PRESIDENT

I am honoured to be serving as a Director, and President, of Nanaimo Community Hospice Society. My partner and I sold our business in 2008, which freed me to work on my passions instead of a pay cheque. I have served on numerous boards and committees, including Literacy Central Island, TheatreOne, and have spent 20 years with the Community Futures Network, including time as Provincial Chair, and National Chair. I reside in Lantzville with my spouse Brock and our very spoiled dog Willie. I am humbled by the commitment and compassion of Hospice staff and many volunteers. I believe it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to support each other through loss and dying.

VICE PRESIDENT

My husband and I moved from Edmonton to Nanaimo in Fall 2012. I retired from my position as an Assistant Deputy Minister after 32 years with the Government of Alberta (30 years with Alberta Health and 2 years with Service Alberta). Once retired, we spent several summers sailing along the BC coast and camping. We also visit our son, daughter-in-law and very dear friends in Alberta as often as we can. We adopted an 8-week-old mini-labradoodle (Beau) in late 2021, and in June 2023 joined the very rewarding St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program. For 2 years I was a member of the Ladysmith Maritime Society Board of Directors, and for 6 years I volunteered on the Board of Directors with the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society.

SECRETARY

I have lived in Nanaimo for 16 years and prior to that always in Alberta. While in Alberta, I was a career banker and was involved with many volunteer projects, including Food Bank and non-profit organizations for hard-to-house and mental health groups. I have previously been a member of the Nanaimo Community Hospice Board. I look forward to being able to again contribute as a member of this valued organization and am thankful for the opportunity to do so.

TREASURER

I am retired from the Royal Bank, where I was Area Manager Central Vancouver Island. I have resided in Nanaimo for the past 26 years. Originally from Victoria BC, I have worked and lived in Montreal, Ottawa, Burlington, and Vancouver. I hold my undergraduate degree in Commerce and Economics from Simon Fraser University. I am a Fellow in the Institute of Canadian Bankers. I also served as Past President of the Port Theatre Society and Past Treasurer of the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation. For the past 8 years, I have volunteered at the Hospice Thrift Shoppe. I met my wife Alice at one of the grief groups at Hospice House. Hospice is very special to me.

BOARD MEMBER

I am a family physician currently practicing mostly palliative care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Nanaimo community, and occasionally covering Oceanside community and Trillium Hospice. I am originally from Edmonton, Alberta and completed a Bachelor of Science Major in Nutritional Sciences form the University of Edmonton in 2002. I worked as a Registered Dietitian for 8 years in BC and Alberta before going to medical school at the University of Calgary. I moved to Nanaimo with my husband Ben in 2017 and completed family practice residency, where I experienced the wonderful Palliative Care Program here and haven’t left! Since then we’ve added Colby (4 years old) and Polly (3 years old) to our family. Our dog Edgar is almost 16 years old, very deaf, but a beloved family member.

BOARD MEMBER

I am a retired lawyer. We moved to Canada in 1968 and bought property near Nanaimo in 1969 with two other couples, together raising 7 children, numerous grandchildren and a Noah’s Ark of animals. I taught politics and history at Malaspina College since 1970, practiced law in Nanaimo since 1980 and have been involved in many local activities, organizations and boards. I have been a “Friend of Hospice” and a Lifetime Member. Lynn and I have been married since 1968. Lynn worked as a physiotherapist at Nanaimo Hospital since 1970 and is a longtime Hospice volunteer.

BOARD MEMBER

I understand and recognize the impact exemplary end-of-life/death care has on the community as a whole. Captivated by the funeral service profession, I began my interest when I was young being exposed at a friend’s family funeral home. It was there I saw the profession from another side and knew in my heart this was my calling. Later I completed my education and apprenticeship becoming a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. Having previous employment, as well as business ownership experience in the service industry, I bring a background in corporate finance that has given me a solid understanding of day-to-day business operations, fiscal frameworks, risk management, recruitment/evaluation and long-term objective planning. Naturally, this led me into a leadership role where I now proudly manage Sands Funeral Chapel and Crematorium in Nanaimo. We cannot stop death from happening, but we can treat the deceased and their loved ones as if they were our own loved one, and we can companion the bereaved and help launch their grief in a healthy manner.

BOARD MEMBER

Within my capacity as a registered social worker with over 45 years of experience working in Ontario and BC, most of my career has been dedicated to working in adoption, foster care and mental health in a variety of not-for-profit community agencies, including three Indigenous organizations. With a clinical orientation based on professional knowledge of attachment, grief, loss, trauma and diversity, I have had the enormous privilege of designing and delivering interrelated training as well as the full range of mental health services to individuals, couples and families across the lifespan, in both rural and urban settings.  Committed to working for organizations whose knowledge base, values and principles of practice are not only compatible with those that have informed and guided me throughout my professional career,  but reflect a commitment to  excellence in service delivery, I am honored to have been given the opportunity to learn from and serve on the Board of Directors for NCHS.

BOARD MEMBER

I am grateful to say that I have lived, worked, and played in the unceded territory of the Stz’minus Nation, in the town of Ladysmith, BC for the past 30 years.  Our two sons have left for the mainland, but Ladysmith is still home for my wife and I. I am retired from a 25-year career with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Nanaimo, spending the last 12 years as a program manager for Indigenous Fisheries. Prior to DFO, I practiced law in Saskatchewan for 5 years, specializing in Civil and Criminal litigation.  Throughout my career I have had the privilege of volunteering with some amazing organizations such as the Critical Incident Stress Management Team with DFO; and the Community Circles Restorative Justice Society in Ladysmith. My work with mental health professionals and volunteers in these organizations allowed me to witness the power of dialogue and listening.