LOOKOUT - Key Persons
Amber grew up in Coquitlam and has lived in the tri-cities almost all her life until most recently when she moved to Maple Ridge. She enjoys the calm of the suburbs. Amber works in Langley as an Senior Accountant for a propagation business which grows vegetable seedlings and flowers. Outside of that, she is also self employed to offer personal and corporate tax and accounting advisory services. Amber started this side gig as she loves helping others and offering advice to help them succeed in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
In her free time, you will likely find her reading a book for her monthly book club meeting or at the park with a furry friend at her side. Amber likes getting outdoors whenever she can, particularly to go camping, golfing, or just to sit outside and read. A couple fun facts about Amber are: she has an identical twin sister and has yet to explore the rest of Canada outside of B.C. Post pandemic, Amber would like to road trip across Canada. Amber is excited to be a part of the Lookout Foundation board as she feels strongly about helping others, particularly with the mental health side of things due to lived experience. Amber feels there is more that can be done to support individuals who need mental health services.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Health - Vancouver
Amy Bell joined Lookout Housing and Health Society in 2024 after moving back to Vancouver from Vancouver Island. She has been working within the non-profit sector for almost two decades leading and developing programming for vulnerable and marginalized people in the shelter, housing and child and youth care sectors. Amy has worked closely with Indigenous communities in rural and urban settings, building and leading services that provide unique and individualized programs.
Amy holds a BA in Women and Gender Studies, a post-graduate degree specializing in Concurrent Disorders and most recently a certificate in Project Management. Amy's schooling and hands-on experience help her maximize resources and collaborate with communities to provide excellent support services. Creating and leading programs through a trauma-informed and person-centred lens is what she is most passionate about.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of Snuneymuxw First Nation
Bennie is a member of Snuneymuxw First Nation through his grandmother and has Sto:lo ancestry through his grandfather, he proudly sits on the Elder's Advisory for Snuneymuxw. Bennie has worked for the Squamish Nation at Nexw7áýstwaý Training and Trades Centre (Squamish Nation Training & Trades Centre) located in North Vancouver, as the Student Support Specialist for the past 6 years, and has recently taken over as the Employment and Relations Specialist.
Originally from Chilliwack, Bennie has lived in Vancouver since the early 60's, growing up with a single mom and 6 siblings, life was awesome but challenging. Before working with the Squamish Nation, Bennie spent 35 years in the restaurant business after he'd graduated from BCIT with a Hotel, Restaurant Management degree in 1979.
"I come to Lookout with lived experience, with the help and support of the MDABC, Dr. Ron Remick, my wife, children and many others I have managed to live a very healthy and active life. I love to help others do the same."
Chuck Puchmayr is a former New Westminster city councillor and a former Member of the Legislative Assembly of BC. He was first elected to public office in 1996, and continues to serve the constituents of New Westminster today. He is the founder and a volunteer for A Beef with Hunger Society, an organization which raises food for food banks and local non-profit meal providers. He is also a volunteer with BC Transplant. He is a strong advocate for human rights and reconciliation, working with Indigenous communities throughout BC. Chuck is a member of the New Westminster First Nations Court planning committee and is also a certified Gladue Writer, for Indigenous court. He is the former president of the Lookout Foundation.
Dan Steinberg joined the Board of Lookout in 1993. He completed his B.A. and L.L.B. at the University of British Columbia. Dan is a retired Provincial Court Judge originally appointed in 1994. Prior to his appointment, he practiced criminal defense work focusing on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. He had extensive dealings with the Court Project of the Mental Patients Association and served on the organizing committee and was a panelist for a conference on Mental Health and the Law in 1993. Dan also served on the Boards of the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Judith Marcuse Productions, Art Starts in Schools and the Vancouver International Comedy Festival. Danny has served as Santa each year in our Downtown residences.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Caroline Ferris is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the UBC Department of Family Practice. Also certified in Addiction Medicine (ISAM, CCFP AM), she worked for 9 years at Lookout's Surrey Clinic, providing primary care and addiction services to the City of Surrey's most vulnerable. In addition, she collaborated with Lookout and Fraser Health to support the Take Home Naloxone program, SafePoint, Lookout's Safe Consumption Site, iOAT and other initiatives in response to the opioid/overdose crisis. Now relocated to Victoria, Dr. Ferris continues on the Lookout Board of Directors as well as teaching, and serving as Medical Lead for Victoria Rapid Access Addiction Clinic.
