Board and Team

Who We Are

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 – Vice Chair and Secretary

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.

Previously, I headed up the Minnekhada Farm Exploratory Team (also known as MFET) and the bat condo project and the bat monitoring team, as well as the “Trail Hoppers” program for Western Toads.  I’m always willing to chip in where my background and expertise can be useful. 

Several years in, Minnekhada has started to feel like a kind of a second home to me. Coming up the road through the forested cliffs to the lodge never fails to invoke that feeling of tranquility and being immersed in nature.

email: secretary@minnekhada.ca

 

Helge Jacobsen – Treasurer

 

Bio coming soon.

email: treasurer@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. 

 

Elaine Jacobsen – Director

 

Bio coming soon.

 

Julie Kanya – Director

Julie discovered Minnekhada Park during her onboarding with the City of Coquitlam as a water conservation officer in 2014. Minnekhada became her favourite place, often visiting several times a week for wildlife viewing, trail running, biking and hiking. 
Julie is passionate about local wildlife, habitat and ecosystems, particularly in encouraging community members to enhance their lifestyles in a manner that benefits both themselves, their families and the local ecosystem (e.g. through stewardship activities, wildlife attractant management, etc.). Julie now lives in Abbotsford with her husband, beagle, and young daughter Petra. As an MPA board member she maintains her connection to the park and supports stewardship initiatives including the Trail Hoppers program.
 

 

 

Christine Thurlow – Director

I have a lifelong love of the outdoors. When I retired in 2020 I started to explore all of the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks. I like to keep active so I am proud to say I have hiked and cycled through 24 of the 25 regional parks.

I decided I wanted to get involved as a volunteer as a way of giving back to the parks that I have enjoyed so much. In 2021 I began as a volunteer at Minnekhada Park counting bats as part of the monitoring program. From there my volunteer work evolved to Western toad and toadlet monitoring, and invasive plant management. 

We are fortunate to have such an abundance of nature, so close to urban areas, that the public is encouraged to experience. I joined the board to help with the preservation of the park so that its natural beauty can be enjoyed for many years to come.

 

Meet Our Support Team

Erin Monastersky – Volunteer Coordinator

Erin’s love for nature and conservation started at a young age, spending time outdoors camping, hiking, and learning about the wildlife around her. This passion led herto pursue a degree in Conservation Biology at Simon Fraser University, where she’s had the opportunity to study ecosystems, engage in research, and learn how to advocate for the environment.

“Minnekhada represents everything I love about nature—not only its beautiful landscape but also its rich history and the opportunities for learning it provides. I hope to be a strong advocate for this environment and help protect and promote the park for future generations. I’m excited to be part of Minnekhada and look forward to working together to protect and share this incredible place with others through adventure and education.”

 

Andrea Jabour – Communications & Community Outreach

As of July 2024, Andrea Jabour has joined the Minnekhada Park Association as our Communications & Outreach Coordinator. You will see Andrea out in the community promoting the park, assisting the Board in pursuit of their strategies, helping recruit great volunteers and telling many of the stories of the park through education and social media channels.
 
Andrea has a background in communications and public relations, event planning and marketing. She has worked for an NHL team, the PNE, a few arts organizations in the Tri-Cities and is an avid volunteer, especially with the local Chamber of Commerce. She is now a holistic nutritionist and is constantly prescribing visits in nature to many of her clients!
 

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