• Board of Directors

    Hands on desk during board meeting at Sea to Sky Hospice Society

Our board includes volunteers with a range of expertise and skills that supports the Sea to Sky Hospice Society’s mission to provide quality end of life care and bereavement support in our community.

In addition to our elected board members, the Sea to Sky Hospice Society board may also include appointed representatives from the VCH palliative care team. All members of the board assume fiduciary and philosophical responsibility for the charitable entity legally registered as the Sea to Sky Hospice Society.

Join our Board of Directors

We are currently seeking one Director to join our team at our AGM in October.

To apply, please download the application form and submit it by September 15 to Nominations Committee Chairperson, David Hildreth: hildreth@telus.net

Download Application Form

For more information, please contact hildreth@telus.net

Jennifer Dunkin

Jennifer Dunkin

Sea to Sky Hospice Society Chair

Jennifer is a pharmacist who has lived and worked in the Sea to Sky Corridor since 2010. She enjoys spending time in the amazing outdoor playground we call home. With so many resources focusing on recreation and healthy living, she believes that there is a need for support for those at the end of their life, along with the loved ones they leave behind.

Her work in the area of palliative care alongside a team of passionate professionals encouraged her to become involved with the Sea to Sky Hospice Society. Jennifer joined the board in 2018 and took on the role of board chair in 2020. She hopes to be able to support the expansion of hospice programs and services to individuals living throughout the corridor and to get people talking about the complex issues surrounding end of life.

Holly Hetherington

Holly Hetherington

Treasurer

Holly is the manager of a local Credit Union, an investment advisor, mother of two young children and an avid mountain biking, skier and sailor.

Squamish has been her home for almost 20 years and giving back to the community she loves is of utmost importance. Holly is so proud to have been involved in the planning and financing of our recently opened hospice unit and continues to be in awe of the volunteers who provide compassionate care everyday.

Mark McKenzie

Mark McKenzie

Past Chair
Jennifer Beliveau

Jennifer Beliveau

Board Member

Jennifer’s work experience has been focused in marketing within a variety of industries and organizations. Currently, Jennifer works as a marketing consultant and contractor under her own company, Jenuine Marketing.

Jennifer is proud to serve on the board of the Sea to Sky Hospice Society as a way to give back to the community. She strongly feels that everyone’s journey towards the end of life should be honoured.

Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys exploring the numerous parks and trails in Squamish with her family, downhill and cross country skiing in the winter, and learning to mountain bike in the summer.

Steve Payne

Steve Payne

Board Member

Steve worked for the province of Ontario for 32 years in various capacities, including director of vocational and rehabilitation services in a facility for intellectually and developmentally challenged adults.

After retirement, Steve taught English and communications in the Faculty of Community and Correctional services at St. Lawrence College in Kingston. He has sat on various boards over the years related to sports, recreation and education and is excited to be part of the board of the Sea to Sky Hospice Society.

"My interest in hospice stems from my family’s end of life issues. My mother and brothers spent many of their last days in the hospital. Although the care was good it did not share the philosophies or core values of care that hospice is so well known for. I hope my involvement with the Sea to Sky Hospice Society can assist the ongoing and excellent support now being given to our communities."

Dr. Brenda Millar

Dr. Brenda Millar

Board Member

Brenda is a family physician having graduated from the UofA in 1989. After completing her family practice residency in St. John’s NFLD she practiced full spectrum family practice for 24 years in Grande Prairie Alberta.

She and her husband Dr. Campbell relocated to Squamish in Dec 2016 to be closer to family (and closer to the mountains for skiing, hiking and biking!).

As her professional passions have always included end of life and seniors care she started to help Dr Kristen Siemens with offering palliative care in the corridor. Once Dr Siemens went on maternity leave in 2019, Brenda replaced her as a society board member.

She has recently taken over as physician lead for the palliative care program in the corridor and says she is in her “ happy place” as her clinical
focus is now split between hospice work and long term care.

She is very proud of the palliative team that has developed in the hospice unit as well as the home care team of nurses and feels strongly that the community is very fortunate to have the Sea to Sky Hospice Foundation working so hard on their behalf.

Andrea Gailus

Andrea Gailus

Board Member

Andrea Gailus is a recent resident of Squamish; she moved from
Sorrento, BC in 2007. She has worked as an Administrative Assistant in hospitals,
the oil patch and in the Anglican Church. Andrea acted as administrative
assistant for the Hospice Capital campaign after meeting Bill McNeney at
yoga, and offering her services following a stint on a 7M capital campaign
at Sorrento Centre.

