About Us
Alberta’s Licensed Insolvency Trustees since 1997
For nearly 30 years, we’ve helped Albertans move from stress and uncertainty to clarity, legal protection, and a real plan forward. Most people who find us have been carrying this quietly for a while. Unsure who to trust. Unsure what happens next.
No obligation. No judgment. Just a way out.
Our team
The people you’ll be working with
When you reach out, you’re not speaking to a call centre or being handed off to someone unfamiliar with your situation. You’re working directly with experienced Licensed Insolvency Trustees and their trusted team members who take responsibility for your outcome.
You’ll know exactly who you’re working with and who is responsible for helping you move forward.
Lanaia Nykyforuk
Managing Partner, CPA, CIRP & Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Lanaia leads complex corporate and tax-driven files, helping clients navigate CRA debt, restructuring, and high-stakes financial situations with precision and care.
Harman Buttar
Managing Partner, CIRP & Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Harman specializes in building personalized solutions and ensuring every client feels understood, supported, and confident in their
next steps.
Barry Nykyforuk
Founder & Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Barry built BNA on a simple belief: your financial situation should never define your worth. For nearly three decades, he has helped thousands of Albertans navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives with clarity & dignity.
Melanie Nicole Goulet
CIRP & Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Melanie is calm under pressure, honest with the facts, and focused on helping clients move forward. She is the honest negotiator clients want in their corner when creditor pressure gets heavy.
Heather Tilley
Senior Administrator, CIRP & Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Heather is the steady hand behind the file, making sure every step moves toward discharge. She keeps the process moving after filing, handling the details, deadlines, and CRA communication.
A human approach
Life happens. Debt is just a chapter.
The debt industry doesn’t always make things easier. Collection calls. Threatening letters. Paperwork that seems designed to confuse. By the time people walk through our door, many feel they’ve already lost, as if there’s no good option left.
Here is what we want you to know: you did not fail. Debt is not a measure of your character. It is a financial situation, and like any situation, there is a path through it.
Our approach is simple. We listen first. We ask how you are doing and what matters most right now: your home, your truck, your kids’ stability. Then we look at the numbers together. We help you move from worry and uncertainty to a clear plan with people in your corner.
We do not believe debt defines anyone. We believe everyone deserves a clear path back to peace of mind, and we are here to walk that path with you.
BNA debt solutions
Three decades of helping Albertans find their way out
BNA Debt Solutions, officially registered as Barry Nykyforuk and Associates Inc., was started with a simple observation by our founder. People deserve honest, practical help when financial pressure becomes overwhelming.
1997 | The foundation
Barry Nykyforuk started BNA Debt Solutions with a clear conviction: your bank balance has nothing to do with your worth as a person. Barry and Gerri wanted to create a place where Albertans could find real answers after hearing too many “no’s.” That belief is still reflected in the checkmark at the heart of the BNA logo, representing the idea that there is still a path forward when people feel stuck or unsure where to turn.
Growing to meet more needs
Over the years, we grew alongside the people we serve. We added CPA-level tax strategy to help clients work through CRA debt, and we expanded from a founder-led practice into a team of Licensed Insolvency Trustees. For many years, Barry was the only trustee at BNA. Today, five trustees support the firm’s work, bringing more depth, experience, and continuity to the people we serve.
The BNA today
Today, BNA supports people through everything from Consumer Proposals to more complex insolvency matters. The scale of the work has grown, but the approach has not: understand the situation, explain the options clearly, and support people through every step, from first conversation to final resolution.
What makes bna different
While our reach has expanded, our approach hasn’t changed
We still answer the phone personally. We still take time to explain every option. We still believe that no one should feel ashamed for seeking help.
We’ve walked with clients through oil booms and downturns. Through the 2008 financial crisis. Through a global pandemic. And through deeply personal storms: divorces, illnesses, job losses, business failures. Economic cycles come and go. Our commitment to the people we serve doesn’t.
Our legacy in numbers
Nearly 30 years of serving
Alberta Communities
Thousands of Consumer Proposals and Bankruptcies successfully filed & completed
Accredited with the Better Business Bureau with a long-standing reputation
for integrity
Multi-time winner of the Consumer Choice Award, proving our commitment to the families we serve
Two generations of Albertans helped. Parents who referred their adult children when life got tough.
We are Licensed Insolvency Trustees
Not all debt help is created equal
You’ve likely seen ads for debt settlement or credit counselling services promising quick fixes.
