REACH GOVERNANCE

REACH Community Health Centre is led by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by our membership each year at our Annual General Meeting. Their role is to govern the organization on behalf of the community,in a timely, transparent, and accountable manner by overseeing the performance of the organization and ensuring fiscal integrity and regulatory compliance. The Executive Director is responsible for operational matters and reports to the Board of Directors. They enact policy at the Board's direction.

Board of Directors

Our directors live or work in East Vancouver or are clients of REACH programs. They serve two year terms up to a maximum of four terms. A director should be committed to and knowledgeable about REACH, have the time available to attend regular meetings, and have the appropriate skill set to provide leadership and governance direction to the organization. Board members are expected to support and sign our board job description, statement of confidentiality and conflict of interest policy. Each year a nominating committee is struck to recruit new members based on board needs and our strategic plan.

Jane Turner - President

Bio to come

Colleen Fuller - Vice-President

Colleen has been a health policy researcher, writer and activist for 30 years, with a strong focus on primary community based health care. She has written extensively about the negative impact of privatization on access to necessary health services by Canadians. Colleen is a cofounder of PharmaWatch Canada, which advocates for public policies that support access to safe and effective medicines.

Neal Jennings - Treasurer

Neal joined REACH’s finance committee in November 2016, and joined the board in February 2017. Neal is a CPA, CA who manages his own accounting practice, as well as working in the accounting education field, and also serves as the treasurer at the Friends of the Vancouver City Archives. He lives in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, so you'll regularly see him riding a bike to board meetings!

DAnielle BURCH - Board MemBER

Danielle strongly believes in strengthening our primary health care system and improving access through innovative team-based care approaches. She holds a Master degree in Public Health from SFU and has several years of experience working in health care administration and project management in both hospital and community care settings, at the Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Children’s Hospital and Canadian Red Cross. She has also provided evaluation support to a variety of health-based projects across the province. Being from the lower mainland, Danielle is happiest getting outdoors!

DANIEL COOK - BOARD MEMBER

Bio to come

RUTH HERMAN - Board MemBER

Ruth Herman has been on the REACH Board for almost 12 years, most of which were spent as president (7 years) and secretary (3 years). She is a retired lawyer who specialized in health and safety in the workplace and is active in civic affairs. She believes that Community Health Centres should be at the heart of our community and, therefore, strives to help make REACH a leader in the design and implementation of the CHC model that recognizes the social determinants of health in public health care.

BILL HOOD - BOARD MEMBER

Bill is a retired Vancouver elementary school teacher, and has been a patient at REACH since the mid 1970’s. His daughter and grandchildren have all been born at REACH and I believe strongly in both the Social Determinants of Health, and "Community Health in Community Hands". He believes that REACH should be open to all of the people in our community, and that we must work to build the membership of REACH to ensure that it become even more rooted in, and respectful and reflective of our community's needs. Bill also now has a dream job working part time in a great local record store: Highlife Records.

EMMA MACKLEM - BOARD MEMBER

Emma was born and bred (literally) at REACH and has been lucky enough to call East Van her home for the last 22 years. She is currently in her last semester of her undergrad degree in International Relations and Economics at UBC. Upon graduation, she plans to eventually pursue a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration. In the meantime, she's all about exploring all of the breweries and coffee shops that East Van has to offer, travelling to cool new places, and working on learning her third language - Spanish!

Piotr Majkowski - BOARD MEMBER

Piotr Majkowski is a professor of nursing ethics, research, and mental health practice at Douglas College. He has lived in East Vancouver for 5 years, and holds a Masters in Public Health from SFU. In the past, he has worked in health policy with the World Health Organization and the BC Nurses’ Union. As a nurse, Piotr worked at a Downtown East Side community health clinic, and also at Langley Memorial Hospital. His interests at REACH include expanding access to primary care, and maintaining a global funding approach. In his spare time, Piotr and his partner Dan run a small community-supported farm.

Alice Munro - Board Member

Alice is a member of the Nlaka’pamux Tribal Nation in Central BC. After retiring she moved to Vancouver, and earned a degree in Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Vancouver. She believes art is a great form of therapy that she strongly recommends to others. Alice has been on the REACH Board for two years, and feel It’s been a learning thing for her, but she knows its something that has to be done to address health inequities. She feels we all have to work towards reconciliation thats why she is here, with this great organization that believes that good health is for all.

Una Walsh - Board Member

A retiree from a 30-year career in the education sector, Una has experience in classroom teaching, career development programming and human resource management. Una strongly believes in the value of and necessity for free, quality, accessible and inclusive education and health care and is proud to serve on the REACH Board and to help promote its goals of community-based, integrated health and social services. Una joined the Board in April 2018.

AMBROSE WILLIAMS - BOARD MEMBER

Bio to come

Each board member is a part of a variety of committees that address particular needs or areas of concern at REACH. These committees are:

Executive Committee
Finance Committee
Human Resources Committee
Outreach Committee
Program Planning and Evaluation Committee

There are also a number of smaller, temporary sub-committees that a struck on a ad-hoc basis to solve problems.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

REACH Centre is administered Department Managers, Directors, and Coordinators and helmed by our Executive Director, who acts as the link to our our Board of Directors. Each department contributes to REACH in different ways, but together, we address the social determinants of health and ensure everyone has access to health care, whatever their needs.

Nicole LeMire - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Nicole is a senior professional with over 25 years experience in management and consulting. With a Master’s Degree in Economics and recent certificates in International Development and in Program Evaluation, she has worked as a consultant at national and international levels, mostly assisting with the creation of strategic plans based on institutional diagnostic. Also, coached staff and management to improve their organizational capacities, including monitoring and evaluation, human resources, and administrative system. Held the position of Project Manager for Vancouver Coastal Health and dual position of Health Care Team Leader and Operations Manager at REACH Community Health Centre for over 3 years. Occupied several management positions for Vocational Community Colleges for over 8 years. Excellent positive and effective leadership and communication skills coupled with strong analytical abilities.

Maria Botero - Dental Manager

Maria worked as a dentist in Colombia for 15 years, specializing in Pediatric Dentistry and Maxillary Orthopedics. She has worked at Reach for the last 18 years. She is committed to family and work, and enjoys making puzzles.