Port Coquitlam Community Foundation (PCCF) is pleased to announce the appointment of 14 distinguished members of the community to its newly formed Vital Signs® Advisory Task Force.

A new community initiative for the PCCF, Vital Signs® is a national program that leverages local knowledge combined with highly relevant research data provided by the Community Foundations of Canada to help determine Port Coquitlam’s most critical area of need. This proven process will allow the PCCF to focus on a key issue that is identified, seek solutions and provide strategic funding.  Ultimately, the goal is make Port Coquitlam an even better place to live, work and play.

 “Vital Signs® is a major new initiative for our young Foundation.  It promises to move our organization to a new level of effectiveness in our goal of impacting social issues, thus improving our collective quality of life in the City of Port Coquitlam”, states John Diack, PCCF Chairman who is leading the Task Force.

 The purpose of the Vital Signs® Advisory Task Force is to bring together active members of the community to assist and provide guidance to the PCCF Board of Directors in the establishment of a key social initiative that can become a funded, multi-year focal point for the Foundation.

The appointments to its new 14-member Vital Signs® Advisory Task Force are as follows:

Ron Adolf, Taura Berg, Rob Brett, Barry Buzza, Candice Critchlow, Andrea Howorth, Gillian Kirk, William (Bill) Marshall, Drew McArthur, Shannon Mitchell, Carrie Nimmo, Stuart F. Ross, Larry Wald and George Watts.

The Foundation will continue its annual grants program which provides funding to multiple charitable organizations whose work supports and helps improves the lives of the citizens of Port Coquitlam.

About the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation

With a focus on philanthropy, grants, and leadership, our vision is a healthy and vibrant Port Coquitlam.  Port Coquitlam Community Foundation strengthens the community by connecting donors to charities that are doing high value work that positively impacts the Poco citizens. 

The Port Coquitlam Community Foundation is a proud member of Community Foundations of Canada.  www.pocofoundation.com

