Our Team

Dr. Joanne Roussy, Co-Founder & 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 PhD 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.

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 was 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.

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.

Anais Bonnis, Fundraising Coordinator

Anais has been volunteering with the RBS for the past eight years. She is currently a grade 9 student at Prince of Wales high school and in her spare time Is an avid chess player and her favorite sport is volley-ball. She studies artificial intelligence and loves to draw and bake. She speaks French, Greek, and English.

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.

Jessie Herbert, Newsletter Co-Editor & Social Media Co-Coordinator

Jessie is a second-year medical student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She has a Bachelor of Science in Behavioural Neuroscience from UBC, and is very passionate about childhood health and development. Before medical school, Jessie worked in childcare and loved working with children and their families. She is looking forward to working with the Reading Bear Society to promote early childhood learning, development and health!

Mason Mclement, Newsletter Co-Editor

A recent University of British Columbia graduate in the department of sociology, Mason is extremely passionate about self and supported advocacy through legal and social systems. Life has taught him that effective leadership starts with exploring readership. Many of the most powerful life lessons are related in some way or another to books and story telling, whether it was the alphabet or exploring new social milestones. With a deep appreciation for multicultural education and languages, diverse communities supported through reading inspire new ideas and hobbies most importantly explored together. Mason is joining the RBS communications team as a co-editor of the newsletter.

Diana Lee, Newsletter Co-Editor

Diana is a medical student at the University of British Columbia, where she had completed her BSc in Pharmacology and Nutrition before medical school. Prior to medical school, she has had many experiences that helped to foster her passion for child health and empowerment, including working as a day camp leader and doing research with BC Children's Hospital on mental health in children with ongoing medical needs. As an enthusiastic reader herself, she is excited to become more involved in the Reading Bear Society to promote early childhood literacy, healthy lifestyles, and lifelong learning in children in fun and creative ways.

Jessie Miller, Social Media Co-Coordinator

Jessie is a second-year medical student at the University of British Columbia. Before medical school, she studied Health Sciences at Queen’s University. She loves working with children, and has previously worked as a counsellor and supervisor at an overnight summer camp for children aged 6-15. Jessie is passionate about childhood literacy and lifelong learning, so she is very excited to support children and their families with the Reading Bear Society!

Mave Hur, Website Co-Manager

Mave is a computer science student at the University of British Columbia. She is dedicated to fostering a virtuous cycle of youth education and community collaboration. Her journey began during her BA studies in English language and literature in South Korea, where she mentored students in English, coding, and math, driven by her own experiences of overcoming challenges with the support of mentors and teachers. Now, she's pursuing computer science to create a more tangible impact. Mave actively contributes to the community as a web developer at the Vancouver Black Library, where she's building a website to unite and educate the Black community, and as a software developer at the UBC Computer Science Student Society, working on a volunteer management system for blood donation, affiliated with Canadian Blood Services. In her role as an RBS website co-manager and Dr. Bear visits, she is excited to collaborate with the RBS team and connect with children, furthering her mission to support and enrich the lives of young learners.

Parth Sanan, Website Co-Manager

Parth is a freshman studying computer science at the University of British Columbia. Using past experience of having volunteered with organizations that worked for the upliftment of children in underrepresented communities, Parth strives to achieve similar goals while working with RBS. As the website manager, Parth hopes to enhance RBS’s online presence by continuing to do what he loves: programming for an impact. Parth is beyond excited to meet like-minded individuals at RBS and keep giving back to the community.

Katherine Poon, Website Co-Manager

Katherine is a fourth-year computer science student at UBC and is passionate about volunteering as a web manager with the Reading Bear Society. She is dedicated to improving the accessibility and user experience of the organization's online platforms, making literacy resources more accessible to children, parents, and educators. Through this work, Katherine combines her technical skills with her commitment to promoting literacy.

Rainie Fu, Website Co-Manager

Rainie is a fourth-year student at the University of British Columbia, pursuing a Combined Major in computer science and statistics. With a strong background in web development and data analytics, she brings her technical expertise to the Reading Bear Society, where she manages and enhances the organization's website. Rainie is passionate about using technology to support RBS's mission of promoting early literacy and healthy living in children through intergenerational mentorship. When she's not coding, Rainie enjoys volunteering in educational initiatives, exploring the intersection of technology and healthcare, and playing with cats and teddy bears.

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.

