Board of Directors

Paul Collard

I moved to Vanderhoof by choice from Bristol, England in 1972 and practiced dentistry here until 2015. I have never considered leaving, enjoying all the wonderful opportunities available here, that are the envy of all that visit.

My interests encompass cross-country skiing, and biathlon, flying my own aircraft, improving our airport and the usual boating, fishing and outdoor activities. The family of three children and five grandchildren in Prince George are also a daily contact.

I hope to see the community foundation grow over the years as residents realize their contributions can be used forever to improve life for all in the area.

Ken Simon

Ken's family was raised in Vanderhoof. His children and grandchildren now work and reside in Prince George. “It is very rewarding to me to be in close proximity to my family and to be able to continue enjoying quality time with them. I currently enjoy the activities of running, no-contact hockey, playing pickleball, biking, fishing and hiking and whatever other outdoor activities that may interest me at the time.

Ken earned his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Alberta and articled as a student of Chartered Accountancy in Prince George. He moved to Vanderhoof in 1984 to start a new accounting business, as Owner and President of Kenneth B. Simon Corp. The business grew over the years and with his staff offered a wide base of service in the areas of accounting, audit and business consulting to individuals, corporations and not for profit societies including personal income tax, corporate income tax, estates and trust taxation, sales taxes and registered charity tax returns. Although his accounting office was in Vanderhoof, the business served clients in Prince George, Fort St James and throughout British Columbia including Fort St. John, Smithers, Burns Lake, Vancouver and Victoria. Ken officially retired in 2016 after having sold his business to MNP.

Ken's many volunteer activities have included director, treasurer or president positions in Vanderhoof’s Rotary Club; Airshow Society; Chamber of Commerce; Duck’s Unlimited as well as Kinsmen and Curling Clubs. Ken’s strong desire to give back to his community is demonstrated as he continues serving with his skills as a Chartered Professional Accountant in the role of Treasurer for the Vanderhoof Community Foundation.

Karen Andros

I was born in New Westminster and my family moved to the north in 1968. I moved to Vanderhoof and worked in Fort St James for Canfor, Pope & Talbot and then Conifex. I retired from Conifex in 2018 and thoroughly enjoying this part of my life.

I have 2 sons and a grandmother of 2 boys and 2 girls. I was a director or the FSJ Community Foundation for 4 years so once retired was happy to become a Director of the Vanderhoof Foundation.

My Husband John and I love to hunt, fish and going to the mountains with our horses and pack horses is always exciting. I love living in Vanderhoof and looking forward to seeing the Vanderhoof Community Foundation grow and enhance this beautiful community.

Mary Burkholder

I am a wife, a mother of three and now a grandmother to three delightful grandchildren.

The Nechako Valley has been my home for the majority of the 39 years I have spent in Canada, having emigrated from the UK as a brand new teacher. I spent many years teaching various grades of elementary students, in a variety of schools. i consider myself a lifelong learner and in 2012 I completed my Masters of Education. I have been a volunteer with many different organizations including Girl Guides of Canada, Nechako Waste Reduction Initiative, Cross Country BC, Neighbourlink and Act II Thrift Store.

My husband Richard and I are now enjoying our retirement years. I spend considerable time reading, knitting, cycling, camping, hiking, and travelling. We feel fortunate to call Vanderhoof our home. It is a caring community and I feel privileged to be part of the Vanderhoof Community Foundation. It is so rewarding to be able to give grants to projects which enhance our community and to provide citizens with a way to make a long lasting contribution to our community through their donations. I believe it is an exciting time to be a member of this organization as we begin to provide grants and thus make tangible contributions to further enhance our growing, vibrant community.

Jeff Craig

I have been living in the North since I turned 21, and Vanderhoof since 2013.

My wife and I have both been working in the community since we moved here, myself as a millwright/machinist, and my wife as a nurse. Since then we have started a family with two young children. We all have grown to love this town, and the diverse community that calls Vanderhoof home.

I currently am a member of the Good Neighbours Committee, as well as volunteer with the local Air Cadets. I enjoy giving back to the community, and I am honoured to join the Board of Directors for the VHCF.

Phil Devries

I moved my young family from Kamloops to Vanderhoof in 1996 at the age of 20 and began working in the forest industry. I progressed into management at 21 years old and continued in the industry until 2010.

In 2010, I was presented with an opportunity in the Tire Industry and continued in that for 8 years. During this process, I started a Tire Shop in Vanderhoof from the ground up and Managed/Operated that business for 6 years before selling and becoming a partner in Cozy Corner Pizzeria in 2018.

