A few snapshots of me...
I was born and raised on a farm in a rural community 45 kilometres east of Vancouver. After graduating from high school, my desire to see the world encouraged me to enrol in a one-year language programme at the Université de Grenoble III, Faculté de Langues et Lèttres. My one year abroad turned into eight, and led me from France to Monte Carlo to Germany to various resorts in Switzerland to Lausanne and finally, to Geneva.
During my time abroad, I met people from every corner of the globe, each bringing with them their language, their culture and their ideas. My studies were broken by work in various hotels, from the laundry room to the Front Desk to restaurant service. Here I learned to communicate in a multi-lingual and multi-cultural environment. As my work was often seasonal, I interspersed the change in seasons with extensive backpacking throughout Europe.
I returned to Canada in December 1987, and started working for a small, privately owned radio-manufacturing company, which was later purchased by a British-based multinational. The company developed, manufactured and sold HF radio communications equipment to a diverse market. Our clients included the Inuit hunter of the north, NGOs, non-profit organisations, government agencies (including defence), emergency 9-1-1 services, and mining and oil producing companies to name a few. The company closed in April 2000.
In 2002, after two years of volunteering and exploration, I started working for and am currently employed by an intergovernmental organisation that works with Commonwealth developing nations to improve their formal and informal education systems through distance learning. I believe that the integration of technology with education, when used effectively, can assist all learners to achieve their true potential.
As education is such an important part of my life, I too am always learning! In 2006, I obtained a Counselling Skills Certificate, and in 2011, I received my Master of Arts in Leadership.
I am a person of many interests. Hiking, cycling and skiing are my three top activities, although I am always willing to try something new – within reason! Storytelling fascinates me, and I am a huge fan of CBC-Radio. The performing arts are my passion: theatre, dance, and music in all its genres.
In 2000, I started volunteering with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and in 2003, I joined the Association. I was the Western Regional Coordinator (voluntary position) and Chair of the Vancouver Association from September 2013-April 2014, stepping down to focus on training and fundraising for the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
My latest challenge is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of the 2014 Ascent for Alzheimer’s Team.
During my time abroad, I met people from every corner of the globe, each bringing with them their language, their culture and their ideas. My studies were broken by work in various hotels, from the laundry room to the Front Desk to restaurant service. Here I learned to communicate in a multi-lingual and multi-cultural environment. As my work was often seasonal, I interspersed the change in seasons with extensive backpacking throughout Europe.
I returned to Canada in December 1987, and started working for a small, privately owned radio-manufacturing company, which was later purchased by a British-based multinational. The company developed, manufactured and sold HF radio communications equipment to a diverse market. Our clients included the Inuit hunter of the north, NGOs, non-profit organisations, government agencies (including defence), emergency 9-1-1 services, and mining and oil producing companies to name a few. The company closed in April 2000.
In 2002, after two years of volunteering and exploration, I started working for and am currently employed by an intergovernmental organisation that works with Commonwealth developing nations to improve their formal and informal education systems through distance learning. I believe that the integration of technology with education, when used effectively, can assist all learners to achieve their true potential.
As education is such an important part of my life, I too am always learning! In 2006, I obtained a Counselling Skills Certificate, and in 2011, I received my Master of Arts in Leadership.
I am a person of many interests. Hiking, cycling and skiing are my three top activities, although I am always willing to try something new – within reason! Storytelling fascinates me, and I am a huge fan of CBC-Radio. The performing arts are my passion: theatre, dance, and music in all its genres.
In 2000, I started volunteering with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and in 2003, I joined the Association. I was the Western Regional Coordinator (voluntary position) and Chair of the Vancouver Association from September 2013-April 2014, stepping down to focus on training and fundraising for the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
My latest challenge is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of the 2014 Ascent for Alzheimer’s Team.