Lilyan Jia, Vancouver Chapter Co-Chair

After graduating with a Doctor of Pharmacy, Lilyan Jia decided to pursue a career in medicine and is now a 2nd-year medical student at the University of British Columbia. As a part of her previous work providing mentorship to grade-school children, she is certified in High Five's Principles of Healthy Child Development. She has extensive experience working with youth, whether it be facilitating the Canadian Red Cross's Beyond the Hurt program or providing community outreach to elementary schools regarding medication and needle safety. Through RBS, Lilyan hopes her compassion, warmth, and energy will bring smiles to more children in her community.

Sarah Wong, Community Liaison

Sarah is a second-year medical student at UBC in the Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program. Prior to this, she completed a Bachelors in Health Sciences at McMaster University. Sarah has always been passionate about education and teaching children and youth. In the past, she has worked with children in a variety of contexts, including various after school care and early childhood education programs, especially focusing on encouraging students to build empathy for one another and contributing to an impartial space for thought expression. Being a long time swimmer, Sarah has also coordinated and led a swimming program for youth with disabilities. In this program she tailored 1-on-1 lessons for each student, addressing accessibility and attitudinal barriers by working with professionals to develop a transparent and interpersonal communicable approach. She looks forward to working with RBS to improve childhood literacy and empower youth within her community!

Joanne Chi, '23-24

Joanne is a second-year medical student at the University of British Columbia and has her Bachelors of Kinesiology from UBC. Before entering medical school, Joanne worked as a behaviour interventionist with children on the autism spectrum and has volunteered with the Reading Buddies program at her local library. She thoroughly enjoys helping children develop a passion for science based knowledge, improve literacy skills, and creating a safe learning environment. She looks forward to working with the Reading Bear Society and to help enhance health literacy amongst the younger demographic.

Jannie Ko, '23-24

Jannie is a second year medical student and completed her BSc in Pharmacology at the University of British Columbia. She loves to read and enjoyed teaching children in community programs and summer camps before entering medical school. Jannie is passionate about promoting a healthy lifestyle in children and families, including nutritious eating, joyful movement, and supporting mental health and is also a FLEX student with the RBS. She is looking forward to collaborating with the Reading Bear Society to provide interactive and fun learning experiences to children.

Sanya Grover, '22-23

Sanya is a 2nd year medical student at the University of British Columbia. She graduated from McMaster University from the Bachelor of Health Sciences program, where she was also a part of the Child Health Specialization. Along with her academic studies, many volunteer experiences have allowed her to grow a passion for child health and development. Whether it was being a community day camp leader with the City of Surrey, leading arts and crafts activities for pediatric patients at McMaster Children’s Hospital, or creating national smoking cessation resources for youth with the Canadian Cancer Society, Sanya has been continuously motivated to promote healthy lifestyles among children. As an avid reader and writer herself, she is excited to join the Reading Bear Society and connect with children through storytelling.

Annaliese Beck-McKenzie, '22-23

Annaliese Beck-McKenzie is a second-year medical student at the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program and is a RBS Vancouver chapter co-chair. She is originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, where she completed her BSc Honours in Biology. Art has always been an important part of her life, and she finds joy in sharing this with others. As such, she wanted to explore how visual art can promote mental wellbeing in children, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year as a FLEX student, she reviewed the peer-reviewed literature, gray literature, and consulted with experts to explore the benefits of visual arts activities for promotion of mental health in pre-school aged children. She created a scholarly literature review and an information pamphlet containing information and practical tips on how families can integrate visual arts activities into their children’s daily lives. The information pamphlet was reviewed by a variety of experts and contains a curated list of resources for parents including videos, articles, printable guides, and links to workshops. When Annaliese isn’t learning medicine or helping with RBS, she enjoys running, biking, hiking, painting, and singing. As a RBS chapter co-chair, she is excited to help organize Dr. Bear and Canuck Place visits this year to help promote early learning and wellbeing in preschool aged children.

Alissa Zhang, '21-22

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.

Grace Kim, '21-22

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!

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.

Kat Xie, '20-21

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, '20-21

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.

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.

Jessie Miller, Canuck Place Coordinator

Jessie is a second-year medical student at the University of British Columbia. Before medical school, she studied Health Sciences at Queen’s University. She loves working with children, and has previously worked as a counsellor and supervisor at an overnight summer camp for children aged 6-15. Jessie is passionate about childhood literacy and lifelong learning, so she is very excited to support children and their families with the Reading Bear Society!

