Our Team
The Reading Bear Society is powered by a team of students, academics, educators, and community members who have graciously donated their time and effort to making a positive impact in the city of Vancouver and beyond.
+ Board of Directors
The Reading Bear Society Board of Directors guides and oversees the development of the initiative. The board consists of a group of dedicated educators, health care professionals, parents, and literacy experts, and is supported by the advisory board, UBC FLEX medical students, university students, and high school students.
Dr. Joanne Roussy, Co-founder & Vice President
Dr. Joanne Roussy is the Founder and Chair of The Reading Bear Society. She holds a PhD in Nursing from The University of British Columbia (1999), as well as an MSc and BSc from l’Université de Montréal. She is a lecturer at UBC Medical School, a family volunteer at Canuck Place, a mentor and founding member of Mom2Mom. For the past 29 years, she has worked in the field of women’s and children’s health in clinical, academic, and public health settings with a focus on social justice and equity. Joanne’s inspiration for The Reading Bear comes from her belief that every child has equal value and that nurturing in early childhood is the foundation for overall life health. She is passionate in her view that community collaboration is at the basis of a healthy society. She is the mother of three young adults and an Acadian from Northern New Brunswick.
Dr. Isabel Chen, Co-founder & Vice President
Isabel Chen brings a strong passion for health equity and human rights to the program. While completing her BA and MPH degrees from Yale, she focused on the social determinants of health among underserved populations. She has spent years studying the systemic barriers to thriving communities and organizing social advocacy programs for health care access. Isabel is a board certified Family Medicine physician in Los Angeles and serves on the Boards for the California Academy of Family Physicians, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the Beyond Flexner Alliance. She has held prior Board roles with the Canadian Commission of UNESCO, the American Public Health Association & the Federation of Medical Women of Canada. Isabel is currently course director at the Health Systems Science Department, at Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and an urgent care physician in Los Angeles.
Brett Collinge, Director of Communications
Brett graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry before beginning his MSc at the University of British Columbia in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program. He is currently in his second year and conducts his research at the BC Cancer Research Institute. Brett has been involved with the RBS since 2017 and has been a fundamental part of the leadership team within the organization in his role as co-chair of communications. His strong support for engaging youth and promoting early literacy initially brought him to the RBS and he looks forward to continuing his role this year.
Dr. Trevor Newton, Treasurer & Secretary
Dr. Trevor Newton is an emergency room physician and is head of Urgent Care at UBC. He is a graduate from the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (1987) and CCFP(EM) certified. On a daily basis in the emergency room, Trevor witnesses the detrimental impact of poverty and low literacy on child and family health. He is a strong supporter and advocate of early childhood education and health care.
Victoria Kan, Director of Administration
Victoria holds a Bachelor of Science in cellular biology and a Masters of Health Administration from the University of British Columbia. She has a strong background in clinical research, having worked as a researcher at Vancouver General Hospital for six years. She recently graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and now works as a registered nurse at the Heart Centre at St. Paul's Hospital. Victoria was drawn to the Reading Bear Society because of her belief in the value of early childhood literacy and education, not only on individual health, but on the overall health of a community. She contributes her background in administration and research to the RBS, and is excited to continue to grow with the program.
Emerald Yeh, Director at Large
Ms. Yeh has been a member and supporter of the Reading Bear Society for many years. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors and involved in fundraising, school visits and book drives. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in psychology and economics, and spent most of her career as business woman in Hong Kong. She was an avid supporter and committee member of many charities including the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, Aids Concern, and Hong Kong Girl Guides. Returning to Canada with her children for schooling, she served as PAC chair for 3 years. Involvement with the Reading Bear began with her high school children supporting the Christmas Card sales and participating in school buddy reading visits. Emerald is strong believer in strength of community giving and has been very active in guiding her children to participate in their various areas of interest.
Dr. Paul Abraham, Director at Large
Prior to entering medical school, Paul was a French immersion high school science teacher in the Surrey School District. He joined the Reading Bear Society due to shared goals in adolescent advocacy and mental health. His passion for education led him to develop a resource package for the adolescent program that best suited the new curriculum from the BC government, as well as the ever-changing needs of our youth. Working with adolescents and experiencing with the curriculum over the years has given him important insight into curriculum implementation and facilitation. He looks forward to working with the technology team to improve online presence, and using the online reflective writing platform as a stepping stone for further mental health research and program evaluation. Paul is currently a family medicine resident in Ottawa.
Dr. Kay Fung, Director and Co-chair of FLEX Committee
Having grown up in the Greater Vancouver region, Kay graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in Nursing before moving to Alberta to work as a registered nurse. She returned home for medical school and graduated with her MD degree in May 2016. She is currently a locum family physician with an interest with working with marginalized and underserved populations. Being a passionate advocate for children's health (and being a big kid at heart herself), Kay become involved in the Reading Bear as part of a self-directed project alongside two other second year medical school students. She is currently a member of the Reading Bear Society Board of Directors and co-chair of the FLEX committee.
