Bill Wright

Board Chair

Bill joined the Habitat's Board in 2020 after retiring from a 37 year career in the financial services industry. A career which took Bill and family to 10 different communities west of Toronto including responsibilities on North Vancouver Island from 2002 - 05, involved a number of diverse leadership roles, including sales management, strategy development, credit risk management, and development of a banking offer for CIBC’s Business Banking Clients in the Caribbean.

Bill has been a member of a Rotary Club in 6 cities across Western Canada and is currently Club Secretary with the Strathcona Sunrise Club in Courtenay.

John Newman

Corporate Secretary

John Newman joined the board in August 2014. Since retiring from his career as a petroleum engineer in Calgary, John and his wife Louise have lived in Courtenay. John officiates soccer and basketball, is a volunteer ESL tutor, and enjoys sports and outdoor fitness activities.

Paul Ives

Board Member

Paul Ives has carried on a law practice in real estate, corporate-commercial and wills/estates at Ives Burger in Courtenay since 1992. He received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for service to the community and, in December 2014, he was appointed as Q.C. (Queen’s Counsel) by Order-in-Council (B.C.).

Paul served in local government for 16 years, 6 years as a Councillor and 10 years as Mayor of Town of Comox. He was elected as Vice Chair of Comox Valley Regional District as well as Chairs of Comox Valley Water Committee, CV Sewer Commission, and CV Sports Commission. He also served on the Comox Valley Economic Development Society board (2002-2008 and 2014-2018).

As Mayor, Paul was appointed Treasurer of Island Coastal Economic Trust in January 2015, a member of the Provincial Climate Leadership Team in March 2015, and a member of MMBC (Multi-Material BC) Advisory Committee in June 2015 and a member of RCMP Contract Management Committee in July 2015.

Paul is married to his high school sweetheart, Paula (an ER nurse at Comox Valley General Hospital), and they have three adult sons, Matthew (Shira), Andrew (Taylor) and Sean. Paul and Paula enjoy most sports and walking their dog Hunter in Comox's NE Woods near where they reside on Highridge Drive.

Eric Macdonald

Board Member

Eric Macdonald is married with three adult children and two grandchildren. He and his wife
have lived in the Comox Valley since 1991, and he retired in 2017 following a thirty-five-year
career in Executive Health Care management, finance and consulting. Eric has served not-for-profit organizations in a variety of management, volunteer, directorship and consulting roles for a wide range of charitable organizations including St Joseph’s Hospital, Providence Health, Precious Jewels Ministries, Cerebral Palsy Association of BC, Syrian Refugee Support, and the Courtenay Little Theatre.

Gardiner Macdermot

Board Member

Gardiner received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Royal Roads University in 2004 and a Diploma in Urban Land Economics (development stream) from UBC in 2007. He had a variety of drafting and survey jobs prior to owning an architectural drafting company for 10 years. That experience led to successive levels of construction management and the formation of Allied Construction Corp. in London, On. After returning to the west coast, Gardiner worked on contract with Complete Asset Management, Westbank Projects and as senior project manager with Retirement Concepts/Pacific Reach Properties. Gardiner was a finalist in the 1985 Ontario Renews awards and received an honorable mention in a CMHC passive solar design contest. Published works are a Home of the Week future for the London Free Press for 3 years; Green Living Magazine articles: London into the next Century; R2000- a Canadian success story; and the 1997 BC Gulf Islands Marine Parks Guide. As a youth, Gardiner volunteered as a member of the Metchosin Recreation Commission; when living in Ontario he was a member of the Komoka Optimist club; in Victoria he helped Kiwanis build a group home; and he has worked on the Habitat North Island Courtenay build site for past 2 years Hobbies include carpentry and watercolour painting. Gardiner retired in 2017 and he and his wife of 46 years became snowbirds: Courtenay in the summer and Belize in the winter.

Lindsay Monk

Board Treasurer

Lindsay is an affordable housing development consultant based in the Comox Valley. She has significant experience working for the federal government and, as Manager of Development at M’akola Development Services, has managed the development and completion of several hundred units of affordable housing in BC. Recognizing the ability of housing development to improve community wellbeing, she employs a thoughtful and empathetic approach that focuses on housing as the service of community. Lindsay joined the VIN Habitat Board of Directors in order to support and become more involved in community development in the region and is looking forward to supporting the great work of Habitat. In her spare time, she enjoys open water swimming, exploring the Cumberland trails, and searching for the perfect cup of coffee. She has lived and worked in Montreal, Ottawa, northern Alberta, and across BC.

