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Biographies |
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Biographies of the 2009/2010 Board of Directors
Julie Fisher
Julie Fisher is a lawyer and partner in the law firm of Lawyers West LLP practicing in the area of business law, estate planning, general and commercial litigation, and disability/injury claims. Juile is a graduate of the University of Victoria (BA, First Class, in Psychology in 1991 and Law School LL.B. in 1995), and member of the BC Bar since 1996. Julie was formerly a partner with the law firm of Watson Goepel Maledy LLP.
She is the Co-Chair of the Mentoring Program for the Canadian Bar Association Women Lawyer's Forum and Coordinator with her husband Jason Jakubec of the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program for District 50/50. She is also the Secretary for Avonlea Heights Strata Council since 2006, a member of the Westwood Plateau Community Association, and a supporter together with her husband of the Rotary Club of Coquitlam Sunrise and host parents to visiting Rotary International Youth Exchange students to Coquitlam since 2005. They have one son attending French immersion in Coquitlam.
Ron Grender
Ron and his wife have lived in Coquitlam for 36 years, and raised two children while working as educators in the Coquitlam School District. After thirty-three years of service as a Teacher, Supervisor of instruction, and Principal, Ron “retired” in 2005. Since then he has continued to be an active public speaker and leader in local Toastmasters Clubs, and an executive member (now President-elect) of the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. “Retirement” so far has featured ongoing provision of training programs for Chinese Teachers of English As A Foreign Language - in China, as well as here in Coquitlam; voluntary supervision of Pinetree Secondary School’s Global Perspectives program in Guatemala and Cuba; and recent presentation skills training for visiting Korean Professors.
Native to Vancouver, Ron was a charter student at Simon Fraser University, obtaining a BA (English), a teaching certificate, and an MA. (Education). Now his studies are self-directed and include website development, blogging, social networking, and photography.
Sam Nakai
Sam has been a Coquitlam resident for the past 14 years. He is a principal at mQ Venture Consulting Inc., a firm that provides financial, marketing and business development advisory services to new ventures, develops new high technology companies and provides innovation and commercialization services to government.
He was previously Director of Programs with the British Columbia Innovation Council and has held several business operation positions in manufacturing, business services and high-technology companies. He is currently a member of the board of directors for two non-profit organizations. He is also an active member of Friendship Baptist Church located in Coquitlam and was previously on its board. Sam is a graduate of UBC (BASc ’96). He is married and has two daughters.
Terry O'Neill
Terry O'Neill is an editor, writer and communications specialist. He is a graduate of Simon Fraser University (B.A. in English, '74) and Carleton University (Bachelor of Journalism, Honours, '76).
A two-time winner of the Canadian Institute of Mining's News Story of the Year Award, he has worked in both print (legislative correspondent for The Canadian Press; editor of The Richmond Review; editor/publisher of B.C. Report; senior writer of The Western Standard) and television (assignment editor of CKVU First News; host/producer of X-Change, NOW-TV; news anchor of The Standard, OMNI.10).
He currently writes regularly for a variety of publications, including the Tri-City News, and also helps serve the communications needs of several corporate clients. A founding member and past president of The Eagle Ridge Residents Association in Coquitlam, he currently sits on the finance and pro-life committees of St. Joseph's Parish in Port Moody, on the advisory committee of Coquitlam's Pregnancy Concerns, and on the board of directors of Signal Hill. He is the winner of the Christian Coalition of B.C.'s first annual award for Journalistic Integrity, and has been honoured for distinguished citizenship and humanitarianism by both the Canadian Red Cross Society and Canadian Blood Services.
Ron Roberge
Ron is a retired teacher/school counsellor/summer school administrator having served in Coquitlam school district for 34 years. Formal education includes a B.A. (Education) from Western Washington University (1970), M.A. (candidate) (Counselling Psych.) from Simon Fraser University (1975) and an M.A. (Educational Administration and Supervision) from San Diego State University (1992). He has an extensive background of involvement with professional organizations and committees including School District #43 Personnel and Human Resources Planning, District Professional Development Planning, Alcohol and Drug Review Committees. Ron has also organized/facilitated numerous presentations on "at risk students" locally, provincially and nationally, and has coached or sponsored school activities every year of professional life. Ron is married with two adult daughters and a grandson. Interests include golf, tennis and swimming.
Fred Soofi
Fred Soofi, a graduate of Hotel Management, attended the University of Regina, studying economics. He has been self-employed since 1980 when he started his first restaurant in Regina. Since then, he has established more than 12 successful restaurants in Saskatchewan and BC. He was also the founder of the first organic flourmill in Saskatchewan. He has recently opened Club Ilia Eatery and Lounge at new community of UniverCity, at SFU Burnaby campus, and planning a boutique hotel in Port Moody in the near future.
