People on the Move
Human Resources
Allison Rzen has been appointed partner at PFM Executive Search. Rzen started at PFM in 1999 as a research associate, transitioning after five years to the role of consultant and later senior consultant, and in 2008 was named associate partner. Before joining PFM, Rzen co-ordinated convention services for the Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Hospitality/Tourism/Convention
Annabel Aspler has joined the BC Hospitality Foundation as a project manager. Prior to this appointment, Aspler was meeting and event manager at the Westin Bayshore.
The winners of the 2015 Tourism Richmond Service Awards are: Vivian Cheng, Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel (Accommodations); Eladio (JoJo) Eugenio, River Rock Casino Resort (Attractions); Karthik Shan of Tramonto at the River Rock Casino Resort (Food and Beverage); Joan Colvin, Vancouver Airport Authority (Transportation and Travel); Aerocar Service (Extra Mile Award); Lee Man, Chinese food expert (Tourism Spirit Award); and CF Richmond Centre (Tourism Partner of the Year).
Legal
Lori Massini and Donya Vahidi have joined Boughton Law. Massini adds entertainment law to the firm’s range of business legal services, while Vahidi is an associate in the firm’s business practice group, focusing on corporate commercial, banking and intellectual property law.
Radha Curpen has been appointed managing partner of Bennett Jones’ Vancouver office. Curpen specializes in environmental, regulatory and aboriginal matters, and in the transportation of dangerous goods. She negotiates with regulatory authorities and aboriginal communities and practises in English and French. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto faculty of law for the sustainability and corporate social responsibility course and as a sessional lecturer at Robson Hall faculty of law for the environmental law course.
Non-Profit
The BC Chamber of Commerce (BCCC)has announced its new chair and board of directors for 2016-17. Patrick Giesbrecht, owner, Giesbrecht & Co., is chair, while new or re-elected directors are: Tara Benham, chartered accountant, Hayes Stewart Little & Co.; Dave Butler, director of sustainability, Canadian Mountain Holidays; Aleece Laird, partner, Fresh Inc.; Barinder Sidhu, associate, Fasken Martineau LLP; Ken Veldman, director, public affairs, Port of Prince Rupert; and Joelle Westlund, senior adviser, Communica Public Affairs. These directors join previously appointed and elected directors Rangit Gill, executive director, Central BC Railway & Forest Museum Society; Moira Green, economic development officer, City of Fort St. John; Brant Hasanen, financial adviser, Edward Jones Investments (BCCC immediate past chair); Karen Hawes, VP, human resources, Interior Savings Union (BCCC vice-chair); Maureen Kirkbride, interim CEO, BC Chamber of Commerce; Kristine Lee Simpson, partner, BDO Chartered Accountants; Richard Prokopanko, founder, P. Richards Inc.; Shana Najafi, senior tax manager, private company services, Deloitte & Touche LLP; and Kim Burden, executive director, Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce.
ViaSport British Columbia, an organization mandated to increase awareness, opportunity and participation in sport across the province, has announced four new board members: Trisha Davison, director, parks and recreation, City of Trail; Jon Festinger, Vancouver-based lawyer, strategic adviser and educator practising law in digital media, creative freedoms as well as entertainment, communication and sport matters; Jennifer Heil, gold and silver Olympic medalist in feestyle mogul skiing and a four-time world champion and five-time overall world cup champion; and Rick Ramsbottom, sponsorship and marketing executive with a concentration on sports.
Public
Diana Juricevic Vandor has been appointed chair of the BC Human Rights Tribunal (BCHRT), effective August 1. Juricevic has served as a full-time tribunal member with the BCHRT since 2011. Prior to joining the tribunal, she practised international criminal law in the Netherlands and Cambodia. She was also an adjunct professor and acting director of the international human rights program at the University of Toronto’s faculty of law, where she taught several courses. At the outset of her career, she practised litigation at a large national law firm in Toronto.
Sales/Marketing
Jwee Peng Tan has been appointed vice-president at Cult Collective LP, a customer engagement-focused marketing firm headquartered in Calgary, with offices in Vancouver, Kingston, Ontario, and Atlanta, Georgia. Peng Tan started his advertising career at Saatchi & Saatchi and has led accounts in a variety of industries and has received several advertising awards, including a Cannes Gold.
Ingrid Cheung is the Canadian Public Relations Society’s 2016 Vancouver student scholarship winner. Cheung ran a social media campaign for the Vancouver Economic Commission during its participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.
Hats Off
Business in Vancouver welcomes submissions from local small businesses and large corporations alike that demonstrate examples of corporate philanthropy and community involvement in the Vancouver area. High-resolution images are also welcome.
The City of North Vancouver has donated a $10,000 grant to help provide local children with mentors through Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver.
The recent North Shore Mayors’ Golf Tournament raised $190,000. The North Shore Schizophrenia Society received $50,000 and the remainder of the funds went to North Shore and West Vancouver community foundations’ community trust funds in support of various social service projects on the North Shore.
The Down Syndrome Research Foundation’s 20th annual Run Up for Down Syndrome raised more than $113,000 for the foundation. Donations are accepted year-round, but can still be made for this particular event until the end of June via https://fundraise.dsrf.org.
Members of eWomenNetwork Vancouver raised $6,000 in 2015-16 for the eWomenNetwork Foundation. The total amount was donated to Charlford House Society for Women, a non-profit society with a mission to provide women with a safe, healthy and caring environment in which to experience recovery.
The Rotary Club of Richmond Sunset donated $20,000 to Richmond Hospital Foundation. The funds, raised via the recent fourth Rotary Skates for the World event, will be used to help purchase a vein viewer machine for Richmond Hospital.
Pacific Autism Family Foundation’s 27th annual Women’s Media Non-Golf Classic raised $235,000 and donated it to the Pacific Autism Family Foundation and its GoodLife Fitness Family Autism Hub, set to open this fall.