Archana Ananthanarayan

Board Member

Archana is a finance professional who works with BC Transit as the Program Manager for Finance Transformation. She has extensive experience in India and Canada and has volunteered with several not-for-profits. Archana moved to Campbell River in 2021, and she enjoys yoga by the ocean and walks along the sea.

Aundrea Kvisle

Board Member

Aundrea was born and raised on Vancouver Island and has lived in the Comox Valley since 1999. She is currently employed as a mortgage broker, having challenged the UBC Sauder School of Business Mortgage Broker in BC course near the end of 2021, passing the exam and becoming licensed in December of 2021. Prior to that, she worked for a local Credit Union in various roles for almost 16 years, much of that time was spent as a Mortgage Lender. During her employment with the Credit Union, she completed two accreditations; the Consumer and Residential Mortgage Lender Accreditation, and the Business Lender Accreditation. Having worked in the mortgage field for so many years, Aundrea has seen first hand the impact of rising housing prices, rising rates and the inaccessibility of affordable housing to so many in the community. After volunteering on a local build site and seeing first hand the amazing work that Habitat for Humanity does for the community, Aundrea felt compelled to become more involved, and joined the board of directors in 2023.

Terry Farrell

Board Member

Terry Farrell has been the editor of the Comox Valley Record ever since he and his wife, Erica, moved to the Comox Valley in 2014. Terry balances his work/play life by taking advantage of the many trail systems in the Valley with Erica and their three dogs. He loves to golf (although he is not sure the feeling is mutual) and has always been a fan of live music.

Heather Buchanan

Board Member

Heather was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She moved to the Comox Valley in 2001 with her husband Jay and raised her two children, Emma and Mirren. She attended North Island College, becoming one of the first graduates of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree and went on to pursue her accounting designation, becoming a CPA in 2014. She joined North Island College’s finance team in 2009 and works as Budget Analyst. She has supported the work of Habitat for Humanity for many years and is looking forward to contributing to the organization’s important work in the community as a board member.

Jane Murphy

Board Member

Sue McKitrick

Board Member

After obtaining an Honours BA in Urban Development from Western University, Sue began her commercial real estate career working in the London Docklands UK during its inception. Upon returning to Canada Sue worked for developers in Toronto for 8 years and obtained her MBA at York University. Sue also worked in New Delhi India and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Central America and Toronto. Originally from Thunder Bay Ontario, she has lived on Vancouver Island since 1997. As VP & Associate Broker of the Royal LePage Commercial team, Sue offers real estate trading and consulting/advisory services across all types of commercial real estate. In her free time Sue enjoys long distance running, cycling, skate skiing, swimming and kayaking. Sue also enjoys spending time with her three grown children.

Jeff West

Executive Director

Jeff West, originally from Vancouver, has been a resident of the Comox Valley since 2010. With training in Accounting and Finance, Jeff has held leadership positions in not for profit, community-based organizations for the past 20+ years including the Vancouver Airport Authority, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and most recently BC Ferries.

Jeff has also volunteered in various roles with youth soccer in the Comox Valley as well as with local Rotary Clubs and the Anderton Therapeutic Gardens.

Jeff joined the Habitat VIN team as Executive Director in December 2021.

Jun Mallare

Executive Assistant

Jun took on the role of Assistant to the Executive Director in January 2011. With his past experience as an accountant in the Philippines, he also assisted with bookkeeping and payroll functions. In the spring of 2015, he assumed both roles on a full-time basis. He makes certain that the bills are paid on time and every dollar donated is properly account for! He says he loves working at Habitat because he enjoys meeting new people and hearing their stories. He enjoys interaction with fellow staff, volunteers and our future homeowners.

Larry Poirier

Construction Manager

Larry joined Habitat in 2019. He spent the majority of his career self employed in the Construction industry. His experience runs from mobile homes to apartment buildings, from cement work to tile work. He had to close his business during the pandemic, and came to work for Habitat for Humanity. His first experience with Habitat was in 2006 as a volunteer. In 2022 he took on the role of Construction Manager. He truly believes that everyone deserves a home they can afford. The best part of his day is when he gets to meet and visit with the families as we help them build their homes.

