BCAHA President Lynda Avis is pleased to announce that the new Executive Director, Judith McBride, officially assumed her duties on July 1, 2016, when Helen Carkner completed her three-year term at the end of June. Judith brings a wealth of experience to this position including an extensive background in public relations, community services, business operations, volunteer recruitment, training and management, fundraising, and event planning.
Judith was introduced to the delegates at the BCAHA AGM in Penticton and participated in all of the activities at the Leadership Forum. She attended the BCAHA Executive Committee meetings in June as well as the Lower Mainland Area Presidents’ Meeting. In August, she travelled to Prince George with BCAHA Past President, Valerie Tribes, to meet with the Auxiliary presidents in the Northeast Area. She will be in attendance at several of the area conferences taking place this fall.
Judith was born and raised in London, England and had the good fortune to move to Canada more than 40 years ago, settling in BC after two years in Toronto. She is confident that her 35 years of non-profit experience will be put to good use with BCAHA. Her involvement in health care as a provider of volunteers – dogs and their owners – throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island gave Judith the opportunity to visit many hospitals and care facilities, and to see firsthand the value of Auxilians’ work on behalf of patients and residents, both raising funds to purchase much-needed equipment, and offering that all-important caring touch and friendly smile. Her work with the Stroke Recovery Association and with a complex care facility in Langley has further deepened her understanding of changes and improvements to health care. Judith’s career has also included working with the BC SPCA, promoting their 100th anniversary; eight years of convention and meeting planning and public relations for the Certified General Accountants Association; building an international project management training business with her husband; and ten years’ work in the field of pet therapy. Judith’s volunteer experience includes currently serving with the Surrey Branch of the St. John’s Ambulance, and with the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP). In her ‘spare’ time, she enjoys spending time with her family, including three grandchildren and an over-exuberant dog.