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

Lani Morden, '14-16

Dr. Ryan Melsom, '14-16

Lynne Stanger, '14-16

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.

Mave Hur, Website Lead

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 lead, 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.

Amelie Korzec, Website Co-Manager

Amelie is a second year Computer Science and Biology student at University of British Columbia, who is passionate about making science and technology fun and accessible. She's taught coding to kids, worked on computer science projects to fight medical misinformation, and loves exploring the connections between health and tech. She is hoping to pursue a career in medicine, and when she's not learning or teaching, you can find her woodcarving, crocheting, or taking care of her plants!

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

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.

Lilyan Jia, Newsletter Co-Editor

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.

Diana Lee, Newsletter Co-Editor & Administration Coordinator

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.

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.

Seoyoon Lee, Vancouver Chapter Co-Chair

Seoyoon is entering her second yera of medical school at UBC Vancouver. She completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Victoria, where she studied biochemistry and music. Her experience with youth comes from several years spent facilitating Island Health's Step-Up Youth Program and teaching high school music programs. During her time as a co-chair with RBS Vancouver, Seoyoon is excited to promote childhood literacy and well-being in the community.

Madeline Moore, Vancouver Chapter Co-Chair

Madeline is entering her second year of medical school at UBC. Previously, she completed her BSc. at Utah Valley University and worked at Boston Children's Hospital researching pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders. She volunteered as a youth soccer coach and supported children with neuodevelopmental disorders in sport. She also worked with individuals with Rett syndrome and pediatric oncology patients and their families, bringing joy and normalcy into the hospital setting through stories, songs, art, and games. She is passionate about making activities accessible and inclusive to all! Madeline is passionate about the power of stories to bring people together. Madeline hopes that her love for storytelling, fun character voices and sounds effects, and a big bright smile will bring joy to those who she supports.

Monika Jandu, '25-26

Rachel Phord-Tou, '25-26

Anya Metha, '25-26

Helen Huang, '24-25

Sarah Wong, '24-25

Lilyan Jia, '24-25

Joanne Chi, '23-24

Jannie Ko, '23-24

Sanya Grover, '22-23

Annaliese Beck-McKenzie, '22-23

Alissa Zhang, '21-22

Grace Kim, '21-22

Eloise Moss, '20-21

Kat Xie, '20-21

Mariam Manna, '20-21

Rozlyn Boutin, '19-20

Dr. Paul Abraham, '17-19

Victoria Baronas, '16-17

Dr. Christine Wang, '15-16

Dr. Isabel Chen, '14-15

Monika Jandu, Canuck Place Coordinator

Monika is a first-year medical student at UBC Vancouver. Previously, she completed a Bachelors of Science and Bachelors of Secondary Education at UBC. She has a background working with youth in various capacities including as a school teacher, coach and co-founder of a science education organization, Young Minds Exploring Science. Monika’s passion lies in supporting youth to become their happiest, healthiest and most confident versions of themselves. She is excited to join the Reading Bear Society and ultimately continue her mission of helping youth flourish.

Jessie Miller, '24-25

Joanne Chi, '23-24

Iman Lahouaoula, '23-24

Max Liu, '19-20

Jennifer Wildi, '18-19

Rebecca Spouge, '17-18

Nikita Mennon, '23-24

Kat Xie, 19'-20

Mariam Manna, '19-20

Meg Montgomery, Kelowna Chapter Co-Chair

Meg Montgomery was born and raised in Lantzville on Vancouver Island. She completed her BSc in Kinesiology, with minors in Psychology and Spanish, from Washington State University. While at WSU, she was on the varsity rowing team, worked in the sports psychology lab, and was active in community outreach and leadership. Since graduating in 2024, Meg has worked in various childcare positions. She worked for Pedalheads bike camps, teaching children bike skills and road safety, and she worked as an Education Assistant at an elementary school in Nanaimo. Meg is so excited to have the opportunity to continue working with children and to be joining the Reading Bear Society team!

Carly La Berge, Kelowna Chapter Co-Chair

Carly La Berge grew up in Kelowna and completed her BSc in general sciences at UBC Okanagan, and her Master of Public Health (MPH) at the University of Victoria (UVic). During her MPH, she completed her practicum on the Early Childhood Health team at the BC Ministry of Health and led a study on the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 response on early childhood health. After graduating, she worked in public health for a few years and ran a couple of non-profits running mentorship programs to support students from non-traditional backgrounds navigate post-secondary education. Carly is so excited to be a part of Reading Bear and supporting children who, much like her when she was little, may be a little intimidated by healthcare services and workers.

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.

