Board of Directors

SPARC BC’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wes Hewitt—Port Alberni, B.C.

Wes joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2019 and serves as the President of the Board since 2020. Previously, Wes also served on the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee and the Board Nominations Committee. Wes is the Executive Director for the Alberni Shelter Society where he is proud to be considered a community leader in the development of social and supportive housing. The Alberni Society provides housing for low-income families and employment training within Port Alberni. Wes has enjoyed being an innovator in the field of harm reduction, substance use and mental health. Wes believes some of the strongest connections are made with clients through tasks not associated with his work; tasks like assisting in fixing a door, or helping with carpentry. Outside of Wes’s occupation, he has deep community involvement as a Shriner and Freemason.

Marla Reed—Dawson Creek, B.C.

Marla joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2018 and has served as the Secretary/Treasurer since 2020. Marla also serves as the Chair of the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee. Marla is the Executive Director of the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living. Marla brings extensive knowledge of the community living movement and has worked in the social service sector for twenty-five (25) years. Over the course of her career, Marla has worked with a broad range of partners on a wide range of community development initiatives designed to promote and support greater economic and social inclusion for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Marla’s work has included the development of numerous housing options for low-income adults with developmental disabilities, families, and seniors. Marla is passionate about the inclusion of adults with developmental disabilities and seniors and is committed to creating a more inclusive society for everyone.

Beverly Onischak—Castlegar, B.C.

Beverly joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2016 and serves on the Board’s Governance Committee. Beverly is a retired Nurse with more than 40 years of practice in acute care and complex care. Bev is also an educator with experience in providing instruction for nursing students. Bev has a long history of advocacy on issues of accessibility and disability. Bev currently serves on a number of Committees including the National Committee for Persons Living with DisAbilities. Through her work, and various labour and union affiliations, Bev has championed womens’ rights, and has worked to address issues around occupational health and safety including the working conditions for short-term and part-time instructors. Bev is active on the Castlegar and District Social Planning Council and is a member of the Castlegar Mayor’s Abilities Awareness Advisory Committee. Bev is also an active community volunteer who enjoys the Garden Club and Friends of the Library.

Jim O’Dea—Vancouver, B.C.

Jim joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2021 and is a member of the Board’s Nominations Committee. Formerly the co-founder and principal of Terra Housing, Jim has been involved in the housing and community sector for more than four decades and has experience in working in senior level positions within the Federal and Provincial governments including BC Housing, the Ministry of Community Development, the Homeowner Protection Office, and the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC). Jim also brings national and international experience and has been recognized by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) and CMHC for his outstanding contribution to affordable housing. Jim is currently a member of O’Dea Song—an organization that is committed to working to build housing and spaces for community and social enterprises.

Laurie Paulin—New Hazelton, B.C.

Laurie joined SPARC BC’s Board of Directors in 2021 and serves on the Board’s Governance Committee. Laurie is Haisla and Haida and cares about working together with others to help Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in achieving equity. Laurie brings a strong background and passion for social justice and poverty law and has worked with clients with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Since 2018, Laurie has also played a central role in helping to establish the Indigenous Court in Hazelton and has served as a court navigator. In this role, Laurie assists those who are accused in developing an appropriate healing plan and other actions. Laurie also works to assist Elders in their role within the community court system. Laurie enjoys spending her free time out in nature with her son.

Fraser Holland—Langley, B.C.

Fraser Holland has a long history of working on issues of housing and homelessness within the Metro Vancouver region and has been providing outreach services to individuals with a history of homelessness since 2006. Fraser is currently serving as the Program Manager for the Intensive Case Management Team within the Langley Community Services Society. Prior to joining LCSS, Fraser was the Director of Homelessness Services for Stepping Stone Services Society—a community-based service agency located in Langley. Through his work as part of the Langley Intensive Case Management Team, Fraser works as part of a multi-disciplinary team that is focused on client engagement, housing stability as well as brokering serves to better meet the needs of individuals with a history of homelessness including clients who are 19 or older and who have chronic or dependent substance use. In addition to his significant experience in providing outreach services, Fraser also participates on the Board of the Homelessness Services Association while also finding time to work on issues of income security and poverty reduction, and the need for increasing the supply of affordable housing across communities.

Sheila Lewis—Kelowna, B.C.

Sheila Lewis brings a strong background in leading gender-based analysis and in looking at issues of community health and well-being from an intersectional lens. Sheila is based in Kelowna B.C. and currently holds the role of Provincial Women’s Manager with Metis Nation of B.C. where she leads research into the impact of provincial, regional, local, and national policies on the well-being of Metis women and their families. In her current role, Sheila is also engaged in working with the Federal government in developing an action plan designed to respond to the calls for justice arising from the findings of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Report. Prior to joining Metis Nation, Sheila held various roles with the Interior Health Authority including regional practice lead for Aboriginal Mental Wellness as part of their mental health and substance use network, as well as the Aboriginal Regional Knowledge Coordinator. Sheila has also worked with the City of West Kelowna, the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Okanagan Nation Emergency Transition House, the City of West Kelowna and University of British Columbia, Okanagan. Sheila also volunteers her time to support and facilitate Truth and Reconciliation Reading Circles designed to build and deepen community understanding of the 94 Calls to Action set out in the report.

Mia Burgess – Victoria, B.C.

Mia Burgess has held positions in non-profit and government and completed her Masters degree in Community Development in 2019. Through her work experience and education, Mia has developed an in-depth understanding of the ways in which systems, polices and practices trap people in poverty. Mia has worked alongside and within provincial and federal criminal justice systems and has provided legal advocacy services for marginalized individuals at risk of homelessness. Mia has also delivered educational sessions about tenant’s rights under the Residential Tenancy Act and has worked as a funder in a community foundation for 5 years. Mia was also the co-founder and co-chair of the BC10 network and continued to advocate for better alignment of federal and provincial funding to address homelessness. Prior to moving from Kelowna to Victoria in 2021, Mia was the CEO of a non-profit organization that delivered brain injury supports to vulnerable clients. In that role, Mia launched a successful social enterprise that improved the cognitive capacity of individuals recovering from brain injuries. Mia currently adjudicates complex, sensitive claims submitted by injured workers in BC. Mia is passionate about social justice and is committed to working to build an inclusive society for all.

Jessica Li – Richmond, B.C.

Jessica Li has long been passionate about social justice. This passion has motivated her to pursue a career in law and volunteer and work in the non-profit sector. In doing so, she has had the privilege of playing a direct role in helping those experiencing barriers to access the resources they need. She is analytical in nature and enjoys applying that mindset when addressing issues and coming up with solutions. Jessica was born and raised in British Columbia and would like to contribute to the diversity of SPARC BC’s Board of Directors by offering her experience and perspectives with a focus on helping to advance SPARC BC’s mission of building a more just and healthy society for all.