Dr. Victoria Baronas, Director at Large
Victoria graduated from UBC in 2013 with a BSc (Honours) in Pharmacology, and soon after began the MD/PhD program at UBC. Throughout her years as an undergrad, Victoria has worked with marginalized youth as a volunteer at the BC Children’s Hospital, as well as having spent a summer in Uganda volunteering at an HIV/AIDS organization. In addition, her belief in the importance of education has driven her to teach science experiments to elementary students and pharmacology classes to university exchange students. These experiences drew Victoria to work with the Reading Bear, which seamlessly weaves the power of education with social empowerment of underprivileged kindergarten students in Vancouver. She is excited to continue to grow her role in this organization as the Director of Students and Board Member. Victoria is currently a surgical resident in Vancouver, BC.Past Board Members
Katrina Hsu, '14-21
Katrina graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BSc in Biomedical Physiology and completed her MSc in Global Health at McMaster University in 2017. Though her graduate studies focused on studying health issues at a global level, she is interested in how local community-driven efforts can contribute to improving the health of individuals and families. Katrina has been involved with the Reading Bear since 2014 and has been editor of the newsletter since its first launch.
Lani Morden, '14-16
Lani Morden was born and raised in Vancouver. She is an elementary school Principal, who completed BArts (1992) and BEd (1994) at UBC, and more recently a a Masters degree in Leadership Studies and a Diploma in Special Education. Lani brings to our Advisory group expertise derived from 20 years in the field of education and her experience as a mother and step-mother. Lani has spent several years working in inner city schools in Vancouver and believes in the importance of early literacy, social responsibility and child advocacy. As a co-founder of The Reading Bear Society, she is passionate about the highly collaborative, community-oriented nature of this initiative and its focus on early literacy and educating the heart-mind.
Dr. Ryan Melsom, '14-16
Dr. Ryan Melsom believes one thing above all else: that every person has greatness within, and everyone should have the opportunity to express it. He has worked for over 20 years as an author, academic, and professional communicator helping people and organizations find their voice. After immediately recognizing The Reading Bear Society's potential as a force for positive social change, Ryan joined as its first Director of Communications, serving from 2013-2016 before joining the RBS Advisory Board. He now works from the nation’s capital, where he runs a communications agency specializing helping individuals and organizations connect communication strategy to their unique vision. He holds a PhD in English from Queen's University and spends as much time as he can with his amazing wife Elisabeth and two amazing sons John and Sam.
Lynne Stanger, '14-16
Lynne is pleased to continue her connection with the Reading Bear Society on the board this year. Lynne has a BA in Communications, a Master's Degree in International Education, and has worked in the field of education in a variety of roles and countries for the past 20 years. Lynne is currently the Director of Admissions at West Point Grey Academy and previously served as the Director of Service-Learning and Global Learning at York House School. Through her work with KidSafe, Queen Alexandra School, and the Reading Bear Society, Lynne has experienced first-hand the value and impact of mentorship programs, school partnerships, and literacy initiatives.+ Fundraising Committee
Ceilidh Matthews, Chair of Fundraising
Ceilidh has been involved with the Reading Bear Society since 2013 when she was in grade 10, participating in a StrongStart visit to do buddy reading and deliver books and teddy bears to an inner city school. Throughout high school and undergrad, she has loved every opportunity volunteering at Dr. Bear visits, and M2M picnics. She completed her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at McMaster University in May of 2020, and is passionate about understanding health and wellness from a broad lens. In her new role with the RBS as Co-chair of Fundraising, she is very excited to bring books, teddy bears, and the love of reading to young children.
Antonia Bonnis, Co-Chair of Fundraising
Antonia currently attends Prince of Wales high and enjoys volleyball, basketball player, and competes in chess tournaments. She has been a volunteer with Reading Bear since grade 5, reading to young children and assisting with fundraising. She recently volunteered abroad in Morocco, teaching sports and English. She speaks French, English and Greek.
Julie Roussy-Newton, Book, Bear & Christmas/Holiday Season Card Coordinator
Julie started volunteering with the Reading Bear in 2012 by creating Christmas cards with children participating in the program. Over the past four years, she has assisted with Christmas card sales, conducted book drives, sorted thousands of books, stuffed bags with bears and books, and created artistic materials for the program. She is now studying at UBC in the Arts program and enjoys doing art in her spare time. Her favourite childhood book is the The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear.
Kaylee Longpre, Book Drive Coordinator
Kaylee graduated from Templeton Secondary and studied Creative writing at Capilano University and is currently an English Literature student at UBC. She works part-time and in her spare time loves to read to her young nephew.+ Communications Committee
Brett Collinge, Director of Communications
Brett graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry before beginning his MSc at the University of British Columbia in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program. He is currently in his second year and conducts his research at the BC Cancer Research Institute. Brett has been involved with the RBS since 2017 and has been a fundamental part of the leadership team within the organization in his role as co-chair of communications. His strong support for engaging youth and promoting early literacy initially brought him to the RBS and he looks forward to continuing his role this year.
