ABBOTSFORD COMMUNITY SERVICES - Key Persons
Ajit has an extensive background in human resources in both Canada and India working with Alcatel-Lucent, IBM and in Canada as the Human Resources Manager for Sears and Home Depot. During his years in India, Ajit was also in the military. He is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (Canada) and has SHRM-SCP accreditation from USA. Ajit brings diverse skills and experiences to his work as a HR consultant and continues to share, learn and collaborate in the non-profit sector.
Amyn Ali immigrated to Canada 23 years ago as a teenager and today is a proud Canadian and a resident of beautiful Abbotsford. By profession, he is mortgage broker and was a personal banker for the last 14 years at various Canadian financial institutions.
Amyn, is a family man with a beautiful wife and two loving children. He enjoys spending time with his family. Helping friends, family and clients is at the core of his personal values.
Benjamin Lorimer joined the Archway Board of Directors in 2019 and sits as the current Board President.
Benjamin loves being a long-term resident of Abbotsford. He believes in being a part of an organization like Archway that assists and supports families and individuals as they work towards building a better life in our wonderful community.
Benjamin is a local lawyer and also serves as a volunteer director with the Chilliwack Hospice Society.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board
- Lead Associate Pastor at Sevenoaks Alliance Church
Brian is the Lead Associate Pastor at Sevenoaks Alliance Church and serves on the City of Abbotsford's Shelter Systems and Integrated Outreach Working Group. He previously worked for 20 years in private security training and management. Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts., Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), and a Master of Divinity.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Pathways to Integration for Immigrants & Refugees
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Treasurer of the Board
- Associate Professor of English
Dr. Prabhjot Parmar is Associate Professor of English at University of the Fraser Valley. She received her PhD in English in postcolonial studies from the University of Western Ontario and holds Masters degrees in English from Queen's University and Panjab University.
She is the co-editor of When Your Voice Tastes Like Home: Immigrant Women Write and has published articles on dementia and music, Partition, Bollywood, and history of Punjabi Cinema. Her research and teaching interests are strongly linked with community work-anti-racism, anti-colonial and decolonial narrative, Indigenization, migration, violence against women, and social justice, for example. She has actively volunteered with non-profit organizations since the 1990s.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Regional Vice - President
Jacky brings over 23 years of experience in a variety of leadership and advisory roles. Jacky is known as a passionate, authentic, and caring leader who is highly skilled, operates with exceptional capacity, and knows how to bring people together to work collaboratively towards a common goal.
As Regional Vice-President, Jacky Gill leads a team of over 300 employees dedicated to living RBC's purpose of "Helping Clients Thrive and Communities Prosper." Jacky and his team are responsible for providing financial advice, guidance and service to over 300,000 personal, small business and commercial clients.
Jacky has dedicated his time and effort in service of a number of organizations including JDRF Canada, Covenant House Vancouver, BC Children's Hospital and the United Way of the Lower Mainland. Jacky is an Executive MBA Candidate (April 2024), has completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and is a holder of the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.
Outside of work, Jacky enjoys spending quality time with his wife Karin and two daughters, Kiana and Aria.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Marketing & Communications
Job Titles:
- Director of Recycling, Social Inclusion & Employment
Laura Midan joined Archway in 2008 as the Recycling Education Coordinator and spent five years in the role. In 2013 she le ft for a year and a half to become the Executive Director of Agassiz-Harrison Community Services. Afterwards, she returned to Archway as the Office Manager for the Abbotsford Mission Recycling Program before becoming the Director of Recycling. Her role now oversees employment and social inclusion programs including our community living programs.
In addition to her role as a Director, Laura has served as the Chair of Archway's PLAN-iT Wellness Team committee and been an integral part of the People & Culture Committee, Strategic Planning and Program Services committees.
Laura has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Communications from UFV, Associate Certificates in Public Relations and Event Marketing from BCIT and a Master of Arts Degree in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University.
Laura is the Board Chair for the Recycling Council of BC and a member of the Rotary Club of Abbotsford. In the past, she has been a member of Toastmasters and volunteered with the Canadian Cancer Society, Mission Adopt-A-Block and Communities in Bloom. She li ves in Harrison Hot Springs and enjoys spending time outdoors.
Lorne Mackenzie has served on the Board of Archway Community Services since 2014. He has been a business professional and educator for over 30 years. He was formerly President of KFC Canada and then a multi-unit KFC franchise owner.
