Rosemary and her husband grew up in Victoria and, over the course of many years, lived in Greater Vancouver, Tokyo and Garden Bay before returning to the island in 2020. Her career path included a decade in secondary education, followed by many years in corporate communications and association management. She is a lifelong volunteer with a deep commitment to community-based healthcare and music in all its forms. In 2022, an opportunity to assist in meal preparation brought Rosemary to the kitchen of Forward House, then on to the Board of Directors, and the role of President of Forward House Community Society.

Jeff comes to the Forward House team with a diverse background, but one with a single purpose: service. He is a Canadian Forces veteran who served nine years in uniform. After leaving the military, he attended Mount Royal College in Calgary, studying journalism. Having fallen in love with Vancouver Island while in uniform, he moved to Qualicum Beach in 1992 and quickly found work at the PQB News. He is the longest serving editor in the paper’s history (1993-2004). He then served 12 years as an addictions counsellor and marketing coordinator at one of Canada’s top treatment centres located in Nanaimo. He has been a Rotarian, volunteered with the Hospice Society, and was a Director on the Board of the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce. Jeff is a father, a soon to be grandfather, a golfer, and bass player. He is adamant none of it would be possible without his 33 years in recovery.

In early 2022, Kira moved to Vancouver Island from Saskatchewan to pursue her career in mental health and addiction. She is a University of Regina graduate, with a degree in international business and marketing. Throughout her professional journey, Kira has primarily concentrated on roles encompassing marketing, communications, and community investment. Kira is proudly in recovery from addiction and is a mental health advocate. Her alignment with Forward House comes from its dedication to the community as well as their vital mental health and addiction services.

Glenn moved to Oceanside from Ontario in 2018 after retiring from a career in engineering, teaching and management. He has been an active volunteer swimming official for over 25 years, and continues to serve as an official, educator and meet organizer for Swim BC and Swimming Canada. He believes strongly in our responsibility to look after each other, and has volunteered with service organizations including Frontier College, the London Mission and Child Haven. Glenn is committed to Forward House’s mission of nurturing mental wellness within our community, and looks forward to contributing to its continued success.

Lisa is the Referent Relations Manager at Edgewood Treatment Centre in Nanaimo. This role ensures all referring professionals experience a smooth, efficient and hassle-free experience when they contact the facility and while their person is in Edgewood’s care. Before her role as Referent Relations Manager, Lisa spent 18 years in various roles at Edgewood, with the majority of it working as an Admissions Coordinator, a position that helped her build on her customer service skills when supporting professionals and families who were seeking addiction treatment. Lisa holds a Business diploma from Vancouver Community College and has continued to work on educating herself from both an addictions perspective as well as attending VIU in the Community Support Worker program. She has sat on the Board for BC Community Living in Parksville, currently belongs to 100+ Women Who Care Oceanside, and has recently joined the Board of Forward House.

Laura moved to the Island from Ontario in 2020 to be closer to her son’s family in Vancouver. She has a BA Degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Human Services Counsellor (addiction and mental health). She spent 15 years in administrative and managerial positions in academic institutions followed by a rewarding 15-year career in crisis work and addiction counselling. More recently, she worked at Forward House and is excited to serve as a Board Director in such a vital and compassionate community agency. She enjoys music, keeping in touch with friends and family, and walks with her dogs on the beautiful BC beaches.

Walter grew up in Port Alberni before attending UBC for a degree in International Relations and a teaching certificate. Following a brief time as a teacher, he became a member of the RCMP and later completed a law degree at the University of Saskatchewan. On graduation, he was chosen to be the first law clerk to the Chief Justice of Saskatchewan. He then returned to the West Coast to join the law firm of Thompson Elliott in Vancouver as a partner in criminal and civil litigation. Throughout his career, Walter has worked with individuals and groups who face mental health and addiction issues and physical challenges, particularly around the barriers to accessing social assistance and treatment.

Dan LaRocque has lived in the Parksville area since 2000 and has helped guide three kids through local schools, sports, dance, and eventually, the mental health care system. He believes in more robust and less judgemental mental health supports for everyone, because life is hard and it’s ok to need help. He currently works with Risebridge as a low-barrier outreach worker, he is the garden manager at the MAC Community Garden, and he plays banjo and trombone with local cover band, the Apollos.