Tiana Lee, Graphic Designer
Tiana is currently completing a Bachelor of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), specializing in graphic design for marketing. She joined the Reading Bear Society to gain experience and make a difference in the world. In addition, her passion for layout and app design, and love for reading is what convinced her to join the team.
Gavin Doyle, Website Manager
Gavin grew up in Vancouver, and studied Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. Having been an avid reader since a young age, he is happy to join us in our mission of enabling early-literacy across communities. He enjoys spending free time listening to music, reading, and playing tennis.
Nicole Minielly, Social Media Coordinator
Nicole is first-year student in the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program at the University of British Coloumbia. She was born and raised in North Vancouver and completed her BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia in May 2019. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and coaching gymnastics.
Chiara Piccolo, Social Media Coordinator & Newsletter Editor
Chiara grew up in the Vancouver Lower Mainland and completed her BSc. at SFU in Biomedical Physiology. She joined RBS to further her passion for childhood education which developed throughout her work as a science instructor and as a behaviour interventionist for with individuals with autism.
Yvonne Deng, Social Media Coordinator
Yvonne is currently a medical student at the University of British Columbia. She spent her undergraduate years at McGill University, where she studied immunology. There, she became involved with teaching piano to students at a primary school in Montréal. Now having returned to Vancouver, Yvonne hopes to continue working with and supporting children, particularly those living in underserved communities, through her work in RBS.
Alissa Zhang, Newsletter Editor
Alissa is a medical student at the University of British Columbia. She graduated from McMaster University from the Bachelor of Health Sciences program with a Child Health Specialization. Alissa has worked as a rugby instructor and sport development facilitator for children and youth across Toronto and Hamilton, working to improve physical literacy for children. Alissa founded the McMaster Rookie Rugby Pilot Project, a student-run initiative in collaboration with Rugby Ontario, the Hamilton Rugby Football Club, and McMaster Rugby, to provide introductory rugby workshops at local schools, camps, and community centres. She also served as the Co-Chair for the 4th and 5th annual McMaster Child Health Conference, an annual interdisciplinary event to showcase research and foster discussion. Alissa is looking forward to working with RBS to improve child literacy and healthy living.+ Vancouver Chapter
The Reading Bear Society was founded on the belief that intergenerational mentoring across communities provides an invaluable means for building compassion, strengthening empathy, and improving lifelong learning and health outcomes. A key reason for the initiative’s early success is the ambassador program, which we’ve been developing closely with a growing number of medical and undergraduate students. Showing phenomenal initiative, they have developed ethical practices for the Reading Bear Society, organized book drives, reached out to their former high schools, and engaged in numerous public speaking opportunities. They visit elementary and high schools as ambassadors to orient the kindergarten and high school students to the program, and support RBS clubs in the high schools
Grace Kim, Vancouver Chapter Co-Chair
Grace is going into her 2nd year of medical school at the University of British Columbia. Being an avid reader herself, she joined the Reading Bear Society because she feels strongly about promoting literacy and loves the idea of connecting with kids through interactive stories. In the past, Grace has been able to develop her enthusiasm for working with children in her involvement in various summer camps and particularly for literacy through her work as a reading and writing tutor for young students. She looks forward to working with other passionate members of the Reading Bear Society to promote lifelong learning to kids across the province!
Alissa Zhang, Vancouver Chapter Co-Chair
Alissa is a medical student at the University of British Columbia. She graduated from McMaster University from the Bachelor of Health Sciences program with a Child Health Specialization. Alissa has worked as a rugby instructor and sport development facilitator for children and youth across Toronto and Hamilton, working to improve physical literacy for children. Alissa founded the McMaster Rookie Rugby Pilot Project, a student-run initiative in collaboration with Rugby Ontario, the Hamilton Rugby Football Club, and McMaster Rugby, to provide introductory rugby workshops at local schools, camps, and community centres. She also served as the Co-Chair for the 4th and 5th annual McMaster Child Health Conference, an annual interdisciplinary event to showcase research and foster discussion. Alissa is looking forward to working with RBS to improve child literacy and healthy living.
Kat Xie, Co-Chair of Visits to Canuck Place & Ronald McDonald House
Kat is a first year UBC medical student who recently completed her Health Sciences degree at McMaster University. Her passion for promoting literacy and working with kids began in high school, where she volunteered at afterschool programs and helped run a summer reading camp. She has also done a lot of work with the special needs community as a peer tutor and aquatics instructor. For the past two summers, Kat was a recreational programmer at the Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon. She is excited to return to this wonderful place and share what the Reading Bear Society has to offer.