Here’s what most people aren’t told: many of these options have no legal authority. Creditors don’t have to cooperate, interest can continue to grow, and some programs come with fees that leave people in a worse position than where they started.
As Licensed Insolvency Trustees, we operate under federal law. We use federally regulated processes that can legally bind creditors when the requirements are met. That means real protection, real structure, and a clear path forward.
When you’re the one who needs help, that distinction matters.
Why people choose BNA
When people understand the difference, the decision becomes much clearer:
- Federally regulated Licensed Insolvency Trustees
- Legally binding solutions that stop interest and collections
- Access to experienced trustees and their trusted team
- Nearly three decades helping Albertans navigate debt
- Realistic guidance from day one
- A human-first approach with no judgment
At BNA, we don’t give you numbers just to make the first conversation feel easier. We look at your budget, your creditors, and the formal process so you understand what is realistic before anything moves forward. That means fewer surprises, clearer expectations, and a plan built with care from the start.
WHY Choose BNA
Why legal authority changes the outcome
| The Legal Reality | BNA Debt Solutions (LIT) | Unregulated Agencies |
|---|---|---|
| Stopping lawsuits | YES. A Stay of Proceedings stops most lawsuits and wage garnishments once filed. | No power to stop legal action |
| Interest freeze | YES. Legally guaranteed 0% interest on included debts | No. Interest may continue, and fees can vary by program |
| CRA tax debt | YES. The only legal way to bind the Canada Revenue Agency to a settlement | No authority over government debts |
| Keeping your assets | YES. Full use of Alberta provincial exemptions to protect your RRSPs, home equity, and vehicle | No legal power to safeguard what you own |
| Binding agreement | YES. Legally enforceable for all included creditors | Voluntary participation; creditors can leave anytime |
How do we help?
Debt relief solutions we use to rewrite your financial story
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all answers. We sit down, look at the full picture, and work out what actually makes sense for your life.
Consumer Proposal
A consumer proposal lets you settle your debt for a fraction of what you owe and freezes your interest at 0% by law. You get one monthly payment you can afford, and your creditors are legally bound to the agreement.
- ✓ Stops all wage garnishments.
- ✓ Protects your home and vehicle.
- ✓ One consolidated monthly payment.
Division I Proposal
For larger, more complex situations (debt exceeding $250,000). We design detailed proposals that protect business assets and professional licenses. These are for corporate restructuring or high-net-worth files that need extra care.
- ✓ Tailored for corporate or high-net-worth restructuring.
- ✓ Resolves complex CRA and tax-driven insolvencies.
- ✓ Managed by our most senior strategists.
Personal Bankruptcy
It is time to stop thinking that filing for bankruptcy is a failure. It’s a federally protected process, designed to give people a real, legal fresh start. We make sure you understand what bankruptcy means, what may be protected, and what the process looks like before you make a decision.
- ✓ Protection of exempt assets such as RRSPs & pensions.
- ✓ A clear legal process for dealing with eligible
unsecured debt. - ✓ Mandatory counselling sessions and practical guidance
during the process.
Our approach
From that first call to a fresh start
Every financial situation is different. When you first contact us, you’re likely experiencing that overwhelming feeling where the problem feels too big to even start dealing with.
But our process is designed to move you from paralysis to empowerment
Step 1: A private practical conversation
Your first consultation is not a sales conversation. It is a private place to explain what is happening, ask questions, and review your options. We look at what you owe, what you earn, what you need to protect, and what a realistic next step could look like.
Step 2: The full picture
We walk you through every option available. Sometimes the right solution is a Consumer Proposal. Sometimes it’s bankruptcy. Sometimes it’s simply better to budget, seek financial counselling, or take out a consolidation loan, which we don’t even provide. Our job is to help you find the right path, not the one that benefits us most.
Step 3: The legal shield
If you decide to move forward with us, we will become your point of contact for everything. We handle the creditor calls. We file the legal documents. We negotiate on your behalf. You focus on rebuilding; we handle the heavy lifting.
Step 4: The fresh start
But our job doesn’t end when the paperwork is filed. We provide mandatory credit counselling (not as a punishment, but as a roadmap), ongoing support, and guidance on rebuilding your financial life.
Our trustees
Alberta is our home. We know how this province works.
We aren’t a faceless national call centre routing your file to another province. We are Albertans. We understand how quickly things can change here – shifts in the economy, rising costs, and unexpected life events that can put real pressure on people and families.
Since 1997, we’ve grown from a small Calgary office to one of Alberta’s most trusted, privately-owned Licensed Insolvency Trustee firms.
