Board of Directors

President
Steve Mah

Director
Elizabeth Demner

Treasurer
Simon Chen



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Vice-President
Loa Fridfinnson



Loa is also an educator in the areas of entrepreneurship, sales and marketing having developed and taught a 15-course business curriculum to Indigenous adults and youth since 2011. She is a marketing instructor at BCIT, speaks at industry events and has been a guest lecturer for UBC’s Sauder School of Business MBA Program and SFU’s Entrepreneur of the Year Program.
Loa is a mentor to youth in the community, volunteers for causes such as Big Sisters, StartUp Canada and New Ventures BC, and is honored to contribute her skills and expertise to the advancement of The Children’s Foundation.

Amy moved into the non-profit space where she worked at WE Charity as a WE School Program Manager and then was the Dating Violence Prevention Program Specialist at YWCA Metro Vancouver. Ultimately her love for research and writing and her passion for equitable, participant-driven programming led her to Reciprocal Consulting where she is excited to contribute to their work in research and evaluation.
Amy is honoured to be invited to share her skills and insights into a space filled with passionate, action-oriented leaders who are dedicated to supporting the important and life-changing work happening at The Children’s Foundation.




Management Team

Michel Pouliot
Executive Director
Michel has been the Executive Director of The Children’s Foundation since late 2020. Prior to his role, Michel was the Executive Director at Burnaby Family Life, a multi-service, not-for-profit organization, for six years. With over 25 years in Leadership positions in the Social Services sector, he is a passionate advocate for the needs of the most vulnerable members in our community, with a strong track record of developing community partnerships.
Creative ideas around new Programs, Partnerships, Service Delivery Models and Social Enterprises are the foundation of what makes organizations innovative and at the cutting edge of social change. He hopes to be able to support innovation and growth at the Children’s Foundation for many years to come.

Helgi Remmelg
Program Director
Helgi has worked for The Children’s Foundation for over 30 years. She is currently responsible for the Communities Caring for Children, Out of Care, Respite and Family Care Support programs. Helgi is also responsible for Continuous Quality Improvement, Accreditation and is the organizations Privacy Officer.

Lisa Lowe
Program Director
Lisa Lowe is an expressive art therapist, co-active coach, facilitator and somatic practioner. She identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and approaches her work from an intersectional lens. She is passionate about team building and leadership. She is committed to shaping workplaces and services into co-created, imaginative and libratory spaces for the purpose of generating and reclaiming choiceful, resourceful, healing centered engagements. She continues to develop an understanding of the impacts of systemic oppression as it intersects with western mental health and educational models.
She is currently responsible for Alderwood Family Development Centre, Complex Care, Educational Transition Centre and The Centre for Childhood Neurodevelopment, Education and Family Wellbeing

Karim Suleman
Program Manager
Karim is a graduate of the MBA Program in Health Services Management from McMaster University and has a clinical background as a Respiratory Therapist and Cell Biologist. In his 20 years in healthcare management, he has worked in the public and private sectors, including Vancouver Coastal, Fraser Health and Provincial Health Services and Bayshore Home Care diercting the Specialty Nursing and Pediatrics program.
Karim is currently responsible for the Family Preservation Program.

Rachel Madu
Program Manager
Rachel Madu (she/her) has worked as a family therapist to families (adoptive, foster and birth), experiencing relationship challenges for over 20 years. Rachel has worked alongside families impacted by mental health, relationship ruptures, and varying types of trauma. Rachel practices as a person-centered therapist, valuing and trusting the potential of each individual, facilitating the counselling process with unconditional positive regard, authenticity and empathy. Rachel grew up living in Western and Northern Canada and has spent long periods of time in Madagascar and Zambia, and feels grateful to call the Lower Mainland home. Rachel acknowledges that she is student in understanding her own privilege, and looks for opportunities to facilitate dialogue about racism, privilege, fragility, inclusion, equality, and equity. Rachel professes to be a Christ follower, believing in the unequivocal power of love and grace. Rachel has provided clinical supervision to other therapists for the past 7 years.
Rachel oversees the Cedarwood South Fraser Family Program, Cedarwood Langley Program, Four Start Connection Program and Heartwood Family Services.

Staff
Helgi Remmelg
Program Director
T: 604 434 9101
Lisa Lowe
Program Director
T: 604 434 9101
Karim Suleman (he/him)
Program Manager
T: 604 434 9101
Michel Pouliot
Executive Director
T: 604 434 9101
Rachel Madu, MA, RCC
Program Manager
T: 604 434 9101
Karen To
Finance Manager
T: 604 434 9101
Fax: 604 434 9938
We improve the lives of children and families with your support.