The Family Independence Fund and the Children & Youth with Special Needs Fund Advisory Committee is made up of individuals from throughout the province of British Columbia. The Committee reviews and makes recommendations on grant applications.
Members:
Dan Collins - (Chair) Executive Director of the Langley Association for Community Living, and an acknowledged innovator, former chair of the Provincial Advisory Committee, and a foster parent of a young 19 year old youth with ASD.
Heather Dickson - During her 28 year career with the BC Public Service, Heather has been involved with major provincial change initiatives including student financial assistance, treaty negotiations, labour market development, and employment programs. As an Assistant Deputy Minister she was responsible for the development and implementation of the Province's Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities. Most recently she has focused on serving as government chair of two committees (Working Together and Contracting/Procurement) under the Government Non-Profit Initiative, with an aim to improving relationships between government and the non-profit sector. Recently retired, Heather is looking forward to spending more time in her ever-expanding cottage garden in Oak Bay.
Janice Duivestein - Section Head, Occupational Therapy at Sunny Hill Health Centre for children for over 20 years. She is the Team Leader for the Feeding Team and sees children with complex feeding and swallowing difficulties. She also works with Access Community Therapists.
Janice Evans - Section Head, Physical Therapy at Sunny Hill Health Centre and a clinician on the Positioning and Mobility team, and the Transition Planning team. She provides clinical services at Sunny Hill in Vancouver and through outreach visits to northern British Columbia.
Murray George - Murray, with his wife Karen and their two daughters, lives in Terrace where he works as a literacy practitioner. Their youngest daughter, 14 year old Breanne, has multiple disabilities. Murray was a director of the Interim Authority for CLBC, has served on numerous advisory committees and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Family Support Institute and is the editor of the FSI newsletter.
Susan Graham - Retired manager in both the Ministry of Children & Family Development and Community Living BC. Susan has worked in the fields of Child and Family Services, and Community Living for over 30 years. Susan continues to work part time for Community Living BC in the children and family services. Susan worked in a wide variety of areas within human services including community living, family services, child welfare, youth justice , child and youth mental health, adoptions and child in care services as a social worker, team leader and then a manager. Susan and her husband have 2 adult children and 2 grandsons.
Kim Lyster - has had an extensive and successful career holding key leadership roles in the community social services sector over 25 years. Most recently Kim was the Executive Director of a large, multi-service non-profit organization in the South Okanagan regions of BC. Prior to that, Kim provided leadership in community development, training and advocacy initiatives in the community living movement where she remains active as both a writer and consultant. Kim has a Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University, and is a Masters candidate at the University of Victoria in the Studies in Policy and Practice program. Her research will focus on supporting community health and well-being through fostering belonging to all citizens. In 2008, Kim was made an Honorary member of the Federation of Child & Family Services of BC for her leadership in that organization.
Ric Tesan - is a recently retired Burnaby school teacher. During his 35 years in the Burnaby district, he volunteered his time in many different areas. Ric was a Coordinator in the P.E. Program, establishing district-wide volleyball and track meets. He established and ran outdoor education field trips for many years. Ric has been instrumental in fundraising projects for the Burnaby Children's Fund, helping to raise almost $100,000.00. He was also instrumental in establishing and working in Burnaby's first Fine Arts Elementary School at Confederation Park School. Ric has also coordinated many fundraising projects for FSI, VELA and PLAN – all organizations close to his heart. Ric, along with his wife Pat, have four children. Their daughter Erin, 33 years old, lives with a developmental disability. Ric and Pat were original members of the Family Support Institute and continue to serve as Regional Resource Parents today. Ric served on the FSI Board of Directors in its early days and is currently on the Board again. The family is also members of the Vela Microboard Association and Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network where Ric has served on both boards throughout the years.
