Board of Directors
Jennifer Collette, Board Chair
Jennifer moved to the Valley in 2013 with a background in business and financial services.
After being introduced to Ty Watson House, she began volunteering in the kitchen and took the formal Hospice Training. Soon after, Jennifer joined the Board of Directors in the area of Donor Appreciation and Legacy Giving. This year she takes on the Board Chair with great commitment to the AVHS vision of ensuring residents receive excellence in Hospice services now and in future generations.
Jennifer and her husband Bill are settled in the Valley and enjoying this beautiful paradise we call Port Alberni.
After being introduced to Ty Watson House, she began volunteering in the kitchen and took the formal Hospice Training. Soon after, Jennifer joined the Board of Directors in the area of Donor Appreciation and Legacy Giving. This year she takes on the Board Chair with great commitment to the AVHS vision of ensuring residents receive excellence in Hospice services now and in future generations.
Jennifer and her husband Bill are settled in the Valley and enjoying this beautiful paradise we call Port Alberni.
Sheena Falconer, Board Secretary
Sheena joined the Board of Hospice as she is passionate about the good work that the society does within our community.
She is involved in many community efforts including habitat restoration, tourism, and environmental stewardship.
She believes that everyone deserves wonderful end of life care.
She is involved in many community efforts including habitat restoration, tourism, and environmental stewardship.
She believes that everyone deserves wonderful end of life care.
Rob Anderson, CPA, CA, Treasurer
Rob’s diverse experiences includes an extensive number of owner-managed and family owned businesses, as well as a significant background in the audit and assurance field, including public company, not for profit, film and television, technology and public sector realms. Prior to purchasing the firm, he served as Chief Financial Officer for a variety of public sector junior mining and exploration companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Rob obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and spent his articling time with Staley Okada & Partners and Price Waterhouse Coopers in Vancouver, BC.
Rob’s main focus is providing auditing, accounting and taxation services to businesses and individuals in a variety of industries such as not for profit’s, public sector, construction, wholesale and retail, incorporated professionals, restaurants, and tourism industry to name a few.
He has a very focused dedication in developing and ensuring his relationships with his clients and understanding and meeting their needs and expectations are the firm’s number one priority.
Rob is currently completing year 2 of 3 of the C.P.A. In-Depth Tax program, Canada’s leading program for tax specialists.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Port Alberni Fundraising Co-op, which is known to be the first Community Service Co-op in Canada that operates a for profit business with the purpose of donating all their profits towards Charity. He also serves as a director and treasurer for the Alberni Valley Hospice Society which provides compassionate care, and promotes education and advocacy to individuals and their families facing life-limiting illness, death, and bereavement.
Outside of office life, Rob enjoys playing recreational hockey, slo-pitch softball, golf, traveling and spending time exploring the outdoors with his wife and his Rottweiler, Punk.
Rob’s main focus is providing auditing, accounting and taxation services to businesses and individuals in a variety of industries such as not for profit’s, public sector, construction, wholesale and retail, incorporated professionals, restaurants, and tourism industry to name a few.
He has a very focused dedication in developing and ensuring his relationships with his clients and understanding and meeting their needs and expectations are the firm’s number one priority.
Rob is currently completing year 2 of 3 of the C.P.A. In-Depth Tax program, Canada’s leading program for tax specialists.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Port Alberni Fundraising Co-op, which is known to be the first Community Service Co-op in Canada that operates a for profit business with the purpose of donating all their profits towards Charity. He also serves as a director and treasurer for the Alberni Valley Hospice Society which provides compassionate care, and promotes education and advocacy to individuals and their families facing life-limiting illness, death, and bereavement.
Outside of office life, Rob enjoys playing recreational hockey, slo-pitch softball, golf, traveling and spending time exploring the outdoors with his wife and his Rottweiler, Punk.
