Board of Directors
GOVERNORS
Our heartfelt thanks for our first builders of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation. Their tremendous work and support, ongoing commitment and advice is very much appreciated.
Peter R.B. Armstrong
Governor
Peter Armstrong is the Executive Chairman and Founder of the Armstrong Group, owner and operator of Rocky Mountaineer and other associated tourism and hospitality businesses. Rocky Mountaineer, which is best known for the acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer and Whistler Sea to Sky Climb trains has been honoured with numerous accolades including The World Travel Award as the “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train” for three consecutive years.
Peter has contributed considerable business acumen and leadership experience to the CH.I.L.D. Foundation since the organization’s inception.
Maury Corday
Governor
He has been involved with CH.I.L.D. since its inception and has a son suffering from Crohn’s Disease. Maury and his wife Doreen are actively involved in many charitable works and are valued supporters of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation.
Kirk W. Foley
Governor
Kirk Foley is owner and Executive Manager of Tube Fab Ltd. of Toronto, Ontario, a tubular fabrication and precision machining business directed toward the Aerospace Industry, specialty high performance engine manufactures, hydraulic and precision medical devices.
Kirk graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.Comm. in Business Administration, Honours Economics, Honours Transportation Science in 1964 and graduated First Class Honours with an MBA at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario in 1970.
J. Lindsay Gordon
Governor
Lindsay Gordon was President & CEO of HSBC Bank of Canada and is co-founder of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation along with Grace McCarthy and Mary Parsons.
Lindsay holds both a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) and a Masters of Business Administration degree (M.B.A.) from the University of British Columbia, and has extensive experience in banking and international finances.
Lindsay’s family experience with Crohn’s Disease, and his determination to find a cure gives him a strong will to assist in building a financially accountable CH.I.L.D. organization.
Lindsay and his wife, Elizabeth, have four children. Andrew, their youngest was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at age 5.Lyall Knott , Q.C.
Governor
Lyall Knott, Q.C. is a senior partner of Clark Wilson LLP in Vancouver, British Columbia . He has a broad base of experience with both public and private corporations as well as an extensive background and understanding of the workings of government.
Lyall earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1971 and Bachelor of Laws in 1972 from the University of British Columbia . In 1973, he earned a Masters of Laws degree from the University of London, England and in 1985 he was appointed to the rank of Queen’s Counsel.
Lyall is involved with many charitable organizations and his business law expertise is much valued by the CH.I.L.D. Foundation.
Wayne Nygren
Governor
Wayne Nygren retired in 2006 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Credit Union Central of BC, the central banking and service facility for the province’s credit union system.
Wayne began his career in the financial sector with managerial positions throughout the Prairies with the Royal Bank of Canada, before joining the Bank of Canada, in Ottawa, as an economist. From there, he moved into financial positions with Credit Union Central of Saskatchewan. He joined Credit Union Central of BC in 1981 as Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer and was appointed President & CEO in 1985.
He is a Director of the World Council of Credit Unions, A Director of Credit Union Central of Canada and is Chairperson of the latter’s Legislative Affairs Committee.
Wayne served as Governor of The Vancouver Board of Trade, a member of the Business Council of BC, has been recognized as one of BC’s Business Executives of the Year and is the recipient of Canada’s Governor General’s Medal. As Deputy Commissioner at the United Nations Pavilion during Expo ’86 he was awarded the Medal of Peace, presented to him by Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
His community involvement includes serving as a Governor of Trinity Western University, a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board of Greater Vancouver and Honorary Patron the BC Schizophrenia Society. He has served as a Trustee of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, a Director of The Canadian Unity Council, a Director of the Canada Council and a Director of the BC Lions football club.
Wayne and wife Betty are dedicated and hard-working volunteers for the CH.I.L.D. Foundation, and have headed up the annual Golf for CH.I.L.D. golf tournament.
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Lui Passaglia , LL.D.
Governor
Former BC Lions’ kicker Lui Passaglia retired as Director of Community Relations of the BC Lions Football Club in 2008.
Along with his 25 years of CFL service on the field and in the community, Lui spent eight years with ICBC working in public relations and marketing. “Lui has been an important member of the BC Lions as a player and community ambassador for over 26 years and was a driving force in the positioning of the BC Lions Football Club as an integral part of the community”, Lions owner David Brailey has said.
He is arguably one of the most famous and popular athletes in the history of British Columbia sports, for which he has been honoured by his alma mater, Simon Fraser University with an honourary Doctor of Laws Degree.