Duncan Bees, M.Eng., B.A.Sc., PMP, is an engineer and consultant for technology development. He has led strategy and management for prominent multi-national associations such as the Home Gateway Initiative and the Digital Living Network Alliance, and currently he is Technical Program Director for the Eclipse Foundation. He also led R&D for innovative products with PMC-Sierra, Nortel Networks, and others. Active in community organizations, he is deeply committed to the goals of the Lookout Society in providing dignity, housing and care to those in need.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Vice - President
Purpose-driven and determined to support sustainable progress, Grant has a diverse background. He holds a BFA, a CPA, CA, and is currently completing his designation as a Chartered Director. An entrepreneur to his core, Grant builds things. He founded Clearline CPA in 2007 and for 12 years was senior partner, growth from 1 person to 40. In 2019, he founded Clarity NPO, an organization dedicated to helping charities and NPOs set targets and achieve goals. Grant is about inclusion in support of strong direction that drives success. Learn more and follow Grant via Clarity NPO and his social media links there.
Greg Robins, prior Director since 2008, has a background in magazine publishing, communications and both online and offline media development. His expertise has helped launch 3 successful Canadian publications and two industry leading web sites and one international magazine in the form of a DVD.
Currently, Greg has expanded his career path to include operating a well-established organic home food delivery service. The board can benefit from Greg's knowledge of communications, press relations, web site development and public relations. He also brings a solid understanding of financial reporting to assist with decisions based on budgets.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations - Vancouver Region
With an educational background in Visual Arts and Social Sciences, Jana brings creativity and diversity to her work at Lookout. Jana has over 20 years of leadership experience in Operations and has a long history of working with a variety of non-profits and Community Groups in BC. She has been a director on several different boards including Artist Run Centers and a Chamber of Commerce and enjoys being active and advocating in her communities. Jana values inclusion through an intersectional lens and fostering a culture of belonging. She has worked diligently in overdose emergency response and prevention in housing, and is proud of her innovation and creation of Lookout's ARCH team (Assisting Reduction in Clutter and Hoarding) that takes a trauma-informed harm reduction approach to decluttering.
John Richmond is a stroke survivor and co-founder of two peer-driven organizations in BC, Stroke Survivor Advocacy Group and the Sunshine Coast Alliance for Senior Care Co-operative.
John grew up in North Vancouver, attending Capilano University and working with children with autism. John ran the Ability Integrated Recreation Program with the (now) North Shore Disability Resource Centre. After moving to East Vancouver, he attended UBC studying Philosophy and Social Work while working on the Downtown Eastside at the Lookout Shelter and helping to co-found the Portland Hotel Society with Jim Green and others.
John studied the social process of homelessness and affordable housing development at University of Toronto while helping to design and develop Strachan House, a project loosely based on the Portland Hotel model. John lives and works on the traditional territory of the Shishalh People and is the Vancouver Sea to Sky Branch Representative for the BC Association of Social Workers
Kenny has a diverse finance, hospitality, franchise, and festival management industry background. He is a CPA and has completed a bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University and postgraduate education from the University of British Columbia. Kenny moved from the ‘For-Profit' to the ‘Not-For-Profit' sector and has been with the New Vista Society since 2015 as the Director of Finance. He devotes his private time mentoring CPA candidates with CPA BC and fostering cats.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations - Vancouver Island Region
Lee Fox, a dedicated advocate for Social change, brings over 12 years of Frontline Management experience and extensive training in leadership. Her specialized certifications in Aboriginal-focused Complex Trauma Therapy as well as several recent certifications allowing her to train peers and job-seekers reflect her passion for empowering marginalized individuals. As a Program Manager at Lookout Health + Housing, Lee drove impactful initiatives like the Lookout Ethical Employment Program. Her adeptness at navigating challenges and fostering innovation demonstrates her commitment to positive social change.