Stefano Tromba

Director of Communications and Fundraising

A native New Yorker, Stefano Tromba, brings over 20 years of marketing and communications experience to Habitat for Humanity. His previous work in a variety of industries and disciplines makes him a valuable asset that extends into many different areas and well beyond his communications and fundraising responsibilities.

Stefano’s passion and work with charities and non-profits started several years ago and included work with Project Sunshine, New York Cares, and others. As a member of the Habitat for Humanity team, he is proud to be part of an organization helping families realize that the dream of home ownership is not out of reach.

Brett Walker

Director of Operations

Brett Walker has been a resident of the North Island for over 30 years. He has a diploma in Marketing from Georgian College, Management Degree from Royal Roads University and a Certificate in Appraisal from UBC Sauder School of Business. His background is primarily in retail having started in the automotive industry and working in that industry for over 10 years. Following his automotive career he pursued a lifelong ambition of owning and operating an apparel company. He currently is a member of the Comox Rotary Club and the treasurer for the Comox Valley Family Services Association.

Helping families achieve the dream of home ownership and his admiration for the Habitat for Humanity North Island organization which made the decision to join the Habitat family an easy one.

Corinne Bjorge

Director of Family Services

Corinne has lived in the Comox Valley for the past 30 years, raising a family and working in the fields of administration and human resources. Most of those years were spent on Denman Island where she co-founded the local newspaper, ran the local bookstore, and worked with a group to create a 15-unit affordable housing co-operative. She moved to Courtenay in 2020 and loves being part of its vibrant, active community. She’s an executive member of the Comox Valley Horticultural Association and Comox Valley Toastmasters and tries to get out to ski, play soccer and play music with friends whenever there’s an opportunity.

Dwayne Toews

General Manager Comox Valley ReStore

Dwayne Toews has been in the beautiful Comox Valley for 3 years. He fell in love with the water and the huge trees on a vacation to get away from the Manitoba climate. With his knowledge and experience working in various Retail businesses for the last 20+ years, he is now the General Manager at a ReStore. What makes the Restore General Manager job so fun? Nothing beats that look on a person's face when they find that one item that they have been looking for or that item that takes them back to being a kid at home, the ReStores have these moments day after day. Those moments make it so that one day someone gets that smile of ownership which makes the job so worth it. His passion for Habitat for Humanity started in Winnipeg Manitoba with helping build three family homes in 1 year and always shopping at the ReStores to renovate his own home. For fun Dwayne enjoys hiking in the forest, getting feet full of sand on the beach, backyard woodworking, and is known to be a little competitive in board games. Always puts family first, and is a proud dad of three wonderful kids and has a loving wife of 29 years! Will always be the one with a genuine smile in a room because when you smile, everyone around you smiles too, and that is a great thing.

Kayla Tinga

General Manager Campbell River ReStore

Kayla is a seasoned manager with over 15 years of leadership experience in both retail and hospitality management. "My goal is to create an environment where people feel included, enjoy what they're doing and are passionate about supporting our mission and each other". Kayla worked as the General Manager in the Comox Valley store for 4 years before moving on to the Campbell River Store. Her dedication is to the team, the customers and building homes for families.

Chrytsal Arnet

Community Engagement and Events Manager

Chrystal was born and raised on Vancouver Island and has made Campbell River her home since 1996. Prior to joining Habitat for Humanity, she and her sister co-owned a restaurant and catering business for 26 years. She has served in the past on a number of business and not-for-profit committees and boards, including the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce, Campbell River Downtown BIA, Museum of Campbell River, Hower Meeker Special Olympics Golf Tournament, Daybreak Rotary and the Campbell River Community Foundation Grant Committee. Chrystal is married, has two grown daughters and three grandchildren and spends as much time with them as possible.

Yana Dimitrova

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Yana holds a Bachelor of Communications and Environmental Geography, providing her with a unique perspective on how housing critically impacts availability and affordability worldwide. At Habitat for Humanity, she takes pride in her role in helping bridge the gap between families in need of housing and the dream of homeownership.

Outside of the office, you’ll frequently find her immersing herself in the great outdoors. Whether it’s skiing the slopes in winter, hiking the scenic trails in summer, or capturing the beauty of Vancouver Island through year-round photography, she truly appreciates the island life.