Carole was born and raised in Vancouver before moving to North Vancouver. After teaching for 28 years, she retired to her beloved, longtime family home in Halfmoon Bay, B.C. Carole joined her local Auxiliary in 2007 so that she could work with seniors at the Totem Lodge Extended Care facility. Little did she know that this initial step would lead to roles as Publicity Officer, Vice-Chair and Chair of the Halfmoon Bay Branch, and then various executive positions, including that of President, of the Sunshine Coast Healthcare Auxiliary. In addition to her Auxiliary service, she earned Life Membership in the Canadian Power & Sail Squadron and assumed local, provincial and then national chairmanship of Youth Programmes on behalf of the CPS. Carole has a son and daughter, and five lovely grandchildren that keep her busy. She enjoys traveling and has driven across many provinces, with her dog as companion, for family weddings and get-togethers. As the BCAHA Vice President she is looking forward to meeting all of the Auxiliaries across the Province.

A longtime member of the Langley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Diane has held various executive positions and currently serves as Past President, she also volunteers at her Auxiliary’s popular Penny Pincher Thrift Store. Born in Vancouver, Diane grew up in Powell River and left after high school to attend UBC. After graduation, she worked as a Customs Broker, a career that spanned over 40 years. Diane is married to Larry Gillott, they have no children but are grandparents to six grandchildren who all live in Australia (“I skipped the middle step,” she notes). Diane and Larry enjoy travelling the world, taking cruises and venturing out in their fifth-wheel RV. They also enjoy square dancing, gardening and playing with their two cute Golden Doodles. Diane comes from a family of Auxiliary volunteers. Her mother was a member of the Powell River Health-Care Auxiliary and her two sisters are current members. Volunteering keeps her active and engaged, and she sees her BCAHA executive role as an opportunity to further contribute and connect with others.

Ian was born in Powell River, attended Henderson, Brooks and Max Cameron schools, moving to Victoria in 1974, he joined the Canadian Forces in the Administration Branch and was initially posted to Pacific Region Headquarters in Victoria. Ian spent 14 years on the West Coast in various postings.

In December of 1987 he was transferred to the Air Force and moved to Winnipeg at Air Command Headquarters in Personnel Section, a position he held until he was posted to the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre (CFRC) Winnipeg for three years as a Military Career Counsellor.

On return from the CFRC in August 1997, he moved into Air Force training, responsible for officer training for the Air Force Reserves.  On 1 January 2001 he was promoted to Major and appointed to manage all Air Reserve Training, and in June 2004 also assumed responsibility for the coordination and implementation of Professional Development for the Air Force.  In June of 2005 he was sent on a tasking for six months to Southwest Asia as part of Operation Athena, and in September 2007 he was transferred to 17 Wing as an assistant to the Wing Administration Officer, a position he held until his retirement on October 1^st 2009.

Ian has been married to his wife Rene for over 50 years and they have two children and four grandchildren. They moved back to Powell River on retirement and in the fall of 2015, Ian became the President of the Powell River Healthcare Auxiliary, for a two-year term. In 2021 he agreed to step up as the President for a one-year term.

Ian’s other volunteer positions include President of the Manitoba/Northwestern Division of The Navy League of Canada and a Term as the Division Presidents Rep on the National Council of The Navy League of Canada.

Allana joined the Trail Hospital Auxiliary 20 years ago as Secretary and to help with public relations, and she is currently in her fourth year as President. Her family and community involvement are a major part of who she is. With 48 years of married life, two daughters with spouses, and five grandchildren, life is never dull. Allana’s professional career includes employment as an LPN to help support her husband through university, working as a travel consultant, and spending 28 years as a Municipal Senior Administrator. Retirement allowed Allana to devote more time to her volunteering, which has included various positions in the Trail Skating Club and with the BC/Yukon section of Skate Canada. At present, she continues as Treasurer of the Kootenay Region and as a Level 2 Data Specialist. The Catholic Women’s League, Sisters of Colombo, and the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital & Health Foundation, of which she is Past President, are also cherished parts of her life as a volunteer. Allana’s energy, knowledge, and love of people and healthcare make her an asset to the BCAHA Board.

