Time to vote! Remember our Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre, ‘the Centre’, belongs to our members and it’s important that everyone feels represented on the Board. Here’s some information about our current nominees.

Jay Alexov

Jay has been volunteering at the Centre for several years. Organizing and teaching Line Dancing and organizing the Special Events such as our monthly Dances and Workshops, and helping promote Centre events.

Bert Carswell

Education

  • University of Guelph, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine 1971

Employment

  • Self-employed in private practice 1971 – 1982
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency 1982 – 1998, District Manager 1987 – 1998, early retirement
  • Private Contractor 1998 – 2001
  • Animal Health Consultant on behalf of Canadian International Development Agency in China 2002
  • Retired 2003 and moved to Sechelt accompanied by my wife Pat.

Volunteer Experience

  • Coaching and administration of minor league sports
  • Board of Directors of two curling clubs
  • Membership on several community advisory committees
  • Member of SSAC since 2012, life member 2023
  • Dishwasher at the SSAC since 2013
  • Co-Coordinator of Pickleball Program at the
  • SSAC 2018-21
  • Director at Large at SSAC 2022 to present
  • Currently Chairman of the Health Safety and Security, Legislative and Legal and the Strategic Planning Committees

Pamela Demers

“My name is Pamela Demers and I’m a retired Career and Employment Counselling Professional with 12 years’ experience. Through one-on-one coaching and multi-week Career and Employment Programs, I have assisted adults in learning techniques for securing employment and advancing their career options to maintain a competitive edge in the employment market.

Before retiring, I was co-owner/operator of the #1 rated full-service bed and breakfast on the Sunshine Coast (Madeira Park B&B).
My educational background includes graduating on the Dean’s List with a Degree in Adult Education, a Social Services Diploma, an Employment Counselling Certificate, and a plethora of certifications in assessment tools and personal interests.

In my free time, I enjoy volunteering at SSAC, travelling, nature, water sports, sewing, painting, cooking and spending time with family and grandchildren.”

Mary Flynn

“I grew up in Nova Scotia and moved to Vancouver in 1971. I have worked in radio and sales and marketing for large international companies during the next ten years. I attended Capilano College and graduated in Business Administration. I worked as Executive Director of the Co-operative Housing Federation for 18 years. During that time, I was CEO and founding member of Community Housing Land Trust.  In 2000 I accepted the position of Executive Director of Regina Community Health Clinic. Both of those positions were managing not-for-profit organizations. I have served on both committees and boards of other non-profit organizations over those 30 years. I retired in 2012 and look forward to serving on committees or board of the Sechelt Senior Centre.”

Val Galat

“I have been the secretary to the Senior Activity Centre for 2 years now, and feel I have a hang on things, as we speak. I am enjoying my work, as well as interacting with my co-volunteers. Prior to that I was on several committees, as well I have been an active member and chair for various activities. I hope to continue to serve the Centre as I have in the past.”

Mark Garland

Brief Biography for the purpose of familiarization for the SSAC AGM

  • 35 Years as Senior Computer Operator and then Mainframe programmer for BCHydro
  • 3 Years post retirement on the Foundation Board of Directors for St. Michael’s Centre (a faith based Seniors care centre in Burnaby)
  • Membership and Bridge positions with the Royal City Yacht Club, acting in a progression of positions, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore, Commodore for the years 2014, 2015, 2016 respectively.
  • Full Time Primary caregiver for my wife, suffering from Alzheimer’s from 2016 through to 2020.
  • One year as Director at large for Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre Mar 2022 to 2023 then moved to position of Vice President for 2023 through to present.

“Primary focus of my time at the SSAC has been the re-design of most forms used by the Centre. These include all the meal order forms, all the sign in sheets, frozen meal order forms, etc.

During this time I have been onsite every Wednesday from 10 until 3, attended nearly all Board meetings, been involved with the Technology Committee, Human Resource Committee, and other duties
as required.”

Susan Grenville

“I retired from TELUS Communications in 2018 after working in the Calgary & Vancouver offices for 30 years.

I have been a committed volunteer at the Centre since then. You will find me helping out in the kitchen and serving lunches every Wednesday. I have been a Director at Large on the SSAC board for the last six months. I welcome the opportunity to continue in this role and contribute to making the Centre the best it can be.

Since moving to the coast in 2006 I have been a dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer with several organizations.

Sea Cavalcade Society: organized and managed Pancake Breakfasts, sold raffle tickets, recruited volunteers.

Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club: Director at Large Board Member as of January 2023. Also, I co-managed five successful raffle ticket fundraisers to purchase two new dragon boats, applied for raffle ticket licenses, organized venues to sell tickets, sold 1000 tickets per year, approximate revenue per year to the club $10,000.00.

Sunshine Coast TELUS Community Ambassador: Board Member since January 2021.

Our motto is: Give Where you Live. I embrace that statement wholeheartedly.”

Mary Pinniger

Mary came to the Coast in 1985 and was hired by the School District to develop an Adult Education program. She did this successfully and developed such programs as SETA – Special Education Teaching Assistants, WOW Program (Women of Work) training and apprenticeships for women in non-traditional trades such as welding, carpentry, and auto mechanics. She also developed over 100 courses in recreational style formats, such as cooking, pottery, dancing, fencing, yoga, etc.

