremony, and on-the-land experiences, strengthening identity, belonging, and connection to spirit and self.
By grounding our work in relationship, respect, and cultural revitalization, we create spaces where children feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
The Heartfire Approach to Care
Align - Association of Community Services
Real Impact
Life Skills & Developmental Support
Children, youth, and families are supported in developing age-appropriate life skills, emotional awareness, and social skills.
This includes but not limited to daily living routines, healthy coping strategies, communication skills, and preparation for transitions, based on each child’s developmental stage and needs.
Education, Health & Advocacy Support
We work collaboratively with Nations, schools, therapists, health providers, and Child and Family Services to support each child’s health, educational, and developmental goals.
Advocacy and coordination ensure children receive wrap-around services and consistent support.
Family Support
When appropriate and safe, Heartfire Homes supports family connections.
We collaborate with guardians, kinship caregivers, and professionals to support reunification, kinship placements, or long-term stability, always guided by the best interests of the child.
Cultural Connection and Programming
We believe healing and growth are strengthened through connection to culture, community, and the land.
Our cultural connection and on-the-land programming creates meaningful opportunities for children and youth to engage in traditional teachings, cultural practices, and land-based experiences.
Through guided activities, ceremony, storytelling, and time spent outdoors, we foster identity, belonging, resilience, and a deeper connection to spirit, self, and community.
Heartfire Homes operates in accordance with applicable Child and Family Services legislation, Provincial licensing requirements, and Accreditation Canada’s standards of care. We are committed to maintaining safe environments, ethical practice, and continuous quality improvement through staff training, supervision, and oversight.
LICENSING & STANDARDS
Our Team
Jillian Fitzpatrick
Director of Client Services
Jillian Fitzpatrick is the Director of Client Care at Heartfire Homes, bringing 20 years of professional experience in the Human Services field. The entirety of her career has been living and working in Indigenous communities across Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Fort McMurray, Alberta. Her work in the North deeply shaped both her practice and her worldview, grounding her in the realities, strengths, and resilience of the communities she served.
Jillian’s professional background includes extensive experience within Child and Family Services, youth and women’s corrections, and support services for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Throughout her career, she has worked in close partnership with Indigenous families, Elders, and community leaders, supporting children and youth through trauma-informed, culturally respectful, and relationship-based care. Jillian leads with heart and integrity, and is guided by the principle that children thrive when they are safe, seen, connected, and supported.
Jillian created Heartfire Homes out of a deep passion to create nurturing, culturally grounded homes for Indigenous children and youth in care. A strong advocate for cultural revitalization, Jillian recognizes the land as a source of identity, healing, and belonging, often creating opportunities for emotional regulation, cultural continuity, and long-term well-being.
Sherry Fitzpatrick
Executive Assistant
Sherry Fitzpatrick is the Executive Assistant at Heartfire Homes, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. She has spent 20 years in property management in Ontario, developing strong skills in operations, coordination, and organizational leadership, and an additional 10 years in human services in Newfoundland, where she focused on office and program management with the Single Parents Association. This combination of experience across sectors gives her a unique perspective on both operational efficiency and people-centered care.
Sherry is known for her meticulous attention to detail, reliability, and approachable nature. She ensures that the leadership team is fully supported by managing complex schedules, coordinating communications, overseeing day-to-day operations, and anticipating organizational needs. Passionate about fostering a positive and supportive environment, Sherry brings insight, empathy, and heart to every aspect of her work.
Rupak Choudhary serves as Director of Operations at Heartfire Homes, bringing over 18 years of experience in engineering, financial management, and operational leadership. His role is focused on building safe, stable, and well-managed group home environments, where strong systems support high-quality, compassionate care.
Rupak oversees operational planning, budgeting, regulatory compliance, staffing coordination, and facility management, ensuring accountability, efficiency, and alignment with licensing and funding requirements.
Guided by a belief that effective group home operations require both strong leadership and responsible stewardship of resources, Rupak prioritizes transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement. He works closely with staff, families, and community partners to ensure Heartfire Homes’ programs are safe, culturally respectful, and responsibly managed, supporting long-term sustainability and positive outcomes for children and youth in care.
Rupak also has a passion for connecting youth and children with the outdoors in Alberta’s wilderness. He loves camping, hiking, fishing, biking, and a myriad of other activities that he’s looking forward to sharing with the children and youth who stay at Heartfire Homes.
Director of Operations
Rupak Choudhary
Supriya Chaudhary
Supriya Chaudhary provides Human Resources services to Heartfire Homes. She has a Masters of Business Administration in Human Resources and is a Chartered Professional Human Resources candidate who achieved “Top Scorer” in Alberta on the 2025 National Knowledge Exam. She brings 7+ years of progressive HR experience across Canadian healthcare and global organizations including Nike and Microsoft, with expertise in employee relations, unionized environments, policy development, and multi-site workforce support.
Known for her practical, legislation-grounded approach, Supriya combines strategic HR partnership with hands-on execution to build compliant, people-centered workplaces. She is passionate about strengthening organizational foundations through adherence to legislation, strong governance, thoughtful leadership support, and clear, fair HR practices.
Fractional Human Resources Consultant
Land Acknowledgment
Heartfire Homes Inc. respectfully acknowledges that we live, work, and serve on Treaty 8 Territory, the traditional and ancestral lands of the Cree, Dene, and Métis Peoples.
We honour the enduring presence, strength, and wisdom of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples who have cared for this land since time immemorial and continue to shape its future today.
As an organization committed to cultural reclamation, we recognize that reconciliation is not only words but action.
We are dedicated to building meaningful relationships, walking alongside Indigenous communities, and infusing cultural teachings, connection to spirit, and respect for identity into the daily lives of the children and families we serve.
We offer this acknowledgement with gratitude, humility, and a commitment to continued learning and responsible partnership.
Contact Us
For inquiries, referrals, or partnership opportunities, please contact Heartfire Homes Inc. We welcome collaboration with Child and Family Services, community partners, and professional networks.