Richmond Women's Resource Centre

COLLEEN GLYNN - Acting President

Colleen joined the Board in 2007. She has resided in Richmond since 1975. Colleen has a BA in Political Science from UBC and a Masters in Mass Communications from Leicester University in England. Colleen is a long-time feminist, has served on Board of Directors of Everywoman's Health Centre and was President of CHIMO Richmond Crisis Centre for four years. She currently works as an Administrative Assistant at Worksafe BC.

REG BRENNAN - Secretary

Reg joined the Board in 2007. She has been a Richmond resident for 20 years and works full time for the Public Service Alliance of Canada as a Regional Representative. She is a feminist with a long history of activism in the struggle against the oppression of women, mostly through her involvement with her union.

BARB KNODEL - Treasurer

Barb joined the Board in 2008 as our Treasurer. She brings 34 years of office/ secretarial/accounting experience having worked for a major steel company. Currently Barb works for the Richmond School District as a business assistant at McMath Secondary. She has been on the Union Job Evaluation Committee for CUPE Local 716 for four years. "I believe that I have a lot to offer to the Richmond Women's Resource Centre. I have volunteered within the Richmond community for over 30 years. I raised 2 daughters in Richmond, who are now 29 and 27 years old, so I am aware of the many struggles that face women. I would like to get involved with a worthy organization to give something back to the community."

DE WHALEN

De has served on the Board since 2005, as Secretary, Vice President, and most recently as President. She has a BSC in Biological sciences and training in health management and laboratory sciences. During her career as a union negotiator De advocated justice for women in pay equity and childcare. "I feel my experience in negotiation, mediation, and facilitation will benefit the Women's Centre."

De has a particular interest in advocating for immigrant women in Richmond, enabling them to have access community services and resources and to enjoy a sense of belonging to the community.

ANNE CHRISTIAN

Anne has lived in Richmond for nearly thirty years, along with her husband, raising their son and being an active member of the community. She has a Master's degree in theology and serves the church from Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. Her husband is now severly disabled and living in a Long Term Care home in New Westminster. She sees her first responsibility as his advocate. She brings to the board of the Richmond Women's Resource Centre her thoughtful knowledge of the world and spritual issues which inform her feminism.

MARIELLE DEMOREST

Marielle has been active in women's issues since 1970. She is the co-founder of the Richmond Women's Centre and has continued as an active Board member since its inception in 1976. Marielle currently participates in a variety of community committees and is winner of the 2002 Volunteer Richmond's Community Service Award.

GRACE (HUI HAO) HSUEH

Grace joined the Board in 2007. Grace has a degree in Psychology, and has just completed the last few courses for medical school. Being a doctor has been her life long dream. Grace wants to help people to live better lives, physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. She has a keen interest in helping other people overcome their life hardships, increase confidence and competence. “Being a woman myself I am very aware of the social pressure and stereotypes against women. I wanted to volunteer in Richmond Women's Resource Centre because it offers a very complete set of programs dedicated to help increase the life quality of women and children in need.”

RITA KNAPP

Rita joined the Board in 2008. She has a long involvement with the Richmond community, from the years supporting her son’s daycare to her most recent work with McMath parents on a dry grad committee. Rita has been employed for 25 years with the Delta School Board as an Education Assistant, primarily working with children in grades six and seven. Rita was raised in a single parent family and faced issues of poverty in her childhood. She says, "I’m all about children and how can working with and for women not be good for children?"

CHARLOTTE LI

"I came to know this board through the Richmond youth now program. I am currently in UBC as a first year science student. I was born in Hong Kong but came to Richmond when I was one years old and have lived in Richmond ever since. I would like to learn more in the areas of women's rights and be more aware of women's issues in the world. Besides going to school, I also volunteer at the hospital."

MARY SCOTT

In 2006,I retired, after 25 years of service, as a nurse, from the BC Cancer Agency. Since that time I have been volunteering with Richmond’s Seniors Wellness Clinics and as an Information and Referral Volunteer for Seniors at Volunteer Richmond. Women's rights and issues, specifically as related to Seniors, are areas that I am interested in. My being on the Board of the Women's Resource Centre, will give me the opportunity to serve this community more fully. On a personal note: originally from Montreal, I have lived in Richmond for twenty plus years. I am a hiker, quilter, sewer and knitter. I am the mother of three adult children and grandmother of six.

MAGNOLIA VILLALOBOS

Magnolia has been on the Board since 2007. She was born in Chile, and when the military coup overthrew the democratic government of Salvador Allende in 1973, she moved to Argentina with her family. In 1976 they moved to Canada, in Saskatchewan. She worked in a factory sewing and studying English at night. Afterwards she got a housekeeping job in a Regina hospital. She then completed studies to become a Cardiology Technologist and has worked as this for over 20 years.

Magnolia first became involved with women groups in Moose Jaw. They decided to start a group to support the women and their relatives in Chile. Magnolia is active in many women's groups in Vancouver such as the Vancouver District Labor Women's Committee, Grassroots Women and the Vancouver Status of Women. Magnolia says, "I embrace the opportunity to participate in the Richmond Women's Centre and to work toward achieving equality and women rights. I believe gatherings such as these will teach us about issues that are important to all of us. I strongly believe that we women have to work together to achieve meaningful changes in our society."

PATRICIA WANG

Patricia has been volunteering in RWRC since 2007 and currently is a Chinese Grandparenting Program Assistant helping the program facilitator running a Chinese grandparents group at RMCS. Her eighteen-year teaching and instructing experience, related facilitation training, as well as her innate enthusiasm to serving non-profit organization will enable her to provide good service and support to RWRC.

IVETA WILLIAMS

Iveta joined the Board in 2008. She brings 27 years of office/secretarial experience, having worked for an insurance company and in a variety of jobs, including planning and coordinating events and social functions. Currently Iveta works for the Richmond School District as a senior secretary at McMath Secondary. She was Union Secretary for CUPE Local 716 for four years.

"I believe that I have a lot to offer to the Richmond Women's Resource Centre. I left home at sixteen and was lucky to be helped by a women’s shelter in Ontario. I raised my daughter, who is now 24 years old, as a single parent, so I am aware of the many struggles that face women. I have been helped in many ways during my life and now I would like to get involved with a worthy organization to return something back to the community."

CHARLENE WONG

Charlene joined the Board in October 2008 through the Leadership Richmond - Youth Now Program as a Youth Leader and hopes to continue sitting on the Board in 2009-2010. Charlene was born and raised in Richmond and is excited to continually contribute and be active in the community. She has a passion for women, youth, and children; as a Vice-Chair for the Zenith Global Citizenship Conference and as a member of the City of Richmond's Child Care Development Advisory Committee. Charlene was awarded the 2008 Shooting Star Award at the "Volunteers Are Stars" Gala. Charlene is currently attending UBC's Sauder School of Business.