Our Team

Our team at Family Caregivers of BC bring diverse backgrounds and skills, as well as a passion for advancing our mission to improve the quality of life for family and friend caregivers. Every one of us has a connection to caregiving in our personal or professional lives that we feel is paramount to understanding caregivers’ needs. When you walk a mile in a family caregiver’s shoes, you gain valuable insight.

 

Board of Directors

Dr. Mazowita practiced full-service family medicine in a private practice in Winnipeg for many years before joining the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Manitoba as a full-time residency preceptor. Prior to assuming his position as Chair with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Providence Health Care in Vancouver in 2003, Dr. Mazowita served as Medical Director of Community and Long Term Care for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. He previously served as a member of the University of Manitoba Research Ethics Board, and is a past-president of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians.

Dr. Mazowita is Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia where he was formerly active in teaching, research, and clinical practice. He was Chair of the CFPC Mental Health Program and Co-Chair of the Collaborative Working Group on Shared Mental Health Care (involving the Canadian Psychiatric Association and the CFPC). Dr. Mazowita served as the British Columbia Ministry of Health physician representative on the General Practice Services and Shared Care Committees, and was Co-Chair of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority Inter-Divisional Council. In 2010, Dr. Mazowita was honoured with the CFPC’s Donald I. Rice Award.  He is a Past President of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.  He is now retired, but remains an active faculty member of the Canadian Foundation for Health Improvement.

Clay Barber has been a health executive for the past 14 years and brings 25 years of broad management experience. Clay has been recognized as a builder within small and large health organizations. Between 2003 and 2006 he led the transformation of a small $1M health authority portfolio with 5 staff to a $100M network of portfolios with more than 30 staff. In 2009 Clay began work on a provincial collaboration with $25k in annual funding and led the growth to over $21M, launching over 200 projects across 35 sites in BC. Clay’s broad leadership experience ranges from executive leadership and portfolio development to transformational change management. With a background in health leadership, strategic information and enterprise-wide quality improvement and risk management, Clay combines direct health executive experience with consultancy in areas such as strategy, organization development and alignment, medical administration, program and portfolio development, transformation and evaluation, and policy and program analysis. Clay has worked for national, provincial and regional health care organizations from both a private and public perspective and has built and managed large teams in excess of 40 individuals and budgets in excess of $100M. Clay has demonstrated skills in facilitating multi-stakeholder groups with clinical, executive and public members in a collaborative, results oriented approach. 

Steve Chauvin is a licensed pharmacist in the province of BC.  His knowledge that he feels is valuable in the context of serving on a board pertains to the economics of medications ie. insurance plans, optimizing medication regimens, navigating Pharmacare, special authority. Access to medications is an unavoidable part of a caregivers job and navigating the system can be overwhelming. His ability to communicate with patients typically involves active listening, asking the right questions, presenting information in a way that is important to them, taking their values into account and treating the patient as an equal.  I feel being a part of Family Caregivers of BC will give me a valuable perspective on patients and their caregivers and in turn allow me to better serve my community.

With 20 years’ experience in the BC provincial government, Nichola has led large-scale organizations and associated programs.  Prior to entering management consulting, she was the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) responsible for Employment at the BC Ministry of Social Development & Social Innovation.  In this role, she provided leadership to the nationally recognized WorkBC employment program, assisting unemployed British Columbians return to the workforce.  Before that, she spent sixteen years with the Ministry of Health and was the ADM of the Medical Services Health Human Resources Division.  Nichola had oversight of the Medical Services Plan, primary health care reform, and physician negotiations in addition to the strategic relationships among government, physicians, health authorities, and physician organizations.

Nichola has a solid background in change management, project and program management, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, organizational development, policy development, and evaluation.  Her leadership philosophy is focused on empowerment, collaborative relationships, recognition and staff development. In her new capacity as a management consultant, she will be able to apply her experience and knowledge to advance the mission of FCBC.

Charles Scott helps growth-oriented firms to strategically position their firms, handle rapid growth and enter new markets.  He also works with communities to identify and realize opportunities.

An economic development practitioner since 1990, Charles currently delivers the Export Navigator Program in the Cariboo region. This initiative helps firms to enter new markets, and is funded by the BC Ministry of Jobs, Trade & Technology, in partnership with Community Futures Fraser Fort George. He spent 8 years in commercial lending capacities, and since 2001 has been primarily assisting local firms to get into new sectors and international markets. A faculty member at UNBC’s School of Business, he specialises in Entrepreneurship; Business Strategy; International Marketing; and Ethics. He and his wife, Susan, have three adult children and two grandchildren, and have called Prince George home since 1993.