Who we help across Alberta:
Financial stress can look different for everyone. We work with individuals, families, and business owners across Alberta who are dealing with debt, rising costs, tax issues, or unexpected life changes. Our goal is to provide clear guidance, practical solutions, and a safe place to start the conversation.
Calgary & surrounding areas
From the Beltline to suburban communities like Airdrie, Okotoks, and Cochrane
Edmonton & Capital Region
Including Sherwood Park, St. Albert, and Leduc
Southern Alberta
Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and rural communities
Central Alberta
Red Deer and surrounding communities
Northern Alberta
Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, and beyond
Small business owners
Across the province, those who need corporate restructuring or Division I Proposals
What our clients say
The moment things start to feel different
Filing the paperwork is just the beginning. What we really measure is what happens next.
If you are in a position where you need to find a solution out of debt, reach out to BNA for more information. There is no commitment to find out what options are available. I was embarrassed and uncomfortable to share the details of my experience but Sammie immediately put me at ease. She is compassionate, knowledgeable, flexible and an amazing problem solver. She covered all options available to me at my convenience, she passed no judgment, and I felt no pressure to commit. Together we settled on an option that worked best for me. It is never a winning situation to be in a position where you need to dig yourself out of a hole you created but I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to the team at BNA.
You walk in anxious and heavy, that awful burning in the pit of your stomach that comes with debt; feelings of shame, uselessness, irresponsibility. But then you talk to a representative like Simmie, and the weight of the burden begins to melt away. She’s there for you, she talks you through many options, she answers each and every one of your questions with clarity and compassion. Not only does she want to help, she’s trained and licensed to do so. There is work involved for you in this collaborative process, papers and numbers and lists but in the end you are presented with a very feasible, simple plan that allows you to breathe, to engage with your life and your finances in a measured way. I cannot thank Simmie and BNS enough for their empathy, quick turnaround, and straightforward processes.
Unfortunately ran into a sticky financial situation and was referred to BNA Debt Solutions through a debt counselling service. Have had a few meetings and they were always very helpful, kind and understanding. They made my consumer proposal very easy to understand and walked me through it all to ensure I was comfortable with the documents before we took any action. If you’re stressing out about financials, there is help available and I wish I would have reached out earlier. BNA is a great option!
I’ve got myself in very ugly financial situation. It was so stressful that I thought my life is over. It had very big impact on my mental and physical health. When I found out about BNA and their business it was just thin hope that maybe I would find some help. My first appointment was with Simmie Pandher in the office of BNA. After I presented my situation and my worries, Simmie has shown an enthusiastic interest to understand , assist and help me. She sounds like an angel when she said to me that I came to right place where they will find right solution for me. She told me that all my worries ,sleepless night and other concerns will be over. Now because of professional dedication and knowledge of Simmie and Andy Wong and their all team I am back to life again. THANK YOU!
Bad things happen to good people, especially in times of economic and employment uncertainty.
From the very beginning, from my first phone call, BNA Solutions has treated me with respect, empathy and complete professionalism.
The staff were very thorough, knowledgeable and prompt with all my interactions. All options were explained to me and I felt there was hope rather than darkness and despair.
Have used BNA Debt Solutions twice. Once for credit card debt and another regarding a business failure. Both times very empathetic to my situation. I felt I had someone in my corner when it came to dealing with institutions that were aggressive and not empathetic to our situation. Would recommend them infact I have sent three other individuals that had financial challenges and they were grateful that I recommended such a strong team of advocates for their situations.
A clear path forward
You don’t have to figure this out on your own
We know how much courage it takes to reach out. Picking up the phone or clicking that button can feel like admitting you’ve failed. But that’s not what it is.
It’s the moment you decide to stop carrying this alone.
You’ve been dealing with this quietly for a long time. You’ve lost sleep. You’ve missed moments with the people you love. You’ve paid interest to a system that wasn’t designed with your well-being in mind.
That doesn’t have to continue. This is one chapter. Not the whole story. And if you’re ready to start writing the next one, we’re here to help.
What happens next:
- We’ll schedule a time that works for you (in-person, by phone, or virtual).
- You’ll speak with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee or a member of our team.
- We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and answer every question.
- If you decide to move forward, we’ll handle everything.
If you don’t, at least you’ll know your options.
No pressure. No judgement. Just the truth about your options.
P.S. Not ready to talk yet? That’s okay. Browse our debt solutions or use our debt repayment calculator to explore on your own terms. We’ll be here when you are.