"As a manager, I find myself at the helm of positive change, steering the course towards a brighter future. My purpose is clear: to empower individuals with the tools they need to gain work experience, access opportunities for career growth, and develop skills that enrich both their professional and personal lives. It is a role that goes beyond the ordinary, and I am dedicated to cultivating an environment that is not just open and welcoming, but also a catalyst for meaningful transformations."
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer / Director of Properties
Leo comes from the Burnaby Family Life Institute where he led the finance department for seven years. In his role as Financial Officer he reviewed, developed and implemented effective financial strategies, policies and procedures for multiple service contracts.
Leo brings a reputation for solid accounting and auditing practices along with an outstanding ability to analyze and resolve problems. For more than 15 years, Leo has held several finance positions including accounting officer, controller and internal auditor. Leo holds a Bachelor degree in Industry Design within the Mechanical Engineering Faculty. In addition to his financial portfolio, Leo oversees building development projects, as well as building acquisitions.
Along with his extensive financial skills, Leo also is known for his great sense of humour.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations - Fraser Region
Leonard Levy has over 16 years of experience in business management, planning, direction and operations in the not-for-profit sector and is a key member of our senior management team.
His strength in strategic planning brings direction and fosters a strong sense of team and ownership. His primary roles include internal communications and coordination, human resources, IT and property management oversight. Leonard is currently working towards his undergraduate degree in Business Management through the University of Phoenix.
Light Ma oversees Lookout's major construction and renovation projects. He has more than 16 years of project management experience in commercial and residential environments, including new building start-ups, renovation design and construction management. His extensive experience includes planning, implementing, a variety of construction activities and controlling risks. Light has a Master of Engineer designation from
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Health - Fraser Region
Meg Tran joined Lookout Society in 2011. She started as a tenant support worker with DTES residency programs. She joined Lookout leadership team in 2015 as the program coordinator of First Place and in 2018 as the program manager of Surrey Health Solutions.
Meg Tran has over 8 years of experience working as a Medical Program Coordinator for international non-profit organizations and overseen the operations of a couple clinics in Surrey. Meg was a Doctor of Medicine in Vietnam, specializing in STI/HIV. Meg holds a certificate in Epidemiological and Behaviour Research as well as a Master's of Business Administration.
Megan Kriger became part of the Lookout Society in 2014 when Lookout merged with Keys: Housing and Health Solutions Society. With Keys, she served as Executive Director and Director of Operations.
Today she leads the Development department where she brings a business-minded perspective to social service environment. Megan holds a Masters in Leadership, a Bachelor in Communication, and has more than fifteen years of management experience in higher education.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Operations - Fraser Region
Megan is a compassionate and dedicated member of the team with a strong commitment to serving vulnerable populations. Having lived experience herself, she brings a unique perspective and insight to her work. Joining Lookout (formerly Keys Housing and Health Solutions) in 2009, she has served across the organization in both housing and health portfolios - helping to develop and oversee programming that helps to address the complex challenges faced in the community. She has a deep understanding of the issues that individuals face and is a passionate advocate for harm reduction strategies and understands the importance of creating safe spaces for individuals and championing peer work not only within the organization but the sector as a whole.
Outside of work, Megan is the mother of five and enjoys spending time with her children and those she is close with.
Terry Brock, MSW RSW, is a Social Worker with more than 27 years of experience in direct practice and leadership. Terry has worked in a variety of social work settings including youth corrections, family therapy, parenting support, domestic violence, and healthcare. Terry has extensive experience in health care including front-line practice in acute care, leadership […]
Raymond joined in August 2023 with experience working with different Not-for-Profit organizations, and with different industries. As the Director of Finance for Lookout Housing and Health Society, he is responsible for the overall financial health of the organization.