Fred is well known for his restaurant, Pasta Polo, and the many organizations he supports in Tri-cities such as SHARE, Tri-City Women’s Resource Centre, Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation, Port Moody Library, Golden Spike Festival, Cops for Cancer, Youth Matters, PoCoMo Youth Services Society, Amnesty International and others.
He is a strong believer in social justice and fair business practices, and believes that when things are out of balance, unfair, unjust, we have a responsibility to speak up. He has been representing Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce on Tri Cities Solutions by Design, Arts Connect and Homelessness Task Force.
Fred is on the Board of Directors of Laurel Foundation, sits on the Port Moody Western Station Committee and is the chair of Tri-City Iranian Cultural Society.
Diane Sowden
Diane is School District 43’s representative to the Coquitlam Foundation’s board of directors. First elected a school trustee in the fall of 2005, Diane is now serving her second term in office. She also serves on the City of Coquitlam/School Board Liaison Committee. At the time of her joining the Coquitlam Foundation board in 2010, Diane had been a resident of Coquitlam for 25 years and married for 35 years. A mother of eight children, of whom four are now adults, she is a Certified Family Support Worker and has had the opportunity to work with many youth and their families throughout British Columbia. She is the co-founder/Executive Director of the Coquitlam-based Children of the Street Society, and recently retired after 30 years from the position of owner/operator of a public opinion market research firm, also based in Coquitlam.
Richard Stewart
As Mayor of Coquitlam, Richard Stewart is one of three statutory members of the board of the Coquitlam Foundation. Richard was elected mayor in November 2008, having served on city council since 2005. Prior to that, he was MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville from 2001-2005, during which time he was appointed MLA Responsible for Francophone Affairs, member of the Government Caucus Committee on the Economy, and Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Education. Richard is bilingual (English and French) and has lived all his life in Coquitlam. He married wife Anna Rosa in 1983; they have four children. He has extensive experience as a community volunteer in a large number of social, service, environmental, business and community organizations, including: Coquitlam Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, Maillardville Lions Club, Société Maillardville Uni and Société Biculturelle de Maillardville, and School District 43 Parent Advisory Committee.
Colleen Talbot
Colleen Talbot was born and raised is Eston, Saskatchewan before moving to Edmonton, Alberta to attend the University of Alberta. She earned a Diploma in Dental Hygiene, moved to Vancouver and worked in that field for several years. Colleen has lived in Coquitlam since 1978 and has two grown sons. Since 1983, she has been active in the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Associations in BC and nationally. She is currently the president of the BC association and past president of the Canadian association. Colleen has also sat as a member of the Coquitlam Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities. She is enjoying her sixth year on the Coquitlam Public Library Board and is the current Chairperson.
Bob Tanaka
Bob Tanaka has resided in Coquitlam with his wife and family for 21 years. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UBC in 1981 and obtained his professional designation as a Chartered Accountant in 1984.
Bob is a principal with a national accounting firm in Coquitlam. He has been an active community member for many years. Bob has served as Director and Treasurer of several community and cultural organizations based in the Tri-Cities including the Regional Arts Council and the Japanese Cultural Centre. He served eight years on the Education Committee of Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School, including four as Chair.
Bob served on the Pastoral Council of St. Clare Assisi Church (Coquitlam) for four years and is the current financial secretary of a local Knights of Columbus Council. He has also served terms as a Director and then President of the Coquitlam Festival Society. Bob currently sits as a Trustee on the Coquitlam Public Library Board. He enjoys spending his leisure time on the golf course and squash court.
Janet Toddington
Janet is a lawyer practicing law as corporate counsel for Canada Post Corporation and is responsible for the management of the Western Canada Regional Office of Canada Post’s Legal Affairs Department. Her practice focuses on a broad range of legal matters including commercial contract negotiation, intellectual property, marketing and competition law, privacy, employment and labour law.
She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia (B.A. Spanish) and UBC Law School (LL.B 1990). Janet is called to the bar in Ontario and British Columbia. For the past five years she has served as Treasurer of the Corporate Counsel Section of the Canadian Bar Association. Prior to commencing her law career, Janet worked in advertising and public relations and was also involved in developing educational programs for children and adults. Janet and her husband participate in a variety of cultural and recreational activities in the community and support programs at the Glen Pine Pavilion, Pinetree Community Centre and the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Janet’s special interests include cycling, ballroom dancing, photography and travel.
Wim Vander Zalm
Wim is married with 4 sons and has resided in the TriCity area for 20 years. He owns two Art Knapp Plantland Garden Centres in Port Coquitlam and Vancouver.
He sits on the board of the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation, the Eagle Ridge Hospital Charity Golf Tournament and the Boston Pizza Foundation Invitational Golf Tournament. He also chairs the Building Committee for St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church. He is a past honorary chair of the CNIB Focus on Crocus campaign and sits on the Editorial Board of Garden Wise Magazine. He also has been involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He coaches 2 youth soccer teams.
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