Joanne Chi, '23-24

Joanne is a second-year medical student at the University of British Columbia and has her Bachelors of Kinesiology from UBC. Before entering medical school, Joanne worked as a behaviour interventionist with children on the autism spectrum and has volunteered with the Reading Buddies program at her local library. She thoroughly enjoys helping children develop a passion for science based knowledge, improve literacy skills, and creating a safe learning environment. She looks forward to working with the Reading Bear Society and to help enhance health literacy amongst the younger demographic.

Iman Lahouaoula, '23-24

Iman is a third year medical student at the University of British Columbia. She graduated from McGill University with a Bachelors in Honours Psychology. Working in various volunteer and workplace settings with children her whole life, Iman has developed a strong passion towards child health and development, and education more broadly. She’s looking forward to spending time with children and families by leading the inaugural Reading Bear program at the Canuck Place Abbotsford House.

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

Nikita Mennon, '23-24

Nikita Menon is a third-year medical student at the Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) who previously studied Microbiology and Immunology. She has experience facilitating dance, sport and art programs for children aged 2-7 in her local community, as well as tutoring children in reading comprehension and math. Nikita is passionate about creating an inclusive and encouraging environment for children to learn, play and develop their literacy skills. She looks forward to joining the Reading Bear Society and sharing her love for reading with children and their families at the Ronald McDonald House.

Kat Xie, 19'-20

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, '19-20

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.

Ravneet Sohal, Kelowna Chapter Co-Chair

Ravneet Sohal was born and raised in Abbotsford. She graduated as valedictorian of her class and received entrance scholarships from both the University of British Columbia and the University of the Fraser Valley. She ultimately decided to pursue a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree, with a specialization in the exercise stream at UFV. She completed her [][1]degree and received the Governor General’s silver medal in June 2023. Along with completing her degree, she enjoyed spending her time being the co-director of PowHERful, a nonprofit organization focused on guiding high school students towards strength training. She also worked as a support worker for the Canucks Autism Network and volunteered with the Physical Literacy Action Network and the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in the Lower Mainland. She has also really enjoyed coaching youth soccer teams over the past few years. She is beyond excited for the opportunity to be co-chair and is looking forward to an amazing year!

Richard Mageto, Kelowna Chapter Co-Chair

Richard Mageto was born in Kenya and moved to Canada in 2009. He lived in Surrey for most of his time in Canada before moving to Kamloops to pursue his undergraduate degree while playing basketball at Thompson Rivers University. He is now in Kelowna attending medical school at the University of British Columbia. During his free time, he enjoys playing and coaching basketball. He has coached kids of all ages in Kamloops through the Northern Bounce Basketball Program. Richard has also participated as a basketball coach for the Kamloops Special Olympics basketball team. Richard is excited at the opportunity to work with the great group of people who are part of the Reading Bear Society as well as a chance to engage with and leave a lasting impact on the children in this community.

Vanessa Strachan, Kelowna Chapter Co-Chair

Vanessa Strachan was born in New Brunswick and raised in Kelowna, BC. In 2021 she graduated from UBCO with a BSc, majoring in both Biology and Psychology. Before this, she completed the Early Childhood Education program at Okanagan College. Here, she gained a passion for both education and healthcare. Since graduating she has worked to combine these passions by working on and creating accessible youth programs. This includes in-classroom workshops, teacher mentorship, intergenerational events, seasonal youth camps, and after-school programming. Vanessa is excited to bring this passion to the Reading Bear Society and to foster a love for lifelong learning.

Lisa Zhang, Kelowna Chapter Co-Chair

Lisa was born in Beijing and moved to Vancouver in 2009. She received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Child Development from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Before medical school, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Vanderbilt Children's, working on projects centered on C. diff and pediatric IBD. Lisa grew up with a younger brother, who piqued her interest in child development and working with children. Growing up on the North shore, Lisa delivered early literacy support to school-aged children in the community year-round and worked as a ski instructor for kids in the winter. In university, she worked with Vanderbilt Volunteers for Health, delivering interactive health curriculums to elementary school students in the Metro Nashville Public School District. She also worked closely with Project Sunshine and the Child Life department, promoting positive experiences and delivering the healing power of play to children inpatient at Vanderbilt Children's. She looks forward to engaging with the Kelowna community and pursuing her passion for working with children, especially while promoting health literacy and awareness.

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.