My wife, Alana, was born and raised in Vanderhoof, and her family has deep roots in this community, dating back to 1916.

We have a blended family with a total of 10 children and 2 grand children, (so far).

Through Cozy Corner, we've met several Directors from the Vanderhoof Community Foundation and began working with them on Fundraising through 50/50 draws at our monthly Trivia night. From this relationship with these excellent people, I was asked to be on the Board of Directors for this great organization.

My wife and I absolutely love Vanderhoof and the people who live here with us. We are excited to see and help the Vanderhoof Community Foundation continue to improve and enhance our wonderful community.

Gerd Erasmus

Born in Germany, grew up in Smithers, BC.

After school, I did a wide variety of work, and eventually settled down to be a framing carpenter. After a couple of years of that, I decided to become a school teacher, and after university in Victoria, arrived in Vanderhoof in 1973, as high school science and biology teacher. Temporarily.

It didn't take long to realize that teaching a mix including many rural kids, along with opportunities for hunting, fishing, canoeing, wilderness camping was a dream career, and 'temporary' turned into 33 years, plus 10 more years of being a 'substitute' teacher, and now 'retirement'. This 'temporary' place, Vanderhoof turned out to be a great place to live, work, raise my children, and get involved.

In my spare time I was involved with an early version of Vanderhoof Community Theatre, and for many years was CORE (hunter training) instructor, Canoeing instructor, coached Cross-country Skiing, Biathlon, Archery. I became a life member and director of NVSA, spent some years as president of Biathlon BC, am director of BC Trappers Association for some years. I was an active member of NVSAR for 25+ years.

It is now time for me to get involved with less physically active things, and the equally important work of the Vanderhoof Community Foundation fits well for my interest in contributing to Vanderhoof.

Sara Hara

In 2011, our family moved to Vanderhoof, and what a journey it has been! Initially, we thought we'd stay for just five years, but quickly we became intertwined in this wonderful, little community. It didn't take long for us to realize that Vanderhoof was the perfect place to raise our family.

My husband and I have found ourselves deeply woven into the fabric of this community, especially through our involvement in local sports programs. I thoroughly enjoy my role as the Children’s Librarian at the Vanderhoof Public Library, while my husband teaches at Nechako Valley Secondary School.

Sports aren't just an activity for us—they're a way of life. Whether coaching, cheering from the sidelines, or actively participating, we pour our hearts into supporting organizations like the Vanderhoof Youth Soccer Association, Nechako Nordics Ski Club, and various NVSS sports teams. Our children are also actively involved in the community through soccer, basketball, hockey, cross-country skiing, cross-country running, track and field, and theater productions at W.L. McLeod.

Our commitment to this community runs deep. Currently, I hold positions on the boards of the Vanderhoof Youth Soccer Association and Vanderhoof Community Theatre Society.

Joining the VHCF Board of Directors is a privilege—an opportunity to further contribute to the community that has enriched our lives in countless ways.

Gerry Thiessen

Ruth McIntosh

Kathie LaForge

The District of Vanderhoof was very keen to see our community benefit from having a Community Foundation and invited me, along with four other community members, to be part of the inaugural Board of the Vanderhoof Community Foundation Society which was formed in December 2015. I was honoured to be included as I had learned about the good work that Community Foundations were doing in communities throughout our Province, Country and Internationally and felt the time was right for Vanderhoof to have a Foundation of its own.

I was asked to take the lead on the Society until the first General Meeting and was elected to the role of President at that time. I served in this capacity until December 2021 when I resigned from that position and Paul Collard was elected to this role. I became Past President and then Director at Large till we relocated and I resigned officially from the Board on 31 August 2023.

Vanderhoof was our home for 45 years, its where we had a business, raised our family and had many friends. We always believed that we had a vested interest in seeing the community grow and be a welcoming place for all residents, visitors and businesses.

Volunteering for an organization that established a permanent endowment that provided grants to support community projects was the right fit for my time and resources.

My husband, Bill, and I established the LaForge Family Fund through the Community Foundation and the income that it earns goes back to the community as part of the annual grant cycle. We have been very pleased with the organizations, programs and services that, in a small way, we have helped to support.

Although we now live in southern BC, I am happy to continue to be a part of the good work that this organization does and am proud to have been appointed as a Life Member.

I would encourage others in the community to consider donating to the Foundation, supporting its fundraising efforts and be a part of Building Community - Today, Tomorrow and Forever!