REACH GOVERNANCE

REACH Community Health Centre is led by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by our membership each year at our Annual General Meeting. Their role is to govern the organization on behalf of the community, in a timely, transparent, and accountable manner by overseeing the performance of the organization and ensuring fiscal integrity and regulatory compliance.

Board of Directors

Our directors live or work in East Vancouver or are clients of REACH programs. They serve two-year terms up to a maximum of four terms. A director should be committed to and knowledgeable about REACH, have the time available to attend regular meetings, and have the appropriate skill set to provide leadership and governance direction to the organization. Board members are expected to support and sign our board job description, statement of confidentiality and conflict of interest policy. Each year a nominating committee is struck to recruit new members based on board needs and our strategic plan.

Barbara Wood - President

Barbara Wood is a long-time member and patient of REACH. Her life’s work has focussed on human rights and solidarity, especially with women and racialized communities in Latin America. She loves working as part of a team and learning from others. Her brief stint as interim Executive Director at REACH reinforced her strong belief that community health centres play a critical role in creating more just and equitable communities. Barbara is thrilled to be a contributing to REACH as a Board member.

EMMA MACKLEM - Treasurer

Emma Macklem was born and bred at REACH and has been lucky enough to call East Van her home for the last 26 years. A proud REACH patient since birth, Emma has been honoured to give back by sitting on the Board since 2017. Currently, Emma sits on the Nominating, Fundraising, and Human Resources Committees.

Professionally, Emma is a consultant at a national public affairs firm, specializing in municipal, provincial, and federal government relations.

JEAN KAVANAGH - Secretary

Jean Kavanagh has lived in the Renfrew Collingwood neighbourhood for almost 20 years and for nine years was on the board of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House. Shortly after the RISE Community Health Centre opened, Jean was a board representative to the RISE advisory committee. Through her work at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Jean has learned about the importance of community health centres and the social determinants of health. Jean has worked in communications, particularly media relations, for many years for non-profit and government organizations. She started her career as a reporter in BC, Ontario and Central America.

DANIEL COOK - Board MemBER

I am Chuu-ukwa-chist (English translation: whale at the mouth of an inlet) of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation through my father...... and I am Hmahlk-googeesa-balmahks (Eng: the sound of a trickling creek) of the Nisga’a First Nation through my mother (as well as a little bit of Dutch and Scottish). My English name is Daniel Cook. I grew up in Victoria on Vancouver Island, and moved to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia, in the faculty of education.

I have been working in the east Van community for 10+ years, predominantly with Indigenous organizations (Urban Native Youth Association, Native Housing, and Circle of Eagles Lodge Society). I currently work with the Vancouver Parks Board and am based out of Britannia and Hastings community centres. While I am sure that REACH provides services and programming to all peoples, I feel that Indigenous approaches to health (which can include the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical) can benefit everybody.

Kleco (eng- thank you)

Cyndia Cole - Board MemBER

Working to build community and health have been my passionate commitments since I made Grandview and East Vancouver my home 45 years ago. REACH was a safe place for me as a patient in the 1970’s while I helped found Gender Studies at SFU and Vancouver East Housing Co-op. Now I am retired from 30 years of health care, starting as a Community Health Worker in Grandview and culminating as a manager of home support services and special projects under Vancouver Coastal Health. The seniors, people with disabilities and mental health consumers of all backgrounds I worked for taught me so much about the social determinants of health. I currently volunteer with QUIRK-E (Queer Imaging and Riting Collective for Elders) at Britannia, Qmunity Seniors, Fractal Farm Community Supported Agriculture and SGI Canada Buddhists.

KIMBERLEY LAING - BOARD MEMBER

Kimberley grew up in Northern BC, with her working years in Yukon Territory, Vancouver, and the Lower Mainland. As a dental hygienist with master’s education in population and public health, she works collaboratively with the community-as-a-partner to address the social determinants of health. As a community governed organization, REACH is a critical partner.

