DATES
MAY 1 - 3, 2026
LOCATION
Harrison Hot Springs Resort, BC
PRICE
Registration is closed
FEATURED SPEAKERS
The Honourable Steven Lewis Point & Dr. Gwendolyn Point
The Honourable Steven Lewis Point, OBC (Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl) is the former 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. He recently served as the Chancellor for the University of British Columbia. He also served as the Chief of the Skowkale First Nation and Tribal Chair of the Stó:lō Nation. With a Degree in Law from UBC, he practised both criminal and native law before accepting an appointment as a Provincial Court Judge in 1999. He has received numerous awards including; The Justice Institute of British Columbia Foundation’s Joseph H. Cohen Award, the Order of British Columbia (2007), the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee (2002) and Diamond Jubilee (2012) medals, Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (2008), and the Order of Chilliwack (2016). He has received Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD) from the University of the Fraser Valley (2000), University of Victoria (2012), University of British Columbia (2013) and Capilano University (2017).
Dr. Point currently serves as the Knowledge Keeper for the BC Assembly of First Nation Chiefs. She served a term 2015-2018 as The Chancellor for the University of the Fraser Valley. She taught 3 years in her home community Sts’ailes School and 3 years for the Chilliwack School District as a District Support Teacher before working 15 years for the Stó:lō Government as the Education Manager.
Numerous awards include, Paul Harris Fellow, Order of Chilliwack, BC Aboriginal Tourism Award, Seattle Art Museum: “The Recognition for work in First Nation Language & Culture”, The University of the Fraser Valley: “The Betty Urqhart Community Service Award”, Chilliwack School District set up 2 bursaries in her name
PRIP Ian Riseley
Video Address
Ian Henry Stuart Riseley was born in Melbourne, the second of five children in a working-class family. After completing secondary school with marks insufficient to obtain a university scholarship, he joined a firm of Chartered Accountants and studied part-time to qualify. He later continued part-time study and obtained Graduate Diplomas in Accounting and Income Tax as well as a Master’s Degree in Income Tax Law. He was a self-confessed academic late bloomer.
After working in professional accounting, management consulting, and industry, Ian launched his own accounting firm in 1976, with the creative name Ian Riseley & Co. That firm continues to this day, in a reduced form.
Ian became a proud Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Sandringham in 1978 and served as the club's third President. He led a Group Study Exchange team to District 7930 in Massachusetts in 1997 and then became Governor of District 9810 in 1999/2000.
He was elected as a Director of Rotary International for 2006/08 and was Treasurer in 2007/08. He then served as Chair of the RI Finance committee from 2009/11 before being elected as a Trustee of the Rotary Foundation for 2011/15. Ian was Co-Chair of the committee that organised the 2016 Rotary International convention in Seoul.
Ian served as President of Rotary International in 2017/18 and gave the theme of “Rotary: Making a Difference.” He again served as a Trustee of the Rotary Foundation for 2019/23, serving as Chairman in 2022/23. While President, he authorised six Presidential conferences with an emphasis on peace, an important issue for Ian and his wife Juliet, who was Governor of District 9810 in 2011/12. He is proud of his support of Rotary’s work for the environment and of his promotion of women's participation and leadership roles within Rotary. Ian was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2006 and an AM in 2023
FACILITATORS
Jane Brooks
Dr. Brooks worked as a family physician in Nova Scotia and British Columbia for many years. She retired in 2020. Her main focus was women’s health and senior’s care. She worked as an emergency room physician throughout her career and this became her main area of focus in the last 5 years of her career. She was an avid teacher and had the privilege of training over 100 students and residents in her practice and hospital.
Chris Boyd
Chris has a Master of Arts degree in counselling psychology and is registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (RCC). As a therapist, his ultimate goal is to help clients enhance resiliency in their lives by engaging in a collaborative and strength-based approach. Prior to working in private practice, Chris' professional journey took him to community agency, school and government programs as he had the privilege to work with an eclectic group of clients.
Psychology aside Chris is the co-founder of the Original Ugly Christmas Sweater, an annual charity event in Vancouver that is credited with starting the 'Ugly Christmas Sweater' trend that has spanned the globe. His latest project has been to co-author a children's book called: The Ugly Christmas Sweater Rebellion. Chris is a member of the Rotary Club of Coquitlam and is active with the alumni association at his old high school, St. Thomas More Collegiate.
Tim Cooper
Tim was born in England where he studied physics and maths at Exeter University, coming to Canada to complete a PhD in nuclear physics at the University of Alberta. After temporary positions in Indiana, TRIUMF, McGill and Surrey University he started his career at the Ohio State University and then switched to the University College of the Fraser Valley when it started in 1992, becoming UFV just recently.
