Prevention Educational Leaders : BC Cancer Agency

Agency Links:

Home

Compliments & Complaints

Help

Site Map

BC Cancer Agency >> Patient/Public Info >> Prevention

Prevention Educational Leaders

Print this Page

December 9, 2011

The BC Cancer Agency’s Prevention Programs has a team of Prevention Educational Leaders (PELs) who are located throughout BC. The PELs build partnerships, collaborate, and support health authorities in assessing community needs and implementing public education programs, as well as making recommendations for cancer control in their regions.

In carrying out their mandate, the PELs focus upon the five main preventable risk factors for cancer of tobacco, obesity, inactivity, poor nutrition and sun exposure. The PELs also assist to promote and educate about Screening, chiefly mammography and cervical screening. Furthermore, our staff provide cancer prevention information for BCCA patients in order to prevent new cancers.

Contact the PEL in your region to see how your school can take part in the Healthy Living Schools Program, a program designed to recognize those schools who encourage healthy behaviour among the student population. The school districts (SDs) are listed for each PEL.

Team Contact Information, December 2011

	Karen Barnstable: Okanagan (SD 22, 23, 53, 58, 67, 83) (250) 862-8522 Karen has recently completed a Master’s Degree in Education and has enjoyed working with students at UBC Okanagan in the area of Health Psychology and Community Health Promotion. It was her own love of learning that led Karen into a career in Education. She spent 17 years teaching in the public school system, instructing French, English and Health. After experiencing every grade from Kindergarten to grade 12, she moved into adult education and spent several years facilitating workshops in portfolio development for Teachers and Employment Counsellors across western Canada. Karen was one of the authors of the first Planning 10 course in BC and has since written the Virtual Planning 10 course used by Kelowna and Vernon School Districts. Her favorite section of study in Planning 10 is the Healthy Living Unit and Karen is pleased to be involved in creating the Hi5Living.org resource that will hopefully contribute to secondary students in BC planning and living a healthy lifestyle.
	Andrea Winckers: Kootenays, South Okanagan (SD 5, 6, 8, 10, 19, 20, 51) (250) 362-9522 Andrea has an educational background in Kinesiology, Psychology, and Coaching and has operated her own Health and Lifestyle consulting business, Kootenay Healthworks, for the past 8 years. She is a member of several diverse community development boards, offering leadership and collaboration in the areas of health promotion, community capacity building, and chronic disease prevention. She brings a passion for developing strategies and catalyzing interventions that enhance individual and community wellbeing. Andrea resides in Rossland.
	Sally Errey: Northern Interior (SD 27, 73, 74) (250) 706-4161 Sally is a passionate nutritionist in the field of disease prevention and healthy living. Her well-researched approach has been honed from seven years assisting cancer patients at the Inspire Health in Canada. Her work with physicians, and associated practitioners has led to a wealth of knowledge that she shares enthusiastically with her audiences. In 2006, Staying Alive! Cookbook for Cancer Free Living (Belissimo Books, 2004), became a national best-seller because of her practical and “can do” approach to healthy living every day. Sally’s experience covers over a decade in public health education, non-profit management and consulting experience. Her speaking engagements have included professional wellness days, community kick-off seminars for the Canadian Cancer Society, and talks to cancer support groups across three continents. She is committed to helping implement workable solutions for cancer prevention, for everyone, at all levels.
	Archie Gaber: Northern Interior, Quesnel to Barkerville (SD 28) (250) 747-0009 Archie Gaber is a retired school principal having served in this capacity in B.C. and in the Yukon. He previously served with CUSO and CIDA in Malaysia. His community interests is in sports, volunteering and biking. He is also a Marriage Commissioner.