Prior to joining Lookout, he worked with the YMCA BC leading the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team for more than 2 years focusing on strategic planning, performance reporting. In his 5 years with PLEA Community Services Society of BC as the Controller, he implemented several new accounting software, created efficiencies for recurring processes, and developed effective financial strategies, internal controls, policies and procedures for several contracts from health & government bodies. He also had experience working on both short- and long-range cash flow forecasting for an eCommerce called the Cymax Group Technologies.
Raymond is a CPA with solid accounting and auditing experiences, along with an innovative approach to find effective & efficient solutions. For more than 10 years, Raymond has held several finance positions including Senior Accountant, Controller and FP&A Manager. Currently, Raymond is the Co-Treasurer for the Environmental Youth Alliance Society.
Outside of work, Raymond enjoys trail walking, cycling, and indoor badminton with friends and family but not the cat.
Sharon brings extensive experience as a Senior Manager and Event/Project Specialist. She held the positon of Director of Operations for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE BC) for 20 years. Prior to that Sharon spent many years in the Government world working for two Premiers in senior positions and in the Official Opposition travelling the province extensively. She also worked for a Member of Parliament in Kamloops and Ottawa for several years.
Sharon currently lives in New Westminster and has a home based business for event and project management. Her early years of growing up in Vancouver were challenging dealing with many social agencies and gave her much insight to the plight of the most vulnerable in our society. Sharon believes that to be involved in the BC Lookout Society that offers a safety net to those in the most need is like coming "full circle" for her and an incredible opportunity to give back.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Executive Director of Lookout Housing
Shayne Williams was appointed the Executive Director of Lookout Housing and Health Society in 2014. Founded in 1971, Lookout is a minimal barrier service provider that addresses extreme poverty and associated challenges including homelessness, physical and mental health, substance use, trauma and disabilities. Shayne also founded and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Lookout Foundation which helps provide funding to pilot and support innovative programs at Lookout.
Shayne has a degree in Sociology from the University of Alberta and has been working in the non-profit sector since 1991. Prior to Lookout, he worked in Surrey at Keys: Housing and Health Solutions for over a decade and also founded an Alberta-based youth organization, acting as their Executive Director in 1999. He is a ‘2013 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal' recipient and a ‘2017 Canada 150' award recipient for outstanding service and dedication to the community.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of Qayqayt First Nation Band
Stacey Ferguson is an active member of Qayqayt First Nation Band and is the daughter of Chief Rhonda Larrabee. She is currently working as the Indigenous Community Development Coordinator for the Band. She is a Traditional Birth Keeper and certified Doula with a passion for assisting and advocating for families bringing new life into our world.
Job Titles:
- Director of Health - Vancouver Region
Tamara comes to Lookout Housing & Health Society with almost two decades of progressive management experience within the non-profit community. She brings with her extensive knowledge and a varied skillset which is evidenced by an emphasis on risk mitigation and staff and client safety. Tamara has excelled in her leadership abilities and has a contagious enthusiasm and passionate belief in teams that inspires them to become cohesive, strong and resilient. She has an excellent reputation within the sector and is well respected for her tireless work ethic, commitment to all that she endeavors and quality of service delivery.
She is very family orientated, has two young children and enjoys a being active within the community.
As an educator, Teresa taught 37 years in the public school system teaching mainly elementary, some secondary, and as a faculty associate at Simon Fraser working with student teachers. Teresa completed her Master's degree at Simon Fraser in the area of literacy in particular reading and writing.
Following retirement from public school education, Teresa worked for 7 years with FNESC (First Nation Education Steering Committee) as a literacy coach. The schools were all over B.C. on First Nation reserves. Her role with FNESC was to work in partnership with First Nation people to help build their basic literacy skills of reading and writing so students would have the ability to access jobs, and build
Job Titles:
- Director of People and Culture
Terri joined Lookout in June 2018 as our new Director of Human Resources. Prior to Lookout, Terri spent eight years with Tradex and Tourism Abbotsford as the Senior Human Resources Manager where she had to build the entire human resources department from the ground up.