After teaching for many years (winning the faculty of science teaching prize in 2014) and publishing over 50 research papers in the field of intermediate energy nuclear physics, in 2004 Tim’s attention switched to Global Warming and the dangers to his (and all) kids. Tim has given over 200 presentations on the science, economics, politics and engineering of man-made climate change, and the great danger it presents in an attempt to sway the public to listen to the scientists and the science.
Tim has retired from teaching in 2021. He intends to make climate change and related environmental issues the centerpiece of his retirement.
Tara Cummings
Tara Cummings is the Executive Director of the Chilliwack Youth Health Centre, where they focus on trauma‑informed, youth‑centered services and strong community collaboration. With extensive experience supporting at‑risk youth and building responsive programs, Tara is committed to strengthening mental wellness and reducing isolation across the community. As a dedicated Rotarian and advisor to the Interact Club of Chilliwack, Tara extends this work by fostering youth leadership, connection, and confidence.
Robyn Curtis
Robyn Curtis holds a degree in Biology from the University of Victoria and a Commercial Pilot’s License. She has spent the past 25 years working in the aviation industry in a variety of roles and now works as a consultant, primarily supporting airports.
After moving to Chilliwack and looking to connect with her new community, Robyn, unaware she needed an invitation, simply showed up at a Rotary meeting. Fortunately, she was warmly welcomed and has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Chilliwack since 2018.
Robyn currently serves as Chair of her club’s Climate Change Action Group and Chair of the 2026 District 5050 Conference; roles that keep her fully engaged (and very busy). Through her work, she hopes to inspire other Rotarians to take meaningful action on climate change.
Dr. Douglas Courtemanche
Dr. Douglas Courtemanche is a plastic surgeon with a special interest in cleft and craniofacial surgery. A graduate of UBC’s medical school (1983) he interned at Memorial University in Newfoundland, returned to BC for his residency in plastic surgery and completed a craniofacial fellowship at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne as well as a Master of Surgery at the University of Melbourne.
He is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at UBC and now brings 35 years of clinical and academic experience to the care of his patients and the support of his colleagues as one of the surgeon leaders with the Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Program at BC Children’s Hospital.
Outside of medicine he enjoys cycling (including many rides with the Rotary Ride for Hearing), gardening, spending time with family and, time in nature with his border collie. A few years ago, he bought an electric cargo bike to replace his car for things like grocery shopping; but had to upgrade some parts to make it more bike and less electric!
His other major passion is his work with Doctors for Planetary Health - West Coast, CAPE and WE-CAN, working for social and environmental justice and challenging colonial structures to make the necessary changes in the face of the global climate emergency.
He is now in his 6th year of “intense” engagement on a wide range of issues including climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, inequality, reconciliation, war and nuclear disarmament, human rights and the rights of nature.
Steven Esau
Dr. Steven Esau is a clinical counsellor that designs and operates specialized treatment programs for Substance Use, Mental Health, The Unhoused, Outdoor Adventure Therapy and Indigenous Programming. He provides private clinical consultation and program development in Canada as well as Internationally. He is on the Clinical Faculty with the department of Psychiatry with UBC, Research Analyst on the Toxic Drug Supply and loves being outdoors with his wife, 3 daughters and border collie.
Dr. Alessandro Glaros
Dr. Alesandros Glaros is a Research Associate and Instructor at the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley. He also participates on the board of directors for the Open Food Network-Canada — an organization that builds digital tools to support local-regional food systems. His research explores the opportunities and tradeoffs to emerging agri-food technologies like controlled environment growing, cellular protein production, and digital agriculture.
Anthony Hayer
Anthony Hayer is a paramedic and healthcare leadership practitioner in British Columbia with more than 17 years of frontline experience serving urban, rural, and remote communities. He holds a Master of Arts in Leadership (Health Specialization) from Royal Roads University and has contributed to the development of national standards through the CSA Group.
His graduate research explored how to strengthen communication among more than 4,500 ambulance professionals across British Columbia, applying evidence-based change management principles rooted in a simple belief: meaningful and lasting change begins with authentic dialogue.
Anthony brings a strengths-based approach to facilitation, systems thinking, and stakeholder engagement. As a conference facilitator, he is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where thoughtful conversation, inclusive collaboration, and service-driven leadership can create a transformative impact.
Bryan Hennessy
Bryan Hennessy is a Pacific Northwest–based environmental advocate dedicated to community-driven climate action and ecological restoration. Over the past four years, he has contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to environmental nonprofits in the Bellingham area, earning recognition as the 2026 Volunteer of the Year from the Whatcom Land Trust. He founded the “Free Native Plants for Kids” initiative in Whatcom County, engaging youth in habitat restoration and fostering long-term stewardship.