Cathy Bayley was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and grew up in West Vancouver. After graduating from UBC she went to work in Kitimat as an elementary school teacher for a year.  Ten years later she returned with her husband and two children to Delta.  Cathy was the elementary school music specialist at York House School in Vancouver and two schools in the Surrey School District. She ended her career as the Fine Arts Helping Teacher in Surrey responsible for music, dance, art, and drama in Kindergarten to Grade 12.  She was honoured to receive the BC Music Educators Elementary Music Teacher of the Year Award in 2011. A highlight of Cathy’s working career was a teaching exchange to the Gold Coast in Australia. Music has played an important part in Cathy’s life, and she is currently the president of, and singing with the Vancouver EnChor Choir.  Cathy has also served as president at the provincial and national level in Carl Orff Canada, an organization of over 1000 music educators across Canada.  She also volunteers as a Green coat at the Vancouver International Airport. Nowadays Cathy and her husband love to travel and visit their children and grandchildren in Penticton and Ontario. Cathy is also now attempting to learn to play the ukulele and paint with varying degrees of success.

Cathy joined the Delta Hospital Auxiliary in 2017 and was honoured to be the president of the organization for 4 years. currently, she can be found volunteering at the Delta Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store in downtown Ladner and the DHAS Gift Shop in the Delta Hospital.

Cheryl lives in Revelstoke and has been a member of the Revelstoke Hospital Auxiliary Society since 2008. Starting as Secretary, she is now the Past President. She created the current website and Facebook page for the Revelstoke Auxiliary and she also serves on the Membership, Sunshine, and Wish List committees. For 16 years, Cheryl has volunteered with the Canadian Cancer Society, coordinating many fundraising initiatives such as the Relay For Life, the Daffodil Campaign and Slopes for Hope. Cheryl is a people person and is always eager to learn new skills. She enjoys a variety of activities including interior decorating, scrapbooking and spending time with her husband, two children and four grandchildren. As BCAHA Secretary, Cheryl brings valuable experience to the Board and she looks forward to sharing her skills to help maintain the best healthcare possible for all our communities.

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My first introduction to volunteering was in my teens when the YWCA girls group, I belonged to would go up to the University Hospital in Edmonton once a week.

Upon graduating from University, I taught High School in Thunder Bay, Ont and then moved to Vancouver where I was a Program Director with the YMCA where I met and married my husband. We moved to a Logging Camp on the north end of Vancouver Island and began raising our family.

In 1986 our family moved to Campbell River.  While there I decided to return to school and take the Long-Term Care Aide Program.  This led me to a 20 + year career as an Activity Aide in both Campbell River and Prince George.

Upon retiring, I had time, so I volunteered in the Hospital Gift Shop. It wasn’t long before I was approached to join the Hospital Auxiliary and subsequently took on the position of Second Vice President.  I have always believed one should give back to the community and the Hospital Auxiliary has certainly filled that role.

Vicky 

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I was born and raised in Calgary Alberta, and began volunteering as a Candy Striper at Foothills Hospital at 14. I loved it, it was such a rewarding experience.

I didn’t return to volunteering until I moved to Aldergrove in my mid-30s. The Aldergrove food bank needed volunteers and I had time, I started stocking shelves and worked there for 2 years and was elected President, I was there for another year and then went back to a paid job, after recruiting my replacement. While working in the food industry our company had a program called “Feeding OurClubs Future”. We had partnered with The Boys and Girls clubs of Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley to provide healthy lunches to the kids in their programs during the summer months. When there were no school lunch programs for them. Every day after work we would start making over 500 bagged healthy lunches that would be picked up for delivery to the clubs across the lower mainland the next morning. In 2009 I won the company “Hero of Everyday Life Award” for my participation in the Feeding our Future program and was able to donate the $3000.00 award to the Aldergrove Food Bank.

