Current BCHPCA Board of Directors
The BCHPCA is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors who possess extensive experience in healthcare, community service, and non-profit management. This Board is comprised of an executive team (officers), regional directors representing each geographic health region in British Columbia, and directors at large.
Additionally, it includes a Regional Director from the First Nations Health Authority, which oversees a range of health programs and services for First Nations communities in British Columbia.
Beyond governance and fiduciary responsibilities, the Board participates in events, delivers presentations, provides expert insights, and shares experiences related to grief, bereavement, death, and dying within the community.
BCHPCA Board of Directors bring expertise from the healthcare profession, public communication and engagement, media, research, and social services. They are available to give speeches, facilitate discussions, or act as MCs at community, provincial, and national events. For booking inquiries regarding any board member, please reach out to Ivy Lai at ivy.lai@bchpca.org.
Officers |
Natasha Girard - PresidentExecutive Director of Central Okanagan Hospice Association
BiographyWith more than 21 years of experience in hospice palliative care and the non-profit sector, Natasha brings a wealth of knowledge, strategic insight, and heartfelt commitment to advancing end-of-life care in British Columbia. Her career has been defined by a deep passion for transforming the experiences of individuals and families during life’s most vulnerable moments. Natasha’s leadership journey includes advocating for a 10-bed residential hospice, launching a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, and serving as the hospice representative on the Southeastern Ontario Regional End-of-Life and Palliative Care Network. She has also contributed her lived experience and professional insight through volunteer roles with the Patient and Family Advisory Council for the Southeastern Ontario Cancer Centre and the working group for Gilda Radner Clubhouse Ontario. Since relocating to Kelowna in 2016 and joining the Central Okanagan Hospice Association (COHA), Natasha has led the organization through significant growth and change. She successfully opened the COHA August Centre, strengthened cross-sector partnerships, and helped reach major revenue milestones. Her strategic and accountable leadership has built trust with interest holders and strengthened organizational resilience. Natasha is recognized for her collaborative leadership, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to community-based hospice care. Her experience spans both urban and rural contexts, and she brings a balanced understanding of operational realities and systemic challenges. With a background in estate planning and law, and a track record of resilience in organizational leadership, Natasha is well-positioned to guide the BCHPCA into its next chapter—strengthening the voice and value of community hospices across the province and ensuring that every British Columbian has access to compassionate, quality palliative care. |
Kevin Harter – Past PresidentCEO of Luther Court Society
BiographyI acknowledge I am a settler, on the traditional unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, including the Songhees, Esquimalt, and WSÁNEĆ nations. I embrace this truth, and aim to foster meaningful dialogue and contribute to the path of genuine reconciliation. With an unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care for seniors, Kevin brings a wealth of experience as an elder care leader. Throughout his remarkable career, Kevin has dedicated over two decades to ensuring that seniors receive the highest quality of care, enriching their lives with compassion, innovation, and dignity. Kevin’s journey in elder care began when he discovered his true calling in Long Term Care, recognizing the importance of fostering a supportive community. His passion for creating a nurturing environment has been the driving force behind his transformative leadership. Prior to joining Luther Court, Kevin served as the CEO at Victoria Hospice, where he made a significant impact during his five-year tenure. He also held the esteemed position of president and CEO at York Care Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick. (The largest long-term care facility in New Brunswick) His extensive experience in these roles highlights his ability to bring positive change and elevate the standards of care for seniors. As CEO, Kevin leads a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, working tirelessly to deliver outstanding services to the Luther Court community. Collaborating closely with the leadership team, he ensures the seamless execution of operations, maintains crucial relationships with key stakeholders, secures vital resources, and actively promotes and safeguards the integrity of Luther Court. Beyond his professional achievements, Kevin finds solace and joy in his loving family. Married to his wonderful wife, Olga, they share the blessings of two incredible children, Anton and Lora. Completing their family are two adorable fur-babies, Nova and Niko, who bring additional warmth and love to their lives.
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Dr. Shannon Freeman - Vice PresidentProfessor in the School of Nursing at that University of Northern British Columbia, Academic Director-Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North, Academic Director-UNBC Stats Can Research Data Centre, Michael Smith Scholar 2020.
