meet our Leadership

Board of Directors, Executive Members

Diane Thornton
President
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 travellng the world, taking cruises and venturing out in their fifth-wheel RV. They also enjoy square dancing, gardening and playing with their cute Golden Doodle puppy. 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.

Margaret Anderson
Past President
Marge has been a member of Cowichan’s Lake Healthcare Auxiliary since 2006. She was President for five years and served as Auxiliary Treasurer. She also chaired the District Council of Hospital Auxiliaries for two years. Marge’s community volunteering includes Little League Baseball, school PACs, church youth group leadership, Kaatza museum, Kaatza Health Unit Healthy Beginnings Program and BC 4-H. She joined BC 4-H as a five-year-old “pre-clubber” and later became a 4-H Junior Leader and Club Leader. She also served on the BC 4-H Foundation and the BC Provincial 4-H Council, and as a BC 4-H Conflict Resolution Manager for nine years. Marge’s working career has spanned many areas including bookkeeping, travel consultant, retail sales, hotel reception, office manager, and business partner with her husband, Paul. They have three married sons and daughters-in-law, and seven wonderful grandchildren of whom they are very proud. Marge and Paul enjoy walking, biking, swimming, boating, entertaining their many friends, and travelling. Marge’s enthusiasm and love of people bring a positive energy to her service on the BCAHA executive.

Carole Murray
Vice President, Lower Mainland Area Director
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.

Allana Ferro
Director of Finance

Arline Allison
Secretary

Cheryl Fry
Director of Communications
Area Directors

Marge Anderson
Vancouver Island Area, Director
Marge has spent most of her adult life volunteering in the service of others.During her childhood and teen years Marge was a 4-H member and Junior leader of her 4-H Club. When their 3 sons were old enough to join the 4-H Program, Marge and her husband Paul took on leadership roles and worked closely with the members and leaders of other 4-H clubs Province wide. Marge served for several years on the BC Provincial 4-H Council and nine years as a Conflict Resolution Manager. Little League Baseball, Church Youth Groups, School PACs and the Kaatza Healthy Beginnings Program were all beneficiaries of Marge’s volunteer efforts.
In 2006 Marge joined the Lake Healthcare Auxiliary and has held several positions including Treasurer and President. She has been on the Executive and Board of BCAHA in the positions of Vice-President, President and currently the BCAHA Past President and Vancouver Island Area Director.
In addition to volunteering, Marge and her husband Paul lead very busy lives with their family of 3 sons and daughter-in-laws, 7 Grandchildren, 3 Grand-daughter-in-laws and 1 Great-Grand-daughter (who just happens to be the light of their lives!
Marge looks forward to her term as Vancouver Island Area Director and hopes to visit each of the Auxiliaries on the Island during the coming year.

Yvonne Chard
Lower Mainland Area Director
Yvonne moved from Australia after she married a Canadian, Yvonne and Sandy have three children and 6 young grandchildren who are in Ontario and California.
Yvonne taught adults ESL and was a LINC/ELSA program manager for many years in Delta school district, Yvonne had her retirement and her start as president of the Delta Hospital Auxiliary happened in the same week. Yvonne first joined the Auxiliary in 2000 in the Ladner Thrift shop, mainly working with electrical and watch testing in the back, she has had a variety of board roles.
Yvonne is still active on various Boards in her Community, for many years she was a leader on the BC Adult Education Association board. Yvonne loves meeting people, travelling, computers, and taking photographs. Yvonne looks forward to working with other Auxiliaries as a wonderful opportunity for sharing and growth.

Wendy Schwab
Kootenay Boundary Area, Director

Myra Abstreiter
East Kootenay Area, Director

Charlotte Aperloo
Northwest Area, Director
Charlotte is a retired school bus driver of 30 years, a Janitorial Contractor, an Elder of the Kwantlen First Nation from Fort Langley. Charlotte has 4 children, if she counted all the steps, lol 17 grandchildren 9 great grandchildren.
Charlotte has been married to the same fine guy for coming up 52 years, also a member of BVD Hospital Auxiliary in Smithers B.C for 50 years. Charlotte enjoys making beaded earrings in her spare time, as well as she loves to spend time with the ladies at the Thrift Shop. Charlotte looks forward to serving as the Northwest Area Director for the next term.

Valerie Wright
Okanagan Mainline Area, Director

Anne Kern
Fraser Valley Area, Director
Anne has volunteered in the following positions: First as a Ranger in Guiding, working with younger girls, President and Founder of the Medical Education group in High school, a student nurse she was class rep then Student President, she helped in the schools of her children, teaching special sessions, Girl Guides for 12 years as a unit leader, district commissioner and area international. Anne was also a 4-H judge where she judged kids speeches, she is a member of the Emergency Support Services (ESS) in Langley for 19 years now, Anne was the President of the RCH Nurses Almunac for 10 years and she is now Chair of the Archive Committee of the Almunac/ Anne is an active volunteer at the Penny Pincher in Langley for a few years wearing a few hats. I am honored to be asked to be the Fraser Valley area Director for the BCAHA, I will try to do my best for the Area with all of your help.

Sharon Egglestone
NorthEast Area, Director