Lorne has taught in the School of Business at the University of the Fraser Valley since 2001. He is also an advisor to Fraser Valley India whose campus is located in Chandigarh, India.
He considers it a privilege to serve with other community volunteers in support of Archway Community Services, an organization that continues to have a profound impact on the well-being of our community.
Maddy migrated to Canada from the UK in 2002 and is a Senior Project Manager working on clinical and infrastructure projects with multiple Health Authorities across BC. She holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) and Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) certifications and Nursing and Social Work degrees.
Her past volunteerism includes Save The Children's fund (UK) and as a Family Court and Youth Justice committee member in the City of Vancouver. She has also trained adults with disabilities to use accessible tools to access technology and the internet to address social isolation barriers successfully.
Maddy is passionate about organizing charity events to bring out community talent while raising awareness of social issues and is looking forward to contributing as a member of the Archway family.
Job Titles:
- Director for Fraser Health Authority
- Director of Multicultural & Immigrant Integration Services
Manpreet has been with Archway Community Services since 1989. Her role as Director of Multicultural and Immigrant Integration Services oversees 23 programs that help our community address the needs of individuals with language and cultural barriers and assist thousands of immigrants and refugees integrate into community life each year.
Her work has included not only developing and managing programs at Archway in the past 30 plus years, but also contributing at the provincial and national levels to build cohesive and inclusive societies which are welcoming of new immigrants.
Manpreet has also worked as a freelance journalist, with regular columns in local and provincial newspapers as well as contributions to CBC Radio and Shaw TV.
What she most enjoys about coming to work each day is the people she works with and the commitment, heart and competency they bring to their jobs and the clients they serve.
Manpreet has a Master's Degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi and a Diploma in Print Journalism from the London School of Journalism. She has also studied at BCIT and completed the Chartered Director Program from McMaster University in 2016.
Manpreet is a Director for Fraser Health Authority. In the past she has served as the President of the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC board, a Director for the Social Planning and Research Council of BC board, Trustee for the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation and Board Director for Prospera Credit Union.
When she is not at work, she loves spending time with her husband and two adult children, extended family and friends. She enjoys walks and workouts in the nature or at the gym.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Early Years & Counselling
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Housing and Community Justice
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Social Worker
Narinder is a Social Worker with over 30 years of experience in the areas of addictions treatment, mental health services, and immigrant settlement and has worked with the federal public service since 2005. He leads a Diversity, Equity and Anti-racism Task Force with Veterans Affairs Canada and holds a Master of Social Work.
Job Titles:
- Director of Advocacy & Social Equity
Neil Stark has over 20 years experience in the non-profit sector, in a variety of leadership roles. For 14 years he served as the Manager of Operations for the 411 Seniors Centre in downtown Vancouver - a large and complex organization focused on healthy aging. He has worked as the Director of Advocacy and Social Equity at Archway Community Services since 2013. His diverse portfolio includes: the Abbotsford Food Bank, Abbotsford Addictions Center, Opioid Agonist Treatment Centre, Senior Services, Community Living, Legal Advocacy, Specialized Victim Services and Supportive Housing.
In addition to his role as a Director, Neil sits on the People & Culture Committee, Program Services and Space committees.
He holds a degree in Political Science and working and living in a number of countries has provided him with a global perspective that poverty and inequality are universal human conditions. He seeks to develop and oversee programs which are deeply connected and culturally relevant.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Language Services, & Learning & Development
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Facilities
Richard first joined Archway Community Services in 1998 in the Recycling program, and now as the Associate Director of Facilities he oversees the maintenance on all 20+ Archway sites.
In addition to his role as Director, Richard is involved with the Occupational Health and Safety, Green Team, Facilities Committee, Space Committee, and the Program Development and Sustainability Committee. What he most enjoys about Archway is the culture of caring for people.
Previously he worked at the Changes Non-Residential Youth Attendance program, Alternative Measures Program and the Community Work Order Program for WJS Canada. He supervised youth working at the Recycling plant and it was through this connection that he became the plant manager, starting his 20-year career at Archway.
Richard has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology with a minor in Psychology from Simon Fraser University. He's an active member in his third term with the Recycling Council of B.C. and past Board Treasurer for the John Calvin School. He's a lifelong B.C. resident who passionately enjoys hobby farming, hiking and road trips.