Mariam Manna, Co-Chair of Visits to Canuck Place & Ronald McDonald House
Mariam is a first-year medical student at the University of British Columbia. She has an avid passion for reading and is looking forward to sharing this love of reading with others. She has worked in a library for five years and has been exposed to numerous childhood literacy programs, such as Reading Buddies. In particular, Mariam enjoys role-playing and acting as a means of encouraging reading from younger children. She is keen to be part of this program that works towards early literacy and facilitating enthusiasm towards reading.Past Chapter Chairs
Eloise Moss, '20-21
Eloise joined the Reading Bear Society last year as a FLEX student, investigating the benefits that connecting with nature offers young children. Before medical school, Eloise completed her BSc at UBC, studying Physiology and Neuroscience with a focus on early childhood development. She dedicated her undergraduate research efforts to understanding the effects of bilingualism on attention networks in the infant brain. Eloise has always had a passion for working with children and families in many settings. Throughout her undergraduate and medical degrees, she became involved in numerous organizations that allow her to support the health and well-being of young families. Most recently, Eloise ran an educational program for women and children residing in local women’s shelters with COVID-19 Women's Initiative. She is now continuing this work as a co-founder of Community Womxn’s Initiative. The Reading Bear Society recently donated children’s books to Community Womxn’s Initiative to support the well-being of children residing in local shelters. She looks forward to taking on this new role with the Reading Bear Society to create virtual Dr. Bear visits that are accessible to families across the province.
Rozlyn Boutin, '19-20
Rozlyn was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and completed her Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Biology with a Concentration in Health Sciences at Carleton University in Ottawa. Having always marveled at the innocence, resilience, and kindness innate to every child, she has volunteered with children in various capacities since high school. Through her participation in varsity soccer and scientific research, Rozlyn had the opportunity to volunteer with organizations such as the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club and Let’s Talk Science while she was in Ottawa. These experiences, as well as her research on the developmental origins of health and disease, have highlighted to her how long-term health, wellbeing, and success are largely determined by early life experiences and exposures. Now in the MD/PhD program at UBC, Rozlyn continues to work with older children and students through Let’s Talk Science, and is grateful to have the opportunity to engage with younger children, where her true passion lies, through her work with the Reading Bear Society (RBS). She hopes that through her contributions to the RBS, she can help to foster positive early literacy experiences and bring joy to children from all walks of life.
Dr. Paul Abraham, '17-19
Prior to entering medical school, Paul was a French immersion high school science teacher in the Surrey School District. He joined the Reading Bear Society due to shared goals in adolescent advocacy and mental health. His passion for education led him to develop a resource package for the adolescent program that best suited the new curriculum from the BC government, as well as the ever-changing needs of our youth. Working with adolescents and experiencing with the curriculum over the years has given him important insight into curriculum implementation and facilitation. He looks forward to working with the technology team to improve online presence, and using the online reflective writing platform as a stepping stone for further mental health research and program evaluation. Paul is currently a family medicine resident in Ottawa.
Victoria Baronas, '16-17
Victoria graduated from UBC in 2013 with a BSc (Honours) in Pharmacology, and soon after began the MD/PhD program at UBC. Throughout her years as an undergrad, Victoria has worked with marginalized youth as a volunteer at the BC Children’s Hospital, as well as having spent a summer in Uganda volunteering at an HIV/AIDS organization. In addition, her belief in the importance of education has driven her to teach science experiments to elementary students and pharmacology classes to university exchange students. These experiences drew Victoria to work with the Reading Bear, which seamlessly weaves the power of education with social empowerment of underprivileged kindergarten students in Vancouver. She is excited to continue to grow her role in this organization as the Director of Students and Board Member. Victoria is currently a surgical resident in Vancouver, BC.
Dr. Christine Wang, '15-16
Christine Wang first joined Reading Bear Society as a SDPO student in January 2013. She was Chair of Volunteer Recruitment 2014 – 2016 and Chair of Students 2015–2016. Christine is now a family physician in Vancouver, BC.
Dr. Isabel Chen, '14-15
Isabel Chen brings a strong passion for health equity and human rights to the program. While completing her BA and MPH degrees from Yale, she focused on the social determinants of health among underserved populations. She has spent years studying the systemic barriers to thriving communities and organizing social advocacy programs for health care access. Isabel is a board certified Family Medicine physician in Los Angeles and serves on the Boards for the California Academy of Family Physicians, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the Beyond Flexner Alliance. She has held prior Board roles with the Canadian Commission of UNESCO, the American Public Health Association & the Federation of Medical Women of Canada. Isabel is currently course director at the Health Systems Science Department, at Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and an urgent care physician in Los Angeles.Past Visit Coordinators, Canuck Place Children's Hospice
Max Liu, '19-20
Max was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan and completed his BSc in Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Saskatchewan. He is currently a first-year student at UBC’s Vancouver Fraser Medical Program with a strong interest in pediatrics and child development. Having started volunteering at Canuck Place in January 2019, he is excited to continue bringing joy to the children and families of Canuck Place through the Reading Bear Society.