Bryan is also an active member of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group, collaborating on sustainability projects locally and globally. Reflecting his lifelong commitment to learning and service, he recently returned to college at age 63 to study environmental science.
With a background in engineering and international service, Bryan brings a practical, solutions-focused approach that bridges knowledge, community engagement, and action.
Jason Hjalmarson
Jason (he/him) currently resides in Vancouver on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ territories.
Jason is the Wilderness Committee's Outreach Canvass Coordinator. He supports the campaign team and recruits volunteers to get involved in the movement to end fracking in BC. He started his career in nonprofits working as a door-to-door canvasser for Greenpeace Canada in 2010. Since then, he has worked as an organizer and fundraiser for a number of progressive social justice causes. He studied political science at the University of Lethbridge and has held staff roles on 14 different election campaigns. Today, he is a recovering partisan campaigner who is passionate about building popular support for environmental causes.
Emily Samuels-Ballantyne
Emily Samuels-Ballantyne, PhD, is the farmer and lead educator for Earthwise Society in Agassiz. The Earthwise Farm is a small scale teaching and sharing farm that works to build a more resilient local food system by increasing year-round availability of fresh produce and sharing surplus harvests with others. Emily works as a regenerative farmer, educator, and food systems practitioner with over twenty years’ experience developing community-based food initiatives and place-based education programs. Before her recent move to BC, Emily stewarded a regenerative farm in Tasmania for seven years, working with permaculture and biodynamic practices while hosting volunteers, community events, and land-based learning. Emily combines practical farming knowledge with deep experience in local food economies, food hubs, and community food systems, and is passionate about teaching people how resilient food systems can grow from the land outward.
Peter Jones
With a background in forestry and earth sciences, Peter has a keen interest in the impact of global warming on our climate and in working on solutions.
Since 2021 he has hosted over 30 online small group conversations with guest speakers on a variety of topics such as the clean energy transition, extreme weather, and disaster risk reduction.
Peter spent most of his career with the Government of British Columbia (BC) helping to resolve conflicts over the use of forest land and natural resources. Since retiring in 2014 he has been a Volunteer Advisor with Catalyste+ (formerly CESO-SACO) and completed multi-year assignments in the Arctic and in South America. He also completed a 4-year term on the BC Board of the United Church of Canada, working on affordable housing and property redevelopment.
Peter is a member of the Rotary Club of White Rock and the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG).
Ralph Jones
Ralph qualified in Birmingham England in 1976 aged 22. He has been in Canada for 44 years. He worked in rural areas in Saskatchewan and Alberta before coming to Chilliwack in 1994. For 32 years he was a full-service family physician.
Now working in adult mental health, psycho- geriatrics and long-term care . Ralph is the medical director for two care homes and is involved in LTC leadership.
Ralph was a past president of the Section of General practice & a BCMA /Doctors of BC board member. He has been involved in provincial and national geriatric projects. He Is a board member of the Canadian Society for long-term care medicine. An associate professor of medicine at UBC, he teaches residents in care of the frail elderly & psychiatry at Chilliwack UBC site.
A Rotarian since 1998, he is the current president of the Rotary club of Chilliwack. Ralph has been on international service trips to Peru, working on water wells & rice mills & recently to Costa Rica for wheelchair distribution.
William Lees
William Lees is a certified HVAC Designer and Red Seal Refrigeration and Gas Technician based in Agassiz, British Columbia, with a special interest in energy-efficient climate control and heat pump technology. Through his extensive experience in the HVAC industry, he specializes in designing customized, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems tailored to the Fraser Valley's unique climate.
Currently serving as the Co-Owner and Lead Technician at Luxury Climate HVAC Ltd., William brings expertise in heat pump installations, system load calculations, and helping homeowners navigate provincial energy programs like the CleanBC rebates. He is passionate about educating the community on indoor air quality, clarifying heat pump misconceptions, and utilizing precise design technology to ensure optimal home comfort.
Dr. Brooke Lewis
Dr. Lewis is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with a Doctorate in Psychology (Psy.D.) who specializes in working with adults navigating trauma, stress, anxiety, depression and emotional overwhelm with a deep commitment to trauma-informed care. Brooke provides a grounded and supportive therapeutic space where healing and resilience are possible.
Outside of clinical practice, Brooke sits on the Board with the Tri-City Transitions Society, is a member of the Rotary Club of Coquitlam, and is currently writing her first book.
