Board & Wisdom Circle
Be The Change's Directors come from a wide variety of life paths and bring their extensive experience and insights in service to furthering the vision and mission of Be The Change Earth Alliance.
Executive Director: Maureen Jack-LaCroix, MA (founding Director)
As the CEO of Jack of Hearts Productions, Maureen brought twenty years experience producing large multi-faceted events such as Slam City Jam international skateboard festival, Music West festival and conference, Tears Are Not Enough African aid initiative, and the Gala Opening of Expo '86 for CBCTV. A student and leader of group process in humanistic, cognitive and transpersonal psychology for 15 years, Maureen facilitates leadership training and team building for companies and executives. She was awarded the 40under40 Top Business Achievers in 1993 and the Ethics In Action Award in 1996. With a Master of Arts in Eco-Psychology and Creation Spirituality, Maureen brings her love of the arts, Earth and community together as the Founder and Executive Director of "Be The Change".
Life On Purpose Network interview produced by Pinc Productions Inc
Living Visions Retreat where Maureen speaks about living her vision.
President: Derek LaCroix, QC (founding Director)
Derek is the Executive Director of the Lawyers Assistance Program of B.C. Derek practiced law in B.C. from 1975 to 1993 and was also called to the bar in Oregon in 1995. Since 1987 Derek has made personal development, spiritual growth, and working with others his avocation and he obtained a Diploma in Counseling in 1996 and a Ph.D. in 2003. He began work with the LAP in 1997. He has published articles on the health problems facing lawyers, helping others, stress and depression. He has spoken at conferences on the role of volunteers, reaching out to others, stress, and addictions. He also leads workshops on many topics concerned with Healthy Living and Personal Growth. He is active on several non-profit boards and is a Commissioner of the American Bar Association, Lawyers Assistance Programs and the Co-Chair of the CoLAP Conference in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Derek received the designation of Queens Counsel in 2004 in recognition of his work in the legal community.
Treasurer: Elizabeth (Tosh) Hyodo
Elizabeth Toshiko Hyodo (Tosh) lives in Vancouver, BC. In 2009 she left a successful 20-year career as a personal financial planner and investment advisor to commence a new chapter of service and self-realization in her life. She brings financial acumen to Be the Change Earth Alliance as Treasurer and is an active Facilitator of the Awakening the Dreamer, Being the Change Symposium. Tosh has been on a life-long spiritual path and is now also giving Mid-Life DoulaTM seminars and coaching to women who want help giving birth to their spiritual power.
Secretary: Tyee Bridge
Tyee is a Vancouver, BC-based writer interested in ethics, religion and the mythology of apocalypse. He’s written for The Globe and Mail, Vancouver Magazine and the Calgary Herald, and, while awaiting the crash of the local real estate market, is currently working on a book about the end of the world.
Director: Larry Butler
Professional facilitator and workshop leader, specializing in behaviuor modification.
Director: Gregory Almas
Gregory works as a property manager and has been involved in a number of Be The Change Action Circles. He is also a trained Awaken the Dreamer-Be The Change Facilitator.
Honourary Board Member: Bruce Sanguin, M.Div (founding Director)
Minister, author, speaker and workshop leader, Bruce has led congregations in the United Church of Canada for 20 years, currently serving as Lead Minister at Canadian Memorial United Church in Vancouver, B.C. His theology and passion to teach a progressive and emergent Christian faith are summarized in his books, "Darwin, Divinity and Dance of the Cosmos" and "Summoning the Whirlwind: Unconventional Sermons For a Relevant Christian Faith". He is a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Bruce's daughter, Sarah, is a successful actor, living in Los Angeles. For fun Bruce plays guitar, practices Bikram's yoga, and reads more than he should.
Joining the above Board Members on the Wisdom Circle (Strategic Planning & Visioning Committee) are:
Kate Sutherland
Kate Sutherland is the author of Make Light Work: 10 Tools for Accessing Inner Knowing, and a social entrepreneur helping change agents and community organizations be more innovative and effective. As an inspiring leader and in-demand consultant, trainer and coach, Kate has helped hundreds of leaders and organizations be more nimble, resilient, and aligned with core purpose. In 2010, she created MakeLightWork blog as an online meeting place for people using inner work approaches to increase their effectiveness. Kate is also Regional Director for What’s Your Tree in British Columbia, co-founder of the Two Block Diet, and founder of the Daphne Lane Plastics Recycling Depot — all pioneering grassroots citizen engagement strategies.
Sharon Abbondanza
Trained as a yoga therapist, Sharon teaches a blend of yoga therapeutics and flow-style (vinyasa) hatha yoga. Her passion is integrating the enlivening practice of vinyasa to vitalize the body, and the reflective practices of yoga therapy to refine awareness and promote healing. Sharon is a dynamic teacher, passionate about educating her students through a felt sense of anatomy; she is nurturing and down to earth. With ten years teaching experience, and numerous certifications, Sharon’s love of yoga translates into on-going personal studies that include meditation, philosophy, anatomy and Vijnana Yoga.
Toni Pieroni
Toni is a Registered Clinical Counselor in private practice working with individuals and couples. She facilitates workshops and retreats in Ecopsychology based on the work of Joanna Macy. Toni is passionate about accelerating the shifts in consciousness that are needed to shape values and behaviours toward the healing of our world. She's also a volunteer at The David Suzuki Foundation.
Jamie Donaldson
Jamie is currently the Program Manager at the Centre for Intercultural Communication at UBC, where she manages the professional UBC Certificate in Immigration: Laws, Policies and Procedures program and the UBC Certificate in Aboriginal Health and Community Administration. She worked in Guatemala for five years as an archaeological apprentice and illustrator, and another five in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela supporting grassroots development projects. Jamie created and taught Latin American studies courses at Yakima Valley Community College in Washington State and is the founder of the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center in Bellingham, WA. She holds a Masters degree in Latin American Studies from the University of California in Los Angeles.
Suzanne Barois
Suzanne Barois received her M.Sc. degree in Resource Management Science from the University of British Columbia in 1987. She has extensive experience, including work as a Fisheries Biologist for local environmental consulting companies; as a marine biologist with the Pacific Biological Station; and overseas for the International Research Development Centre Canada. Over the past decade, she has been involved with a wide variety of non-profit organizations. Suzanne is wholeheartedly committed to the global effort towards sustainability through community building and social action, nonviolent communication, and education. Other interests include spirituality and meditation, yoga, reading, and becoming increasingly fluent in the French language.
Lucy Hough
Lucy is currently the Director of Development at West Coast Environmental Law. Lucy’s passion for environmental conservation and healthy communities developed through her personal travel experiences to a few corners of BC - from Pacific Rim to Glacier to Atlin National Parks - and many beautiful places in between. Her love of “natural BC” compelled her to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and geography from SFU, furthering her understanding of science as a sound and persuasive element in making the case to protect the ecological and cultural diversity of British Columbia that she cherishes.