Chilliwack Cultural Centre Board members biographies:
Jordan Forsyth: President
- Lawyer, Baker Newby LLP
- Member of Law Society of British Columbia
- Director, Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce
- Director, Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association
- Past volunteer with U.B.C. Law Review
- Past volunteer with Pro Bono Students Canada
Jaquie Simpson: Vice – President
- Former Owner of Grey Area Gallery, a Chilliwack art gallery that featured established and emerging Canadian Artists.
- Former Social Worker for the Ministry of Children and Families.
- Former Actor at the University of Western Ontario and University of the Fraser Valley.
- Former Co-Chair for the Hospice Society’s November Nights Gala (4 years).
- Former Executive Board Member for the Chilliwack School of Performing Arts
- Past Prop Designer for Chilliwack School of Performing Arts
- Past Volunteer on the Gala Committee for The Opening Night Gala of the Chilliwack Art’s and Cultural Centre
- Volunteer on the Wine/Beer Festival Committee for Chilliwack Art’s and Cultural Centre
- Member of the Chilliwack Arts & Cultural Centre Society
Doug Wickers: Past – President
- 40 year resident & volunteer in Chilliwack
- retired physiotherapist
- past President of Rotary Club of Chilliwack
- past Assistant Governor of Rotary District 5050
- former coach of minor soccer & baseball (T-ball)
- member of Chilliwack Players Guild since 1979
- past member of Festival Chorus & Symphony Chorus
Rick Paulding: Treasurer
- Retired 2015
- Member, Institutes of CPA’s of BC and Canada
- Former partner of a Chilliwack based regional CPA firm
- Former licensed broker with two different bank owned investment dealers
- Member, Sardis Community Church
- Former director, treasure and president, Chilliwack Academy of Music
- Former director and Treasurer of a BC licensed pregnancy and adoption services charity
- Former founding director and first Treasurer, Chilliwack Foundation
- Married, with two adult daughters
Janet Carroll: Secretary
- Program Coordinator, Teacher Education Program, UFV
- Retired educator – Chilliwack School District
- Member of the Chilliwack PLayers Guild
Directors at Large
Robin Klassen:
- Born and lived in Chilliwack her whole life
- 30 year career in banking and currently a Mortgage Broker
- Director – Chilliwack Rotary Club
- Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
- Past member of the Chilliwack Chapter for BC Children’s Hospital
- Past canvasser for the Cancer Society and Big Brothers
- Past Board Member for the Run for Mom
Kim Harder:
- Articulate, compassionate and savvy community volunteer since 1992
Nigel Lennie:
- Farm Supply Retailer – Retired
- Current Board Member of “Chilliwack Foundation” & “Chilliwack Golf Club”
- Former Chairman & Treasurer of “Chilliwack Symphony Orchstra & Chorus”
- Former Director of “Rotary Club Of Chilliwack”
- Paul Harris Fellow
- Former President/Treasurer of “Chilliwack Rugby Club”
John Blessin
- Occupation: retail in major appliances initially at Eaton’s
- Regional Manager-Maytag Co. Ltd for B.C. and Yukon
- Owner and operator of Wagner Appliances Ltd. since 1982
- Musician: double bass, played in folk and jazz groups since the early 60’s. Later with the Chilliwack Symphony and currently at weekly Rotary meetings. Former host of radio program ‘Jazz Over Easy’ 1978-1981
- Acting and performing in high school and with U.F.V. theatre department and Chilliwack Players Guild
- Past board member of Chilliwack Academy of Music
- Past president of the Barbershop Singing Society
- Past Assistant District Governor of District 5050 of Rotary Clubs
- Past President of Chilliwack Rotary Club
- Past President of Chilliwack Symphony
- Former member of Chilliwack Chamber Singers and also Chilliwack Symphony Chorus
- Current member of Chilliwack Foundation Awards Committee
- Multiple Paul Harris Fellowship recipient and major donor for the Rotary Foundation
- Past Director of the founding board of the Chilliwack Cultural Centre Society
- Hobbies include creating rustic garden items and creating artistic sculptures in mixed media
Karen Ireland
- Artist: Architectural Glass and multi-media; art-for-arts-sake; Public/Community Art.
- Certified Teacher
- Owner/Operator: multi-unit Retail (former)
- Partner/Operator: interprovincial print media development service (former)
- Employment: sales, education, systems, marketing, administration … (former)
- Volunteer addressing community development, safety, marginalization, sports, sustainability and arts
- Current member: Chilliwack Visual Arts Association, Fraser Valley Dragon Boat Club, Kent Harrison Arts Council, North Vancouver Community Arts Council.
Ex-officio:
Ryan Mulligan – City Staff Liaison
Bio to come
Jeff Shields – City Council Liaison
Bio to come