Randy Wilson -President - Coquitlam, BC

Randy Wilson is currently the President of the board of directors for Vela Microboard Association. Randy has been on the board for the past 5 years, previously serving as Vice President.

Randy and his wife Debbie live in Coquitlam with their three adult children, Brent, Todd and Roxanne. Brent, 26 years old and Roxanne 21 years old both have Vela microboards. Randy attended the first retreat on Bowen Island for the Family Support Institute and has been an active RRP ever since. He also sat on the board of directors for FSI in the late 80's and early 90's. Prior to that Randy sat on the board of directors for the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living.

At one time Randy volunteered to develop a group for dads only that was started in North Vancouver and co-sponsored by the Infant Development Program of North Vancouver and the University of Washington. It is because of his belief in the strength of commonality and his love of family that has kept him active throughout the years.

Shelley Durant - Treasurer - BC

Shelley has worked as an accountant in the private sector for most of her career. Shelley and her husband, Gerry formed a microboard in 2002 to support their son, Jason. Shelley joined the board in 2004.

Cathy Lafortune - Director - Castlegar, BC

Cathy currently works as a medical transcriptionist and is known province wide as a powerful advocate for families. She has served on numerous boards and committees including her community Health Board and the Premiere's Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities. Her son Jeffrey, the eldest of four, lives at home and is supported by his microboard, one of the first microboards created in the Kootenays.

Ric Tesan - Director - Coquitlam, BC

Ric Tesan is a soccer coach and a Grade 7 teacher with the Burnaby School District.  Over the past decade Ric has served as a director on several boards, including the Family Support Institute and the Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network.  He is a strong parent advocate and has developed a Vela Microboard for his 22 year old daughter, Erin.

David Metheral - Director - Victoria, BC

David Metheral resides in Peachland with his wife Astrid, his daughter Zabrina, and his son Ian (who had his microboard formed in 2001).

David is a member of CARP (Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals) His entire career and volunteer work has been in support of individuals with disablilities and their families.

He owns Headstart Resources Ltd. providing services to individuals with brain injuries.

Evan and his wife, Christina have lived in Peachland for last 13 years raising there two children, Paul and Alexi.
Paul has had a microboard since 2003 and moved out of the family home in November 2005 to follow his dream of living as independently as possible.

Evan has sat on the board of PLAN Okanagan where he was the President for 4 years.

Vancouver, BC

Melanie has been on the Board of Directors for about three years. She brings many years of advocacy and self advocacy to
Vela's board of Directors.

Melanie is an artist and very active in her community. She is a part time student at Emily Carr College
of the Arts. Mel also works in downtown Vancouver at one of our newest multi-plex movie theatres.

Terry lives in Prince George with her husband Gord, son Drew and daughter Bree. Her daughter Bree-Anna has Cerebral Palsy. To meet the many needs Bree-Anna has Terry's family has become involved in many groups and organization over the years.

Terry has served on a variety of local committees with Social Service, sat on SunnyHill’s Parent Advisory Committee, and joined Family Support Institute in the mid ‘90’s.  In 1997 Terry joined the Family Summit group eventually becoming part what is presently the Community Living Coalition.

In 2001 she was nominated to the Transition Steering Committee that looked at restructuring our CLS services at the Ministry of
Children and Family Development. From 2002 through 2003 Terry was a board member with the Interim Authority Board of Directors

Terry and her husband wanted their daughter close to them when she was an adult and wanted the choice to hire the staff supporting her. Ensuring a lifestyle that reflected Bree’s interest and desires. They believed the way to achieve these individual goals was to develop a Microboard.

During her “working” life Terry has worked at our local hospital for 21 years leaving in 2000 to spend 3 years coordinating the Prince
George PLAN group here until the fall of 2002. For the past 18 years she has run the local clinic for the B.C. Cancer Agency out of Vancouver.

Jeff Moulins - Director - Vancouver, BC

Jeff is a self advocate that has the distinction of having the second of the first three Microboards created in British Columbia. Jeff was one of three self advocate representatives on the Board of Directors for the Interim Authority for Community Living British Columbia; he currently is Co-Chair of Vela’s Communications Committee.

Jeff uses his life experiences, as well as the involvement in creating and maintaining his own Microboard, to speak with a variety of individuals and groups about his history and what he has learned about creating a strong and meaningful network of family and friends and how to maintain vibrant, self directed, supports and services.