Board of Directors

Michele Morin, President

I am a mature, Metis/Cree person raised with Metis traditional knowledges, and Dominant Culture knowledges. I was born in Nelson and have been blessed to have been able to remain in the area for my entire life. I bring with me a variety of personal and professional experiences. Issues affecting the West Kootenays, especially with regard to social justice, have always held a special place for me, and as a result I have worked diligently for and served, on several Boards, some of which include: Duck’s Unlimited-Membership Chair, Political Party-Treasurer and Candidate of Record, Kootenay Region Metis Association-Treasurer for one term, President for two terms, and education portfolio holder for one term, Nelson Women’s Center-Treasurer, Chairperson of the Aboriginal Council for Education for School District 20, Metis Provincial Representative for the Aboriginal Education Council at Selkirk College, as well as serving as the Metis Representative on every Board for the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreements in the Province of British Columbia.

In my professional life, most recently I worked for the Federal, Provincial and Aboriginal Governments as a Facilitator and Negotiator, and, after completing that, I worked within the Banking Industry as a Financial Services Manager for 9 years. I am currently completing my Bachelor of Social Work-Indigenous Specialization (BSW-I) through the University of Victoria, via distance education, after which I plan on completing my MSW-I. I am currently employed as an Indigenous Support Worker for School District #20, at Stanley Humphries Secondary School.

Photo coming soon...

Rhonda Shears, Vice President

Bio coming soon...

Malorie Moore, Secretary

Malorie holds a Master’s in Social Work from McGill University and has over 10 years of experience in the fields of mental health and community development. Her areas of clinical interest include trauma, addictions and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. While living in Montreal she worked in a variety of different settings, including both in-patient and out-patient addiction rehabilitation centres.
Currently she is employed as an Agency Social Worker at the Kootenay Career Development Society, where she supports the clinical development of the organization and front-line staff. Malorie loves living in the Kootenays where she spends her free time canoeing, climbing and playing in the mountains.

Victor Villa, Treasurer

Bio coming soon...

Karly Olson, Director

Karly was born and raised in Kootenay Boundary. After finishing university, she returned to the area to set down roots.

Karly has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science from Thompson Rivers University. Her professional interests include health promotion, prevention and community development. She is passionate about supporting and improving the wellbeing of youth and families in Kootenay Boundary.

Her personal interests include spending time with her wonderful family, her two dogs and gardening. Karly joined the Freedom Quest Board in 2018.

Photo coming soon...

Kathy Hartman, Director

History:
I returned to the West Kootenays late August of 2017 to be the Department Head of Student Services at Stanley Humphries Secondary School in Castlegar. I have been an Alternate and Special Education Secondary teacher for over 2 decades mostly in the Vancouver system. Back in the late 90's/early 2000's my partner and I came to the West Kootenays to work (New Denver). When the Liberals came in and stripped the Kootenays of good government jobs I was asked to return to Vancouver to continue teaching there. We always hoped to settle back in the Kootenays again. Winning the Supreme Court case in 2016, which required the hiring of 3,000 new teachers, allowed us to come back in 2017. When I was not teaching, I spent 4 years as the Assistant Director of Social Justice for the BC Teachers' Federation. A province wide position that worked with 41,000 teachers, provincial politicians and their staff, and several committees of non-profit groups that allied with teachers.

Philosophy- Concerning mental health and addiction and youth:
Isolation from others is one the red flags, that as teachers of struggling youth, we watch for. Many of the youth programs I have run and/or supported have been to help bring youth together in a safe place and let them re-connect with the world. We do wilderness/adventure camps to challenge some students. We do camps of like minded students so they feel safe and can explore similar struggles. We find ways for students to feel success while working with others. The world has changed and the pull to isolate ourselves through electronics can be very appealing. I feel we have to adapt our strategies to meet that pull head on.

Past Board Members

Once a Freedom Quest'er, always a Freedom Quest'er. We thank you for your many years of service.