Pulling Together Email:
PTCanoesociety@gmail.com

Mailing Address:

Attention: Pulling Together Canoe Society

PO Box 78034 Grandview PO

Vancouver BC

V5N 5W1

Dear Members,

We are pleased to introduce your Board of Directors for 2019/2020

Linda Blake – President  – Has been a participant of Pulling Together Canoe Journey since 2001, involved in roles as a puller, skipper, safety consultant, and now a member of the Board of Directors. A career that includes local, national and international experiences in the law enforcement field. Working with youth as a martial arts instructor for 20 plus years.  A new work transfer will be a challenge for Linda to attend the next year’s journey, but her belief in what Pulling Together Canoe Journey’s brings to all those who participate will keep her involved, just from a distance.

Emanuela Sheena – Treasurer-Emanuela Sheena has been working in the non-for profit sector for over 20 years.  In 2000, she helped start a totem pole carving project at Collingwood Neighbourhood House, which included a master carver teaching Aboriginal youth the traditional art of carving. This successful project went on to see 3 more carvings raised in the community.  In 2004, her oldest son, a member of the Upper Nicola Band, participated in the Pulling Together Canoe Journey.  This was the first time he was exposed to his Aboriginal culture and really built a sense pride in him, leaving him wanting to learn more.  Emanuela went back to her organization and helped establish a canoe program.  Since 2005, she has brought Aboriginal youth to participate on the journeys.  One of the focuses on the canoe journeys was to ensure the youth were connecting with Vancouver Police Officers, building relationships that grew beyond the canoe journey.
Emanuela has been on the Board of directors since 2005, bringing her administration and community development skills to enhance the capacity of the board. Her work with Aboriginal youth has also given her the ability to bring a youth lens to the planning process and ensuring that youth have a place on the journey.  One of her goals is to continuously encourage youth to join the board, ensuring their voices are heard and supporting our succession plan.

Howard Tran- Vice President Howard joined the PTCS board in 2013 after a very memorable first journey in Sliammon 2012 and is currently the Secretary.  He quickly learned that the journey off the water is just as important as the journey in the canoes and that this is where the important work lies in furthering PTCS’ Mission Statement – enhance understanding between public service agencies and Aboriginal Peoples. He is a member of the Vancouver Police Department and is currently the Inspector in charge of the Youth Services Section, the Mental Health Portfolio and the VPD Cadet Program. He is also a board member for KidSafe Society and the UBC Institute of Mental Health. The PTCS is close to his heart and the annual journey is always the highlight of his summer.

Nicole Braithwaite West Vancouver Police Department

Tyler Urquhart Vancouver Police Department

Gordon Stokes Vancouver Police Department

 

Rob Longley – Director -In 2006 Rob became familiar with the Pulling Together Canoe Journeys at a Pulling Together Canoe Society barbeque – after discussion with some of the planners, Rob, a Reserve with the Royal Canada Navy, since 1981, saw an opportunity to have the Royal Canadian Navy provide support in areas of marine knowledge and safety.  Rob and Randy Young were the first Royal Canadian Navy participants in the role of support vessel in the PT Canoe Journey 2007.

Rob began providing additional support as a Safety consultant in the PT Canoe Journey 2009 and then provided additional support and mentorship for the youth who planned the 2010 PT Canoe Journey and continues that work serving on the 2016 Board of Directors.

In 2011 he was asked to join the board of directors based on his continued participation as a Safety Consultant.  In 2013 he was appointed Director of Safety for the PT Canoe Society.

Superintendent Rod Tulett CD-Director

(Picture to follow )

Rod has been the Enforcement, Security & Emergency Coordinator at Metro Vancouver Regional District for the past 12 years. Formerly he held positions with the City of Vancouver, the City of Colwood, and the Royal Canadian Navy. He is a Provincial Peace Officer, Local Assistant to the Fire Commissioner of BC, RCMP Counter Terrorism Information Officer and a Fusion Liaison Officer with Washington State Fusion Centre.

Rod also sits on the Board of the BC Crime Prevention Association, Pacific Northwest Preparedness Society and as a member of several committees including the BC Critical Infrastructure Steering Committee and Regional Emergency Planners Committee.

He also remains active part-time in the Canadian Navy Reserve as a Chief Petty Officer Second Class where he is a Liaison Officer between the Canadian Armed Forces and Civil Governments and First Nations for domestic emergency operations. Honours include the Canadian Forces Decoration and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

He lives with his wife Andrea, their two horses, Na’atcho and Odie, in the Hwâ-hwâ–nook area of Mission.

Nov 2014.

Justice Jacinto -Director. Justice Jacinto is proud member of Sagkeeng First Nation. Although her first Pulling Together Journey was in 2010 with Collingwood C.R.E.W. Justice grew up with her mom going on Pulling Together. She has grown up with her family and role models working in the community, which has been a big influence on her. Especially in regards to her career choice of working with youth.  She has recently finished the Outdoor Recreation Management Program at Capilano University and is now studying at Langara College hoping to move on to UBC and become a teacher and outdoor educator.

 

Leila Williams-Friend of the Board-Leila Williams is of Wet’suwet’en and Carrier decent from Moricetown B.C. She is one of the friends of the board, she still wants to be completely involved and help the strategic planning and gain experience.  Also, she has been volunteering in her community as youth rep in Board of Directors at Urban Native Youth Association. Over the past twelve years, she has been a participant in about 10 or more youth programs within Vancouver and is involved in various community events. In the past, she has received help from many youth workers and this is the reason she is interested in youth work. As well as being able to give back to the communities she grew up in, she has already taken steps toward meeting her goals and will continue to do what she loves.

Verna (Kate) Smith-Friend of the Board is from the St’at’imc Nation on her mother’s side and Wet’suwet’en on her father’s side. Her very first Pulling Together Canoe Journey was in 2011 with the UN-Easy (Unya and COELS-Easy) Canoe family. The Collingwood Aboriginal Youth C.R.E.W program amplified her love for paddling when she attended the 2013 journey in the Shushwap. She was on the PTCS Board in 2015 and has continued to play a role as Friend of the Board. Her enthusiasm and excitement for every journey has encouraged her to continue the work she does as the Aboriginal Youth Outreach worker for C.R.E.W.

Sincerely,

Your Board of Directors