Brayden Griffiths, '23-24

Brayden was born and raised in Langley, BC and completed his Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Biology at the University of the Fraser Valley. He has now moved to Kelowna and is a medical student at UBC. For over eight years, Brayden worked in his community as a lifeguard and water safety instructor where he taught children swimming lessons, aquatic safety, and first-aid skills. During this time, he conducted pediatric clinical research at BC Children's Hospital and helped facilitate studies with children who were visiting the emergency room. Brayden continued his work as Vice-President of Langley Pos-Abilities Society where he helped children living with disabilities. He looks forward to bringing his passion for working with children to the Reading Bear Society and to help build relationships between the children of Kelowna and the greater medical community.

Casey Li, '21–23

Casey is from Ontario but moved to BC after completing her Bachelor of Health Sciences degree from McMaster University, with a specialization in Child Health. She is now a medical student at UBC. She has always enjoyed working with children and has a keen interest for childhood education/early literacy. Due to her passion, she founded a patient education program for children called DATCH (Developmentally Appropriate Tools for Children with Hemophilia) with student-initiated educational resources informed by a multi-disciplinary care team including child life specialists. Casey looks forward to collaborating with everyone at Reading Bear Society and encouraging children to learn about their own health.

Austin Pietramala, '21–22

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.

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!

Tess Amyot, Victoria Co-Chair

Tess is originally from the beautiful small town of Fort St. James in Northern BC. She completed her BHSc undergraduate degree with a major in Biomedical Studies at UNBC in Prince George. During her time here Tess worked and volunteered in many roles, including behaviour interventionist, mentor with big brothers big sisters, research assistant, and youth outreach/camp coordinator, all fostering her love of working with kids. To pursue her medical training at the Island Medical Program she made the move to the coast and has been soaking up the island life going into her second year. Outside of school she loves pottery, camping, and all things vintage. Tess is excited to utilize her skills and passion of working with kids as a RBS chapter chair, and looks forward to all the fun the club will have this year!

Genevieve Ward, Victoria Co-Chair

Gen is from the Sunshine Coast (BC) and completed her undergraduate degree in Chemical Biology at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, where she spent two summers working at a science camp for kids. She loves reading, and she’s excited to spend another year helping with Reading Bear and sharing her love of books with kids throughout the Victoria area!

Olivia Ireland, Victoria Co-Chair

Olivia is a second-year student in the UBC MD Undergraduate Program and is in her second year of volunteering with RBS. She grew up in Penticton, BC, where she was deeply involved in the Irish dance community as both a dancer and a teaching assistant, volunteering over 400 hours to teach children aged 4 to 14. Olivia completed her B.Sc. (Honours) in Biochemistry at UBC Okanagan, where she worked as a STEM outreach assistant, delivering engaging, science-focused sessions to middle and elementary school students. She looks forward to the upcoming year with the RBS Victoria chapter, promoting early health literacy and well-being in local elementary schools.

Audrey Esemezie, Victoria Co-Chair

Audrey is from the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario and completed her undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences with a specialization in Pharmacology at The University of Western, London, Ontario. During her time there, she completed an internship, volunteered in assisting young children with math and language skills, and worked as a campus tour guide and a camp counsellor. She moved to Victoria to pursue her medical education at UBC’s Island Medical Program and is now in her 2nd year. Audrey enjoys reading, swimming, completing puzzles, and spending time with her loved ones. Audrey is excited to be a part of RBS once again, working with children and supporting their health care!

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.

Valerie Swanston, `23-24

Valerie is a first year student at the Island Medical Program. She is originally from Victoria but recently completed her undergraduate studies at Western University. She loves Vancouver Island and is very excited to be back! While at Western, she developed a passion for children's health while volunteering for a student-led children's health promotion program. In her spare time she enjoys running, hiking, skiing, and reading.

Juliette Wong, `23-24

Juliette grew up in Vancouver, completed her undergraduate degree in kinesiology and psychology at UBC, and is currently a second year student in the Island Medical Program. She became passionate about working with children while coaching gymnastics for youth and athletes with special needs. She has pursued this passion in many roles over the years, as a youth leader, camp counselor, pediatric clinical research assistant, and oncologic child life volunteer. She is very excited to continue learning and help RBS continue building connections in the Greater Victoria community this year!

