People Involved

It is my pleasure to be with you this year, especially as your Honorary Chairperson.  I am both pleased and proud to be associated with such a caring organization and the efforts of it's many volunteers.   The recent death of my mother and prior to that the loss of one of my sisters has, for me, emphasized the need for love and caring in the final days of life.

There is an unwritten creed shared by those of us at BCTV who believe the community has been a constant source of support.   This is why we strive to give something back.  I am pleased to be with you to share in support of the terrific work of the Crossroads Hospice Society.

Linda was a volunteer with Crossroads Hospice for seven years before she was hired as the society's first Executive Director.   Prior to this appointment, she was a financial advisor with Canada Trust for eighteen years.  She had a restless soul, and jumped at the opportunity to think and listen with an open heart.  Her work with the dying and their families has taught her many life lessons, the most important of which is HOPE.  Linda finds the work challenging but so rewarding.   Crossroads Hospice Society has long had a vision of building a free standing hospice in the community.  To this end, Linda has worked tirelessly to raise the public awareness of our society in the community, so that we can start fund raising to build the hospice.

Pete has twenty years experience working with the dying and their families.  He was an active visiting volunteer for twelve years and has been the coordinator of the Crossroads Hospice Society since 1991.  Pete is responsible for several areas of the society including recruiting, interviewing, training all three levels and ongoing support and education for the eighty visiting volunteers.   Pete is a member of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Coquitlam and facilities a grief support group through the Church.

Kristine joined our team in March 2002, bring over 10 years experience as a bereavement facilitator.

Wayne moved to Coquitlam in May of 1970 from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A printer since 1957, Wayne started his own business, Chelsea Printers Ltd on Annacis Island in 1980. Wayne and his wife Audrey have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren.

Betty Anne is volunteer secretary for Crossroads Board of Directors. She is also an active grief visitor who has completed the visitors training through Crossroads. Besides working full-time in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at VGH, Betty Anne attends Douglas College part-time and is currently working on a certificate in Leadership Training. She also volunteers for Camp Fircom Society where she is "volunteer chaplain" for 1 week each summer. Betty Anne enjoys family life with her husband, Jim and her wonderful daughter, Desirea.

Jim was born in August 1935 in New Westminster, B.C. He has a psychiatric nursing diploma and nursed at Riverview for 4 years after graduation.  He then moved on to a career with the Federal Service of Corrections in medical services during which time he obtained a Registered Nursing Diploma.  He now works part time with Corrections Canada.

Jim is married to Frances, who is also a Visiting volunteer of Crossroads.  They have five children and 6.5 grandchildren to date.

Jim became a Hospice Board member in 1998 and continues to be on the board.  He recently completed our training to be a visiting volunteer.  In his spare time, Jim enjoys photography, fly tying and fishing and walking.  He is fairly active on the computer and has internet and email.   Please contact him at [email protected].

Ted joined Crossroads in 2000. He was attracted to Crossroads because of the wonderful community development work we do. He appreciates our focus on quality of life and on supporting individuals and families during this time of life transition. Ted is a Individual, Marriage, and Family Therapist in private practice in Coquitlam. Ted is actively involved with a number of community service organizations especially those that support an individual with a disability. Ted is a former Instructor from Douglas College and was the Director of Counselling Services at SHARE Family and Community Services Society. Ted has 2 children and lives in Port Coquitlam. You can contact Ted at [email protected]

Dr. John Loh
Board Member 

Dr. Loh sees many elderly patients in his practice that require the services and support offered by Crossroads and often makes referrals to the society. Because of the need he saw in his patients, Dr. Loh began collecting donations on Sunday, January 30th to raise funds for Crossroads and the reaction from his students has been very positive. New students are always welcome to attend class.

Tracy lives with her husband, two daughters and two dogs in Anmore. Born in New Westminster and raised in Coquitlam, she strongly believes in being an active member of the community in which you live and is committed to leading by example. Previous community involvements include the ARC Arts Council, Economic Development Committee of Port Moody, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Continuing Education. She currently provides organizational support in the annual Relay for a Friend at Coquitlam Town Centre to raise funds for Cancer. Tracy cut back on her community involvements to take on the role of Capital Campaign Chair to help realize the dream of the first free standing hospice in this region. This is an exciting and ambitious project which is sorely needed and whose "time has come". In her "other life" she is an Investment Advisor and Financial Consultant with RBC Dominion Securities in New Westminster. Tracy encourages everyone, young or old, rich or poor, to become involved in a cause that you are passionate about. We all play a part in building our community. It's up to us!

You can contact Tracy at [email protected]

Brent is the President of Ranger Willoughby Financial and has been in the insurance business for over 16 years. Brent volunteers time to teach new insurance agents for CAIFA (the insurance industries professional association). Brent is Past President of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce and now sits on their Board of Governors. Brent's other accomplishments include Business Person of the Year in 1997, Past President of the Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association, and Past President of the Rotary Club of Port Coquitlam.

Lynn Robinson is an international Trainer, Speaker and Coach. She is certified as a trainer of Neuro Linguistic Programming and is a master communicator. Lynn has her own training company and offers specialized training in Personal and Professional Development as well as a certification program for trainers and coaches.

Gaetan Royer has been the Director of Community Services for the City of Port Moody since September 2000.