John Plul
Governor
As Vice-President of BC’s No. 1 Radio Station, John Plul ‘s working career concentrated on public relations and community involvement. His marketing skills are legendary. In his executive role with CKNW he was instrumental in raising millions of dollars for the Orphan’s Fund and for helping to establish Canuck Place – a hospice for terminally ill children. John has been involved and actively worked with dozens of community organizations and has a special keen interest in the CH.I.L.D. Foundation.
John has been presented with all the top broadcasting honours, including Broadcast Citizen of the Year for two years, Personal Dedication Award, Canadian Association of Broadcasters Award and recognized by the industry as an outstanding marketer.
In retirement, John continues to serve business organizations, service clubs and hospitals and is working to help special needs children.
Don Ralston, C.A.
Governor
Tracy Redies, MSc
Governor
Tracy is President and CEO of Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, the second largest credit union with 50 branches in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island Regions of B.C.
She is a Director of C.D. Howe Institute, The Vancouver Board of Trade and CH.I.L.D. Foundation. Tracy is also a council member for the Vancouver Institute at the University of British Columbia, a member of the Sauder School of Business Faculty Advisory Board and a Committee member of B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Finance Committee.
Michael S. Rogers
Governor
Mike Rogers has been involved in the financial services world for all his working life. He spent 25 years in the banking industry and occupied various executive positions in that industry prior to entering the brokerage community.
Lynne Triffon, R.F.P., CFP
Governor
Lynne is Vice-President of T.E. Financial Consultants (Pacific) Ltd. and is Past-Chair and Past-President of the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners and Past President and Chair of the Canadian Association of Financial Planners (BC). She holds the professional designation R.F.P. (Registered Financial Planner), as well as her CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation.
Lynne is a former columnist for the Vancouver Sun regarding financial planning issues, and is frequently quoted in the financial media.
Honorary Patron
Dr. John Cairns, MD, FRCPC, FRCP, FACC
CH.I.L.D. Foundation Honourary Patron
Dr. John Cairns has been honored for the part he played in bringing UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, BC Children’s Hospital and the CH.I.L.D. Foundation together to establish a Chair of Gastroenterology that could further research work into liver and bowel disorders.
Dr. Cairns was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia in 1996, and is currently on administrative leave to work on a number of research activities in BC and overseas.
Dr. Cairns earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from UBC in 1968 and was awarded the Hamber Scholarship for highest standing throughout the four years of his medical course. He continued his training in medicine and cardiology in the teaching hospital of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec .
He obtained his Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Cardiology (1973) and in Medicine (1974). He has been a strong advocate of the Faculty’s research programs and the need for increased support of biomedical research.
His tenure as Dean of Medicine is credited with successfully organizing the enlargement of the Medical Faculty and medical student population and brought in a unique training opportunity for native students.
The CH.I.L.D. Foundation appreciates Dr. Cairn’s advice and counsel on the CH.I.L.D. Scientific Research Advisory Council.
DIRECTORS
Grace M. McCarthy,
O.C., O.B.C., LL.D., D. TECH, F.R.A.I.C. (Hon.)
Chairman of the Board
Grace McCarthy served the Province of British Columbia as an elected member of the Legislative Assembly for over 22 years. When she was Deputy Premier of the Province, she was instrumental in bringing the world fair, Expo ’86 to Vancouver . As Minister of Tourism, she spearheaded the building of the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre at Canada Harbour Place.
Serving as Minister of Social Services, Grace established Canada ‘s first Hot Line to respond to abused children, and brought the most comprehensive legislation to stop child abuse in the country. As Minister of Economic Development, she began the Asia Pacific Initiative and the Enterprise Centre, precursor to the Internet and oversaw the building of Vancouver ‘s first rapid transit system “The Skytrain.” Grace lobbied successfully for home-ownership for women. Prior to her efforts, a woman could not be considered for a mortgage without a male guarantor.
Her many honours include the Order of Canada, and the Order of British Columbia as well as Honorary Doctor of Laws from Simon Fraser University , and the University of British Columbia, Order of Distinguished Service Worldwide from the Salvation Army, Honorary Fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and Variety International’s Golden Heart Award.
When her granddaughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, she, along with Lindsay Gordon and Mary Parsons, established the CH.I.L.D. Foundation in 1995 to raise funds for research for children suffering from Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and liver disorders. Grace presently serves as volunteer Chairman of the Board.
Mary Parsons
President & Chief Executive Officer
Mary Parsons is a co-founder and President & Chief Executive Officer of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation.