Alexa Tymkiw, '21-23

Alexa grew up exploring the outdoors of the Okanagan Valley, then spent four years in Halifax completing an undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology. Now, she is a second year student at the UBC Island Medical Program and appreciating all that Victoria has to offer. She is excited for the opportunity to connect with youth in the Victoria community and foster her passion for working with children. She has diverse experience working and volunteering with families and children in academic, athletic, and healthcare capacities, and is truly looking forward to contributing the skills she gained in these experiences to her role as a Victoria RBS Chapter Co-Chair.

Cole Daley, '21-23

Born in Comox, BC, Cole is a member of the Chawathil First Nation and Uncle to nine nieces and nephews! Having completed his undergraduate at UBC Vancouver, Cole is now in his second year at the Island Medical Program in Victoria. Cole has been passionate about working with youth for many moons, having spent years working as a camp counselor, soccer coach, and community focused mentor for Indigenous youth. Cole is excited to be involved with the Reading Bear Society and looks forward to helping in any way that he can.

Zovya Wasylyk, '21-23

Zovya grew up in Kelowna, BC where she enjoyed spending time outdoors by the beautiful Okanagan Lake. She moved to Montreal, QC to pursue a BSc degree with a double major in Microbiology and Immunology and a minor in International Development studies. After graduation, Zovya returned to the west coast and started her medical training in Victoria, BC where she is now a second year medical student. Throughout her journey, Zovya has pursued her passion to work with youth through mentorship programs in roles such as youth leader, youth outreach coordinator, camp counsellor, and as a woman in science mentor. She is enthusiastic about implementing and enhancing the skills that she has developed in these past roles in her current role as IMP RBS Chapter Co-Chair.

Celine Edwards, '21-22

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.

Margot Schmidt, '21-22

Originally from Bella Coola, BC, Margot completed her BHSc in Biomedical Studies at UNBC followed by a MSc in Kinesiology at UBC. She is now attending UBC’s Island Medical Program in Victoria. Margot discovered her passion for working with children while teaching swimming lessons and has since ran community outreach to improve water-safety in school aged children, planned YMCA summer club activities, and volunteered at BC Children’s Hospital. Margot is excited to be involved with the Reading Bear Society and looks forward to building positive connections.

Marie Schulze, '21-22

Marie completed her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Victoria and proceeded to attend the University of British Columbia where she studied nursing. Marie was accepted to UBC medical school and will be attending the Island medical program in Victoria in the Fall. A variety of experiences, including working as a Special Olympics coach, offering exercise programs for Grade 1-5 students in the Songhees Indigenous community, and working with children struggling with their mental health, allowed Marie to discover her passion and love for working with children. Living in a small, rural town called 100 Mile House, where her family owns a ranch, she learned the definition of hard work, the importance of community, as well as the shortage of health care resources and the barriers in place for children receiving an education. Marie is excited to be joining the RBS Victoria Chapter as a Co-Chair member to advocate for literacy whilst encouraging healthy living amongst kids.

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.

Alisha Thapar, Prince George Chapter Co-Chair

Alisha was born in Quesnel, BC and raised in Surrey, BC. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Northern British Columbia where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She enjoys working with children and has previously volunteered at summer day camps run by the City of Surrey. In her free time, she enjoys taking naps and going for walks. Alisha cannot wait to work with The Reading Bear Society in a fun and meaningful way!

Jayden Boxeur, Prince George Chapter Co-Chair

Jayden grew up in Williams Lake, BC and moved to Prince George to attend the University of Northern British Columbia. She completed her bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and is now a student in the Northern Medical Program. Jayden enjoys working with children and teaching them about health and wellness. She has experience working in several day camps, summer camps, and the Rainbows and Sunbeams programs, as well as in a previous role as a child and youth counsellor. In her free time, Jayden enjoys skiing, hiking, and playing board games with friends! Jayden is grateful to be part of the Northern chapter of the Reading Bear Society.

Sydney Overland, Prince George Chapter Co-Chair

Sydney was born and raised in the interior of BC. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from SFU and is now a first year medical student in the UBC Northern Medical Program. In the past, Sydney has enjoyed volunteering with the Whistler Adaptive Sports program, which involved helping introduce children with disabilities to sports and outdoor recreation. She has also been involved in youth education through both tutoring and science outreach. Outside of studying, she loves exploring the outdoors through hiking, biking and skiing. Sydney is excited to be joining the Reading Bear Society team and is looking forward to helping promote health literacy.

Joanne Archer, Prince George Chapter 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.

