Members of the Minister’s Advisory Council for Children and Youth with Support Needs
Last updated on October 20, 2023Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (Fraser and Vancouver Coastal)
Devinder Chattha, Programs Director (she/her)
The Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) is a Fraser Valley-based non-profit that provides a range of community services throughout Metro Vancouver, with a focus on assisting new immigrants, seniors, farmworkers, women and youth. Joining the council from the territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Semiahmoo and Kwantlen First Nations, Devinder Chattha serves as the Programs Director as PICS. She has sat in various community leadership roles and supported the Early Childhood Learning,Early Years and Child Care Programs at PICS. Both Devinder and PICS have received multiple awards and recognitions. One of PICS’ most notable projects in Early Years includes opening daycares and child-care facilities that employ early-intervention and culturally sensitive supports for families with children and youth with support needs. Devinder recently received an award in the Not-for-Profit Leadership Category at the annual Women in Business event in April 2021 and has also been selected to be on its Children and Youth advisory committee. Though PICS serves a wide range of families in the lower mainland, they offer specific programs for children and youth in families that have recently settled to the Metro-Vancouver area. The council is grateful for Devinder’s intersectional experience and looks forward to how she’ll bring a diverse and inclusive lens to the council.
Dreena Davies (Vancouver Coastal) (she/her)
Dreena joins the council from Vancouver, on the territory of the Coast Salish peoples. Dreena is a mother of two boys with support needs. She brings the lived experience of many families in the province, navigating a variety of services to best support her sons and seeing the effects COVID-19 has had on critical services. A pediatric audiologist by trade, Dreena has always been passionate about family-centered and evidence-based practice. The council is excited to have Dreena and her dual perspective as both a parent and service provider.
Reanna joins the council from Port Alberni. She is a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation with roots in the Hupacasath First Nation in Port Alberni.
Reanna is an expert in early childhood education and received an honorary certificate in early childhood education from Aurora College in the Northwest Territories in 2012 after spending many years in the field. Reanna’s commitment to children and education was commemorated when she was nominated for, and subsequently inducted into, the Government of Northwest Territories’ Education Hall of Fame for her significant contribution to early childhood program support and inclusive education.
Reanna has been involved with the Aboriginal Head Start Program for over 20 years. She helped develop key policies and procedures to support the implementation of the Aboriginal Head Start Program for parents and First Nations organizations, eventually becoming a Senior Program Manager. She continues to play an integral role in the Western Arctic Aboriginal Head Start Council, working collaboratively with seven communities in the territory to ensure programs are thoroughly evaluated and results are published to inform continued improvements.
Reanna is also an advisor to the Ndilǫ Education Committee and has helped create a school in the community of Ndilǫ as well as a corresponding district education authority.
Reanna is an Elder on the Aboriginal Steering Committee for the University of British Columbia Human Early Learning Partnership, another example of her commitment to children’s success. She lends her extensive experience and knowledge to help improve developmental outcomes for children and youth across the province.
Lori Gauthier (North) (she/her)
Lori is a proud Indigenous mother and part of the Lhts’umusyoo clan (Beaver Clan) from the Nak’azdli Whut’en nation located near what is known as Fort St James. She is a single mother to four children with a variety of support needs, that include Autism Spectrum Disorder. In addition, she has worked for the Lower Similkameen Indian Band in the Southern Interior region of BC as both a Special Needs Teaching Assistant an Early Childhood Development Worker. She currently works as a Maternal Child Health Worker in remote First Nation communities in the Fort St James area. The Council is excited to welcome Lori and her experiences and expertise as an Indigenous mother with children who have multiple children with special needs, and as a support person for families in both urban and rural communities.
Aida Amilamia Gordon (Vancouver Island) (they/she)
Aida joins the council from Victoria, B.C., on the territories of the Lekwungen Peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees Nations), and the WSANEC Nations. Aida is the parent of a child with various support needs including Down Syndrome and complex health conditions. In addition, they bring invaluable experiences as a Development Services Worker, facilitator for a children’s rehabilitation hospital, and teacher. They also hold a Bachelor’s of Science (Hons) in Psychological Research, with a focus on Neuropsychology. Aida identifies as a gay, genderqueer Mexican immigrant. The Council is confident Aida’s diverse and intersectional lived experience will serve this council generously.
Bev Kissinger lives in the Oak Bay area and honours the land of the Lekwungen peoples known today as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. Bev is the founding member of Community Options (respite and family support); a Family Support Institute (FSI) Resource Parent since 1986 and previous board member; a Nurse (having worked in hospital, community and corrections); a mother, wife, friend and neighbour. She retired in 2014 after working 20 years with Victoria Association for Community Living in family and personal support. Bev sat on the Appeal Board for the At Home Program and participated in the Provincial Review of Supported Child Care. She recently completed two six-year terms with the South Island Community Council.