Andrea is past president of the Squamish Friends of the Library, is an avid
reader in two book clubs and enjoys cards, cooking, and entertaining. She is a
driver for Cancer Car, and has been a hospice volunteer in the background
for the past 5 years. Andrea is currently serving on the Governance Committee, as Chair of the Art Committee and is also Vice Chair of the Society board.

Cam Sherk

Cam Sherk

Board Member

Cam was born and raised on the North Shore, but now lives full time in Squamish. He is a Notary Public by trade and has been a resident of the Squamish for almost a decade. He joined the hospice board because he has seen the incredible changes that Squamish has undertaken since he moved here and wanted to give back to the community.

Jane Gelz

Jane Gelz

Board Member

Jane had a career in nursing for over 40 years when she decided to retire. She joined the Sea to Sky Hospice Society as a board member because Jane believes that everyone has a right to live their lives as they choose, and also to end their days as they wish.

Jane brings her experience and energy to the society as an advocate for clients admitted into the program and believes that the end of our lives is as an important event as the beginning.

Nadine Kinshela

Board Member

Nancy Edwards

Board Member

Mike Young

Board Member

Mike has lived in Squamish since 2001 and is a small business owner, husband and proud father.

Active in the community, he has been a board member on the Downtown Squamish BIA, Sea to Sky Community Services and a member of the Squamish Youth Triathlon.

Mike has also volunteered his time as an in-school mentor with Big Brothers / Big Sisters and as a coach and/or manager with Squamish Youth Soccer, Squamish Minor Hockey & Howe Minor Ball.

Mike’s personal connection to hospice comes from his experience supporting his mother in-law as well as his father’s battle with cancer and end of life care.

Muff Hackett member board of directors Sea to Sky Hospice Society

Muff Hackett

Board Chair

Muff and her husband both grew up in families who volunteered in their communities. They moved to Squamish in 1990 with young children, so they became volunteers at the children’s schools, which connected them with others with a volunteer mindset.

Previously, Muff has been a member of the Squamish Public Library board and the Sea to Sky Nordics board. She is presently on the executive of the BC Lung Foundation board and the Howe Sound Student Loan Association board. After working 20 plus years as an elementary school secretary, Muff retired this fall.

Her connection to the hospice movement was solidified in the spring of 2020 as Dr. Miller and the team provided Muff’s family with such wonderful support at the end of her father’s life.

Jacqueline Fulton

Vice Chair

Jacqueline moved to Whistler in the early ’90s, shortly after graduating from the University of Guelph, with plans to stay for just six months. Over 30 years later, she is still living there, and she has come to love the community and all the incredible outdoor activities it offers.

Her entire career was spent in the hospitality industry, primarily in Sales and Marketing leadership roles. After many rewarding years, Jacqueline recently retired to focus more on family, friends, and giving back to the community. A strong believer in the power of community involvement, she knew retirement would offer even more opportunities to contribute.

Jacqueline currently volunteers with several local initiatives and is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for the Hospice Society, where she can support important work in the community.

Michael Rukus

Treasurer

Michael is a retired CPG-CGA who holds a bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University where he completed a double major in Economics and Business Administration. He has extensive leadership experience in corporate finance and accounting and has led and directed global accounting and finance teams across multiple jurisdictions. In these roles, Michael helped companies drive efficient and comprehensive financial plans and provided in-depth analysis to assist them in meeting their strategic goals.

Michael and his wife moved to Squamish in 2001 to raise their children and have embraced everything the Sea to Sky corridor offers a family. He particularly enjoys hiking the many trails in and around Squamish.

In retirement now, Michael is looking forward to the opportunity to give back to the Sea to Sky community. Having firsthand experience with the amazing staff and services provided by the Sea to Sky Hospice, Michael is grateful for everything they have done and is hoping to be able to use his experience to give back in any way he can.

Kim Voelker

Secretary

Kim is a retired Physiotherapist with an MA in Gerontology who spent the last 15 years of her career as the Senior Director of a home care program in Ontario before moving to Squamish in 2010.   Being in a leadership role and working with a multidisciplinary team of people who were passionate about expanding hospice palliative care, allowed her to make this a priority, resulting in significant changes in the community.

 “After experiences in Squamish with the end of life journey, I  know personally what a positive impact palliative care can have on the quality of life of individuals and their families and appreciate how important it is to support people in the setting of their choice and in keeping with their values”.  Kim joined the Board in 2020 and hopes to see more programs and services available to people in the corridor. 

