Board of Directors
The Strathcona Community Centre Association (SCCA) and Vancouver Parks Board jointly operate the Strathcona Community Centre. The SCCA is governed by a locally-elected Board of Directors made up of residents, community agency representatives and members at large. The SCCA is a provincially registered not-for-profit society and a federally registered charity.
We are currently recruiting Board Members for 2-3 year terms. Please email strathconacc@gmail.com for more information.
The SCCA Directors meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month, and several times a year on active committees, including:
- Executive Committee
- Program Committee
- Food Security Committee
- Childcare Committee
- Facilities Committee
- Human Resources and Governance Committee
- Finance and Fundraising Committee
- Sustainable Funding Strategy Working Group
If you would like to contact the SCCA Board, please email strathconaCC@gmail.com.
Retained earning for 2018 can be found here.
Christina James,
Mine Water Management Specialist, SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc.
Christina grew up in Ontario, moved to Vancouver in 1996 and to Strathcona in 2006. After two degrees (BSc in Physics/ Oceanography and MASc in Civil Engineering), Christina began working in the mining industry as an environmental consultant on mine water management projects.
For the past few years, her involvement in the community centre has included sitting on the Food Security Committee (since 2016) and organizing the Family Halloween Dance (2015-2017).
With 4 small kids, she uses and appreciates the Strathcona Community Centre frequently.
Read More
Dawn Hoogeveen,
Researcher and Instructor, UNBC
Dawn Hoogeveen is passionate about community and consensus building. She holds a PhD in Geography from the University of British Columbia and is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Northern British Columbia, where she works for a CiHR funded Environment, Community, Health, Observatory. Dawn is an expert in resource regulation and specializes in natural resource governance pertaining to mining and environmental assessment. Dawn is a strong collaborator, who enjoys bringing people together, and has a keen eye for robust, equity-oriented facilitation.
Read More
Mark Nishiguchi,
Principal, Westgate Group Inc.
By trade, I am a designer and marketing strategist; and most recently, business consultant, investor and entrepreneur.
A few key areas of marketing I’ve specialized in: design; branding; publishing; media - including social media, media buying and technologies; consumer behaviour research; and ‘big data’. In business, I’ve garnered experience in developing systems; team development; recruitment; sales negotiations; mergers and acquisitions; business strategy and, corporate social responsibility.
I hold a BD (Communications) from Emily Carr; studies at UBC and MIT Sloan School of Management.
Read More
Emma Carscadden,
Marketing and Promotions, Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects Inc.
Emma is Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Strathcona Community Centre Association and has been a director since 2016. To the board she brings her 15+ years of experience of working and volunteering in Strathcona, as well as her interest in non-profit governance and community and recreation architecture and design.
Emma is also President of the Strathcona Business Improvement Association board and is the marketing and promotions lead at Strathcona-based Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects. In her limited spare time, she's started going to bootcamp twice a week at the Centre!
Read More
Holly Alyea,
Principal, Plotform Planning
Holly is big on community and that is why she is on the Board at the Community Centre. It is an opportunity to give something back to a community that keeps on giving so much – to her, her business, her family, her neighbours and friends.
Since 2016, her involvement at the Centre has included participation on the Childcare Committee, the Facilities Committee (leading a Needs Assessment Study), the Program Committee.
With an MA in Urban Planning, she is a now business owner of a planning office in Strathcona which conducts pre-design space planning services – the new Strathcona Library Branch was one of her projects!
She has lived for ten years in Strathcona with her husband and two children.
Read More
Fari Maghami,
Pastor, Coastal Church
Fari was originally born in the Islamic Republic of Iran and moved to Canada in the year 2000. In 2006 he got married and today has two beautiful young girls. In 2008 Fari graduated with a Bachelor of Theology and very soon after started working at the Union Gospel Mission on the outreach team serving some of the most hurting and marginalized members of our community in Downtown Eastside.
In 2010 he returned to part-time studies at Carey Theological College for his Master of Divinity. Fari now works at Coastal Church as one of the pastors helping to make our city a better place.
