Board of Directors

SPARC BC’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wes Hewitt—Port Alberni, B.C.

Wes joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2019 and serves as the President of the Board since 2020. Previously, 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 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; tasks 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.

Tarita Davenock—Nanaimo, B.C.

Tarita joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2018 and has served as a Vice-President since 2019. Tarita also serves on the Board’s Nominations Committee. Previously, Tarita served on the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee and the Board’s Governance Committee. Tarita has built a reputation as a global expert in the field of accessible travel, and inclusive tourism. A speaker and contributor to the Huffington Post, and other travel publications; her company Travel For All is Canada’s premier accessible travel agency. Tarita is sought after for her extensive business knowledge as an entrepreneur with a disability and is passionate about creating access for all. Tarita has served in a diverse range of roles over the years in promoting greater accessibility including participating on the Accessible Tourism Committee for the Standards Council of Canada. Tarita has graduate degrees in English and Behavioural Psychology and is currently working on the completion of her Doctoral Thesis. Prior to establishing Travel For All, Tarita worked as a social worker.

Theresa Harding—Richmond, B.C.

Theresa joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2020 and serves on the Board’s Nominations Committee and Governance Committee. Theresa is a genuine supporter of working with communities to build a just and healthy society for all. Early in her career, with academic focuses on sociology, gender studies, and planning, her focus was to support and inform all active engagements with social justice and equity. It is with these values that Theresa was prepared to practice collaborative community development by founding programs that would be integral to the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre. Many of Theresa’s values have been informed by hard circumstances and decisions experienced by many SPARC BC clients and research demographics, which puts her at a level of empathy and understanding to inform who she is and what does.

Marla Reed—Dawson Creek, B.C.

Marla joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2018 and has served as the Secretary/Treasurer since 2020. Marla also serves as the Chair of the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee. Marla is the Executive Director of the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living. Marla brings extensive knowledge of the community living movement and has worked in the social service sector for twenty-five (25) years. Over the course of her career, Marla has worked with a broad range of partners on a wide range of community development initiatives designed to promote and support greater economic and social inclusion for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Marla’s work has included the development of numerous housing options for low-income adults with developmental disabilities, families, and seniors. Marla is passionate about the inclusion of adults with developmental disabilities and seniors and is committed to creating a more inclusive society for everyone.

Beverly Onischak—Castlegar, B.C.

Beverly joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2016 and serves on the Board’s Governance Committee. Beverly is a retired Nurse with more than 40 years of practice in acute care and complex care. Bev is also an educator with experience in providing instruction for nursing students. Bev has a long history of advocacy on issues of accessibility and disability. Bev currently serves on a number of Committees including the National Committee for Persons Living with DisAbilities. Through her work, and various labour and union affiliations, Bev has championed womens’ rights, and has worked to address issues around occupational health and safety including the working conditions for short-term and part-time instructors. Bev is active on the Castlegar and District Social Planning Council and is a member of the Castlegar Mayor’s Abilities Awareness Advisory Committee. Bev is also an active community volunteer who enjoys the Garden Club and Friends of the Library.

Linden Collette—Cowichan Bay, B.C.

Linden joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2020 and serves on the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee. Linden has been aware of the work of SPARC BC for several years, first in her role as the Executive Director at Social Planning Cowichan and now in her current role as the dedicated Executive Director of Community Options for Children and Families. Most recently, Linden participated in the community consultations on disability legislation of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and assisted SPARC BC staff in the facilitation of several meetings. With a passion for social justice and experience in research, policy development and practice, Linden brings valuable experience as a Director with SPARC BC.

Jim O’Dea—Vancouver, B.C.

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 the 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 affordable housing. Jim is currently a member of O’Dea Song—an organization that is committed to working to build housing and spaces for community and social enterprises.

Laurie Paulin—New Hazelton, B.C.

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 in achieving equity. Laurie brings a strong background and passion for social justice and poverty law and has worked with clients with 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 those who are accused in developing an appropriate healing plan and other actions. 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.

Fraser Holland—Langley, B.C.

Fraser Holland 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 the Langley Community Services Society. Prior to joining LCSS, Fraser was the Director of Homelessness Services for Stepping Stone Services Society—a community-based service agency located in Langley. Through his work as part of the Langley Intensive Case Management Team, Fraser works as part of a multi-disciplinary team that is focused on client engagement, housing stability as well as brokering serves to better meet the needs of individuals with a history of homelessness including clients who are 19 or older and who have chronic or dependent substance use. In addition to his significant experience in providing outreach services, Fraser also participates on the Board of the Homelessness Services Association while also finding time to work on issues of income security and poverty reduction, and the need for increasing the supply of affordable housing across communities.

Sheila Lewis—Kelowna, B.C.

Sheila Lewis 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 Metis Nation of B.C. where she leads research into the impact of provincial, regional, local, and national policies on the well-being of Metis 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 Metis Nation, Sheila held various roles with the Interior Health Authority including regional practice lead for Aboriginal Mental Wellness as part of their mental health and substance use network, 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, the City of West Kelowna and University of British Columbia, Okanagan. Sheila also volunteers her time to support and facilitate Truth and Reconciliation Reading Circles designed to build and deepen community understanding of the 94 Calls to Action set out in the report.

Dr. Shelley Cook—Ladysmith, B.C.

Dr. Shelley Cook previously served on SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2014 and has more recently agreed to serve for an additional three (3) year term. Shelley obtained her PhD in interdisciplinary studies from the University of British Columbia, Okanagan where she used a participatory mixed methods approach to examine the socio-spatial aspects of street homelessness and the implications for human services planning. Shelley also brings significant experience and understanding in looking at the complex and specific housing and support needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Prior to completing her PhD, Shelley worked for the John Howard Society in the Central and South Okanagan where she was the Executive Director. Shelley was born and raised in Kelowna before moving to Vancouver Island where she attended the University of Victoria for both her undergraduate (Psychology) and graduate education (Human & Social Development). More recently Shelley has served as the Executive Director for the Cowichan Housing Association.