I came to BC in 1977 with my husband, an almost 2 year old and pregnant with my second child.  We chose to move to Richmond and became involved in community ever since.  I have volunteered since I was a young teenager.   I was involved with other non profits in 4 other cities in Canada and in many different roles – Member at Large, Treasurer, Secretary. President and Regional President.  I was always interested and passionate about helping people learn how to help themselves.  There is nothing more satisfying than watching someone maintain their dignity and grow their confidence and knowledge.

I spent 21 years being a manager at Coast Capital Insurance and still work part time for them.  I am also an instructor for Universal Learning Institute and work with new immigrants, work place re-entry people and people who just want to improve their skill sets.

My interest in Richmond Women’s Resource Centre comes very naturally.  My experience and my goal has always been to help women rise above adversity and become whole people that they are proud of  Whatever their goal is, I feel we at RWRC can be the stepping stone, the helping hand, the safe place.  I am so proud to be associated with this organization.  I believe I will volunteer for life.

Born and raised in Richmond, BC, Michelle’s deep roots in the community and her strong belief in supporting and advocating for women brought her to RWRC. Growing up, Michelle’s days were filled with hockey in the winters, softball in the summers with music lessons and summer jobs sprinkled throughout. That variety continued in her life, brought her through both business and music degrees in university and she has continued careers in both.

Michelle’s focus at RWRC will be to develop outreach programs for teens and to mentor young women navigating career paths and social issues through high school and university.

Winnie began volunteering for RWRC as a board mentee from the Leadership Richmond’s “Youth Now Program” in 2016, and is currently the secretary of the board and the centre’s social media manager. She is also a student at UBC studying psychology, an avid volunteer in the community, and recipient of a 2012 U-ROC Award for Outstanding Youth. She is interested in learning about intersectional feminism and enjoys hiking.

Joanne is a Richmond resident who over the past 45 years has seen our community grow and mature into a thriving urban center.  Joanne is a Human Resources professional who has worked within many different genres including not for profit, major retailers and regional airlines.  Joanne other important roles include mother, grandmother and wife where she excels on an everyday basis.  Joanne believes in community service and is determined to bring her wide-ranging experience and passion to her role as board member.

Marielle has been active in women’s issues since 1970. She is the co-founder of the Richmond Women’s Centre and has continued as a Board member since its inception in 1976. Marielle currently participates in a variety of community committees and is winner of the 2002 Volunteer Richmond’s Community Service Award.

Mikaela Nuval is a Human Resources Associate, being a recent graduate from Simon Fraser University with a dual concentration in Human Resources and International Business. She is passionate about creating impact in her community, especially in education and empowerment. Her enthusiasm in education is seen in her consecutive terms as a Teaching Assistant where she taught 168 students to date, and as a mentor to 6 first-year students through their first term in Beedie in the BASS Mentorship program.

As an advocate for female empowerment, she is a proactive board member of the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre, having been heavily involved in Young Women in Business SFU, championing more opportunity for young female professionals. As the previous Development Assistant for Junior Achievement of BC, she combines these themes finding and researching external partners who believe in educating and empowering youth to succeed in the global economy. She is looking forward to working with Richmond Women’s Resource Centre to manifest our vision of gender equality within the Richmond community.

Amanda Low is a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia, where she studied International Relations and Asian Language and Culture in the Faculty of Arts. Academically, she is interested in East Asia, environmental sustainability, and development, in the context of international relations.

Amanda first joined the Richmond Women’s Resources Centre as a board mentee as a part of the 2018-2019 cohort of Leadership Richmond’s Youth Now program. From a early age, Amanda has been passionate about community involvement as she grew up volunteering her time at a number of community based organizations such as community centres, residential care homes, and local festivals. Her hobbies and interests include music, dance, and hiking.