Fari and his family live in the neighborhood and enjoy being part of a diverse and unique community. When he is not working or studying Fari loves to hang out with his family, enjoy good food and workout at the gym.
Read More
Deb Miller,
Account Management, Business Development + Marketing for Hotels and Resorts
Deb is a long time resident of Strathcona who put down roots in the hood because of a desire to live somewhere with a strong, vibrant sense of community that embraced and honored the diversity, income levels and ways of being of its citizens.
Work wise, Deb has extensive experience working in hotels and resorts, particularly in sales, marketing, revenue management and operations. Her first career was as a graphic designer and design of all sorts is still a big passion. Along the way there’s been many side gigs including gardening, cleaning, cooking, bar tending and party organising.
Deb has volunteered with many organizations including Big Sisters of the Lower Mainland, We Day, Dress for Success, Glastonbury Festival and Kelowna Apple Triathlon.
Read More
Kevin Westell,
Lawyer, Pender Litigation
Kevin and his spouse, Andrea, have been proud residents of Strathcona since 2015. He is a partner at Pender Litigation, a boutique law firm he co-founded in 2017. Kevin’s law practice is primarily focused on Criminal, Regulatory and Administrative law matters.
Kevin has a keen interest in helping to ensure that the Centre is optimized to meet the important needs of Strathcona’s diverse population.
Read More
Osaro Obaseki,
Articled Student, Alexander Holburn Beaudin +Lang LLP
Osaro grew up in the Strathcona area as his family moved to the neighborhood in 2006. He started playing with the Strathcona Dragons basketball program when he was 11 years old, and briefly coached after graduating from Britannia Secondary. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, and recently graduated from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia.
Osaro is eager to give back to the community that was integral to the health and success of his family. He is passionate about initiatives involving at-risk youth, mentorship, and helping families find their way out of difficult circumstances.
Read More
Caitlin Jones,
Executive Director, BC Artscape
Caitlin Jones is a resident of Strathcona/Chinatown and passionate about issues of equity, justice and advocacy in the community. She is the Executive Director of BC Artscape. Previously she was the ED of the artist-run centre the Western Front in Vancouver where she spearheaded programming, policy and dialogue around issues of urban development and the roles of artists within it.
Read More
Dan Jackson,
Dan Jackson has been a resident of Strathcona for 10 years. He has been the president of the Strathcona Residents Association since 2016. Professionally, he oversees the production of documentary television series.
Read More
Carrie Bercic,
Carrie is a community social justice activist, and focuses much of her time on advocacy and trying to use her own privilege and social agency to affect overall positive change in Vancouver. Areas close to her heart include public education, housing and food security, LGBTQIA2S+ activism, BIPOC allyship, Indigenous rights and reconciliation, and disability rights. She couldn’t be more excited to share her passion for strong, vibrant, inclusive communities with her fellow Strathcona Community Centre Association directors. She is looking very forward to working on the SCCA Sustainable Funding working group and the Facilities Committee.
As a former Vancouver School Board trustee, Carrie was part of a Board that was in charge of governance for a large and complex school district. While she very much enjoyed working on overall governance for public schools in the district, her favourite part of the job was working directly with students, teachers, school staff, and families at the neighbourhood level. Carrie was the trustee liaison for the Britannia family of schools which included Britannia Secondary, and Britannia, Grandview, Seymour, and Strathcona Elementary Schools. Working with the Strathcona community was a highlight of her time as trustee. This is what drew her to a position on the SCCA Board.
Carrie has worked in the community with a number of different groups, including the West End Seniors' Network and the Immigrant Services Society of BC. She also greatly enjoys volunteering at three schools in the district, including Seymour Elementary in Strathcona.
Carrie is currently the Vice-President of the Vancouver-Kingsway NDP riding for her MP Don Davies. She is a 27-year resident of East Vancouver and she and her husband are proud parents of two adult children, ages 23 & 26. She has a background in graphic design, fundraising, and event planning.
Read More