Job Titles:
- Central Executive Officer
- Central Executive Officer ( CEO )
Rod joined Archway Community Services in 2010 after 20 plus years of experience in senior-level leadership roles within the non-profit sector. He was drawn to Archway because of the agency's far reaching stellar reputation, vast scope and its innovative staff. He instantly bonded with Archway's mission of "fostering community well-being and social justice through positive action and leadership."
Rod has an Executive MBA from SFU and a BA in Religious Studies from TWU. He has also practiced embodied leadership, collective impact and community change, and intercultural dispute resolution.
Rod loves working alongside people who are so passionate about amplifying the voices of the people they get to work with; staff, volunteers and partners who go the extra mile and who somehow manage to laugh and cry along the journey of seeking "justice, opportunities and equitable access for all". He is part of various Archway committees including the Board of Governance, Finance, Nominations, Board Development, Strategic Planning, and the Shared Leadership Team.
He is the Past Chair on the Board of Community Social Services Employers Association of BC (CSSEA), and has served on the Advisory Committee of Peace and Conflict Studies at UFV, the Hub of the Fraser Valley Community Advisory Board of Abbotsford City Council, and as the Facilitator for the Abbotsford Collaborative Services Committee.
Rod has been an Abbotsford resident for over 20 years except for when he - with his family - lived in Uzbekistan for six years working as an international community developer.
He savours the great outdoors through hiking, camping, cycling, canoeing and snowshoeing. He dabbles in epicurean cuisines (some cooking, lots of eating) and loves to experience the world one-culture-at-a-time through travelling (preferably with a backpack on). He lives with his wife and love of over 30 years and enjoys quality relationship with his kids and granddaughters.
Job Titles:
- Director of Counselling, Child, Youth & Family Services
Shairose has been with Archway Community Services since 2006. She is currently the Director of Counselling, Child, Youth and Family Services, where she oversees over 40 programs. These programs range from high school completion support for young parents and counselling for those who have experienced abuse to the Youth Resource Centre, Foundry Abbotsford and more.
Shairose enjoys the opportunity to work with her team to develop and empower families and build others up towards a shared vision for Archway's future.
Shairose has a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University and a Bachelor's degree in Human and Social Development (Child and Youth Care) from the University of Victoria. She also completed her certificate in Executive Leadership at City University.
Before coming to Archway, Shairose worked for 17 years at Little Mountain Neighborhood House in the capacity of Program Director and Director of Child Development Centre.
Shairose brings a wealth of robust relationships to Archway, including those with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Fraser Health, and Abbotsford School District to name a few.
She serves on various leadership committees within Archway and in partnerships with numerous external organizations. In 2023, she was appointed as a Board member at large with the Federation of Social Services of BC. Shairose is passionate about engaging in all levels and aspects of the community including collaborative practice and partnerships.
Her numerous volunteer positions and affiliations have included and include roles with the City of Abbotsford Civic and Recognition Committee, Abbotsford Character Council, UFV Ethics Review Board, Aga Khan Ismaili Community Leadership (National, Regional & Provincial), Safe Relationship Safe Children Steering Committee, UFV Social Work and Human Services Advisory Council, Abbotsford Child and Youth Committee, and Abbotsford Early Years.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Youth, Health & Quality Improvement
Steve is a retired educator who worked for the Abbotsford School District. He has always been involved as a volunteer in his community serving such organizations as the Kiwanis Club of Clearbrook, Abbotsford Youth Commission, BC Summer Games (2004, 2016), Central Abbotsford Community School, Canadian Student Leadership Conference, and the United Way of the Fraser Valley. He has served on the Archway Board of Directors since 2014 and was the Board President from 2018-2023.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Risk, Privacy Officer
Tina Poudrier-Beck, CPA, CA, BA, is the Director of Finance and Risk, Privacy Officer, who joined Archway Community Services in 2018. She previously worked in public practice providing assurance and accounting services to a wide range of client groups including owner-managed businesses, First Nations communities and businesses and not-for-profit organizations. She has strategic and risk management of the agency's finances, real estate asset management, enterprise risk management, and is also Archway's Privacy Officer.
Tina earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Psychology from Simon Fraser University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). Her role at Archway allows her to combine her expertise in finance with her passion for social justice.
In addition to accounting, she brings a diverse professional background including working in legal, insurance, construction and advertisement industries, teaching computer skills to incarcerated women through the Elizabeth Fry Society, coaching youth, being on the BC Lions Dance Team and serving in the Canadian Army Reserves.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of People & Culture