BiographyShannon believes in the importance of enhanced and sustained access to palliative hospice care in BC and beyond. Shannon is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), and a member of AGEWELL: Canada’s technology and aging network focusing on innovative solutions to support healthy aging and is leading work examining clinical need for long-term care in rural and northern communities. She is working on developing a safe transition program for residents to return to a community-based setting of care. Shannon also takes an active role in research focused on hospice palliative and end-of-life care and is a Director of the Prince George Hospice Society and has published 37 peer reviewed articles, co-edited a book, written 8 book chapters, and had an active role in the creation of the interRAI Palliative Care Clinical Assessment Protocols. Shannon continues her role as a Board member of the BCHPCA to advocate for better support for those nearing end-of-life and continue to pursue improving access to high-quality end-of-life care from an analytic research-informed perspective. Shannon values her connections and duty to her community and commitment to volunteerism, having recently begun her sixth year as a Director of the Prince George Hospice Society. Shannon commits to bringing a collaborative approach to engage in a broad range of areas, including a focus on promoting the health and well-being of those nearing end of life, the members of their circle of care, that being formal or informal care providers. Shannon will continue to aim to create knowledge useful to our hospice palliative care community across the regions and BCHPCA. |
Donna Flood - Vice PresidentExecutive Director of Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society
BiographyDonna Flood, a distinguished healthcare leader with over 40 years of experience, has made a global impact. She worked with Mother Teresa’s hospice in Calcutta and addressed unique healthcare challenges as Director of Care in Nunavut. As Executive Director of the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society, Donna fosters innovation, collaboration, and financial sustainability. She has expanded Hospice Palliative Care from in house residential care to hospice care in the home. Community programs extend past Prince George and support people across the province. Honored with the Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals, Donna served as President of BCHPCA and a Director of CHPCA. Her published papers on caregiving and end-of-life preparedness showcase her expertise. Donna’s four-decade journey reflects enduring passion and profound impact, inspiring healthcare excellence and compassion. |
Dwayne Thomas- Secretary-TreasurerChartered Accountant, an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and currently completing his designation in Canada.
BiographyDwayne is a Chartered Accountant, an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and currently completing his designation in Canada. Dwayne is a goal-oriented professional with a strong Accounting and Auditing background who brings a practical approach to problem-solving. A competent strategist with keen attention to detail and enjoys being part of a successful and productive team that strives for excellence in a challenging environment. Dwayne is excited and looking forward to supporting the association with its financial needs and looking forward to working with the board to broaden and diverting the association’s funding sources. End-of-life and palliative care services are something that Dwayne hopes to learn more about in his role as a board member and looks forward to working in the non-profit sector while making a meaningful contribution to the community. |
Directors at Large |
Eda Ertan - Director-At-LargeExecutive Director at Brock House Society | Founder & Lead Coach of Quantum Care
BiographyEda is a Turkish-Canadian Health Scientist. Her background is in Psychology & Health Sciences with a focus on Neuroscience, Human Development, Gerontology, Healthy Aging, Health Promotion & Disease Prevention. Eda also works as a Neuroscience and founder and co-lead of Quantum Care, a Neuroscience-based Wellness & Growth coaching and consultancy educational firm. In addition to her consultancy work, Eda has been working at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) for the past 7 years where she has been working with the Older Adults programming and Community Development Department. She is a Health Link Coordinator, leading the Social Prescribing program at one of the 4 sites in BC’s Lower Mainland where she partners with clinicians, healthcare providers and community organizations to create a holistic system of support for marginalized older adults in the community. Eda is also an Activity Coach for older adults with the Choose to Move research program under the leadership of Active Aging Society and the Medical School of the University of British Columbia to support older adults in enhancing their health and wellbeing through movement, health-programming and social connections that help prolong their independent living. Eda continues her work within the community as a Community Development Specialist, the lead and co-Founder of the Anti-Racism and Equity Committee, as well as the Literacy Outreach Coordinator where she bridge between departments, organizations, and work towards incorporating aspects EDI knowledge translations in programming and offerings. Eda greatly believes in the human right of living healthy, dying in peace and experience life with dignity. Eda looks forward to the prospect of the responsibility of meaningfully volunteering of her time and energy to support the vision, mission and strategic plan of BCHPCA. |