Jennifer Wildi, '18-19
Jennifer Wildi is a 4th year UBC MD student with a passion for promoting healthy living in children. She is very grateful for the support, opportunities and inspiration that the RBS offers in pursuing this passion. She is hoping to pursue a career in Pediatrics, with the goal of making a healthy lifestyle more accessible for children in vulnerable families. She strongly believes in the benefits of outdoor activity, and spends most of her free time in the mountains or by the ocean.
Rebecca Spouge, '17-18
+ Kelowna Chapter
Austin Pietramala, Kelowna Chapter Chair
Austin was born and raised in Kamloops, BC, and is currently living in Kelowna, BC. He studied chemical biology at Thompson Rivers University before moving to Kelowna to study medicine at the Southern Medical Program. Over the past few years, Austin has volunteered with the Canucks Autism Network and has coached youth soccer of all ages. When he isn’t studying, he loves playing sports (especially soccer), playing music, running, and hiking. Austin is excited to be working with the Reading Bear Society, and he looks forward to bringing his positive enthusiasm to teach children about the importance of literacy. He is also hoping to make some children laugh along the way.
Danielle Neer, Kelowna Chapter Advisor
Danielle Neer has taught in both public and private schools since earning her teaching degree in 2005. She holds an M.Ed. from The University of Western Ontario and a MA in Child Study and Education from the Eric Jackman Institute of Child Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT). She is currently a teacher with the Vancouver School Board, a volunteer with organizations in the West End neighbourhood, and a mom to two young (and active) boys. For the past 14 years, she has worked in many different areas of education, including early years Reggio-Inspired learning and practice; has participated as a research assistant in diverse research projects aimed at improving care and learning for children; and volunteered with local initiatives aimed at helping people connect to others. Danielle's inspiration for becoming a part of The Reading Bear Advisory Board comes from her belief that stories and story-telling is a powerful way for children to develop and to learn about themselves and the world; when this experience is shared with another person, the possibilities for growth are further expanded. She has witnessed the power of a collaborative learning environment when she worked alongside a strong team of educators and support workers at Admiral Seymour Elementary, one of the schools where Reading Bear visits are scheduled on a monthly basis. She currently works in Student Support Services for the Learning Disabilities Intervention Program in Kelowna, BC.
Dr. Christine Voss, Kelowna Chapter Advisor
Dr. Voss is a pediatric health researcher based at the new UBC Faculty of Medicine Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management in Kelowna, BC. She is also the Flex Director for the Southern Medical Program, a bicycle-enthusiast, a volunteer therapy dog handler, and new(ish) mom to one. Dr. Voss earned her doctorate from the University of Essex, UK where she examined the association between cardiovascular health and modifiable health behaviours in a large cohort of schoolchildren. She first joined UBC Faculty of Medicine as a postdoctoral fellow in 2011. She was a researcher based at the Children’s Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital between 2015-2019, before relocating to Kelowna in 2019. She has a keen research interest in how children’s health behaviours (such as physical activity) are related to their physical health and mental well-being.Past Chapter Chairs
Larissa Steidle, '19-21
Larissa was born and raised in Chilliwack BC and studied biochemistry at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. She is currently studying medicine at the Southern Medical Program. She loves working with children and promoting healthy habits. In her spare time, Larissa loves hiking, snowboarding, and camping in the beautiful BC mountains. She is excited to be working with the RBS and recruiting others to get involved!
Svetlana Hadkin, '19-20
Svetlana was born and raised in a small town in BC. She is currently living in Kelowna BC, where she is in the Southern Medical Program - when she graduates, she intends on becoming a rural family physician. Throughout her life, Svetlana has made volunteering a large priority for herself. She used to volunteer with Rotary Interact, and also worked with children in the local primary school in her hometown. She is excited to be working with the Reading Bear Society now, so that she can continue to work with children, and to encourage other students to get involved as well. Svetlana also enjoys reading, skiing, hiking, and exploring beaches in her free time.
Darren Guenther, '18-19
Darren was born and raised in British Columbia. Currently, he is studying medicine at UBCO with the intention to become a pediatrician. Before medical school, Darren studied psychology and Spanish at Brigham Young University in the United States. During his undergrad, he was actively engaged in infant development research investigating children’s recognition of affect. Darren has also volunteered extensively with the children’s unit at the Utah State Hospital. He is very excited to be working with the Reading Bear Society in Kelowna and looks forward to working with the volunteers and children.
