People on the Move
Finance
The fellowship designation (FCPA) has been awarded by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) to 11 chartered professional accountants who have rendered exceptional services to the profession or whose achievements in their careers or in the community have earned them distinction and brought honour to the profession. They are Carol Bellringer (Victoria), Lorne Calder (Prince George), Gordon Cummings (Vancouver), Gayle Gorrill (Victoria), Kay Gray (Vancouver), Paul Hamilton (West Vancouver), Lori Mathison, (Vancouver), Bert Miles (Vernon), Janice Roper (Vancouver), C.Y. Tay (Vancouver) and Praveen Varshney (Vancouver). In addition, CPABC also recognized its members with two other awards: the Early Achievement Award recognizes chartered professional accountants who distinguish themselves early in their career and was given to Craig Carefoot (Victoria), Lauren Clavora (Victoria), Saskia Muller (Vancouver), Selena Nisbet (Vancouver), Sharon Perry (Coquitlam) and Henry Tso (North Vancouver). The Community Service Award was awarded to Peter Guo (Vancouver) and David Turchen (Washington) for their commitment and dedication to the community.
Nick Gubbay has joined Eckler Ltd. as a principal in the group benefits practice. Gubbay is an experienced group benefits consultant and actuary, advising clients in the private and public sectors on the sustainable design and funding of their benefit programs, and was previously a partner at Mercer (Canada) Ltd.
Non-Profit
Broek Bosma has been appointed chief development officer at St. Paul’s Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation, Bosma held executive positions with several non-profit organizations throughout Canada including Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and most recently at Emily Carr University of Art + Design as associate vice-president of external relations.
Scott D. Sampson has been appointed president and CEO at Science World, effective July 4. Sampson currently serves as the vice-president of research and collections and chief curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Sampson previously held positions at the Natural History Museum of Utah, the New York Institute of Technology, the American Museum of Natural History and the H.R. MacMillan Space Sciences Center. Sampson is a renowned dinosaur paleontologist and science communicator. He regularly speaks to audiences of all ages on a range of topics, and has authored multiple books, including the recent How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature. He is perhaps best known as “Dr. Scott the Paleontologist,” on-air host and science adviser of the Emmy-nominated PBS Kids television series, Dinosaur Train.
Technology
Rodney Nunn, president and CEO of KSR International Co., an automotive supplier, has been appointed to Westport’s board of directors as part of a nomination agreement between Westport and certain entities affiliated with Westport’s largest shareholder, Kevin Douglas (“the Douglas Group”). Under the agreement, as long as the Douglas Group and its affiliates beneficially own more than 10% of Westport’s outstanding common shares, the Douglas Group will be entitled to nominate a director to Westport’s board. Jill Bodkin, one of Westport’s current directors, has agreed to step down.
Transportation
Seaspan has named three new vice-presidents to its senior leadership team. Catherine Chick, joined Seaspan in 2012 and is now vice-president, business services and technology. Shawn Chylinski joined the company in 2013 as director, safety and environment, and is now vice-president, health, safety, environment and quality. Linda Wortman joined Seaspan in 2008 as controller, marine, and is now vice-president, finance and accounting.
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 Richmond recently donated $4,743 from its health, safety and social grant program to Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. The funds will help the organization match Richmond girls with a supportive mentor in the Big Sisters and Study Buddy programs.
The 19th annual Panorama Heights Elementary School’s Hoops for Hope basketball playday donated $1,344.15 to Crossroads Hospice. The funds were raised through concession sales and donations for Crossroads Hospice’s memory albums program. The annual tournament honours the memory of two former teachers, Elizabeth Allard and Maguy Obadia, who both died from cancer. Allard took part in Crossroads’ visiting volunteer program and worked with a volunteer to create a memory album for her son.
West Vancouver restaurants Mangia E Bevi Ristorante and Caffe Al Mercato’s ninth annual B.A.C.I.O. fundraiser – Because A Cure Is Obtainable, also the Italian word for kiss – donated $18,560 to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. The funds will go directly to Lions Gate Hospital’s oncology department.
Through the Obakki Foundation, Julian Bannister and Stephen Wright fundraised $14,100 by climbing Argentina’s Mount Aconcagua in December 2014. Their goal was to provide the funding to build a school and put education programs in place for the residents of Amedichi, a remote village in South Sudan. The school – the only one in the village – has now been built and recently started classes. Amedichi’s population is comprised of mostly women and children, as most of the men in the village were killed in the ongoing violent outbreaks and revenge killings in the country.
FirstService Residential teamed up with more than 50 local vendors used by its strata corporation clients and fundraised $65,500 for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.
A $25,000 donation from the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry Local 170 donated $25,000 to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. The funds were used to help fund a symposium to discuss surgical quality initiatives at the hospital.•