She is a former school teacher and administrative assistant, earning degrees from Notre Dame University and Simon Fraser University.
Mary is presently a director of two commercial development companies as well as being an accomplished commissioned artist. She has been married for 39 years and has three adult children, one of whom has Crohn’s Disease, and three granddaughters.
Greg Anctil
Secretary-Treasurer
Greg is a lawyer with Charron Favell Anctil LLP in Victoria and Vancouver. He practices law both in Vancouver and throughout Vancouver Island. He represents both unionized and non-union clients, and has significant experience in collective bargaining, grievance arbitration and strike planning. The majority of his practice is in employment related planning and litigation.
Greg is a longtime member of the BC Human Resources Management Association and served on its Vancouver Island Advisory Council from 2003 through 2006. He is also a member of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, the Canadian Labour Law Association, and the BC Food Processors Association.
Gary Collins
Director
Gary Collins is President of Coastal Contacts.
Gary served as Senior Vice-President of Belkorp Industries Inc. and President and CEO of Harmony Airways and prior to that served 14 years in the B.C. Provincial Goverment as Minister of Finance and Government House Leader among other portfolios.
Having Crohn’s Disease in his family, Gary knows first-hand how important the mission of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation is — to find a cure.
Teresa Evans
Director
Scott Harrold
Director
Scott Harrold is the General Manager of Landmark Aviation and is a licensed pilot.
He served as Chairman of the Board for the B.C. Aviation in 2000 – 2002, Chairman of Canadian Business Aviation Association convention in Vancouver and presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Business Aviation Association.
Ferzana Jamal, BSc., MBA, CIM
Director
Ferzana is President of Mayfair Capital Inc. in Vancouver providing consulting services to high net worth individuals and corporations. Prior to joining Mayfair Capital, Ferzana was an Investment Advisor, Associate Portfolio Manager at Macquairie Private Wealth and Odlum Brown and Investment Team Member at ScotiaMcLeod.
She was a presenter and participant at the Pan American Partnership Program – NAFTA Focus in New York.
Ferzana has been a volunteer for the CH.I.L.D. Foundation since 2003.
George C. Magnus, O.B.E., BBS, MS
Director
Carol Moldowan
Director
A volunteer with the CH.I.L.D. Foundation for many years, Carol Moldowan was appointed a Director in 2012. Carol divides her time between Vancouver and Palm Springs and has two adult daughters and three grandchildren. Her husband, Steve, was a Founding Director of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation.
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Susi Purdy Owen
Director
Independent business women and community advocate.
Shannon Parsons
Director
Volunteering with the CH.I.L.D. Foundation since its inception in 1995, Shannon was appointed a Director in 2012. Currently employed by Providence Hospitals as a Clinical Nurse Leader Shannon’s experience working in ICU and Emergency is extensive. Shannon has had Crohn’s Disease since a child and, along with Andrew Gordon, was the impetus in beginning the CH.I.L.D. Foundation.
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Red Robinson, D. Litt.
Director
Red Robinson has been in the entertainment business since 1953 as the first deejay in Canada to play Rock & Roll on a regular basis on radio. In 1957 he was Emcee for the Elvis Presley show at Empire Stadium in Vancouver , BC . From 1962 – 1997 Red was program director at C-Fun Radio and served as the main host of CBC TV ‘s “Timmy’s Christmas Telethon” from 1976 to 2000 and has hosted numerous television shows.
Red has also been in the advertising business, forming two advertising agencies in 1969 and 1987.
Red is the author of “Rockbound” a history of Rock & Roll in Canada and during the Expo “86 festivities was promoter of The Legends of Rock & Roll concert series. In 1995 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland , Ohio and the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame that same year. In 1997 he was elected into the Canadian Association of Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame and in 2000 elected to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Memphis , Tennessee . In his honour, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation opened the 1100 seat Red Robinson Show Theatre in Coquitlam , BC .
Both Red and his wife Carole are dedicated supporters of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation with Red emceeing many fund-raising events. After enduring countless surgeries, their son Jeff sadly passed away from complications of Crohn’s Disease at the age of 33.
You can read more about Red at his website: www.redrobinson.com
Medical Advisors
Dr. Collin Barker, MSc , MD , FRCP (C)
Medical Advisor
Dr. Collin Barker is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at BC Children’s Hospital. His areas of interest is the use of databases to increase understanding and improve methods of patient care.