Bhavanjit Panghali, '18-19
Having grown up in a very small town, the importance of giving back to one’s community was a value instilled in Bhavan from a young age. Working with RBS combines community service with all of Bhavan’s greatest passions – reading, teaching others medicine and of course, playing with children! Bhavan was thankful to help with Teddy Bear Clinics in her first year in the Faculty of Medicine at University of British Columbia and has since joined the RBS team to help further develop a kindergarten module program and maintain an Okanagan Chapter of the RBS. Completing her BSc in Microbiology at UBC Okanagan, Bhavan was eager to continue her studies and work with the RBS in Kelowna. While Teddy Bear Clinic visits are often the favorite part of her week, Bhavan also enjoys playing soccer or basketball, hiking the beautiful trails around the Okanagan or snowboarding the beautiful BC mountains in the winter.
Amy Plessis, '17-18
Amy is currently studying medicine at the University of British Columbia, Kelowna site. Prior to medical school she was working towards her Bachelor in Microbiology at UBCO. She has always had a passion for working with children; for the past six summers she has worked at a daycare. She was excited to learn that she could continue working with children alongside the Reading Bear Society and helped bring the Reading Bear Society to Kelowna in 2017. She loves how the Reading Bear Society has allowed her to combine her passion for children with her passion for overall health. She is excited to see the Reading Bear Society expand in Kelowna and reach more children over the next few years!
Thomas McFarland, '17-18
Being born and raised in Ottawa, Thomas spent most of his life skiing on green hills and hiding from the blistering cold. He attended the University of Ottawa for Biomedical Sciences, but enjoyed spending more of his time skating on the Rideau canal, biking, sailing, playing basketball and guitar in a local band. British Columbia has been a new adventure for Thomas, as he has loved the opportunities that he has been able to pursue while in medical school. Thomas admits that the best part of his week is spending time with children during Teddy Bear Clinic visits with the RBS. He mentions these visits keep medical students in the community, and remind us so much of why we love to help others, especially the ones that are most fun – children!+ Victoria Chapter
Celine Edwards, Victoria Chapter Chair
Celine completed her BSc in Microbiology at UBC Okanagan before attending UBC’s Island Medical Program in Victoria. Celine has a heart for children and has spent much of her young adult years babysitting and volunteering for various community programs. Celine was raised on a ranch in Falkland, BC, along with her four wonderful siblings. Growing up with younger siblings in a rural setting made Celine especially aware of the need for further literacy programs and exposure to medical professionals. Celine is excited to bring her enthusiasm about medicine to the classroom as her role as the Chair for the RBS Victoria Chapter.
Kathleen Cherry, School Liaison Officer
Kathleen was born and raised in Vancouver and worked as a teacher, school counsellor and school psychologist for Coast Mountains School District in Kitimat, B.C. More recently, she moved to Vancouver Island and is working as a school psychologist for the Sooke School District. She enjoys supporting families and students throughout their educational journey. Kathleen is an avid reader, writer and educator. Before moving into education, Kathleen worked as a newspaper reporter. She is the author of a middle grade novel, Everyday Hero (Orca Book Publishers, 2016), a picture book, Blowing Bubbles (2012) and has also written women’s historical fiction as Eleanor Webster. Kathleen studied at the University of Victoria and has a B.A. and an M.Ed. in counselling psychology. Kathleen is certified with the B.C. Association of School Psychologists.Past Chapter Chairs
Alex DeGrace, '20-21
Alex was born and raised in Nelson, BC and enjoyed a successful career in the recording industry prior to completing a BSc in biology at Nord University in Bodø, Norway and beginning his medical education with UBC’s Island Medical Program. Alex has been an avid reader since childhood, a habit that was encouraged by his mother who is both a novelist and retired librarian. He also enjoys writing and has had work published in the magazine Canadian Musician. Alex has coached a number of programs for Special Olympics, including the Active Start program that provides an introduction to physical activity for children ages 2-6 and a basketball team that won a gold medal at the 2017 provincial games in Kamloops. In 2018 he travelled to Munsel-ling Boarding School in India with a team of medical students as part of UBC’s Global Health Initiative. This project involved conducting medical screens to provide valuable information for improving the health of students, and design and implementation of a nutrition study to assess student diet. Work from the nutrition study was presented at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference in Chicago and the Global Health and Innovation Conference at Yale University. In the spring of 2020 Alex completed a project with The Reading Bear Society as part of the UBC Medicine FLEX program aimed at providing information for parents about dyslexia in preschool and early school-aged children. Alex looks forward to continued involvement with The Reading Bear Society and contributing to the valuable work they do in the community.+ Prince George Chapter
Danielle Sidsworth, Prince George Chapter Co-Chair
Danielle grew up in Prince George, BC and completed her Bachelor of Science Honours in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at UNBC. She is a UBC medical student in the Northern Medical Program. She began figure skating from a young age and moved on to coaching. Coaching skating allowed her to share what she loves with children who enjoy it as much as she does. This is where she discovered her passion for working with children. She is excited to participate in the various activities RBS offers to the community, where she will be able to join her passions of medicine and working with children.