With 26 years in diverse areas of general and specialty practice; mentoring a professional study club; working with rehab teams in providing homebound care; educating health care teams and supporting managers in the implementation of practice standards in the long-term care facilities; working as a grant writer and coordinator for BC Cancer on funded community-based participatory research and health promotion programs in First Nation communities; BC representative for the National Dental Care Plan, and most recently as community health coordinator and dental hygiene instructor in post-secondary education with many local partnering agencies in Vancouver (daycares, schools, after school programs, long term care, health care assistant and nursing programs, and First Nation partners).

Kim has many years of governance experience on non-profit boards at the federal and provincial level. She works in Downtown Eastside Vancouver and lives in Surrey. She most enjoys listening and engaging in dialogue with community members to drive the vision and action. The values of decolonization, inclusivity, diversity, equity, and social justice are brought to the table.

Carole Rondeau - board member

Carole Rondeau is a passionate Queer youth advocate with a strong commitment to creating inclusive spaces for individuals exploring their gender identities and sexual orientations. With a background in Health Sciences and a Master's in Global Health, she brings a deep understanding of global health equity to the table. Currently serving as a Program Lead at Healthcare Excellence Canada, she is excited about the opportunity to contribute her unique perspective to the REACH Community Health Centre's Board, aligning with REACH's values of reconciliation, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Her dedication, diverse experiences, and unwavering belief in accessible community health makes her an asset to the organization's governance.

DANIEL HARPER - BOARD MEMBER

I currently serve as the Strategic Initiatives Lead for a provincial not-for-profit organization, the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc). Every day, I am grateful for the chance to contribute to the network and its mission to improve the health of underserved rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in BC as part of a passionate, close-knit team.

It is primarily through this work in a socially accountable healthcare organization that shares many similar values, goals, and priorities with REACH that I have come to develop a deep respect for the clinic and its commitment to longitudinal, team-based care for all. What is more, having lived in the Grandview-Woodland area since arriving in Canada in 2016, I have witnessed first-hand the impact that REACH has on the lives of its patients and people throughout our community, and I am honoured to have been given the chance to contribute to its continued success.

Tessa MacDougall - Board Member

Tessa was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and currently works in East Vancouver. She is excited to give back to her community and support REACH. Professionally, Tessa works as a consultant in health care in BC supporting physicians, clinics, and organizations to deliver programs and services efficiently and effectively. She is grateful to be able to apply her years of experience, passion for working in teams, and big-picture approach, to support REACH in its important role in the community.

Jane turner - board member

I would like to return to the REACH Board for one more term in order to help pass on the institutional knowledge of REACH to the new Board, help develop protocols and activities appropriate for an activist Board of Directors and to support the Executive Director and staff of REACH in their daily work.

Patty Yoon - Board Member

Patty Yoon has called East Vancouver home for 30 plus years. She has been in healthcare for 33 years and has had diverse experiences including hospital switchboard operator, patient information clerk; direct care nursing and in various leadership roles. She spent the majority of her nursing career in mental health, eating disorders and geriatric psychiatry. Most recently, she was the Director for Pandemic Response and also oversaw the planning and implementation of the COVID vaccine at Providence Health Care. Currently, she is the Director for Operational Readiness as Providence Health Care prepares for the move to the new St. Paul’s Hospital in 2027 and is also the co-leader of Value Based Health Care.

She is passionate about improving care that matters to patients and families and working in partnerships with people who have lived experience to effect meaningful change. She established a patient and family advisory committee that have been replicated across the province; and has been a co-presenter alongside patients with the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care. In 2021, she nominated and was awarded the 2021 Excellence in Nursing Leadership by the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC.

Nicole Burgess - Board member

Nicole Burgess is a Registered Nurse, currently working in the Pediatric Emergency Department at BC Children’s Hospital, where she’s been working since May 2022. Prior to joining the Emergency Department, she was a Registered Nurse in Inpatient Pediatric Medicine.

Nicole is a Master of Science in Nursing Candidate, currently studying at the University of British Columbia. At UBC, Nicole is a Teaching Assistant for various nursing courses, including pediatric nursing theory and health/wellness.

As a passionate medical professional, Nicole shares REACH’s values of community health in community hands and looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s mission and vision.

Governance Documents

REACH CONSTITUTION

Our Constitution and By-Laws (PDF): As a community governed, non-profit organization, REACH adheres to all aspects of our constitution and by-laws.