He is currently researching alternative approaches for the investigation of celiac disease, an autoimmune inflammatory condition of the small intestine related to certain foods, in order to streamline the process of its detection and diagnosis for both the patient and the medical system.
Dr. Barker’s other area of interest is in the gastrointestinal complications in children with cancer and how best to investigate and minimize the effects of chemotherapy on the GI tract .
www.bcchf.ca
Dr. Eric Hassall, MBChB, FRCP, FACG
Medical Advisor
Born in Johannesburg , South Africa and raised in Rhodesia, Dr. Eric Hassall did his medical training and internship at the University of Capetown . He trained in general pediatrics in London , England, and Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA . He practiced as a locum tenens in Port Angeles, WA and Zimbabwe, Africa.
Dr. Hassall did his subspecialty training in Gastroenterology at UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA., where part of his training was in adult gastroenterology.
In October 1984, he started the current Division of Gastroenterology at BC Children’s Hospital, which included the first endoscopy and GI procedures unit in BC that was geared to the specific special needs of children. Dr. Hassall set up the first hospital-wide total parental nutrition (TPN) service at BCCH, and the first Pediatric Provincial Home TPN Service, which enabled children chronically hospitalized (in some cases for years) to be discharged home and return to school.
Dr. Hassall’s clinical and research interests are in the fields of acid peptic disorders and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in children. Since 1984, Dr. Hassall has published 160 medical articles, and given over 260 talks world-wide. He has headed international studies, and serves on several international advisory committees and editorial boards.
www.bcchf.ca
Dr. David M Israel, FRCP (C)
Medical Advisor
Dr. Israel was appointed Clinical Professor in July 2001 at BC Children’s Hospital/University of British Columbia (UBC) and is the former head of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at BC Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Israel obtained a BSc. Degree at Ben-Gurion University in 1972; was an MD at Sackler Medical School from 1976 – 1983; Practiced Pediatrics and Gastroenterology Nutrition at Schneider Children’s Hospital of Long Island Jewish Medical Centre from 1984 to 1989 moving to BC Children’s Hospital in 1989.
His special interests and accomplishments include the development of Gastroenterology as an expanding specialty at Children’s Hospital with stress on collaborative clinical and basic science research and education.
He established a colonic explant culture model and used it to study the immune response, as expressed by cytokine secretion, under different modulatory agents (in collaboration with Dr. G. Krystal, Terry Fox Lab). In addition, he plans to use this model to study the adherence and host-mucosa interaction of E. Coli and other intestine pathogens (in collaboration with Dr. Brett Finlay , Biotech Lab, UBC). He has also collaborated with Dr. Gareth Jevon looking for possible roles for Measles virus in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s Disease.
For the IBD patients at Children’s Hospital, Dr. Israel arranged “IBD Days” where parents and children are given the opportunity to interact with each other and are given several talks on topics relevant to the management of IBD and the chronically ill child. He developed this into a formal and regular IBD clinic.
He has been invited to make presentation and speak around the world on the topic of Gastroenterology, He has also refereed over 31 journals and published a journal on Pediatric aspects of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
www.bcchf.ca
Dr. Richard A. Schreiber, MD, FRCP (C)
Medical Advisor
Dr. Richard Schreiber began his medical career in 1977 with a B.Sc. degree at McGill University and in 1981 earned his MD. degree.
In 1981 he practiced internal medicine at Montreal Children’s Hospital and was appointed Chief Resident in Pediatrics until 1986 when he moved to Massachusetts General Hospital and Children’s Hospital in Boston, Harvard University as Essential Clinical Fellow in Pediatrics Gastroenterology and Nutrition and moved up to become Research Fellow. While practicing in Boston, he was a Visiting Fellow at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, England.
He returned to McGill University in 1988 as Research Fellow in Immunology at the McGill Cancer Centre until 1990. In that year, he was Associate Member for Clinical Immunobiology and Transplant Program, Department of Pediatrics at Montreal Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics. Following that, he was Acting Director, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition until 1997, when he moved to the University of Brtish Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Schreiber moved to Vancouver in 1997 to the University of British Columbia , BC Children’s Hospital. Since coming to Vancouver , Dr. Schreiber has taught many courses in both GI physiology and pediatric liver disease.
He is very active in the community and sits on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Jewish Community Centre.
Dr. Schreiber has won many awards. In 1975 he captured the Scarlet Key Award, McGill University; 1987 won the Fellowship Award from Medical Research Council of Canada; 1998 the Fellowship Award from Wexner Heritage Foundation; 1996 he received the Ray Kroc Visiting Professorship, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario, London, Ontario; 1998 was presented with the Rookie of the Year award, BC Children’s Hospital, Dept. of Pediatrics; in 1995 he received the Service Award from the Federation CJA; 1999 the Recognition award for the combined Jewish Appeal, Vancouver and spearheaded Partnership 2000.