Dr. Gurkirat Kandola, Prince George Chapter Advisor

Gurkirat was born and raised in Prince George, BC and after completing her BSC (Hons) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UNBC she graduated from the UBC Northern Medical Program in 2020 before entering the UBC Pediatrics Residency Program. She has always enjoyed teaching, coaching and mentoring children and youth through her roles as a Punjabi teacher, Kirtan teacher, and Youth Camp counsellor. During her first two year of medical school she enjoyed volunteering for the Teddy Bear Clinics and Talk to Your Doctor Youth Workshops. Gurkirat is excited to join the RBC program and work towards promoting child literacy and healthy living in Northern BC!

Leanne Varney, '22-23

Leanne was born and raised in the interior of BC. Prior to medical school, she obtained her Bachelor of Science Honours in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UNBC. Now that she is studying at the Northern Medical Program, Leanne is excited to volunteer with The Reading Bear Society and promote health literacy and awareness in children. In the past, Leanne was able to foster healthy development in children through volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Rainbows and Sunbeams programs, and in a previous role as a community health educator. When she’s not studying, you can find her expanding her photography portfolio or trying fun new recipes. Leanne is looking forward to having a larger role with the northern chapter this coming year!

Crystal Mcleod, '22-23

Crystal grew up in Bruce County ON, but has lived in many different places (from Moose Factory to Windsor ON). For the last decade, she has worked primarily as a bedside nurse. Crystal obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nipissing University ON, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Western University ON. Crystal is currently studying at the Northern Medical Program of UBC and has an interest in rural pediatric medicine. In the past, Crystal has enjoyed working with children through pageants, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girl Guides Canada, and the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario. Crystal is looking forward to meeting many ‘future’ healthcare professionals, and becoming better acquainted with the Prince George community through the RBS.

Carmen Huang, '21–23

Carmen was born and raised in Quesnel, BC and graduated with Honours from UNBC with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. She is currently attending UBC’s Northern Medical Program in Prince George, BC. Carmen grew up deeply involved in the sport of figure skating as a competitive athlete. She shared her love for skating with the youth in her community by volunteering as a program assistant in her local skating club. She worked closely with children from the ages of 2-12 years old to help them learn and gain new skills. During university, Carmen obtained her coaching certificate for skating and continued to work with the youth. Her role included organizing engaging lesson plans, fostering learning and providing active feedback for her students. In her free time, Carmen loves to try new food recipes and explore the outdoors with her friends. Carmen is thrilled to join the Reading Bear Society team and embark on this new impactful journey.

Danielle Sidsworth, '21–22

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, '20–21

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.

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.

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 (2011), and the mother of two 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 (Primary), and a 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 throughout their lives. She believes reading can open our hearts and our minds. She is honoured to have been part of The Reading Bear Society initiative for the last ten years and is excited to continue this partnership for many years to come.

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.

Colleen Sturrock

Colleen was born and raised in Vancouver and has experience working in three different school districts in the Lower Mainland over the past 15 years. Colleen has been working as a Kindergarten teacher at Strathcona School in the "heart" of the city of Vancouver for the majority of her teaching career. She brings her passion for and expertise in early literacy and inner city teaching and advocacy as well as a Post Baccalaurate Diploma from SFU and a Masters Degree in Curriculum Studies from UBC to the advisory group. Colleen was an active member of the Vancouver Inner City Education Society (VICES) for nine years. Recently, Colleen has been focusing her professional development on early learning, project based learning and documentation.

Camilla Ting

Camilla has been a teacher since 2001 and has taught at Thunderbird šxwəxwaʔəs Elementary School in East Vancouver since 2004. Born and raised in Vancouver, she grew up going to Dr. A.R. Lord Elementary and Templeton Secondary. She later attended UBC, where she received a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Education, and a Diploma in Education supporting English Language Learners. She is an avid reader and feels privileged to be able to share books with her students each day.

Maria Rodriguez

Maria has been an early childhood educator at the University Hill (UHill) Preschool since 1996 and the supervisor since 2005. She completed her early education at St. Joseph Covenant School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Karachi in Pakistan. Before joining UHill, Maria researched and worked in Montessori programs and earned her Montessori certificate from the Association Montessori International.

Maria is fluent in three languages: English, Urdu, and Hindi. She finds teaching young children to be both rewarding and challenging, and she continuously seeks to improve her skills by attending workshops and staying up to date with new philosophies and ideas. In her daily classroom activities, Maria incorporates singing, even for the simplest tasks, such as washing hands or preparing a snack.