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Our Team

The Children’s Foundation has a highly skilled and experienced management team and professional staff. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

Board of Directors

President

Steve Mah

Director

Elizabeth Demner

Treasurer

Simon Chen

Steven had a long and successful career at Telus where he held positions in Marketing, Sales, Project Management and Engineering. Steven brings his diverse experience as well business acumen to the board table.
Elizabeth is a community volunteer of long standing. She has served on the boards of St. George’s and Crofton House schools, and was President of the Junior League of Greater Vancouver. She has been President of The Children’s Foundation for 13 years, and she is very proud of her association with this outstanding social-profit agency.
Simon is a senior manager in KPMG’s tax department and has been with KPMG since 1999.
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Alina Gerrie
Amanda Demner
Barbara Constantine
Dr. Alina Gerrie is a hematologist/oncologist at BC Cancer and Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. She completed her medical degree and internal medicine training at the University of Toronto, followed by a hematology fellowship at UBC, with specialization in leukemia/lymphoma and bone marrow transplantation. She earned a Master’s of Public Health degree from Harvard University. Dr. Gerrie brings her passion for public health to The Children’s Foundation and is honored to serve on its board.
Amanda Demner is a lawyer with Vancouver Airport Authority, the private, not-for-profit organization that operates Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Amanda practices corporate governance and privacy law, advises on conflicts and ethics, and drafts organizational policies. Prior to working at YVR, Amanda practiced commercial real estate law at a leading international law firm.
Barbara Constantine is a business management and community engagement professional with a strong media background. She served as a TV host with CBC, CKVU (now City TV), and Knowledge Network, and produced large-scale events and projects for the City of Vancouver (Olympic and Paralympic Operations) and BC Children’s Hospital (Children’s Miracle Network Telethon). Her commitment to youth includes volunteer involvement with Big Sisters, Girl Guides, Scouts Canada, United Way and Variety Club, and she is proud that her son and daughter also volunteer with youth. Barbara is honoured to lend her skills in support of the outstanding services the Children’s Foundation provides to children and families in the Lower Mainland.
Danny Lee

Vice-President

Loa Fridfinnson

Amy Foreman
Danny is currently the VP of Business Development for Strike Graph. He’s responsible for managing all aspects of strategic partnerships, channel sales, and technology integration partners. He received his BBA from Simon Fraser University and MBA from the UBC Sauder School of Business. Prior to joining The Children’s Foundation’s board, he worked as a consultant for the foundation during his time at Sauder. Danny is humbled to be supporting and serving The Children Foundation and its mission.
Loa Fridfinnson is an entrepreneur and marketing specialist operating her agency, Activ8 Corporate Relations + Training for over twenty years. Loa designs, implements and manages marketing, PR and digital media projects and campaigns that support the growth of her clients’ brands, market share, industry presence and thought leadership.

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 Foreman (she/her) is currently living and working on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Katzie, Tsawwassen, Stó:lō, W̱SÁNEĆ, and Kwantlen First Nations. Amy is privileged to hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Kwantlen Polytechnic University where she found a passion for the process of researching, writing, and presenting findings.

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.

Danielle Douglas
Alyssa Leyba
Danielle Douglas is a labour and employment lawyer with McCarthy Tétrault LLP. She received her law degree from the University of Calgary in 2017, where she led the Pro Bono Students Canada chapter at the University. She continues to make pro bono an important part of her career and has received awards for her commitment. Danielle is honoured to serve The Children Foundation and support the important work of the Foundation.
Alyssa is a clinical counsellor who has served children, youth, and adults since 2016. She had the pleasure of completing her first practicum at The Children’s Foundation where she also worked as an employee. Passionate about her work, Alyssa returned to school in recent years and is pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology. One of the most fulfilling aspects of her career has involved supporting underserved communities and reducing barriers to mental health services. Alyssa is thrilled to be a member of the board where she can continue supporting families and promoting social justice within The Children’s Foundation.

Management Team

Michel Pouliot

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

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

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

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

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

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Lisa Lowe
Program Director
T: 604 434 9101

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Karim Suleman (he/him)
Program Manager
T: 604 434 9101

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Michel Pouliot
Executive Director
T: 604 434 9101

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Rachel Madu, MA, RCC
Program Manager
T: 604 434 9101

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Karen To
Finance Manager
T: 604 434 9101
Fax: 604 434 9938

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