Dr. Gabe Piper

Board Member

Medical Lead for Sea to Sky Palliative Care

Gabe completed his medical degree and family practice residency at the University of Calgary, followed by additional training in emergency medicine, oncology, and palliative care. He has spent the past five years supporting patients and families in Squamish as part of the Sea to Sky palliative care program, after four years providing palliative care at Lions Gate Hospital. Through this work, Gabe has developed a deep appreciation for the importance of compassionate, community-based end-of-life care and the meaningful impact it has on patients and their loved ones.

Gabe recently took on the role of Physician Lead for the Sea to Sky palliative care program and joined the Sea to Sky Hospice Society Board as a clinical representative. In these roles, he is committed to strengthening local palliative care services and supporting the hospice society’s mission within the community.

Gabe lives in Squamish with his family and, when not working, enjoys spending time outdoors with his kids and making the most of the mountains that make this community home.

David Hildreth board of directors Sea to Sky Hospice Society

David Hildreth

Board Member

David has been active in the Sea to Sky Corridor community for over 35 years, from living in Lions Bay then moving to Furry Creek, followed by Brackendale and now downtown Squamish.

Community involvements in these areas are Founder and Chair of Furry Creek Community Society, Britannia Fire Department Society as Chair, Founder and President of Squamish Breakfast Club Society and also Rectors Warden at St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Squamish. David just completed two terms on Squamish Hospital Foundation and is also a member of Squamish Valley Golf Club.

David feels that what he has learned with his community involvement in these organizations will contribute to the Sea to Sky Hospice compassionate care mission.

Career wise, David has over “60” years in the Life Insurance Industry at all levels.

His number one priority is family, providing Joy and Love to them

As a Director of the Hospice, David considers this an honour and with his “Do What You Promise” vision, is very excited to assist however he possibly can to this amazing organization and its invaluable community needed services.

Ashley Gordon, board member, Sea to Sky Hospice Society

Ashely Gordon

Board Member

Ashely is a naturopathic doctor and has been the owner/operator of Garibaldi Health Clinic in Squamish for over two decades. She greatly enjoys caring for patients in the Sea to Sky corridor, and being a healthcare provider in a community that she is honoured to have called home since 2004.

Previously, Ashely was an active volunteer for the Squamish Breakfast Club Society for 15 years, where she helped to raise money for various youth organizations in the corridor. She takes immense delight in giving back to her community.

She is a proud mother of two children and enjoys raising them in Squamish, taking part in all of the wonderful activities that this area has to offer.

Ashely has seen first-hand how amazing the care is at the Sea to Sky Hospice unit. The palliative team and hospice staff in Squamish were beyond supportive during the end of her mother’s life, and for that she is forever grateful. She is excited to be a board member of the Sea to Sky Hospice Society, as she believes very strongly in the society’s vision and in the invaluable services that it provides to our community.

Sonia Dhami

Board Member

Sonia has lived in Squamish since 1992 and has worked at the Squamish Public Library since 2003. Working at the library has given her experience with meeting the needs of people from all walks of life, and the homeless institute training that all staff receive has helped Sonia to be more compassionate and aware of the challenges people face.

Over the past few years, Sonia’s family has had first hand experience using the hospice facility. Both of her in-laws were patients at the hospice and Sonia is thankful that the Sea to Sky community has this amazing space for patients and their families.

Khapquolanogh Henry Williams

Board Member

Henry was born in Sunnyside, BC, where his mother was working in a fish cannery. His father is from Squamish Nation and his mother is Tsimshian from Kitkatla. Henry has lived his whole life in Squamish and is married with two children and three grandchildren.

Henry worked with Squamish Nation for the past thirty years as a Maintenance Supervisor and is currently employed at Cheakamus Centre, where they teach pre-contact life of the Coast Salish.

Henry has always been involved in his community with gatherings, local politics, Squamish Valley PAC and with his children and grandchildren through their sporting and cultural activities.

In the past five years, he has begun foraging for medicine for his family and looks forward to teaching those willing to utilize medicine from the land. Henry gathers cedar bark and processes the bark to make cedar roses, earrings, baskets, mats and more.

We are all on this earth to live in peace and harmony with Mother Nature, and need to start listening to her messages of reducing our footprint and emissions.

Kathy Leverton

Board Member

Kathy is a retired teacher who continues to tutor a few students in early literacy. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Pemberton, and the Early Act Club, a Rotary Youth Service Club. Kathy also volunteers for the Canadian Red Cross as an ERT and PDA responder, and tries to continue on with her learning path with the Justice Institute for them.