Shianne Fairlie, Prince George Chapter Co-Chair
Shianne grew up in Fort St. John BC and previously studied biology at the University of Alberta. She is currently studying medicine at the Northern Medical Program in Prince George. In the past, Shianne has worked as a dance teacher, public school EA, and a school tutor. She is excited for this chance to work closely with kids again and promote child health and wellness through the RBS program. In her spare time, Shianne loves to tap dance, bake, ski, paint, and take her pup Roux on hikes.
Joanne Archer, Advisor
Joanne has recently retired after 44 years in health care. She received her Bachelor of Specialty Nursing from BCIT and her Masters in Disability Management from UNBC. Joanne has had many different roles over the years. More recently she served as the Director and the Education and Practice Consultant for the Provincial Infection Control Network of BC. She continues to serve as an Executive Member of the Board of Directors for PAINBC. Joanne has always had a passion for education in health matters for all people. In her free time you will find Joanne canoeing or hiking/camping off the grid or cross country skiing in the winter.+ Board of Advisors
The Reading Bear Society Board of Advisors is an external body providing consulting and expert advice to the Reading Bear Society Board of Directors and to the practicum students. This highly distinguished group includes world-class early-childhood experts, parents, literacy experts, medical researchers, technology experts, and Aboriginal and education experts.
Dr. Joanne Roussy, President, Co-Founder, & Advisory Board Chair
Dr. Joanne Roussy is the Founder and Chair of The Reading Bear Society. She holds a PhD in Nursing from The University of British Columbia ('99), as well as an MSc and BSc from l’Université de Montréal. She is a lecturer at UBC Medical School, a family volunteer at Canuck Place, a mentor and founding member of Mom2Mom. For the past 29 years, she has worked in the field of women’s and children’s health in clinical, academic, and public health settings with a focus on social justice and equity. Joanne’s inspiration for The Reading Bear comes from her belief that every child has equal value and that nurturing in early childhood is the foundation for overall life health. She is passionate in her view that community collaboration is at the basis of a healthy society. She is the mother of three young adults and an Acadian from Northern New Brunswick.
Dana Anderson
Dana is a Registered Nurse and mother of 3 preschool children. She has 4 year old twins, a 1 year old and a 6 year old Aussie doodle dog. She has always been an avid reader and since having children, she has seen the enormous benefit of reading to them. It has helped with language development, imagination and togetherness. Dana works in Oncology/Hematology at BC Children’s Hospital, where she loves getting to know and support the families. Dana has loved being a part of the Reading Bear in an advisory role due to her experience as a mother and nurse.
Julie Gelson
As a Kindergarten teacher at Queen Alexandra Elementary School, (Fine Arts Multicultural Integrated Learning for Youth), and the mother of two school aged daughters, Julie has seen the importance of early literacy firsthand in both her professional and personal life. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at the University of British Columbia, followed by a Bachelor of Education and Diploma in Education with a focus on Language and Literacy. Her own love of reading started early and led her to her role as an educator. Julie’s goal is to inspire a love of reading in her students that will follow them through their lives. She believes reading can open our hearts and our minds and is honoured to be part of The Reading Bear Society initiative.
Stephanie Gold
Stephenie Gold (M.A.) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Director at the LEAP Clinic (www.leapclinic.ca) in Vancouver, and since 2003 has been in private practice supporting children, youth, and doing parent consultation. Stephenie frequently delivers workshops on a variety of parenting and mental health-related topics. Her past research involved understanding the impact of school-based anxiety-prevention programs, and she has co-authored several papers published in peer-reviewed professional journals. She is a Provincial Trainer/Consultant for FRIENDS for Life through MCFD. As a frequent contributor to AnxietyBC, Stephenie coordinated the Parent/Caregiver Section, and was a lead contributor for the educational videos on helping children with Separation Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and for adults with Panic Disorder, and most recently for the sections for Teens/Youth and Perinatal Anxiety, as well as the popular self-help app for anxious teens (MindShift). Stephenie is a graduate of the Advanced Studies program at the Neufeld Institute, and is a committee member for the Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education. She incorporates a range of research-supported interventions informed by new advances in neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology into her work with families and teachers. Stephenie is also a proud mother of two children.
Dr. John Helliwell
Dr. John F. Helliwell, previously visiting special advisor at the Bank of Canada in 2003-04, visiting research fellow of Merton College, Oxford, in 2003, of St. Catherine's College, Oxford, in 2001, and Mackenzie King Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies at Harvard in 1991-94 is Professor Emeritus of Economics at UBC as well as Senior Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and Co-Director of CIFAR's program on "Social Interactions, Identity and Well-Being." His most recent books include Well-Being for Public Policy (2009), International Differences in Well-Being (2010), the World Happiness Report (2012) and the World Happiness Report 2013 (2013). He is a member of the National Statistics Council, and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Dr. Boris Milosevic
Dr. Boris Milosevic graduated from University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia. After graduation he practiced family medicine in Yugoslavia. He is currently in the process of obtaining a licence to practice medicine in Canada. Dr. Milosevic is also actively involved with medical student teaching at UBC Medical School. His daughter is part of The Reading Bear at Lord Strathcona Elementary School.