Bev and her family have reacquainted with their 42-year old nephew due to the death of his mother 11 years ago. Her nephew requires and has services through CLBC and is supported in his own apartment through Host Agency funding. Bev’s daughter brought her into the world of families raising children requiring extra support. Bev’s relationship with her daughter made her the person she is today, and she believes she would not be the person she is without her daughter’s influence and the connections she brought to her life. Bev lost her daughter at the age of 11 and she carries on her legacy. Bev’s family was fortunate to foster, then adopt their 41-year old son. Her son is Aboriginal and is a mentor and teacher about living with FASD. He has taught her family about anxiety and resilience. Bev has an amazing 7-year old great niece who is connected with CYSN services and she is the proud grandparent of her 4-year old grandson who is connected to CYSN services, has accessed supports through Jordan’s Principal and is supported through Aboriginal Supported Child Care.
The importance of community support and connections has impacted Bev’s life in many ways. Personally for the supports and services she has utilized for her daughter, son and family, and now for her nephew and grandson; as a Resource Parent with Family Support Institute supporting others, for inclusion in her neighbourhood school, for choices in delivery of respite (not having to sign your child into care for respite), Supported Child Care vision where family choice is foremost and dollars follow the child.
Since retirement, Bev has been actively supporting individuals and their families as they create Representation Agreements, in her role as an FSI resource parent, supporting both individual families and groups of families as they work through the systems. She is a member of two microboards. She is also enjoying her family, 4-year old grandson, great nieces and nephews and her passion of quilting.
BC Parents of Complex Kids (Vancouver Island, Province-Wide)
Brenda Lenahan, Founder (she/her)
BC Parents of Complex Kids brings families together to support each other, and the council is excited to welcome founder, Brenda Lenahan on their behalf from the village of Tahsis on the Nuu Chah Nulth territory. Brenda is a mom to a young son with complex disabilities, which inspired her to found this organization in 2017 so that parents with experiences similar to her could network, share knowledge and advocate for access to equitable supports for kids with complex disabilities and medical complexities. The council is looking forward to including Brenda's many experiences and expertise as a parent, advocate, and organization leader.
Jean is an Elder, joining the council from her home in Christina Lake. She is the proud mother of two sons, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with whom she shares her culture and knowledge.
For most of her life, Jean was unaware of her Indigenous roots. Her contributions as a respected Elder are representative of her commitment to learning, her culture, and engaging in her community. In 2021, Métis Nation British Columbia awarded Jean with the Volunteer Recognition Award for her continued community engagement, noting her mobilization efforts during the pandemic.
As an Elder, Jean is honoured for her wealth of experience, wisdom and the deep compassion she shows for people. She is on several councils and committees where she works closely with children and on projects that support them. She has been active with the Boundary Métis Community Association for many years. She was consulted as an Elder for a University of British Columbia pilot project, assessing how the Aboriginal Head Start program makes a difference for children and their families.
Jean is a self-published author of the children’s book Little Bird, which was inspired by many years of hiking in the Kootenays. The book characterizes Jean’s appreciation for the connectedness of all living things.
Bonnie McBride
Bonnie resides on the unceded territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc and is the proud and busy parent to five children. Bonnie built her family through adoption and foster-to-adopt and her children have varying strengths and needs. Their diagnoses and experiences have inspired her to work with youth with support needs for the last two decades. In particular, Bonnie advocates for the inclusion of children and youth with FASD in all community, recreation and education opportunities.
Bonnie has worked with youth as a foster parent, as an educator with the Heart and Stroke Foundation and BCSPCA, and is currently the chair of Inspire Kids FASD Support Society of BC. She believes strongly in the strength of diverse community and honouring each individual’s gifts. These perspectives build the foundation that will give strength to her role on the Council.
Laranna Scott (Interior) (she/her)
Laranna joins the council from Grand Forks, on the shared territory known as "the Boundary." Métis herself, Laranna holds a certificate in Early Childhood Education and diplomas in Special Needs Education and Infant-Toddler Education, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child and Youth Care from the University of the Fraser Valley. She’s a firm believer in early intervention and created an “Ecological Model of Support” for her daughter. Laranna was awarded the BCACCS Aboriginal Child Care Recognition Award in 2017, which honours Early Childhood Educators acting as exceptional role models. The council is pleased to welcome Laranna in her capacities as a parent, educator and advocate for children and youth with support needs.
Izabelle Stevens (Vancouver Coastal) (she/her)
Izabelle joins the council as the youth advisor on children and youth with support needs, from Sechelt on the territories of the Coast Salish peoples. Her expertise so far has been defined by justice, human rights, advocacy.Through her experiences as a client with MCFD she has ambitions to go into youth mental health work. Izabelle identifies as a neurodiverse female who is a part of the LGBTQ2IAS+ community and believes her perspective can be helpful to the Council. She is currently studying at Capilano University and in her off time can be found exploring her passions as a performer and photographer or volunteering with the Rotary Club of the Sunshine Coast where she is a member. She is excited by the opportunity to promote positive care for children and youth with support needs who are currently navigating, many times with their families, the services available to them. The council is grateful to Izabelle and the rare, but important, experience and artistic flair she brings.