The Board of Directors primary function is to ensure that the Society is being operated in a manner consistent with the Society’s overall policies, strategic goals and mission statement. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the organization on a daily basis.
If you have feedback or a complaint that relates to the actual manner in which the organization is led or managed by the CEO, then your feedback / complaint will be referred to the Board. You can direct this email to contactus@communitylivingsociety.ca or call the Director of Quality and Innovation at 604.571.4852
NOTE: Your concerns will be directed in confidence to the Director of Quality and Innovation to ensure your concerns are dealt with in a confidential and timely fashion by the appropriate party. Your feedback / complaint will be referred to the appropriate Director within the organization who is responsible for the issue in question, and that person will follow up with you promptly.
Family Leadership
Formed by families over thirty years ago, CLS continues to be led by the principles of individual and family-driven service. The organization was originally created as a not-for-profit society and independent planning agency, to assist their children as they moved from institutions into the community. It was the strong leadership of these families that moved the government of the time to agree to re-direct funding to community-based opportunities.
Today, people who receive service and their families still participate at every level of CLS, including serving on committees and as directors on our board.
“The organization has shown itself to be creative and exceptional in providing services and supports to benefit persons served, producing bottom-line outcomes that have earned it the satisfaction and esteem of stakeholders.”
CARF Accreditation Survey Report – 2011
Listening to and building the leadership from families is a key piece of the CLS strategic plan. Families bring new ideas and advocacy to the organization. They are also the best source of support to each other. We help families to get the information and resources they need to help themselves, and one another.
There are many ways that family members can get involved with CLS. We’d be happy to talk to you about it.
Find Out More About Becoming a CLS Board Member
Our Current Board of Directors
Heather Russell, Chair
Heather is a lawyer, and she has worked as a prosecutor for the federal government for over 20 years. She has experience in advocacy and analysis, and also serves on equity and diversity committees within the federal prosecution service. Heather has over 15 years experience volunteering in her housing co-operative where she has served in a variety of positions, including terms as President of the Board of Directors.
Heather is a person with a physical disability, and one of her three children is supported by Community Living Society and lives in a CLS staffed home. Through her own lived experience of having a disability, and raising her son with developmental disabilities, she is acutely aware of the importance of everyone having the opportunity live a full life.
Penny Dale, Vice Chair
Penny is a Registered Interior Designer specializing in both single-family residential, multi-family and commercial spaces. She has an in-depth knowledge of designing for accessibility and believes that exceptional design of space can positively impact lifestyle and experiences. As a family advocate, she brings a unique perspective as both her parents live with disabilities. Today her mother is supported by Community Living Society under the Individualized Supports program. She and her parents were long-time residents of Salt Spring Island. The small-town community imbedded the important influence that community plays on health and well-being, which is also a core value of CLS. She hopes that her unique background can be an asset to the Society in improving the lives of the people they support.
Wesley Ma, Treasurer
Wesley Ma is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CA) and executive with varied business, financial, and leadership experience. Wesley is Vice President of Finance at Technical Safety BC, a provincial safety regulator. Before Technical Safety BC, he was an experienced manager of PricewaterhouseCoopers where he led audit engagements for the public companies. Also, Wesley is the Executive Committee member (Minister’s Appointee) at Building Officials Association of BC and a board member at Queen’s Park Healthcare. In addition to bringing significant financial expertise to the board, he brings an in-depth knowledge of project and risk management.
Exploration and discovery have been recurring themes in Wes’s life. In his roles with various organizations, he now supports others in their discovery and innovation. By nurturing leadership in others, Wes aims to create a culture of experimentation and learning that propel knowledge and action.
Ming Chang
Ming Chang is a residency-trained clinical pharmacist currently practicing at a large academic hospital in Vancouver. Prior to joining CLS, he also served as a Board Member for the College of Pharmacists of BC, as well as Chair of the College’s Inquiry Committee. Ming is an experienced clinician and leader who previously held management positions at a large community pharmacy organization. During this time, he was introduced to many communities caring for supported individuals, including Community Living Society. Ming has witnessed the amazing ongoing successes within CLS and is excited to now collaborate with all stakeholders to continue this meaningful work. Outside of his professional life, Ming enjoys playing the guitar and cheering on the Vancouver Canucks.
