Board of Directors

Wes joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2019 and has served as the President of the Board since 2020. Prior to becoming President, Wes also served on the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee and the Board Nominations Committee. Wes is the Executive Director for the Alberni Shelter Society where he is proud to be considered a community leader in the development of social and supportive housing. The Port Alberni Society provides housing for low-income families and employment training within Port Alberni. Wes has enjoyed being an innovator in the field of harm reduction, substance use and mental health. Wes believes some of the strongest connections are made with clients through tasks not associated with his work; like assisting in fixing a door, or helping with carpentry. Outside of Wes’s occupation, he has deep community involvement as a Shriner and Freemason.

Fraser joined the SPARC BC Board of Directors in 2022 and serves on the Board’s Nominations Committee. Fraser has a long history of working on issues of housing and homelessness within the Metro Vancouver region and has been providing outreach services to individuals with a history of homelessness since 2006. Fraser is currently serving as the Program Manager for the Intensive Case Management Team within Langley Community Services Society. Prior to joining LCSS, Fraser was the Director of Homelessness Services for Stepping Stone Services Society. Fraser works as part of a multi-disciplinary team that is focused on client engagement and housing. In his role as Program Manager, Fraser seeks to find ways to support individuals who have a history of homelessness including clients who are 19 or older and who have a history of substance use. In addition to serving on SPARC BC’s Board of Directors, Fraser also participates on the Board of Directors for the Homelessness Services Association of B.C. Fraser is com7mitted to addressing issues of income security and poverty reduction and to finding ways to increase the supply of affordable housing in communities across B.C.

Irene previously served on SPARC BC’s Board of Directors and held the positions of President and Vice President during her time on the Board. It is Irene’s passion for social justice and her knowledge of social development needs in smaller rural and northern communities that makes Irene want to return to the Board. Irene is the Executive Director of the Women’s Contact Society in Williams Lake where she is engaged in the delivery of programs and services designed to support the well-being of women and youth in her community. In addition to her day-to-day non-profit management experience, Irene has continued to be recognized as a tireless advocate around issues of gender-based violence. This includes continuing to work to ensure that the distinct needs of women and girls are taken into consideration when planning for safe and complete communities.

Jessica has long been passionate about social justice. This passion has motivated her to pursue a career in law and volunteer and work in the non-profit sector. In doing so, she has had the privilege of playing a direct role in helping those experiencing barriers to access the resources they need. She is analytical in nature and enjoys applying that mindset when addressing issues and coming up with solutions. Jessica was born and raised in British Columbia and would like to contribute to the diversity of SPARC BC’s Board of Directors by offering her experience and perspectives with a focus on helping to advance SPARC BC’s mission of building a more just and healthy society for all.

Jim joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2021 and is a member of the Board’s Nominations Committee. Formerly the co-founder and principal of Terra Housing, Jim has been involved in the housing and community sector for more than four decades and has experience in working in senior level positions within the Federal and Provincial governments including BC Housing, the Ministry of Community Development, the Homeowner Protection Office, and Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC). Jim also brings national and international experience and has been recognized by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) and CMHC for his outstanding contribution to advancing the development of affordable housing. Jim is currently a member of O’Dea Song—an organization that is committed to building as well as creating space for non-profit organizations that are engaged in working to improve the quality of life in their community.

Laurie joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2021 and serves on the Board’s Governance Committee. Laurie is Haisla and Haida and cares about working together with others to help Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples achieve social justice and equity. Laurie brings a strong background in poverty law and has worked with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Since 2018, Laurie has also played a central role in helping to establish the Indigenous Court in Hazelton and has served as a court navigator. In this role, Laurie assists individuals who are in the court system with a focus on helping them to develop an appropriate healing plan. Laurie also works to assist Elders in their role within the community court system. Laurie enjoys spending her free time out in nature with her son.

Mia has held positions in non-profit and government and completed her Masters degree in Community Development in 2019. Through her work experience and education, Mia has developed an in-depth understanding of the ways in which systems, polices and practices trap people in poverty. Mia has worked alongside and within provincial and federal criminal justice systems and has provided legal advocacy services for marginalized individuals at risk of homelessness. Mia has also delivered educational sessions about tenant’s rights under the Residential Tenancy Act and has worked as a funder in a community foundation for 5 years. Mia was also the co-founder and co-chair of the BC10 network and continued to advocate for better alignment of federal and provincial funding to address homelessness. Prior to moving from Kelowna to Victoria in 2021, Mia was the CEO of a non-profit organization that delivered brain injury supports to vulnerable clients. In that role, Mia launched a successful social enterprise that improved the cognitive capacity of individuals recovering from brain injuries. Mia currently adjudicates complex, sensitive claims submitted by injured workers in BC. Mia is passionate about social justice and is committed to working to build an inclusive society for all.

Sharon is a cultural and community development researcher/ practitioner who lives on the traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. Sharon completed her PhD in Communications at Simon Fraser University, focusing on cultural policy, cultural mapping and cultural development. She also completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Vancouver Island University where she examined change-making and social innovation potentials within arts organizations throughout Canada. Sharon has played leadership roles in non-profit arts-contexts including as Executive Director for the Comox Valley Art Gallery. In 2019, Karsten worked towards the creation of the Walk With Me project–a research and social change initiative centered on the toxic drug poisoning crisis in small communities. Through this work, Dr. Karsten seeks to create a learning health system model that foregrounds the voices and lived experiences of Peers, while creating new ways forward for those at the heart of the drug poisoning crisis towards a reduction in mortality and improvements in quality of life. Karsten is grateful to those with whom she has walked on this journey, and to those whose memory lies at the heart of this work.

Sheila joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2022 and currently serves on the Board’s Governance Committee. Sheila brings a strong background in leading gender-based analysis and in looking at issues of community health and well-being from an intersectional lens. Sheila is based in Kelowna B.C. and currently holds the role of Provincial Women’s Manager with Métis Nation of B.C. In this role, Sheila leads research into the impact of provincial, regional, local, and national policies on the well-being of Métis women and their families. In her current role, Sheila is also engaged in working with the Federal government in developing an action plan designed to respond to the calls for justice arising from the findings of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Report. Prior to joining Métis Nation, Sheila held various roles with the Interior Health Authority including regional practice lead for Aboriginal Mental Wellness as well as the Aboriginal Regional Knowledge Coordinator. Sheila has also worked with the City of West Kelowna, the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Okanagan Nation Emergency Transition House, and UBC Okanagan. Sheila is deeply committed to working to help create new pathways forward for building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and volunteers her time to support and facilitate Truth and Reconciliation Reading Circles. Through this work, Sheila seeks to help communities build a deeper understanding of the 94 Calls to Action set out in the findings report coming out of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.