Shelley Chrest, Board Director
Shelley’s work background includes working as a Preschool Supervisor with special needs children and their families, and as a Child and Youth Care Counsellor, in the Inner City Schools Program in Vancouver. Shelley has also worked as a lawyer, both as a sole practitioner and as in-house counsel, as well as in various advisory roles, including in the area of employment standards, human rights and workers’ compensation. Shelley has extensive mediation experience, particularly in employment related disputes. She has held various appointments as an adjudicator in administrative law areas ranging from bylaw enforcement to property assessment appeals.
Shelley has travelled extensively, including solo travel for over three years living and travelling in various countries including India and Bangladesh. She and her spouse Peter love living in the Alberni Valley and show their commitment to the community through volunteer work.
Shelley has travelled extensively, including solo travel for over three years living and travelling in various countries including India and Bangladesh. She and her spouse Peter love living in the Alberni Valley and show their commitment to the community through volunteer work.
Judy Dore, Board Director
Born and raised on the Island I married and moved to the Alberni Valley in 1963, raised two active sons, and thoroughly enjoyed a 35 year career in nursing at the old West Coast General Hospital. During these years I volunteered at Planned Parenthood.
Retiring in 1999, I remained busy with family, hobbies, and gardening, plus volunteering at the Community Policing Office. The then Executive Director of Hospice, Lyn Turner, came to our home to choose from some items my husband wanted to donate for fundraising (as he was a next door neighbour to the Watsons as a young lad, and knew them well). I casually mentioned volunteering; soon I got a call from Theresa, and was orientated to the House March of 2010.
Since then I have volunteered in the community and Ty Watson House kitchen, including sitting vigil both at the House and Hospital, covering a weekend a month on call, sitting as a member of the Board of Directors, and, most recently, assisting with the Planned Giving area by making calls to donors thanking them for their donations to such a worthy cause.
Truly, I feel that by being involved with Hospice I am in some way repaying a community that has given us so much over the years. Each and every time I enter this "Special House" I get a warm, fuzzy sensation. Life is good! Enjoy each and every moment!
Retiring in 1999, I remained busy with family, hobbies, and gardening, plus volunteering at the Community Policing Office. The then Executive Director of Hospice, Lyn Turner, came to our home to choose from some items my husband wanted to donate for fundraising (as he was a next door neighbour to the Watsons as a young lad, and knew them well). I casually mentioned volunteering; soon I got a call from Theresa, and was orientated to the House March of 2010.
Since then I have volunteered in the community and Ty Watson House kitchen, including sitting vigil both at the House and Hospital, covering a weekend a month on call, sitting as a member of the Board of Directors, and, most recently, assisting with the Planned Giving area by making calls to donors thanking them for their donations to such a worthy cause.
Truly, I feel that by being involved with Hospice I am in some way repaying a community that has given us so much over the years. Each and every time I enter this "Special House" I get a warm, fuzzy sensation. Life is good! Enjoy each and every moment!
Graham Hughes, Board Director
Graham Hughes is the Executive Director of Literacy Alberni Society, and has been with the Alberni Valley Hospice Society (AVHS) for 5 years. Graham is passionate about NGOs, community development, capacity building, and providing necessary services to the Port Alberni community through collaborative inter-agency partnerships.
Over the past 5 years with Hospice, Graham has been involved as a hospice volunteer, sat on various committees, and is now on his second term as a Director of AVHS.
Over the past 5 years with Hospice, Graham has been involved as a hospice volunteer, sat on various committees, and is now on his second term as a Director of AVHS.
Rita Mayo, Board Director
Rita Mayo was born in Port Alberni. She moved away for school and work, and then back home with her husband Jim in 1978.
She is a retired Registered Nurse still working occasionally in the OR and Recovery Room.
She joined the board September 2013. As a board member she would like to help hospice provide safe and compassionate end of life care for the community.
She is a retired Registered Nurse still working occasionally in the OR and Recovery Room.
She joined the board September 2013. As a board member she would like to help hospice provide safe and compassionate end of life care for the community.