In Alphabetical order:

Janine Davies

Janine Davies is an experienced Branch Manager now working with G&F Financial Group in the Tri-Cities. Janine has managed sales teams for both credit unions and banks. Her career began in finance in 1990 in the brokerage industry and she transitioned to banking in 2003. 

In 2007 she was recognized by Vancity for her leadership of the Shooting Stars Foundation.  In the last 10 years, as Vice Chair she guided the organization to raise and distribute in excess of 1.65 Million Dollars to direct service HIV/AIDS projects.  Janine has had great success in her ability to create innovative partnerships that support community development and foster engaged corporate participation. 

In addition to certification as an Investment Specialist, Janine holds a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Political Science from Carleton University.  She completed a scholarship in Japanese Immersion, at Aichi Gakusen Daigaku, under the auspices of the Capilano University Transfer Program.  This early international student experience has resulted in her personal commitment to continuous learning throughout her career.

Janine was born and raised in North Vancouver and has been resident of Port Coquitlam for the past 7 years. Janine is the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce’s statutory representative on the Coquitlam Foundation Board.  She is confident that her values and business acumen will complement the existing board’s mission to encourage and support creative, targeted philanthropy that builds a vibrant and sustainable healthy community.  She believes that the economic well-being of the Tri-cities is vital and shares the Chamber’s commitment to business excellence. 

Julie Fisher

Julie Fisher is a lawyer and partner in the Coquitlam/North Shore law firm, Lawyers West LLP. She is a graduate of the University of Victoria (BA, First Class, in Psychology in 1991), and the University of Victoria Law School (LL.B. 1995). She is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Sections for Charities and Non-Profits Law, Insurance, Privacy, Construction, Civil Litigation, Wills and Estates, Products Liability Loss, and Women's Lawyers Forum, and Co-Chair of the Mentoring Program for the Women Lawyers Forum.

She is Vice Chair and Grant Writer for the Canadian Parents For French (CPF) Tri-Cities Chapter, CPF Liaison for the Panorama Elementary PAC, a member of the Westwood Plateau Community Association, and a supporter, together with her husband, Jason, of the Rotary Club of Coquitlam Sunrise. Julie and Jason have acted as parents for Rotary International Youth Exchange Students since 2005, and are the Co-Coordinators of the Youth Exchange Program for District 50/50, helping high school students from our community go on exchange around the globe. Her current hobbies include hiking and exploring, volleyball, badminton, golf, camping and writing.

Ron Grender

Ron and his wife Lynne have lived in Coquitlam for 37 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 is a DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) and a leader in local Toastmasters Clubs, as well as the Master of Ceremonies in the Annual WOW Toastmasters Extravaganza. Six years as an executive member of the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, Ron is now President.

“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 Presentation Skills in English Training for visiting Korean Professors. Ron is the Program Manager for Canada Phoenix Education Corp. and a frequent presenter of training programs on behalf of School District #43’s International Education Department, and Canada International College.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Ron was a charter student at Simon Fraser University, obtaining a BA (English), a teaching certificate (PDP), and an MA. (Education). Now his studies are self-directed and include website development, blogging, social networking, and photography. 

Terry O'Neill

Terry O'Neill was elected to Coquitlam Council in 2011 after a 35-year career in journalism. 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 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; columnist for the Tri-City News and National Post) and television (assignment editor of CKVU First News; host/producer of X-Change, NOW-TV; news anchor of The Standard, OMNI.10).

A founding member and past president of The Eagle Ridge Residents Association in Coquitlam, he currently heads the finance committee of St. Joseph's Parish in Port Moody, and also serves on the board of Signal Hill. He won the Christian Coalition of B.C.'s first annual award for Journalistic Integrity, and was honoured for distinguished citizenship and humanitarianism by both the Canadian Red Cross Society and Canadian Blood Services. He and his wife Mary, who is principal of Dr. Charles Best Secondary in Coquitlam, have two grown sons.

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.

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.

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.

Gerri Wallis

Gerri Wallis has been involved in many community activities throughout the 34 years she has lived in Coquitlam. She has been a Director of the Coquitlam Foundation for two terms of eight years each, during which time she served as Vice Chair for several years.  She also worked on the Events Committee, Investment and Grants Committee and the Grants and Bursaries Committee, the latter of which she chaired for three years.

Gerri has been an elected Trustee in School District 43 for 18 years, serving on many committees, including: ESL Consortium for the Lower Mainland; Human Resources; Finance and Facilities; Cultural Task Force for Coquitlam; Montessori Advisory; and Year Round Schooling. She has also been the school board’s Liaison to the City of Coquitlam and the District Parent Advisory Council. In addition, Gerri had served for eight years on the Coquitlam Library Board, was a Girl Guide Leader for eight years; was an Alpha Program Volunteer for four years; and was a member of the Building Committee for ERBF church for five years.  In 2002, Gerri was awarded the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal.

Gerri owned and managed a successful business in Coquitlam Centre for 15 years until selling it in 2009. Gerri and her husband Brian, a Realtor, have one daughter, who works as a Probation Officer.