Richard Mageto, '23-25

Ravneet Sohal, '23-25

Brayden Griffiths, '23-24

Casey Li, '21–23

Austin Pietramala, '21–22

Larissa Steidle, '19–21

Svetlana Hadkin, '19–20

Darren Guenther, '18-19

Bhavanjit Panghali, '18-19

Amy Plessis, '17-18

Thomas McFarland, '17-18

Marin Clarkston, Victoria Co-chair

Marin is a second-year UBC medical student in the Island Medical Program. She grew up in Sooke, where she found her passion working with kids through tutoring, mentoring and coaching soccer. Marin moved to Victoria where she completed her chemistry undergrad at the University of Victoria and later started medical school at the same campus. Marin enjoys staying active in her community through volunteering with cancer patients and teaching help sessions to undergraduate students. Outside of school, Marin enjoys hiking, reading, camping and staying active. Marin is excited to step into this new role in the RBS community and to promote meaningful health education for children!

Sarah Draheim, Victoria Co-chair

Sarah is a second-year UBC medical student at the Island Medical Program. She grew up in Nanaimo, BC with a love for coaching children and youth whether it was in the classroom as a math tutor or in the pool as a swimming instructor. She is excited to apply her passion for teaching kids as a RBS Victoria chapter co-chair by organizing and helping lead fun and interactive Dr. Bear classroom visits! Outside of medicine, she enjoys reading and has been recently getting into trail running to explore the beautiful outdoors.

Evie Streight, Victoria Co-chair

Evie is a second-year UBC medical student in the Island Medical Program from Kingston, ON. Evie has a BSc. in Kinesiology and MSc. in Anatomy with a research background in knowledge translation, physical literacy, and family development and health. As Victoria chapter co-chair, she helps organize Dr. Bear visits, drawing on her long history of youth work — from adaptive sport learning programs to the Boys and Girls Club — to engage kids in fun, creative ways that ease their fears about healthcare. Outside of medicine, she stays active through working out, cycling, and rec league basketball. She also enjoys arts and crafts, including pottery and freelance illustration.

Jonathon (Jon) Eby, Victoria Co-chair

Jon was born and raised in Victoria, BC. He did Biomedical Engineering at the University of Victoria and Toronto for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, respectively before taking a left turn towards medicine. Outside of school Jon enjoys backpacking, travel and pole vaulting. Jon is excited to bring his enthusiasm and wonder for the world to Reading Bear, to teach children more about medicine and have a little fun along the way.

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.

Aiden Winkel, Victoria Co-chair, '25-26

Jocelyn Benji, Victoria Co-chair, '25-26

Rachel Kehler, Victoria Co-chair, '25-26

Kirsten Suesser, Victoria Co-Chair, '25-26

Tess Amyot, '24-25

Genevieve Ward, '24-25

Olivia Ireland, '24-25

Audrey Esemezie, '24-25

Juliette Wong, '23-24

Alexa Tymkiw, '21-23

Cole Daley, '21-23

Zovya Wasylyk, '21-23

Celine Edwards, '21-22

Margot Schmidt, '21-22

Marie Schulze, '21-22

Alex DeGrace, '20-21

Caitlin MacDonald, Prince George Chapter Co-Chair

Caitlin grew up in Wells, BC, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Victoria. Over the years she has spent time volunteering in schools and providing one-on-one tutoring. She enjoys staying active and creative-whether she's hiking, skiing, climbing, or diving into arts and crafts projects. Caitlin is excited to be part of The Reading Bears Society and looks forward to doing more Dr. Bear visits.

Maksym Besarab, Prince George Chapter Co-Chair

Max is a second-year medical student at the UBC Northern Medical Program and Co-Chair of the Reading Bear Society Prince George Chapter. With a background in mechanical engineering and health sciences, Max is passionate about education, community engagement, and improving access to learning opportunities for children. He has extensive experience mentoring students and volunteering in schools, as well as working with healthcare and community organizations across B.C. Max is committed to promoting education, inclusivity, well-being, and lifelong learning, and is excited to help lead initiatives that support children and families in Prince George.

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, BSc Hons, MD, FRCPC, 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. She then graduated in 2024 from the UBC Pediatrics Residency Program and is now working as a general pediatrician across the province. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, trying new recipes, and doing kirtan. During her first two years of medical school, she enjoyed volunteering for the Teddy Bear Clinics and Talk to Your Doctor Youth Workshops. Gurkirat is excited to join the RBS program and work towards promoting child literacy and healthy living in Northern BC!

Alisha Thapar, '23-25

Jayden Boxeur, '23-25

Sydney Overland, '23-25

Leanne Varney, '22-23

Crystal Mcleod, '22-23

Carmen Huang, '21–23

Danielle Sidsworth, '21–22

Shianne Fairlie, '20–21

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.