You can contact Margaret at [email protected]

Janice Welbourn joined CHS in November 2001 in the newly created position of Hospice Services Coordinator for New Westminster. She brings with her an MA in Education, a BA in Psychology, all three levels of CHS training, CHS Visiting Volunteer experience and 17 years of teaching and counseling experience.

My background is in computers (30 years with IBM), and in business.  I "retired" in 1992, and since then have been consulting full-time in Information Technology (the new term for the computer industry).

I have a wife Joyce, four children, two daughter-in-laws and two son-in-laws, and six grandchildren.

I have always believed that, whenever possible, we should give back to the community by volunteering.  The key is to find something that we enjoy doing, get a good feeling of accomplishment from, and can do moderately well.  If we can find a 'good fit' we can productively contribute to the community, do it for an extended period of time, and enjoy ourselves at the same time.   Sometimes our volunteering can be a stepping stone to a paid position.

My volunteering has included Boy Scouts, Community Hospital Council, Church groups, Valleyview Hospital, Alzheimer's disease assistance, facilitating planning sessions for a number of community groups, as well as one-on-one assistance for people with disabilities, or those who need computer advice and assistance.  All of my volunteering has been both rewarding to me, and, I trust, has provided valuable assistance to others.

My work in Crossroads Hospice started after I became more aware of the problems with the elderly and the dying through family members, including the illnesses and deaths of my own mother and father.  My wife Joyce started working with the elderly at Valleyview Hospital, and got me involved there.  Then I read about Crossroads Hospice in the newspaper and attended a meeting.   And it grew from there.

My Crossroads involvement has been on the Board, running planning sessions, selecting and assisting with computers, personnel management, treasurer, etc.

Remember, that whether we volunteer as a visiting volunteer, a support volunteer, to support the hospital tea service, on the Board, on Treasurers of Christmas fund-raising or other areas of Crossroads, as a sponsor, or a donor of funding or services, we are all part of the team that helps those who are dying, and those who are grieving.

Never forget that your volunteering is very valuable and is appreciated, frequently by people that are no longer here to tell us. You can contact Terry at [email protected]

I was working on the Palliative Care Unit at Eagle Ridge Hospital when I was first introduced to Crossroads Hospice Society.  That was 12 years ago and I am still an active volunteer.  The excellent course they provided for me to become a visiting volunteer certainly made me a better nurse for my patients, plus a better person within myself.

I have been an active board member for most of those 12 years.  Some of the areas I have been involved in are Fundraising, Public Relations, Treasures of Christmas event and Casino events.  I have also served three years as chairperson for the society.  The board and all hospice volunteers work very hard to support each other, so I enjoy volunteering for the society in whatever area I may help.

The ongoing need for our involvement in our communities and the support we provide to all those who have the priviledge of meeting one of our trained volunteers, will always make me feel proud to be working with such a wonderful Society.

Elsie enthusiastically stepped forward to assume the role of Chairing the 7th annual Treasures of Christmas fund raiser which was held on Dec. 3, 2002 in Coquitlam. Along with Elsie's husband, Sandy and a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers, the event was a tremendous success. The 9th annual will be held on Friday, Nov. 29, 2002 at the Executive Inn & Suites in Coquitlam, B.C.

Saskia became involved with Crossroads Hospice Society when she decided to start her business called Charity Snacks. Saskia has beautifully designed snack boxes, which she places in waiting rooms, staff rooms, private clubs, and many other small business venues throughout the communities of Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Coquitlam, and New Westminster. The boxes contain a variety of snack foods at a cost of $1.00 each. If you have any referrals for Saskia, please call the Hospice office. Saskia has chosen Crossroads Hospice Society to be the recipient of a portion of the proceeds from these snack boxes. Thank you Saskia for all your hard work and your generous monthly gift to Hospice.

Sonia Siermaczeski, the owner of Essensual Hair Design and Director of the Chamber of Commerce is a vibrant member of the Tri-Cities business community and a professional, dedicated to excellence in customer service. Sonia was determined to find a way to increase her client base and provide her customers with excellent service while at the same time giving something back to her community. She felt compelled to make a difference and launched a fundraising campaign to raise funds through customer donations toward the construction of a freestanding hospice. The fundraising strategy was straightforward: customers donating $10 to Crossroads Hospice Society would receive a 10% discount on services and those contributing $20 or more would receive a 20% discount. All discounts last for a full year.

Sonia is delighted with the enthusiastic response to her campaign and has to date raised $3000. Having the opportunity to raise awareness of the need for a hospice in the community has given Sonia great personal satisfaction and her relationship with clients has become more fulfilling and meaningful. She welcomes new clients to visit Essensual Hair Design and encourages them to take part in "giving to the building fund".

Sonia was instrumental in the production of the "Mr. Millenium Pageant & Dance in November 2000. The event featured prominent male members of our communities as the contestants in this most "intriguing" presentation of great Canadian men. The evening proved to be a wonderful community event filled with fun and laughter for all. The next Mr. Millenium Pageant & Dance is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2002 at Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School in Port Coquitlam. Thank you to the school that is generously donating the use of the gymnasium for this popular fundraiser. Thank you also to Sonia.

Crossroads Hospice is very fortunate to have the support of many in the community on an individual, business and professional level and would like to take the opportunity to recognize some of its supporters and share their stories.

Sonia Siermaczeski and the Board of Crossroads are wonderful examples of how individuals can make a difference and their enthusiasm and determination make them positive role models for others in our community.