Jared Mumford
Jared Mumford is a digital strategist and community advocate based in British Columbia. He serves as President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Chilliwack, is Co-Chair of Chilliwack Healthier Communities and the former Chair of the Chilliwack Board of Education. He is the President of the Downtown Chilliwack Community Market, a non-profit Farmer's Market a nonprofit farmer's market advancing food access and local food security, and works with Bowls of Hope supporting the backpack program. He also leads Rotary’s Breakfast for Literacy initiative, provide elementary school's with funds for healthy breakfasts. His work is centered on advancing food security, strengthening local systems, and building practical, community-driven solutions.
Katrina Ovens
Katrina works as the Land-Based and Recreation Lead with PCRS. She developed the Land and Learn program, which focuses on building community through land-based and recreational activities in collaboration with staff, community partners and participants across a variety of PCRS programs serving youth and adults throughout the Fraser Region.
In addition to this work, Katrina serves as the Co-Chair of the Child and Youth Care Committee of Chilliwack. She is deeply passionate about collaborative partnerships that strengthen support systems for children, youth, and families in the Chilliwack community. Katrina believes that authentic relationships and community connection must always be the priority.
Dr. Grace Park
Dr Grace Park is a Family Physician with research interest focused on frailty prevention and healthy aging. She is the co founder and physician lead for the Pacific Regional Network for Healthy Aging and medical consultant for United Way BC. She is a geroscience researcher with the Canadian Frailty Network and Age-Well and a clinical assistant professor in the department of family practice at the faculty of medicine at UBC.
She served as the Regional Medical Director at Fraser Health Authority (FH) for home and community care 2010-2024 where she led the work on the CARES project developing and validating the electronic CGA. She led the development and implementation of the frailty pathway at FH which aims to holistically assess older adults with frailty and provide tailored connections to services both in the community social and health services sectors.
She is a passionate supporter of aging in place and has led the social prescribing scheme in FH and worked to embed it into practice throughout the region. She remains committed to social prescribing as a way to bridge the health sector with community based seniors' services and is working with UWBC to scale and spread social prescribing to other health regions in the province.
Dr. Stefania Pizzirani
Her research projects include:
- Social implications of agri-genomics
- Stó:lo Indigenous Foodways Co-Lab
- Community-Campus responses to crisis
- Forest Systems and Wellbeing
- Urban agriculture education programming
- Responsible innovation agenda for vertical agriculture development
- Sustainable food systems for Canada
Carla Rankin
Carla Rankin is the Executive Director of the Arlington Food Bank in Washington State and a recognized leader in innovative, community-driven approaches to addressing food insecurity. Since becoming the organization’s first paid Executive Director, she has transformed operations to expand access, dignity, and impact—launching initiatives such as a Mobile Food Market serving rural and tribal communities, strengthening local farm partnerships, and advancing sustainable food systems that support both families and local economies.
In addition to her role at the food bank, Carla serves as Vice President of the Snohomish County Food Coalition, where she collaborates with 19 food banks and regional partners to improve access to food, share best practices, and advocate for equitable food systems. Her work extends into broader community planning, including participation in county-wide initiatives focused on public health, disaster response, and long-term food security.
A dedicated Rotarian, Carla is a member of the Rotary Club of Arlington. She was honored as the club’s first Rookie of the Year and served as Club Administration Chair for eight years. She also chairs the Scholarship Funding Committee, helping support and invest in the next generation of leaders.
Carla is passionate about Rotary’s ability to turn compassion into action and believes strongly in the power of local clubs to drive meaningful, lasting change.
Carla brings a dynamic, solutions-focused perspective to food insecurity—connecting real-world operations with scalable ideas that Rotary clubs can implement in their own communities.
Warren Schatz
Warren Schatz (B.A. Business, MDiv, Dmin) is the Community Ministries Director for The Salvation Army in Chilliwack, which operates the registered community food bank. The Salvation Army operates 3 food security programs – a monthly food hamper program, a daily soup kitchen, and daily free fresh food program called the Pantry. In the last few years, The Salvation Army Chilliwack has also developed “The Plant a Row for Us” program – which encourages local gardeners and farmers to grow fresh food and donate it to the Pantry program. Warren is also the current chair of the Chilliwack Food Council which is a part of the Chilliwack Healthier Communities network. The Chilliwack Food Council works to ensure equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and culturally appropriate access to food in Chilliwack in the short, medium and long term.
Debora Soutar
Debora has been an advocate for protecting natural spaces since she moved to beautiful British Columbia more than fifty years ago. Debora is an active member of the Rotary Club of Chilliwack and served as 2015/16 president. Debora is a retired professional forester and has a degree in Wetland Conservation. Debora is an active member of the Green Party of Canada and the BC Greens, Chilliwack Park Society, Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society, Chilliwack Museum & Archives, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chilliwack Outdoor Club, Chilliwack Students Garden Program, and the Gwynne Vaughan Park Society. Debora has three grown sons and four young grandchildren.
Additional Information