Dr. Schreiber has published many articles and presented over 70 papers on a variety of Pediatric Gastrointestinal and liver disorders, and held a variety of seminars in IBD and Pediatric Liver disease. He has been a keynote speaker and organizer throughout North America in Pediatric diseases.
www.bcchf.ca
Dr. Laura Sly, Ph.D.
CH.I.L.D. Foundation Research Scientist
Dr. Laura Sly completed her PhD training in Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta and did post-doctoral training at UBC in Infectious Diseases working with Dr. Neil Reiner and at the Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Research Centre, with Dr. Gerry Krystal.
In January 2008, Dr. Sly was appointed as a new research scientist in the Pediatric Gastroenterology group funded by the CH.I.L.D. Foundation at BC Children’s Hospital. Dr. Sly has extensive experience studying the immune response and mechanisms to dampen down inflammation.
In the CH.I.L.D. Foundation laboratory at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Dr. Sly’s research laboratory focuses its’ attention on applying new knowledge about the immune system and the process of inflammation to inflammatory bowel diseases, specifically Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Despite the complexity and diversity of inflammatory bowel diseases in patients, Dr. Sly is optimistic that inroads can be made to improve disease and reduce suffering for patients living with these diseases. Dr. Sly joined the existing Pediatric Gastroenterology research teams headed by Dr. Bruce Vallance and Dr. Kevan Jacobson in 2008.
Laura and her husband have two young children and are wonderful supporters of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation, attending many fund-raising events.
www.bcchf.ca
Dr. Bruce Vallance, Ph.D.
CH.I.L.D. Foundation Research Scholar
Dr. Bruce Vallance was appointed as the head researcher in the laboratory funded by the CH.I.L.D Foundation at BC Children’s Hospital in January 2003.
Dr. Vallance completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Biotechnology Laboratory at the University of British Columbia (UBC), working with Dr. Brett Finlay . He completed his PhD training at the Intestinal Diseases Research Program at McMaster University in Hamilton , Ontario.
Under the direction of Dr. Stephen Collins, Chief of Gastroenterology, Dr. Vallance developed models of inflammatory bowel disease and studied how parasite infections cause disease in the gastrointestinal tract, publishing several papers on these subjects.
In the CH.I.L.D. Foundation’s first laboratory at Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Dr. Vallance says that discoveries will be made to help alleviate, and perhaps cure, the suffering caused by Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, the two major forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Driven by a desire to help people and to solve difficult puzzles, Dr. Vallance, and a growing team of researchers are working in the state-of-the-art research centre, in a program that is unique in Canada.
Assisting him is Dr. Kevan Jacobson who spends 75% of this time on the CH.I.L.D. Research Program and 25% of his time at the BCCH Clinical Care for gastroenterology.
Currently, Dr. Vallance manages a lab where Dr. Deanna Gibson, Dr. Lisa Mansson and Dr. Marinieve Montero are pursuing their respective post doctoral fellowships. Mohammed Khan, Kirk Bergstron and Andy Sham are all pursuing their doctoral studies while research technicians, Caixia Ma and Tina Huang assist in all aspects of lab management.
www.bcchf.ca
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL
Dr. Bob Armstrong,
BSc, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCPC
Associate Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, UBC
Chief, Pediatric Medicine, B.C. Children’s Hospital and B.C. Women’s Hospital
Presently Chief Academic Officer, The Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Brian Bressler, MD, MS, FRCPC
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology,
Department of Medicine, UBC
Member of Gastrointestinal Rsearch Institute and Pacific Gastroenterology Associates.
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Dr. John Cairns,
MD, FRCPC, FRCP, FACC
Honurary Patron of CH.I.L.D. Foundation
Former Dean of Medicine, UBC
Dr. Brett Finlay, BSc, PhD
Michael Smith Laboratories
Professor, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Microbiology and Immunology, UBC
Director of the SARS Accelerated Vaccine Initiative
Dr. Aubrey Tingle, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FCAHS
Founding President and CEO of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) from 2001 to 2008.
Dr. Stuart Turvey, MBBS, DPhil, FRCPC
Senior Clinician Scientist, CFRI, Associate Director, Clinical, CFRI, Associate Professor, Division of Infectious and Immunological Diseases, University of British Columbia