She has enjoyed taking painting lessons for the past few years and is continuing to do so. Through this, Kathy has started to have her art printed onto various fabric items which she sell at the local farmers market. According to Kathy, she still has much to learn but it’s been a lot of fun!

Kathy enjoys being active and has recently taken up pickle-ball. She also road, gravel and mountain bikes and hikes with my husband.

She has known several people who have been able to have the comfort and incredible care given at the Sea to Sky Hospice and Kathy believes strongly in the need of such a necessary service in our communities.

Heather Baxter

Board Member

Heather and her husband moved to Squamish in 2020, though they have owned a home there since 2007. They previously lived in Calgary, where Heather’s career was as a community and hospital-based family physician. Since retiring in 2021, she continues to volunteer as co-lead for the International Institute for Medical Education Leadership, a consortium of eight low- and middle-income country universities collaborating to improve medical education for the benefit of the health care of their populations. Heather also continues to serve as a peer facilitator of the Physician Practice Improvement Program of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

Together, Heather and her husband are physically active in the community, avidly skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and playing pickle-ball. She looks forward to being engaged in the local community and contributing meaningfully to essential supports and services that ensure local citizens receive the care they need in their home community. Heather hopes that her understanding of the bigger picture of health care and health care systems, and her experience in management in health and educational systems, will benefit the Sea to Sky Hospice Board.

Rosehannah Hartley

Board Member

Rosehannah has called Squamish home for the past five years, having originally come from England in search of a lifestyle centered around the mountains and outdoor adventures. Passionate about nature, she quickly became involved in the community, including volunteering for the Squamish Helping Hands Society and assisting with fundraising events.

Since May 2020, Rosehannah has worked as a social worker at Lions Gate Hospital, specializing in acute palliative care. In this role, she provides both practical and emotional support to individuals with critical illnesses, their families, and those facing end-of-life transitions. Rosehannah holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Human Studies and an MA in Social Work from institutions in England, and has completed End-of-Life Doula training at Douglas College. In addition, Rosehannah continually engages in professional development to stay current with the latest in grief and palliative care.

Outside of work, Rosehannah enjoys spending time in Squamish—whether growing food, cooking, cycling, hiking, or simply being immersed in nature.

Simon Charles

Board Member

Simon is father to a seven-year-old boy and is an active member of the Squamish community. He regularly attends St. John’s Anglican Church and enjoys gardening, biking, and participating in various local activities.

Professionally, Simon works as a lawyer with the Department of Justice (remotely) and as a part-time front-line worker at Under One Roof. His legal career has spanned criminal law, beginning as a prosecutor in Vancouver before transitioning to advisory work in 2022. At Under One Roof, Simon has gained invaluable experience working with the elderly and those struggling with illness or hardship—many of whom face significant isolation and challenges. This exposure has deepened his understanding of the vulnerabilities within our community.

Simon shares that serving as a board member with the Hospice Society allows him contribute meaningfully to addressing these issues. He is committed to being part of the solution for the elderly and sick in Squamish, and he finds purpose in supporting efforts to alleviate their struggles.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

ADDRESS
38140 Behrner Drive
Squamish, BC V8B 0J3

PHONE
604-892-6051 ext. 5

EMAIL
info@seatoskyhospicesociety.ca

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SEA TO SKY HOSPICE SOCIETY

CONTACT INFORMATION

ADDRESS
38140 Behrner Drive
Squamish, BC V8B 0J3

PHONE
604-892-6051 ext. 5

EMAIL
info@seatoskyhospicesociety.ca

RECENT POSTS

Recent Posts

SEA TO SKY HOSPICE SOCIETY

Keep Up to Date with the Sea to Sky Hospice Society

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CONTACT INFORMATION

RECENT POSTS

Recent Posts

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

SEA TO SKY HOSPICE SOCIETY

CONTACT INFORMATION

RECENT POSTS

Recent Posts

SEA TO SKY HOSPICE SOCIETY

Keep Up to Date with the Sea to Sky Hospice Society

Our newsletter provides updates about programming, events, resources and more.

* indicates required

We acknowledge our work and volunteer engagement takes place on the traditional ancestral and unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and of the Southern Stl’atl’imx Nations of Líl̓wat , N’Quatqua, Skatin, Samahquam and Xa’Xtsa /Douglas.

We acknowledge that the Nations and the people are the original caretakers and stewards of the lands and waters, and that their voices need to be centered in our partnership toward better health and wellness for all.