She believes that a healthy community is one that invites people to participate and contribute in all walks of life. Mary has sung with the Coast Messiah Choir, Sara Douglas’s Requiem, and is now involved in the new Coast Music Theatre performing in the Pirates of Penzance. She is currently training for the BC Senior Games where, in previous years she has competed and brought home many gold and silver medals in swimming. Mary also plays and coaches Pickleball at the Sechelt Acitivity Centre.

If asked, what one thing makes her happy she would respond “people”. “Connecting with people gives me great joy!” She loves to bring a smile to someone’ day. Mary owns Heart Centred Counselling and has been working helping people to improve their lives for over 35 years.

She has noticed in the past year or two that the SSAC has become a bustling activity for happy people.

“Everyone I meet at the Centre have great smiles, and always have time to chat. I want to work with people like Richard and Gillian and the amazing people that are on the Board. I want to contribute to making the Centre a ‘home away from home’ for people.”

B. Gail Riddell, PhD

“I have enjoyed the activities at SSAC so much over the past several years that it seems very appropriate to ‘give back’ at this point. The grapevine reports that the board is run competently by talented folks, and I have known and respected manager Gill Smith for many years.

How could I contribute to SSAC?

  • Relevant skills: marketing, communications, writing, teaching/training, management, fund-raising, long experience on non-profit boards, working in teams
  • 25 years at UBC creating and running a teaching centre for faculty and graduate students; developing and running non-credit courses, served for 6 years on Faculty Association Executive
  • 20+ years on Sunshine Coast, served on several boards, including Sierra Club of BC (chair), Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (co-chair), Eldercollege (chair), West Sechelt Community Association (chair). Note that these involvements have occurred over 20 years and are not necessarily current.
  • Spend time at SSAC doing fitness, yoga, blue grass band, eating lunch with friends
  • Husband Ian and I are grandparents of 8 (blended family), ranging in age from 2-15 years, and we visit as often as possible (2 families are in Europe)
  • Current activities: playing ukulele and guitar in jam bands, executive of West Sechelt Community Association and representative to Sechelt Community Associations Forum (which meets with mayor and council), executive of Alliance4Democracy, (devoted to addressing climate change issues). I am a dragon boater, attend a women’s group, work out, read and write when possible.
  • My husband and I love to walk in the forest and are participants of the Coast Recital Society and Sunshine Coast Film Society. We socialize in a dinner group, garden and travel. With friends who have similar challenges, we attend an early stage dementia class for my husband.”

Birgit Stefani

Retired Director of Operations for manufacturing facilities across Canada and the USA, living on the Sunshine Coast for the past 12 years.
A member of two hiking groups who enjoys yoga, cycling, kayaking, snowshoeing, and downhill skiing.

Past board experience:

  • SCAWA, sunshine Coast amateur wine association. President, secretary and current treasurer.
  • Chief financial officer, CanaDares, a charity for an orphanage and school in Tanzania.
  • Habitat For Humanity, vice chair, treasurer, and secretary. Currently still volunteering in recycling.
  • Beaconsfield, Cycling club, 450 members. President, treasurer, and secretary.
  • Sexual Assault, Crisis Line, Montreal, Quebec.
  • Several School Boards.

“I really feel that the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre plays a very valuable part in our community and so I would be honoured to be a member of the board.”

Chris Twaits

“My name is Chris Twaits and I have been working on the planning team implementing MyServiceCenter since December. I also volunteer at the Bingo and have recently agreed to manage the Office Volunteers.

Over the past 7 years I have volunteered with many organizations. Golfing is one of my passions which lead me to volunteering as Captain for the 18 Hole Ladies League at Blue Ocean Golf Club. This year I will be coordinating Interclub play for the 9 Hole Ladies. I have also been the secretary on our Strata Board for the past 2 years. When I’m not busy volunteering, I enjoy many outdoor activities. I also play ukulele with the Mother Pluckers and sing with the Coastal Lights choir.
Prior to moving to the Sunshine Coast, I retired from the Alberta Government after 35 years of service as a Human Resource Consultant. I provided managers/employees with information and assistance and enjoyed learning about the various occupations required to make a large organization function.

Retiring on the Sunshine Coast is a dream that came true. I am amazed at the sense of community and talent of people that live on the Coast and feel fortunate to be a part of this community.”

Richard Ward

“Since I became President in March 2023, in cooperation with the board and our volunteers, I feel fortunate that we have achieved many of our goals. We have increased the efficiency of the operation of the Centre and produced a very friendly environment whilst offering a multitude of activities. The successful donation campaigns I had launched, allowed us to augment our income to meet the demands of our ongoing costs. There have been so many great changes during the year, such as the introduction of MySeniorCenter. Transition comes with some trauma, so I am so grateful for the tolerance and patience of our members as we find the best ways to move forward. I have learned so much, not the least of which is the complexity of the Centre and the incredible dedication of our 3 staff members and over 150 volunteers that allow us to offer the level of service that we do. There is still a lot of work to be done and I hope to be re-elected and work with the new board to help make the Centre the best ‘Home Away from Home’ it can be.”