Meet Reach’s Society Board of Directors

Phyllis has lived in South Delta’s Tsawwassen community for over 30 years and is currently retired from Delta School Board. She has taught with both the Richmond and Delta School Districts as a Kindergarten and Primary Teacher and has a B.A and B.Ed. from Simon Fraser University and M.Ed. from The University of British Columbia.

Phyllis has been on the Reach Board since 2005. Having worked with a wide range of students with a variety of abilities in the classroom she has provided the Board with valuable advice and guidance from a teacher’s perspective.

Reach Society has walked alongside our family for the past 10 years and provided us support in varying ways for our children. I welcome the opportunity to give back in a volunteer role. I work as a respite provider for the Delta Community Living Society and previously as a Homeshare Provider for Sources BC.

I am passionate about the valuable place REACH has in the lower mainland and I have a desire to be active in the leadership of an organization that has greatly benefited my family. I look forward to gaining a better understanding of this organization and to helping it achieve its goals. 

 

Ryan replaces Tom Siba as treasurer in 2018-2019. He brings his experience as a director on the Reach Charitable Foundation over the last few years to his new role. In addition, because he has a daughter with special needs, he is aware of how the work Reach Society does is so vital.

 

Marcia and her husband have been owners and operators of John’s Thistle Auto Ltd in Ladner since 1983. Prior to that Marcia spent 10 years at BC Gas (now Fortis) in budgets and cost accounting.  Marcia has served on the Board of Directors for Reach Child and Youth Development Society since 1997 in the roles of Director, Treasurer and most recently President, stepping down in October 2009. She also sits on the Reach Finance Committee. Marcia has worked tirelessly over the years on many projects and initiatives, and in her role as President helped to guide the organization in its name change from Delta Association for Child Development (DACD) to Reach and in the development of its new Foundation. She is currently Manager of Reach’s new thrift store FINDS. 

“My youngest son has autism. I was fortunate to have a neighbor tell me about Reach (then called DACD), when I had concerns about his development. Since then he has received amazing supports and interventions that have met his needs over time. I feel so fortunate that I am in a position to give back to this great organization” .

Lynn was elected to the Reach Society Board of Directors at the 2015 Annual General Meeting in October. She is Manager Administration and Human Resources at Canadian Auto Parts Toyota (CAPTIN) where there is a strong value for management to support communities where members live and work. Lynn connected with Reach values as well, and hopes to build stronger involvement and support for CAPTIN members to our community. Welcome Lynn!

“My daughter Jenny benefitted from a similar organization. She and our family received valuable support during a very critical time in our family’s development. I was very thankful and appreciative and want to support Reach as a similar organization.”

Karen has 38 years of special education experience working as support staff, a teacher, behaviour consultant and district case manager with the Vancouver School Board. She recently retired. 

Karen has adult son with special needs who has participated in the IDP, EIBI, Kids Friendship Club and Respite programs at Reach.

Karen joined the Reach Board of Directors in 2008 and offers the Board a unique perspective as both an educator and a parent of a child with special needs.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Reach Child and Youth Development Society this past year. I would be privileged to continue in this capacity”.

Shirley-Ann Reid first learned about REACH under the former name Delta Child Development Centre.  Her fourth child has Down Syndrome also participated in the Infant Development Program and is a graduate from REACH’s programs.

Shirley-Ann has dedicated many hours volunteering in her community.   Between 1987 and 2009, she volunteered with the executive of Delta’s elementary, high school and district Parent Advisory Councils;  the executive of the Child Care Referral Network Society; and the Delta Literacy Committee.   Currently, Shirley-Ann is President of the Delta Housing Be Mine Society.

Shirley- Ann focuses on helping individuals with special needs build inclusive lives.  She has many advocacy initiatives such as, writing and presenting a Resolution on behalf of parents to have letter grades for students on a modified school program, introducing to the Delta Literacy Committee “The Next Chapter Book Club” for adults with diversities, and creating community awareness for suitable and affordable housing solutions for adults with special needs.

Continuous learning is important to Shirley-Ann.  She has successfully obtained a diversity of certificates such as, the Canadian Inclusive Lives Learning Initiative (CILLI) UBC Course which provided tools and information to help individuals with an intellectual disability build an inclusive adult life; The BC Early Learning Framework Series; and the Ministry of Health – Early Speech and Language Development.

“I will strive to help REACH build upon their successes to further create a positive inclusive difference in the lives of all children and youth.”

Carmel Tang comes to our Society Board with first hand experience of Reach through her daughter Eva. She has also worked with Reach to deliver Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) workshops to educate families on the resources available to them. As a long time resident of Ladner, Carmel is dedicated to improving her community. She brings a strong financial and design background to her role as Reach Society Director.

“I want to help other families with special needs children.”

Stuart is the Director of Customer Success adn Community at Starling Minds and is responsible for helping organizations take a proactive approach to promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace.

Prior to Starling Minds, Stuart worked at U.B.C. as Director of Business Development. He led the creation of a regional, patient-oriented innovation network for autism spectrum disorders by leveraging advancements in personalized medicine, eHealth, big data, genomics and consumer wearables. Stuart has also held several senior roles in the financial and professional services sectors. 

Stuart holds a Master’s degree from the University of Oxford and is the founder of the social enterprise BOWYER & TOULSON and resides in the Vancouver area.

I learned about REACH through my association with the Board of Envision Credit Union. During my first year I have gained knowledge, assisted REACH with its goals and spread valuable information. I look forward to continuing my work with this wonderful organization and ensuring the valuable work done at REACH continues to improve the lives of many more families.