Board of Directors

Betty Anne Marino, President

Betty Anne Marino is a professionally trained Executive Coach with a Coaching and Consulting Practice based in Trail, BC. Her diverse background from the fields of community and economic development, philanthropy, health care, public relations and marketing has helped her develop a unique understanding of the challenges and issues facing leaders today. Her clients establish clarity, perform to their best and benefit from enhanced well-being. She has been successfully coaching leaders for 15 years across a wide range of organizations in Southern BC. Public Relations, communications and training are the focus of her consulting services. Betty Anne is an active community volunteer serving as Chair KidSport Greater Trail and a Board Member for Sanctuary Generation to Generation Society. Forward movement through strong relational strength is what drives this leader.

Deb Wandler, Vice President

Deb taught at Selkirk College from 1998- 2017, in the Social Service Worker Program she graduated from in 1978. She has a Master's Degree in Social Work and worked primarily in non-profits as a group facilitator, counsellor and therapist in private practice. Deb sat on the BCASW (BC Association of Social Workers) provincial board for 4 years as the Kootenay Branch Rep, has experience in Program Development, curriculum development, program review, advising and student support and teaching. She has been in relationship with Freedom Quest in her role at Selkirk for many years, providing mutual support, as well as student placements when possible, and working with the Executive Director from Freedom Quest sitting on their SSW Advisory Committee. Deb is enjoying retirement and plans to teach yoga in the new year with a focus on seniors, and she enjoys being a gramma, walks with her hubby and connections with her two adult children and their partners.

Michele Morin, Treasurer

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.

Karly Olson, Secretary

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.

Lynn Miller, Director

Lynn Miller was born and raised in the Kootenay’s. She is a proud Warfield resident with a long family history in the area. Graduated from JL Crowe in Trail and went on to complete a degree at both Selkirk College and the University of Alberta in Social Work. Has worked in many areas of Social Work including child and youth, Residential care and Mental Health among other interesting career experiences.

Lynn has been the Manager of Tertiary and Acute Services for MHSU in IHA for almost 8 years. Her work is demanding yet she gets fulfilment from the relationships she builds with all people through work – colleagues, clients, patient and families.

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.

Malorie Moore, Director

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.

Photo coming soon...

Julie Morrison, Director

Bio coming soon...