Staff and Contractors

Barb has over 30 years’ experience in non-profit, government and private sectors. She spent many years in the developmental disabilities field, specializing in supporting some of the most complex and challenging individuals living at home, in residential care and in school settings.

Barb has a Bachelor of Arts from UBC and a Master of Arts in Leadership and Training from RRU.

Barb knows first-hand what it’s like to juggle work, a young family and caregiving—she supported her family during her own mother’s fight with cancer. Barb is committed to influencing change to achieve recognition and support for family caregivers.

Janet’s non-profit experience spans 30 years starting with contracts in New York with the United Nations and UNICEF. She has a Masters degree in Business Administration and throughout her career has assisted many organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors hone their strategic efforts to meet the needs of their clients. She has also volunteered for many non-profit organizations in a range of positions, from an extra set of hands to President.

After 15 years in health care, Janet’s thrilled to be working with FCBC. Having been a caregiver herself, she appreciates the privilege and pressure the role presents. With the increasing emphasis on aging in place, it is more critical than ever that families and caregivers have access to programming and services that will build and support the capacity they require to meet the challenge.

Kate is an educator, facilitator and coach specializing in learning design, training and curriculum development. She is enthusiastic and passionate about education, creating learning content and experiences that make it easy and accessible for learners to build new skills and absorb new information. Kate applies her training in mindfulness and yoga, alongside her deep experience in curriculum and learning design, collaborating with subject experts to build meaningful learning opportunities, content and activities. She is able to bring material to life, allowing learners to make meaningful connections and integration to their personal and professional lives. She has worked with public schools, higher education institutions, non-profit, entrepreneurial and corporate clients to develop and deliver specialised curriculum and programs. Kate has designed and facilitated courses, workshops and sessions, both in person and online, internationally and locally. Kate completed her Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier, Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University and her Master of Education from Murdoch University.

Kate has witnessed first-hand the immense but often under-appreciated role that members of her family have undertaken in caring for loved ones through health-related and other challenges. She recognizes that those giving care need meaningful support and support systems to maintain their own physical and mental well-being in challenging circumstances. Kate is committed to providing that support through her work at Family Caregivers of BC. 

Whitney McMillan has over 25 years of experience in health care social work in non-profit, private and hospital settings. Whether as a Social Worker, Case Manager, Program Coordinator or Volunteer Manager, Whitney prioritizes her clients’ unique health goals, through care planning, referrals, and/or advocacy. Her Master of Social Work degree specialized in peer support programs in community-based non-profit health care organizations, resulting in her truly appreciating the importance of people supporting each other through a similar, shared health journey.

As primary supports to clients, Whitney always considers the impact on family caregivers – the true front-line health experts. As an active caregiver for her own loved ones, she deeply values the knowledge needed to navigate our complex health care system, the importance of timely access to resources, and the empathetic support of ‘people who have been there themselves.’ Committed to improving the quality of life of caregivers across British Columbia, Whitney is thrilled to expand the vision and support of FCBC into more communities.

Stacey grew up in a family of dedicated caregivers, who all contributed to the health and well being a family member who suffered neurological damage. It is through this exposure that she chose a career in social work. Early in her career, she worked with children, parents and foster parents through child protective services. This provided a deeper understanding of the complexities of the family dynamic and the importance of support programs and resources. It was when she moved to Vancouver from Newfoundland that she found her passion working within the nonprofit sector.

Stacey has spent majority of her career working with a community that was navigating a chronic disease. She is passionate about connecting with the community, identifying gaps in service and developing programs to address the need. It is through her interactions in nonprofit, as well as working in collaborative relationships, that provides her with a strategic and compassionate vision on how to best serve the community. She has a deep seated desire to support caregivers, and she strongly supports the selfless care they provide.

Lycia began her professional career as a psychologist (in Brazil) within a public health
programming context for adults and caregivers who were dealing with chronic disease. She has
a Masters degree in Social Dimensions of Health from the University of Victoria with a focus on
Gerontology. She grew up in an environment that highlighted the value of inspiring learning,
which has become a cornerstone for her own professional health promotional approach.

Improving the quality of life for caregivers has been a significant part of Lycia’s vocational
calling in various capacities working through non-profit organizations and health authorities in
the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Working 1-1 with caregivers on our Support Line
and drop-ins, facilitating a local support group and the FCBC training for new caregiver support
groups in BC are the main activities she has coordinated with our team. Lycia is grateful that her
work at FCBC allows her to connect deeply with caregivers; developing relationships that offers
her a better understanding of how to increase meaningful supports for family and friend
caregivers.