Danielle Neer
Danielle Neer has taught in both public and private schools since earning her teaching degree in 2005. She holds an M.Ed. from The University of Western Ontario and a MA in Child Study and Education from the Eric Jackman Institute of Child Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT). She is currently a teacher with the Vancouver School Board, a volunteer with organizations in the West End neighbourhood, and a mom to two young (and active) boys. For the past 14 years, she has worked in many different areas of education, including early years Reggio-Inspired learning and practice; has participated as a research assistant in diverse research projects aimed at improving care and learning for children; and volunteered with local initiatives aimed at helping people connect to others. Danielle's inspiration for becoming a part of The Reading Bear Advisory Board comes from her belief that stories and story-telling is a powerful way for children to develop and to learn about themselves and the world; when this experience is shared with another person, the possibilities for growth are further expanded. She has witnessed the power of a collaborative learning environment when she worked alongside a strong team of educators and support workers at Admiral Seymour Elementary, one of the schools where Reading Bear visits are scheduled on a monthly basis. She currently works in Student Support Services for the Learning Disabilities Intervention Program in Kelowna, BC.
Barb Newton
Barb Newton has been a primary teacher in British Columbia for the past thirty-three years. She has recently retired and feels blessed to be able to help her daughter with her newly born twins. She attained her teaching certificate at Simon Fraser University and went on to teach in four different districts. She completed her degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Art Education from UBC. During her many years of teaching, she recognized a growing need for students to learn strategies to help them control impulsive behaviour and self-regulation issues. She believes Reading Bear is an excellent program that addresses this growing need and helps students recognize the benefits of establishing connections, being patient and providing compassion to help others.
Santhe LeBlanc
As the Head of Grade at St. George's Senior School and with her 16 years of teaching and administrative experience, Santhe finds personal and professional meaning in helping her students connect with their wider community. Her involvement in The Reading Bear is a natural extension of this passion. Born and raised in TO, Santhe has now been a resident of Greater Vancouver for over 18 years. She holds a BFA from the University of Western Ontario, and a BEd and MAEd from UBC, and is the mother of two wonderful daughters who happen to love both reading and bears.
Dr. Lyana Patrick
Lyana Patrick is Dakelh from the Stellat’en First Nation and Acadian/Scottish. She has worked in communications and education for over two decades. She was an Education Coordinator in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia where she worked on curriculum development, managed education programs, and promoted knowledge translation of Indigenous research findings to health care providers and health sciences students. She has worked on evaluation projects connected to Indigenous health and education, including for the City of Vancouver helping design community engagement for a municipal poverty reduction strategy. She received a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to pursue a PhD in the School of Community and Regional Planning where in 2019 she became the first Indigenous PhD graduate. Lyana is currently an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences where her work focuses on the intersection of Indigenous health, planning and justice.
Lani Morden
Lani Morden was born and raised in Vancouver. She is an elementary school Principal, who completed BArts (1992) and BEd (1994) at UBC, and more recently a a Masters degree in Leadership Studies and a Diploma in Special Education. Lani brings to our Advisory group expertise derived from 20 years in the field of education and her experience as a mother and step-mother. Lani has spent several years working in inner city schools in Vancouver and believes in the importance of early literacy, social responsibility and child advocacy. As a co-founder of The Reading Bear Society, she is passionate about the highly collaborative, community-oriented nature of this initiative and its focus on early literacy and educating the heart-mind.
Dr. Ryan Melsom
Dr. Ryan Melsom believes one thing above all else: that every person has greatness within, and everyone should have the opportunity to express it. He has worked for over 20 years as an author, academic, and professional communicator helping people and organizations find their voice. After immediately recognizing The Reading Bear Society's potential as a force for positive social change, Ryan joined as its first Director of Communications, serving from 2013-2016 before joining the RBS Advisory Board. He now works from the nation’s capital, where he runs a communications agency specializing helping individuals and organizations connect communication strategy to their unique vision. He holds a PhD in English from Queen's University and spends as much time as he can with his amazing wife Elisabeth and two amazing sons John and Sam.
Lynne Stanger
Lynne is pleased to continue her connection with the Reading Bear Society on the board this year. Lynne has a BA in Communications, a Master's Degree in International Education, and has worked in the field of education in a variety of roles and countries for the past 20 years. Lynne is currently the Director of Admissions at West Point Grey Academy and previously served as the Director of Service-Learning and Global Learning at York House School. Through her work with KidSafe, Queen Alexandra School, and the Reading Bear Society, Lynne has experienced first-hand the value and impact of mentorship programs, school partnerships, and literacy initiatives.