Robin Burgess. As the mother of two children, now young adults, who didn’t fit into the regular public high school system, Robin knows, first hand, the huge benefits of and critical need for alternative academic/lifeskills programs, such as Artemis Place. Robin’s daughter was a GAP/Options student and her grandson is currently attending the Options daycare. She is a former long-time member and mentoring parent with the Boys and Girls Club Parents Together program, a mutual support program for parents experiencing parent/teen conflict.
Sandi Chamberlain has been engaged with the VSEA for over 30 years in a variety of ways – from a practicum as a counselling student in 1972 to being a parent of a GAP girl to board chair. She has worked as a psychotherapist, a business executive and as a consultant to non profit organizations and social purpose businesses. Strongly committed to working towards social justice, Sandi has been a member of non-profit boards supporting philanthropy, girls at risk, women, organizational capacity building and personal and spiritual development.
Sandrina De Finney is Maleseet/Wabanoag. She is a Child and Youth Care practitioner who has worked with adolescents and girls in diverse community-based settings. She is currently a member of the faculty of the School of Child and Youth Care at UVic.
Joan Howard has been actively involved with VSEA for over 3 years, becoming a Board Member 1 1/2 years ago. Joan has a varied work history that has included BC government, real estate sales. and self -employment in the restaurant business and with NoZone Clothing Company, an ultraviolet protection clothing company. For 20 years, singing with Sweet Adelines she had varying roles as President, Vice President, Bylaws and Rules, Fund Raising and Regent which involved advising and assisting the 26 choruses in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan and overseeing the Annual Competition for these provinces. Also, Joan was involved in coordinating and implementing fund raising events for Project Literacy, CNIB, and City of Gardens Chorus.
Brenda Edwards. Brenda is the mother of a 19 year son who is the light in her life. She is also privileged to be the legal officer to the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court. When the opportunity arose to join the board of VSEA, Brenda was glad to have a chance to work with the board as she believes strongly in the goals of the society and in the young women and children that it serves
Enid Elliot. I became involved with Options Daycare when Leith Leslie, a GAP/Options teacher, leaned over the oranges and asked if I could help set up a daycare for the Girls' Alternative Program. And so I did, with Heather Kay's help, over fifteen years ago. Through the daycare I came to my respect and love for GAP and its work with the girls. My expertise and experience is in early childhood education. I have set up several daycare programs, taught early childhood courses in college and university programs, and recently finished a doctorate in Early Childhood Education
Leith Leslie. I joined the board this year after retiring as a teacher/counsellor in the GAP/OPTIONS program for 22 years. I was hired in 1980 to initiate OPTIONS for Pregnant Teens, as an addition to the existing GAP program. This was followed 10 years later by the opening of the daycare. My background was as an RN and teacher and in 1989 I completed my MEd in Clinical Counselling. I have lived in Victoria since 1972 and have worked and volunteered in a number of related positions: Transition House, Sch. Dist. Sex Education Program, Birth Control Clinic, Restorative Justice Program.
Erin O'Sullivan. Erin’s profile is coming soon!
VSEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 2007