Fast forward to 2014,  I had retired the year before and was out shopping when I saw a sign in the window of a small Thrift Shop in Port Coquitlam, I thought to myself “I like stuff” and Velda Boyle saw me coming. I started as a cashier and worked up to Manager of the shop, a role I held until just this past September.  I am in my second term as President of the Auxiliary and am excited to be continuing to grow as an Auxilian in the role of Area Director.

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Heather grew up on the prairies, she graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc in Textiles. In 1980, Heather moved to Vancouver and worked in retail, in 1986 returned to UBC and received a teaching certificate in primary education. Heather taught in Vancouver and Rossland.

 Heather joined the Rossland Health Care Auxiliary in 1997, she served as secretary of the auxiliary and is currently completing her term as president. Heather is a member of Trail and Area Hospice, she takes part in both the friendly visitor program and end of life. Heather is President of the Rossland Discussion Club and is an active Member of Trail United Church.

 Heather helped to organize the cancer support group and continues to plan an annual Cancer Survivor Tea while continuing her chemotherapy. In her free time she loves to read, garden, sew and knit.

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Amanda grew up in Williams Lake, where she was a competitive figure skater and completed her Canadian Cord through Girl Guides. She later moved to North Vancouver to attend Simon Fraser University, where she met her husband, Carlos. After graduation, she worked as a counsellor for the Ministry of Children and Families and ICBC and later managed a vocational program for individuals living with diversabilities. Amanda and Carlos have three adult children and live on a small acreage outside Vernon. When they aren’t travelling, they enjoy outdoor activities, pickleball and spending time with family, friends, and their dogs. Amanda is an active member of the Vernon Auxiliary and is excited to learn more about BCAHA and be involved with other Auxiliaries.

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 I was born in Wadena, Sask. We moved to Flin Flon, a small mining town
in northern Manitoba when I was 4.
The Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Company was the town’s main employer and sponsored many activities. Flin Flon was surrounded by lakes; in the summer we swam, fished and water skied. Winter was hockey,skating and keeping warm. IBM did get cold!
I met and married my high school sweetheart Jim. We moved 3 times during
our first year and eventually landed in Vernon. I joined the service club that
Jim belonged to Kelowna and transferred to it when we moved.
I held all executive positions, including President and was also the Zone
Coordinator for the Okanagan Zone which had clubs from Penticton to
Salmon Arm.

Eight years later we moved to Port Coquitlam where again I
was on the Executive and then District Co-ordinator for B.C.
I have held various secretarial positions throughout our moves. The last being an Insurance broker for 25 years, before retiring and moving to Mission.
Jim passed away 2 years ago and I became restless trying to keep busy. I
stopped into our thrift shop, “The Cottage” and filled out an application and
have found an outlet for my restlessness. I have 2 grown children Todd and Tara. Todd has 2 grown daughters Megan and Kennady. They all have “fur
babies” but I’m hoping for a great-grandchild soon.

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Fern was born in Southern Ontario and was raised by wonderful parents on a small mixed farm with her siblings. After completing high school Fern was thrilled to join the work force and start her “real” life.

Fern married her husband Alex of 49 years in 1969 and moved to Dawson Creek B.C. in 1971 where they raised their 3 children, Mandy, Jason, and Quinton in a lovely little “hippy” farming community.

Later they moved into town to change professions, in the course of time Fern owned a seasonal greenhouse, a concession at a little town ski hill, then opened the Baby Store in the mall.

Fern retired from the baby store when she turned 69 and focused her time into volunteering, Fern had an instrumental role in setting up the Dawson Creek Recycling Association, the Farmers Market, and currently works at the Community Gardens Society and the Hospital Auxiliary as well as Fern spent 3 consecutive terms of 3 years on the Board of the Dawson Co-op of Federated Co-op (F.C.L). Fern greatly enjoys spending time with her fabulous grandchildren, Fern is looking forward to being the N.E Area Director and serving on the BCAHA Provincial Board.