Council Members
Dr. Jaimie Borisoff - Canada Research Chair in Rehabilitation Engineering Design at BCIT and ICORD (International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries)
Improving health, expanding activities of daily living and fostering community participation for people with disabilities are paramount to Dr. Borisoff’s work with BCIT and ICORD. Dr. Borisoff has developed the Elevation wheelchair that lets people adjust sitting positions to suit particular activities and an integrated staircase that will not only promote the use of stairs, but enable inclusive usage by people in wheelchairs. He is also a four-time Paralympian in Wheelchair Basketball, winning two gold and one silver medals competing for Canada.
Dr. Henry G. Harder - Professor and Chair, School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia
Dr. Harder is a registered psychologist working in the field of rehabilitation and disability management for over 20 years. His research interests are in disability issues, workplace mental health, suicide prevention and aboriginal health and he is a Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded scholar. Dr. Harder is a published author, and is a member of the College of Psychologists of British Columbia, Network Environments for Aboriginal Research in BC, Canadian Psychological Association, as well as other professional organizations.
James Ho - Founder, CEO Mainstream Broadcasting Co.
Promoting multiculturalism is reflected in Mr. Ho’s passion for and active involvement in various local community and multicultural organizations. His career began in the financial services industry and then merged with his other long-standing interest in broadcasting ultimately resulting in the leadership of a group of investors in acquiring Channel M in 2001. Mr. Ho has served on several boards and was voted “Person of the Year” by the Interfaith Brotherhood Society in March 2007.
Karen Lai - Program Developer for the AIM program, BC Centre for Ability Association
Ms. Lai works with BC Centre for Ability Association as the program developer for Abilities in Mind (AIM) program which supports the business community to facilitate a shift to improve employment for people with disabilities. Ms. Lai has a background in providing outdoor recreation opportunities for people with disabilities. Her thesis for her M.A. from the Department of Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia concentrated on the meanings, experiences, and strategies of inclusion for people with disabilities in outdoor recreation. She sits on the program committee for Power To Be Adventure Therapy Society.
Jennifer Leyen - Registered Rehabilitation Professional, Director, WorkSafeBC
Ms. Leyen has over 20 years experience working in the field of disability and rehabilitation. In her current role as director, WorkSafeBC, she provides leadership to highly specialized clinical teams supporting clients with catastrophic physical and psychological injuries. She was instrumental in the development of special care services (SCS) at WorkSafeBC, which coordinates care and case management services for B.C.’s most severely injured and disabled, and is a Board member with the BC Centre for Ability, an organization providing community-based services that enhance the quality of life for children, youth and adults with disabilities.
Dr. Nigel Livingston - Professor, University of Victoria and Founder/Director CanAssist
Dr. Livingston completed his Ph.D. at UBC in 1986 and, following three years at the University of Saskatchewan, moved to Victoria in 1990 to take up a faculty position in UVic’s Department of Biology. In 1999 he began the University of Victoria Assistive Technology Team (UVATT), later becoming CanAssist, providing direct support to thousands of people with disabilities across B.C., Canada and around the world. In 2006, UVic formally appointed him as Director of CanAssist. Dr. Livingston has published more than 80 publications in peer reviewed journals and is the recipient of numerous awards including UVic’s Community Leadership Award and the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of B.C.’s Distinguished Academic Award.
Dr. Joe McLaughlin - (Deputy Chair) McLaughlin Educational Consulting Services
Joseph McLaughlin was the Dean of Deaf Studies and Special Services at Ohlone College in Freemont, California from 2004 to 2008. With over 26 years’ experience in educational leadership, Dr. McLaughlin has taken on various roles and responsibilities including Teacher, Counsellor, Vice Principal, Principal and Sessional Lecturer for the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia. Dr. McLaughlin is an appointed public member on the Board of College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia.
Roger Mundell - CEO, Udutu Online Learning Solutions
Mr. Mundell has been an entrepreneur and senior executive for most of his career in the computer software, healthcare, and shipyard industries and also spent eight years as the director of Research and Innovation at Royal Roads University where he was recognized by national and international organizations for groundbreaking work in the field of educational technology. He and his wife, Ann, became foster parents in the mid-eighties, and in 1991 began a lifelong commitment to raise two children with multiple physical and mental disabilities. In addition to his community advocacy work, Roger also serves on the board of Literacy Victoria.
Carla Qualtrough - (Chair) Vice-Chair, Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal of BC
Carla Qualtrough is a lawyer and has spent her life advancing social policy objectives with a focus on increasing opportunities for persons with a disability. She has worked previously as legal counsel for both the BC Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). Carla is also a two-time Paralympian and has also worked and volunteered extensively in sport, having most recently worked for 2010 Legacies Now leading up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games as Director of Inclusion and Director of Sport Initiatives and serving as Past President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. She lives in Richmond with her husband and three children.
Michael Schratter - Teacher, David Oppenheimer Elementary School
In addition to being a teacher, columnist for 24 Hours newspaper and mental health ambassador, Mr. Schratter is also a dedicated cyclist. On August 1, 2010, Mr. Schratter embarked on his Ride Don’t Hide journey, cycling solo around the globe to increase awareness of mental illness, combat the stigma surrounding it, and raise funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s child and youth programs. He spent more than 15 months cycling almost 40,000 km across six continents and 33 countries, raising more than $70,000. In September 2011, Michael’s outstanding achievement was honoured with CMHA BC Division’s inaugural Dr. Nancy Hall Public Policy Leadership Award.
Mayor Mary Sjostrom - City of Quesnel
Mary Sjostrom is serving her second term as Mayor of Quesnel after having served three terms on City Council. Mayor Sjostrom’s responsibilities related to her municipal work include: Director of the Cariboo Regional District Board, First Nations relations, Chair of the Local Government Leadership Academy, Director of the BC Transit Board, First Vice-President of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, and Honourary Chair of the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Quesnel Team. She has three grown children and resides in South Quesnel with her husband. She is an active community volunteer involved in several initiatives, including being a founding member of the Quesnel 2000 Sunrise Rotary Club.
Mark Sieben - Deputy Minister, Ministry of Social Development (ex-officio member)
Mr. Sieben joined BC’s Public Service on June 8th, 1990 as a front line social worker in the Ministry of Social Services and Housing. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Social Development in 2011. Over the last twenty years, his diverse experience continues to inform his work in policy and legislative development, service delivery, stakeholder engagement, and government strategic initiatives. He has also been a member of the Leadership Council for the Government Non Profit Initiative for three years.
Marilyn Tyfting - Vice-President Human Resources, TELUS International
Ms. Tyfting joined TELUS in 2007 and became the Vice-President Human Resources for TELUS International in March of 2009. In this role she leads a global team providing all facets of international human resources support. Marilyn is an experienced leader who has provided human resources leadership to diverse national, customer-focused organizations through mergers, acquisitions, and periods of significant growth and cultural change. Prior to joining TELUS, Marilyn was the Vice President of Human Resources for Rogers Wireless, and had held various senior human resources roles within the Rogers Communications Group from 1997 to 2007.
Christa Williams - Executive Director, First Nations Public Service
Ms. Williams is well recognized for her contribution to First Nations issues in British Columbia. A member of the Nlaka'pamux Nation in Lytton BC, Christa graduated from Queen’s University and then worked for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in the area of First Nations governance. In her role as the Executive Director of the First Nations Education Steering Committee she contributed to national efforts to improve achievement levels for First Nations learners and was also one of the lead negotiators of the landmark First Nations K-12 Education Jurisdiction Agreement with the Government of BC and Canada.