Christa Ovenell - Director-At-LargeFounder of Death's Apprentice
BiographyChrista is the founder of Death’s Apprentice Education and Planning. Her company specializes in holistic advance care planning for individuals and forward-thinking companies. Christa is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, as well as an end-of-life doula, community death educator and columnist on CBC Radio’s province-wide weekend morning show “North by Northwest”. Christa takes a heart-centred, pragmatic approach to difficult topics, helping people get comfortable thinking about, talking about, and planning for life’s only certainty. In addition to her role as a solopreneur in a rapidly emerging field, Christa also serves as a Board of Directors at her local community garden’s association and the Media & PR Lead at Aquamation BC Coalition (www.aquamationbc.ca). Christa is a licenced Willow EOL Educator and funeral director/embalmer’s licence at Koru Cremation, Burial & Ceremony, a locally owned, woman-led independent funeral home that is striving towards carbon neutrality while redefining family-led and community-engaged deathcare. Before Christa became a funeral director, she was the College Director of Canada’s largest international college located at Simon Fraser University. She was a member of the provincially appointed Board of Directors for the BC Council for Articulation and Transfer and the President of the BC Private College & Universities Council until she left that profession to embrace her passion. Christa believes her education, training and media outreach background will help support the Association and its mandates to advocate for true accessibility in End Of Life services. |
Shannon Pintwala - Director-At-LargeFounder of Victoria Death Doula
BiographyShannon Pintwala is an end-of-life doula based in Victoria, BC, and the founder of Victoria Death Doula. Inspired by the loss of her father to pancreatic cancer, she is dedicated to supporting individuals and their families through death, dying, grief and loss with compassion, presence, and practical guidance. With over 15 years of experience in customer experience leadership—most recently as a Director at Knix—Shannon offers a compassionate understanding of how care is perceived by patients and clients. She volunteers with BC Cancer, providing comfort to patients, and is passionate about delivering understanding and a safe space during life's most challenging moments. Shannon believes that every individual and family is unique. She offers personalized, non-medical support to address the emotional, spiritual, and practical needs that arise at the end-of-life or following a loss. Her goal is to create empathetic, human-centered solutions that positively impact the lives of those facing end-of-life, their loved ones, and the dedicated professionals who serve and care for them. |
Regional Directors |
First Nations Health AuthorityVacant
| Fraser Region |
Interior Region Regional Director - Gail PotterGreater Trail Hospice Society
BiographyGail has been Greater Trail Hospice Society for the past 25 years and has held the positions of Board Member, Board Chair, Board Secretary, and temporary relief positions for the Clinical Program Coordinator. She is a registered nurse (have worked mainly in community care) and an ordained pastor as well. Both of these positions have led her to be very involved with people approaching the end of life, and with supporting family members through this journey. It has been Gail’s goal throughout her career to help people nearing the end of their life with dignity, excellence in symptom control, and control over their personal choices for care. Gail has also been a nursing instructor for 15 years and was instrumental in expanding the palliative components of the BSCN program in her local college/university degree program. Gail brings to the Board, the voice of rural and remote hospices ‘to the table’. Small hospices need particular support to be able to provide education and care to their communities with very minimal resources. Without palliative care teams or specialized palliative facilities, small hospices often have to take on greater roles in supporting clients and families who don’t have access to designated palliative beds, symptom specialists or grief counsellors. Rural hospices have smaller ‘pools’ for fundraising, and fewer staff hours to be able to build their volunteer base. Her goal as being part of the Board, will be to look at ways to help small hospices not just survive, but thrive. Gail brings a wealth of knowledge in research, education and training and hopes this will translate into further research and data collection within hospice palliative care, something that is lacking, which will further aid deliver the importance of hospice palliative care in BC. | North Region
Regional Director - Judi SmartHospice Palliative Care Resident of Northern BC
Biography
Judi is a passionate hospice palliative care resident of Northern BC. She is committed to learning all she can to be an effective board member and representative of the Northern Region. For the past two years, she has been a board member of the Fort St John & District Palliative Care Society and is the chair of fund-raising. She is also a volunteer visitor. Having completed the training to offer public sessions on Advanced Care Planning in October of 2016, together with a fellow board member she offers public sessions in Fort St John. Judi currently works as a pension and benefits administrator and is completing her studies in social work.