Task Force Bios

Ron Adolf
Ron is the President of Cobotix Manufacturing Inc. a Port Coquitlam-based company.
Taura Berg
A resident of Port Coquitlam for forty years, Taura Berg is raising her family in a community she loves. She has a Master’s degree in Education from UBC and works as Director of Special Education at a local independent school.
Rob Brett, CPA, CA
Rob is a Chartered Accountant by profession and the Chief Financial Officer for Mott Electric, where he has been since 1990. After graduating from UBC in 1985, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Rob articled with the KPMG predecessor firms while obtaining his CA designation.
Rob and his wife Vicky have been residents of Port Coquitlam since 1987, where they have raised their two sons. He was involved in PoCo FC Soccer Association from 1994 through 2007 as a coach as well as refereeing. Rob also coached both sons’ volleyball teams at the club level. In the fall of 2018, he will be coaching high school volleyball in Port Coquitlam. Since 1985, Rob has been involved in UBC Men’s Volleyball Alumni and is currently on that
association’s board.
Barry Buzza
Barry Buzza, and his wife Susan, have served in Pastoral ministry for over forty years. They have two daughters and six grandchildren, who are their primary Circle of Influence. Barry and Susan planted, and he has pastored, Northside Foursquare Church for 38 years. Their church has in turn planted over 150 churches in Canada, Asia and Africa. They have practised what they believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Barry is the author of over twenty books.
Candice Critchlow
Candice Critchlow, Port Coquitlam’s Community Police Manager, pursues City enrichment through amplified volunteerism and increased public education. Her experience ranges from Criminology, Psychology, police systems, and community engagement. A 2015 OIC Innovation Award for an international distracted driving campaign solidified her passion.
Andrea Howorth
Andrea is a long-time resident of Port Coquitlam and is now raising her family here. She has strong connections within the community and with local businesses. She is currently the Executive Director for I Am Someone Ending Bullying Society and has been involved in many projects in the Tri-Cities including the Poco Community Foundation 1st Mayors Croquet Tournament.
Gillian Kirk
Gillian Kirk is a lifetime resident of Port Coquitlam with a professional background in marketing, public relations, brand management, and educational program development.
Gillian is well known in the Tri-Cities for her enthusiasm and volunteerism. She has long been a big supporter of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, having first started working as Manager of Membership Services and, later, served as 2016 Chair of the Board.
In 2015, Gillian was appointed by the Order in Council of Canada to a four-year term on the Board of Directors of Ridley Terminals Inc., a federal Crown Corporation marine terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert.
William (Bill) Marshall
Bill has worked primarily in post-secondary student services, the management of non-profit organizations and heading his own communications and public relations company. Since retiring nine years ago, Bill has been MC and manager of the Crossroads Hospice Coffeehouse in Port Coquitlam, a fundraiser for the Hospice. Bill is the Environment Officer for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron organization for more than 10 years, teaching safe boating classes and advising on clean and environmentally respectful boating practices. He is involved in other green initiatives and spends most of the summer out of the city, enjoying the Canadian wilderness. Bill is also a musician and performs frequently in local retirement and care homes.
Drew McArthur
Drew McArthur retired from TELUS in 2007 as Vice President Corporate Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer. As Chief Compliance Officer, Drew was responsible for legal and regulatory compliance for all of TELUS’ operations, reporting to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The responsibilities of this role included ensuring TELUS had the appropriate controls, policies and measurements in place to be compliant with many areas of law and regulation. Drew played a key role in the privacy community in Canada as a founding member of the Council of Canadian Chief Privacy Officers and a member of the advisory board of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). From June 2016 to April 2018, Drew was the Acting Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC, and is now consulting in the area of privacy.
Shannon Mitchell
Shannon Mitchell has been the Publisher of the Tri City News for over 3 years and preceding that was the Publisher/Sales Manager of the Coquitlam Now before the company’s merger. Since 1995 Shannon has been involved in community newspapers – starting as a classified sales rep then progressing to outside sales, sales manager and for the past 5 years Publisher/Sales Manager. She loves to work with non-profit organizations to assist them with exposure, fundraising & attendance. She wants to always ensure that the Tri City News is supporting Tri City events and businesses. She sits on the Chamber Board (2nd term) and looks forward to supporting this initiative.
Carrie Nimmo
For the past year as Manager of Cultural Development and Community Services for the City of Port Coquitlam, Carrie Nimmo has led the Arts and Culture, Volunteer Services, and Civic Event teams. She managed the City’s community funding and cultural facilities and has produced Celebrate Canada 150 with us! Festival of Nature, Art and Music and facilitates the Cultural Roundtable. Prior to her work with the City of Port Coquitlam, Carrie was the Coordinator of Cultural Programming for CMHC-Granville Island. Carrie managed the Cultural Partner Funding Program, public spaces and cultural programming as well as produced high profile festivals. As a trained dancer, Carrie has created and produced dance works, site specific theatre, and cultural festivals for over thirty years. She was also the Artistic and Managing Director of Vancouver based stilt theater company Mortal Coil.
Stuart Ross
Stuart has strong roots in the Tri-Cities having lived and worked in the area for most of his life. Stuart obtained his law degree from U Vic and has been practicing law since 2011. Before coming to Garton & Harris, where he currently practices, Stuart acted as in-house counsel for a local municipality. Stuart takes pride in being able to explain legal concepts and procedures in a straight-forward and non-technical way and to give practical and timely advice.
Larry Wald
Larry is a lifelong resident of Port Coquitlam where he and his wife raised their two daughters. He successfully obtained a Diploma in Business Management (UBC) and earned the designation Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (UBC and SFU). Prior to his retirement as V.P. at Vancity, he worked at BMO and B.C. Central Credit Union. After his retirement Larry formed a successful sales training business. Larry has served on non-profit Boards including Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation.
George Watts
George is the owner of TWIST Performance and Wellness in Port Coquitlam. Lives in Coquitlam.

 

Vital Signs report to take the pulse of PoCo

A new task force for the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation will meet today (Tuesday) to look at how it will start to address the most pressing social needs in the city. The 14-member advisory group will work with consultant Maggie Hodge Kwan to drill down on data for the inaugural Vital Signs report, which is expected out later this year.