Board of Directors

Donna Bartel

President
Donna has been involved with the ALS Society since her mom’s diagnosis in late 1999.  Since that time, Donna has been an avid fundraiser and awareness raiser for the ALS Society. Read more

Paul LeBlanc

Immediate Past President, Federation Council Representative, Member – Finance and Advocacy Committees
Born in Nova Scotia, Paul wandered eastern Canada for a few decades before settling in Vancouver in the mid-1990s.  A small business owner from a family of entrepreneurs, Read More

Sheldon Cleaves

Board Vice President, President North Central Island Chapter and Member – Mid-Island Walk to End ALS Committee
My involvement with ALS started 20 years ago, in 1997 when my mother (by adoption), was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 79 and passed away a short time later. Read more

Norm Louie

Board Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee
Recently retired as CFO for the Overwaitea Food Group which runs the Save On Foods, Coopers Foods and Urban Fare supermarket chains, Norm and his wife, Lisa, just saw the additions of two more grandchildren to the family. Read more

Oana Grant

President, Victoria Chapter 
Oana was born in Romania, in the gorgeous mountains of Transylvania. She obtained her first law degree (civil law) there before coming to Victoria, Canada, in 2007.  Read More

Louise Adderley

Board Secretary, Kelowna Support Group Facilitator & Member – Pt. Services Committee
I was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley where my parents ran an orchard.  I have an undergraduate degree in social work and a master’s degree in counselling. Read more

Dr. Elizabeth Bannerman

Director & Chair of Psychological Support Program, Member – Pt. Services Committee
Dr. Bannerman is a Registered Psychologist in the province of British Columbia.  The scope of her practice is in health and rehabilitation psychology, and the treatment of depression, trauma, and anxiety disorders. Read more

Erin Barrett

Director & Chair of Fund Development Committee
Erin was born and raised in North Vancouver and has returned to the city after 12 years spent in London, England. Read more

Dr. Neil Cashman

Director,  Member – Finance & Advocacy Committees & ALS Centre of Excellence Task Force
Dr. Neil Cashman is a neurologist-neuroscientist working in neurodegeneration and neuroimmunology.  His special areas of research include the motor neuron diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the amyloid encephalopathies, such as the prion illnesses and Alzheimer’s disease. Read more

Dr. Andrew Eisen

Director & Member of ALS Centre of Excellence Task Force
Dr. Andrew Eisen is presently Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia. He is a graduate of the University of Leeds in England (1959). Read more

Linda Fontana

Director, Member — Pt. Services & Fund Development Committees
Linda Fontana grew up in Kelowna BC and after university lead and supported business since 1988, as a business owner, consultant, speaker, business training development and recruitment specialist in Canada and the United States. Read more

Brad MacKenzie

Prior to exhibiting the first symptoms of ALS in 2016, at the age of 30, Brad MacKenzie graduated from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in applied science (electrical engineering). Read More

Ellen Mahoney

Director, Volunteer Pt. Services Coordinator and Support Group Facilitator in Victoria & Member – Pt. Services Committee
Ellen Mahoney infuses passion, creativity, energy and fun into everything she does.  Drawing on her extensive clinical background in health care, she brings a compassionate and genuine approach to everything she does. Read more

Dave Walman

Director & Chair of Patient Services Committee Member – Fraser Valley Walk Committees
I have been associated with ALS BC since 2004 when his wife was diagnosed with ALS.  Patty & I first met in 1968 at a small hospital in the Okanagan where I was the assistant administrator and she was starting her first job as a nurse. Read more

Jim Williams

Director, Member – Finance & Advocacy Committees
I have been associated with ALS BC since 2004 when his wife was diagnosed with ALS.  Patty & I first met in 1968 at a small hospital in the Okanagan where I was the assistant administrator and she was starting her first job as a nurse. Read more

Dr. Charles Krieger

Honourary Life Director & Member of ALS Centre Task Force
Dr. Krieger is the Professor of Kinesiology at SFU.  He is focused on a cure, or effective treatment for ALS.  He frequently does neurological testing at the GF Strong ALS Clinic. Read more