Terri is an award winning Human Resource professional with a career background in: human resource management, public administration and corporate leadership. With a well-documented track record in aligning strategic organizational needs and best practices while providing a strategic perspective to all aspects of organizational leadership, Terri is passionate about creating cultures that support employee engagement and professional development.
Job Titles:
- Director of Health - Fraser Region
Terry Brock, MSW RSW, is a Social Worker with more than 27 years of experience in direct practice and leadership. Terry has worked in a variety of social work settings including youth corrections, family therapy, parenting support, domestic violence, and healthcare. Terry has extensive experience in health care including front-line practice in acute care, leadership within Fraser Health and most recently at the Doctors of BC as a General Practice Service Liaison for the Fraser Region.
During his time as the Regional Social Work Practice Leader in Fraser Health, he developed a number of initiatives to improve health care for the most marginalized patients in the Health Region. He is recognized provincially as a researcher, leader and presenter in articulating the health care needs of the most vulnerable.
Terry is proud to be associated with Lookout's outstanding staff and philosophy of providing low to no barrier services to the most vulnerable people in our communities.
"My name is Xaniimaston and my English name is Tim Harris. I come from the Stz'uminus First Nations. I have a B.Ed. and an M.Ed. I was an elementary teacher for 6 years before becoming a principal for nearly 10 years and all years were in First Nations Schools. I'm currently a program manager of a program called Step Up here with Kwumut Lelum in Nanaimo BC. I was a council member of my nation for nearly 25 years.
My passion is seeing our First Nations youth become successful in life. I strongly feel our youth need us to support them on their journey in life. Many youth come with many social/emotional needs, physical needs, and spiritual needs. I strongly feel it is up to us to support them. Our youth are our future, so we have to do what we can to ensure they are successful. I will continue to be a strong advocate for our youth when it comes to basic life skills and independence. Our youth can use supports in Personal Effectiveness, Education, Employment, Cultural and Community Connectedness, and Housing. We need to strive to support in these areas. Our youth need us!
Troy joined Lookout Housing and Health Society in October 2022 from the private IT sector. Over the years working at IT managed service providers, he has had the privilege of supporting various non-profit societies from the help desk to the account executive level throughout the years. He has worked in various positions in the Information Technology field for over 12 years and has a passion for implementing new and exciting technologies for businesses.
Most of Troy's education has come from working in the Information Technology field for Managed Service Providers, where he has been exposed to numerous different technologies and business needs. Troy is excited to bring his passion and knowledge for IT to Lookout Housing and Health Society, where he wants to be able to support the society in accomplishing its long-term goals. Outside of work, Troy loves spending time with his wife and young daughter and is a die-hard Canucks fan that hopes to see them win the Stanley Cup in the near future.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) for Vantage Point
Zahra is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Vantage Point, a non-profit organization that provides training and capacity building support to other non-profit organizations across BC. She has worked in the non-profit sector for over 15 years with experience in international development, housing and homelessness, community development, youth entrepreneurship, fundraising, and microfinance. She has a master's in globalization and international development from the University of Ottawa, a bachelor's in history from UBC, and an associate certificate in fundraising management from BCIT. In addition to her role on with the Lookout Foundation, Zahra sits on the boards of Cuso International and Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society, and is a member of Vancouver Foundation's Honorary Governor's Council. She is the Chair of BC's Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee, an independent committee that advises the government on policy developments related to poverty reduction and prevention. Zahra was recognized as one of Business in Vancouver's Forty Under 40 in 2019 and was nominated for a Women of Distinction Award in the Non-Profit category in 2022.
Zahra and her family are grateful to live on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) peoples. She spends her free time enjoying the outdoors, practicing yoga, dancing, kayaking, traveling, or playing board games with her school-age daughter.