Who We Are
The Minnekhada Park Association (MPA) is a registered non-profit society, formed in 2002. We are a group of residents, all of whom are volunteers, who are committed to working with Metro Vancouver to introduce, protect and enhance the natural environment and historical values of Minnekhada Regional Park. We invite you to GET INVOLVED!
Our meetings are usually held at 6:30pm on the second Wednesday of the month at the historic Minnekhada Lodge, with some exceptions. Please call 604-520-6442 for more information and to confirm the meeting time.
Meet the Board
Celia DeLuca – Chair
I first fell in love with Minnekhada as a child, when my grandma worked there as the domestic manager at the farmworkers bunkhouse, back in the 1960’s. This fueled a love in me for the mysteries, discoveries and humbling impact, that only nature and the farm, could provide.
This magical place offers a myriad of experiences and connection opportunities – from tadpoles and bullrushes, to its inherent and deeply steeped history. And away from city lights it offers the unique chance to stare up, with mesmerizing awe, at a star-filled sky!
My hope is that MPA can facilitate opportunities so that children and others, can foster their own deep connection, appreciation, respect and love for Minnekhada.
email: chairperson@minnekhada.ca
Steve Smith – Secretary
Out of curiosity, I walked into a board meeting at the Minnekhada Lodge one evening and I have been held there against my will ever since. Just kidding!
Some of that is true. Having had a fair bit of experience working with several other local community groups, I was looking for a change, one that would bring me closer to nature. I always loved the intoxicating mix of nature and history that Minnekhada offered and had an ongoing curiosity about “The Farm”. Some of that may be traced back to my mostly rural roots, from the north of England to the foothills of Alberta, and now the wild coasts of BC.
I head up the Minnekhada Farm Exploratory Team (also known as MFET). We are working to come up with ideas for future uses of the farm within the context of “protecting and connecting”.
email: secretary@minnekhada.ca
Lara Charles – Director
A love of nature, completion of the Nature-Based Experiential Learning program at SFU and a chance meeting and conversation with our former MPA president Roger L. in 2017 led me to joining the board of MPA in 2022.
As a teacher in SD43 I’m passionate about connecting children to the natural world. Minnekhada Regional Park has always been a favourite outdoor field trip destination, and I have grown to love it more every time I visit.
Julie Kanya – Director
Bio coming soon.
Xyang Shexlex – Director
Bio coming soon.
Meet Our Staff
Esmeralda Martinez Bonilla – Volunteer Coordinator