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Vancouver Island Region
Regional Director – Christine ColbertExecutive Director at Comox Valley Hospice Society
Biography
Christine Colbert works as the Executive Director for the Comox Valley Hospice Society, an organization supporting compassionate care for over 41 years. Her most recent past position involved working in primary health as an executive director for a non-profit organization of family physicians. Christine also spent many years working in the areas of childhood and adolescent development, infant and maternal mental health, financial literacy and children's rights. Her areas of expertise include project and program development and facilitating collaborative initiatives. She can be found in her garden consulting with the worms and finding Bella’s carefully buried bones. | Vancouver Coastal Region Regional Director – Sarah CobbExecutive Director of Vancouver Hospice Society
BiographySarah has been working in end-of-life care for last 15 years. She is committed to providing exceptional care for patient’s and families at end of life, but also educating my colleagues about the importance of embedding a palliative approach to care throughout or health system. Sarah firmly believes Palliative care is critical to ensuring the sustainability of our heath care system. Both in terms of quality of care and ensuring exceptional patient and family centred care as people navigate our complex systems. Sarah has been working as a nurse since 2002 and in Palliative Care since 2007 and in those 15 years she has taken on many roles mostly within Providence Health Care, including acute care Palliative, consults, hospice, and community education. Sarah started her current role as the Executive Director of the Vancouver Hospice Society two years ago and in that time, she has attended many BCHPCA meetings and have been really impressed with the Association’s vision and passion for supporting hospices around the province. Sarah has also completed her Master’s of Health and Leadership Policy (MHLP) in 2019 with a focus on Seniors Care and feels that this only deepened her understanding of the current state of end-of-life care and how much work we have to do to increase funding, education and accessibility among other priorities. During her time at Providence Health Care she supported the accreditation process over 4 cycles, worked on the organization’s MAiD guidelines and has been a member of the Vancouver end-of-life working group for over 12 years. She also led a pilot project for embedding the Palliative Approach to care and was a long-time member of the Ethics resource committee. Sarah’s Canadian Nurses Association – Hospice and Palliative Care Certification is up to date and a recipient of two awards both the Andrew Johnson Award for advocacy in 2019 and The S Patricia Graham Nursing Award in 2019 for her work in Palliative Care. |
Provincial Region
Debbie Butt - Regional DirectorChief Communications Officer at Canuck Place Children's Hospice  BiographyDebbie leads the communications, marketing and proprietary fundraising events team for Canuck Place. Working in partnership with families, volunteers, clinical and fundraising staff the communications and events team engages the community, donors and builds awareness of the positive impact of Canuck Place programs on children with life-threatening illnesses and BC families. |
Staff TeamThe BCHPCA aims to unite a broad spectrum of experiences, skills, viewpoints, and backgrounds within an organization that values inclusion, accessibility, and innovation. Due to limited funding and resources, we engage a diverse and skilled group of interns and volunteers throughout the school year to support our daily operations. The BCHPCA staff is dedicated to serving both its members and the public. Raising awareness about the importance of hospice palliative care—among the community and policymakers—is the team’s primary mission, enhancing the relationships we cultivate with interest holders and anyone who connects with the association. Every year, our staff participates in various events, conferences, community initiatives, and educational activities to promote hospice, palliative care and grief and bereavement services within our community and across the nation. |
About the associationBCHPCA represents its members: individuals and organizations that deliver hospice/palliative care and bereavement services and programs across British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. | Contact usEmail: office@bchpca.org Unit 1100- 1200 West 73rd Ave, | Stay InTouchKeep up to date on upcoming events and recent job postings |
The BC Hospice Palliative Care Association (BCHPCA) recognizes the traditional land of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples who have walked before us and minded the lands we now call home for time immemorial. Hospice Societies have been able to support, aid and care for many people on these same lands. The BCHPCA Offices are located on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and TsleilWaututh Nations.
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