Familiar with being a caregiver herself, Mechthild is passionate about providing connections, support and resources for family caregivers that best match each caregiver’s specific circumstances and enhance caregivers' and care recipients' well-being. A core element in all of her work is her deeply held conviction that each individual's voice and everyone’s unique story is important to be heard.

Mechthild brings 20+ years of diverse experiences in health and social services to her position as Caregiver Support Coordinator,. This includes, practicing as a Nurse in Germany and Canada, completing an MA (1999) & Interdisciplinary PhD (2007) in Human and Social Development at the University of Victoria and more recently providing biofield treatments as an Advanced Integrative Energy Healing Practitioner and providing home support as a companion.

In her personal life, Mechthild is often found walking at the beach, hiking, doing yoga, visiting with friends in Victoria’s unique cafés and spending time with her family.

 

Fiona brings over 25 years of non profit experience to her work at Family Caregivers. As the FCBC Administrator for over 5 years, Fiona manages the daily financial operations of the office that provide support, information and education to family caregivers. Earlier in her career, she was the Show Coordinator of BC's 3rd largest trade show for 15 years that generated $1 mil in business for the city of Vancouver. She moved to Vancouver Island just after the Vancouver Olympics to be her mother’s primary caregiver and joined the 8.1 million other Canadians also managing their challenging caring journeys.  

Fiona has a B.A. in Art History from Queens University, a Textile Arts diploma from Capilano University and a Horticulture Technician Certification from the Pacific Horticulture Centre in Victoria. She found Family Caregivers of BC through her volunteer work as a bellringer at Christ Church Cathedral and now enjoys applying her organizing, financial, problem-solving, systems and detail skills to health administration. 

As the Communications Coordinator, Carly is the person behind FCBC’s social media accounts, e-newsletters and much of our website! She is also the Marketing Coordinator at Inspired Results Group—a leadership coaching company for individuals and teams. Carly is a graduate of the Creative Writing program at the University of Victoria and continues to update her skill set with marketing, photography, and graphic design courses.

In addition to her work at FCBC, she is the creator and host of Suited Up Podcast where she interviews local business owners and artists about entrepreneurship. Her most recent work experience includes running a digital magazine—as President of Her Campus UVic—working as the Communications and Design Assistant at UVic’s Co-op and Career Director’s Office, and working as a Marketing Assistant at 365 Day Media and Social Media Camp.

Carly is passionate about supporting Caregivers and is committed to connecting them to services within FCBC and the greater community.

 

You might recognize Wendy from our Coach Caregivers sessions! Wendy has close to 20 years of experience working with family caregivers and seniors. She has a Master’s Degree in Gerontology and currently volunteers her time to provide opportunities for North Island College Health and Human Service students for Practice Placement.  Wendy also provides career advice to students interested in working with seniors through Job Options BC.

Wendy helps in many areas, including coaching caregivers one-on-one, delivering presentations, and writing for our blog, where you can learn about her caregiving experiences. She believes in sharing her personal, educational and work experiences with others.

Paula was born and raised in Saskatchewan, and moved to Vancouver in 1992 after she finished her BA in Psychology. Though the idea of working as a mental health counsellor had always been in the back of her mind, she ended up in a career in the entertainment business for almost 20 years. A move to Moose Jaw in 2007 presented opportunities to work in various mental health jobs and it was during this time that Paula earned a Life Skills Facilitator certificate.

Paula is currently completing her 600 hours of counselling, education, and supervision to become a Registered Professional Counsellor. In fulfilling the need to complete 250 face-to-face counselling hours for this designation, Paula worked mostly with seniors and family caregivers. This was very rewarding and Paula found she was hooked!

She is really excited about being able to use her education and experience with the seniors and caregivers with Family Caregivers of BC. Paula enjoys the mild winters and uplifting nature that is so prevalent in the Comox Valley.

Jules recently moved to Vancouver Island, where he is raising a young family. His experience with the community living sector has had him engaging people and their caregivers in designing and developing meaningful supports. Jules joins the Family Caregivers of British Columbia as a consultant to the Caregiver RX project. Jules is completing his Masters with a focus on youth and arts-based leadership at Royal Roads University. He volunteers in community radio and publishing. 

 

Katherine was our Networking Guru. Please read our tribute to Katherine and all the work she did for Family Caregivers here