	Manon Joice: Northeast (SD 59, 60, 81) (250) 794-7150 Manon is a graduate of St. Lawrence College in Cornwall, Ontario where she studied Nursing. Further to her clinical experience in mental health and rehabilitation, she has delivered several formal information sessions and has been a news contributor to numerous papers on topics related to health and wellness. She has a history of a high level of community involvement earning her distinction as business of the year. Manon currently resides in Fort St John, where she owns and operates BLESS, Better Living Elder Support Services. Now in it's second year of operation, BLESS serves its community in health and wellness consulting.
	Judy Rea: Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii (SD 50, 52, 92) (250) 622-6533 Judy has worked as a registered nurse for 39 years, 35 of those in Prince Rupert, both in community nursing and in acute care in the hospital for the past twenty-five years. She has also worked in management in the hospital. Judy has been an Oncology nurse for eleven years, working as the coordinator of the Cancer Service Program. In that program she administers chemotherapy, but also navigates cancer patients and their families and support persons through the cancer journey from diagnosis through treatment and after treatment. As an oncology nurse, Judy soon realized the importance of community awareness, not only about the disease, but more importantly about prevention and screening. She has been providing sessions on these topics to the community, as well as starting an annual PSA and Colorectal screening clinic. Through collaboration with other community groups and groups like the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, annual campaigns have been provided to promote mammography as well. Judy sees her position with the BCCA Prevention Programs as a means of expanding the work on prevention in Prince Rupert and the surrounding communities.
Photo coming soon	El Taylor: Prince George, Prevention Programs Administrator (SD 57) (250) 649-4852 “We must be the change we wish to see in the world today” – a quote from Mahatma Ghandi has been El’s mantra for her collaborative work in health care and in her contributions to community. She worked as a consultant in the area of food security, youth training in community development, eco-education curriculum development and enviro outdoor education, prior to working in BC’s Tobacco Control Program and cancer prevention for the past 10 years. El has contributed to the professional development of core competencies for health care professionals throughout BC and facilitated Motivational Interviewing (MI) training for Health Authorities, allied health care agencies and First Nations organizations and communities. She holds a B.A. in English and Psychology, a B.Ed (PD-PP), a Mayo Clinic Certificate in Nicotine Dependence and an MI Trainer’s Certificate. Some of El’s personal interests include outdoor recreation, natural horsemanship and her new grand babies.
	Lorraine Thibeault: Vanderhoof (SD 91) (250) 567-2742 Lorraine holds a Masters degree in Sociology, a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, and an Applied Business Technology certificate. For 33 years, she has been an administrator and youth leader for Girl Guides of Canada, Scouts Canada, and other youth groups. She is a trainer for Girl Guides of Canada, has worked with special needs children in the elementary school system, coordinates a local youth group, and coordinates the local Elks of Canada "Healthy Choices" poster, essay, and media annual competitions. In addition to her RCC role, Lorraine is a companion to an elderly lady, tutors elementary students and is administrative assistant for a parish. Crafts, square dancing, hiking, and reading are hobbies she pursues. Lorraine resides in Vanderhoof, the geographical centre of BC.
	Christy Anderson: Greater Victoria, Sooke, Saanich (SD 61, 62, 63) (250) 896-8161 Christy holds a commerce degree in entrepreneurial management and has over ten years' experience working with small business start-ups and their owners. She has a passion for community development from a grassroots level and has been involved in many not-for-profit organizations as both an advisor and as a facilitator. Her experience with non-profit sectors is varied and includes collaboration and work with an independent film festival, rural technology cluster development and meaningful youth engagement. A recent convert to urban living, she resides in Victoria and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, canoeing, yoga and biking.
	John Raven: Central and North Vancouver Island (SD 64, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 79, 84, 85) (250) 247-9300 John has an educational background in Environmental Health with a special interest in the control of enteric and zoonic disease. After spending the first twenty three years as an Environmental Health Officer in Alberta he moved to Gabriola Island, British Columbia to start his own consulting business. As such, over the past ten years he has worked for private business, non-profit organizations and for various levels of government in Canada and the United States. He has a special interest in aboriginal health and helping individuals or organizations implement preventative health programs.
	Cory Bendall: Lower Mainland (SD 38) (604) 877-6227 Cory is a Registered Respiratory Therapist with a Bachelor of Health Science (RT), and is pursuing her Masters of Public Health in Health Promotion. She has comprehensive experience in respiratory health education, spanning critical, acute, community and palliative care, supporting patient independence and informed choice as a foundation of evidence-based care. Cory has worked to advance patient self-management and a multi-disciplinary approach to achieving the client’s goals for living well with chronic disease. She has applied her role as a Community Respiratory Therapist for the Interior Health Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to build health resources in the community, streamline access to care, and pursue opportunities for educational outreach programs. After travelling extensively, including trips to Japan, China, the Philippines, and Nepal, Cory returned to the coast to live, run (year round), and kayak.