Reba Noel
Reba is the Associate Director for Indigenous Education and Community Engagement at Vancouver Community College. She has worked in the post-secondary sector for 25 years in many facets of the student experience, in particular Student Recruitment, Counselling, Aboriginal Services and Student Engagement. Reba is recognized by her peers and family as a fierce advocate for ensuring that the rights and needs of those around her are equally recognized and respected.
Reba has been a Home Share provider for over ten years and enjoys the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those she supports, and their families. Reba is married and is the mother of two young adults. She is pleased to have a more formalized role on the Board of the Community Living Society after years of supporting youth sport and many of her children’s other extracurricular activities.
Sky Hendsbee
I joined the CLS board in March, 2022. I have been a member of the Langley Self Advocates since October 2008, and have been an athlete with the Special Olympics since I was eight years old. Special Olympics is probably the most important thing in my life. I went to Abbotsford for the Special Olympics provincial summer games in 2021 and won a silver and a bronze medal. My events were 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter backstroke. I also ran with the Law-Enforcement Torch to start the games. Special Olympics also holds a conference each year where we can take workshops on leadership, mentorship and how to be a coach. I have taken Speakers level 1 and 2 as part of the leadership course.
In 1992, I competed in the Nationals in Prince Edward Island in field hockey and we won gold. The best thing about being involved in Special Olympics is meeting new friends. I have learned how to be involved and how to be a good volunteer.
I am also a big animal lover. I have two dogs.
I am learning to be a DJ at monthly dances. I enjoy computers, Facebooking and taking photos.
Rachel Warick (She/Her)
Rachel is a creative systems thinker with a wide range of professional experience including post-secondary administration, career services, television production, community living, and marketing. She currently works as a Program Coordinator with Vancouver Community College’s Partnership Development Department where she focuses primarily on supporting the enhancement of career guidance and work-integrated learning across the institution.
Specialties include: career development and work-integrated learning, interdepartmental collaboration, systems design, and inclusive practice. Rachel has a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University.
She loves when she can view life through the lens of a camera!
Jonathan Wynn
Jonathan is a teacher of students with diverse needs for the Vancouver School Board the inclusive education department head at a local secondary school. Before moving back to his hometown of Vancouver in 2017, Jonathan spent several years working in inclusive education in both London, UK and Christchurch, NZ. Through his experiences, Jonathan has become a strong advocate for people with disabilities and this has led him to get involved with CLS.
When he is not working Jonathan can be found spending time with his young family around the lower mainland or playing various sports.
Jonathan sits on the Executive Committee for the Vancouver Secondary Teacher’s Association and serves as the Professional Development Committee Chair. Jonathan also sits on the Special Education Advisory Committee for the VSB and has been an advocate for developing Universal Design for Learning across Vancouver.
Annabel Lyon
Annabel Lyon is a UBC Professor and Director of the School of Creative Writing. She has also published several books of fiction for adults and children. In her spare time, Annabel likes to read, sew, and play with Benny, the family dog.
Annabel’s older brother lived with her, her husband, and their two sons for 11 years. He recently moved to one of CLS’s homes. Annabel and her family are so grateful for the wonderful care he is receiving there. She looks forward to working with the wonderful folks at CLS.
Karen Battersby
Karen Battersby is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with over 30 years of experience within the community living and mental health sectors. Her longstanding commitment to inclusive, person-centered care is reflected in her work across a variety of frontline and leadership positions.
She has supported individuals from infancy through adulthood and worked closely with families navigating complex systems, giving her a strong appreciation for holistic, collaborative approaches to care.
Karen has contributed to the development and refinement of policies and procedures aimed at improving outcomes for individuals and families. She also brings valuable experience with organizational accreditation processes, having participated in them both as a direct service provider and as a program manager.
As a board member, Karen is passionate about contributing her knowledge, perspective, and advocacy to support inclusive decision-making. She is committed to ensuring that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have a meaningful voice in shaping the programs, services, and policies that affect their lives.
Byron Schiller
Byron Schiller has been supported by CLS since December or 2022 in the Independent Living program in Vancouver. Byron is a member of the CLS Self Advocate committee, which was formed in 2023. He has always been involved with different support programs by using it for his own needs through employment and school. He is a hard-working person, currently working in retail at Mountain Equipment Company since 1997.