	Joanna Bethune: Abbotsford, Langley (SD 34, 35) (604) 837-0396 Joanna has an educational background in Radiation Therapy, Kinesiology and Molecular Biology. As a registered Radiation Therapist at the BC Cancer Agency, Joanna works closely with cancer patients in the delivery of treatment, and helps both patients and families navigate through the cancer experience. Prior to working in treatment, she was involved with breast cancer research at the BC Cancer Research Centre in Vancouver. Joanna sees her position with the BCCA Prevention Programs as a way of extending her work to the community, providing public education about preventable risk factors for cancer and about screening. Joanna has a special interest in helping cancer survivors return to a healthy lifestyle post treatment. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, travelling, volleyball, cycling and learning to play golf.
	Cheryl Colby: Chilliwack, Mission, Fraser Valley (SD 33, 75, 78) (778) 773-0446 Cheryl Colby has been a health and fitness professional for over 15 years, and has a Bachelor of Human Kinetics degree. Cheryl has served as the Director of Personal Training at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club as well as Jericho Tennis Club, and was one of the original trainers for Lifeworks Health Systems, one of Canada’s leading corporate health and wellness companies. As a personal trainer and health and fitness coordinator, Cheryl has experience with a variety of populations, including children, seniors of all ages, rehabilitation, pre/post natal, athletic training (including tennis and golf), boot camp, special needs and weight loss. Cheryl believes that everyone deserves a healthy lifestyle, and with her passion for health and people, delivers a positive, energetic approach in working with her communities. Cheryl lives in Chilliwack and enjoys running and doing a variety of activities with her family.
	Halla Elmobayad: Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows (SD 41, 42, 43) (604) 587-4333 Halla has been working in the realm of preventative health care for over seven years, with a strong educational background in biopsychology and population health. She completed her Masters Degree at the University of British Columbia, focusing her thesis on Early Childhood Health Care. Halla has worked in direct patient care, medical research and administration which gives her a deep understanding of the health care system and preventative programs. Over the years Halla has centered her professional interest on children and women's health and has worked with families all over the Lower Mainland. Halla enjoys spending her free time outdoors around nature and water in Vancouver’s beautiful backdrop.
	Lesley Lim: Richmond (SD 38) (604) 375-8790 Lesley spent over seven years in the non-profit community services sector specializing in community and program development for at- risk youth, immigrant youth and their families. She then moved onto the private sector working in various service operations, and project management roles with BC Rail, Kodak Canada (formerly Creo Inc.), and Quebecor World, before joining the Prevention Programs in 2006. Lesley's passion lies in the development of fresh ideas and the creation of synergies that help bring people and stakeholders together to collaborate in achieving common goals. When not working, Lesley can be found planning another "Adventure or Project", or riding the local mountain trails with her friends.
	Lori Petryk: Vancouver, New Westminster (SD 39, 40) (604) 671-4438 Lori has over 15 years’ experience working in nutrition coaching and chronic disease prevention education. She has appeared as a nutritional expert on CTV News Vancouver, and can often be found talking about sustainable nutrition choices on Shaw Television’s Urban Rush. As well as working with the BC Cancer Agency on a variety of cancer prevention initiatives, Lori teaches Public Health at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, and through her nutrition coaching business provides workplace wellness sessions to public and private industry. To Lori, whose healthy attitude is contagious, eating well is not just a personal interest—it’s a value!
	Wajeeha Raoof: Delta, Surrey (SD 36, 37) (604) 880-7512 Wajeeha has a Masters degree in Business Administration and over six years of experience successfully managing projects in the public and private sector. She brings a strong commitment for community development to her work with the Prevention Programs. With her ethnic heritage and training in managing diversity, she is dedicated to improving health outcomes for marginalized groups. Through extensive research, she fully understands the needs of the South Asian community with respect to cancer prevention. Wajeeha is also a member of the Canadian Cancer Society's Advisory Committee for the South Asian Community and volunteers for the Refugee Settlement Volunteer Program. She is a mother of two boys and enjoys spending all her free time with her family.
	Breann Specht: North Vancouver, West Vancouver (SD 44, 45, 93) (604) 838-7808 Breann holds a Masters degree in Population and Public health and has over five years experience in the health sector, both locally and internationally. As a Community Developer with Vancouver Coastal Health, Breann's work focuses on improving the health and well being of her community through capacity building, partnership development, facilitating access to information and services, and creating supportive environments. Breann has also worked in health human resource planning, global tobacco control, HIV/AIDS control and prevention, and health promotion. Teaching has become a growing interest for Breann and she is currently teaching a public health course to naturopath students.
	Sonia Lamont, Provincial Manager (SD 46, 47, 48, 49) Sonia has an educational background in literature, psychology and business and has previously operated her own social science consulting business. For 8 years, she worked at a post-secondary institution in the areas of Continuing Education, Admissions and Educational Advising. Sonia finds the area of preventative health very interesting and is convinced it is the key to being healthy not just on an individual level, but also on a societal one. Sonia has a demonstrated ability in process management, research, and finding creative solutions for program improvement. Born and raised in the Okanagan, she now lives in Vancouver.