All UNITI partners, Semiahmoo House Society, Peninsula Estates Housing Society and The Semiahmoo Foundation, share the same Board of Directors, with a different member acting as Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer for each society.
Bea Hadikin
Chair Semiahmoo House Society
Bea Hadikin has lived in White Rock/Surrey most of her life. She is a retired Principal from the Surrey School District, most recently working at Semiahmoo Secondary. In her 32 years with the district, she also worked as a teacher and vice-principal. In all of her roles, she treasured her contact with youth, the excitement of problem-solving, and the opportunity to build positive futures. She now has the wonderful gift of time and wants to give back to her community. She feels that the work Semiahmoo House Society does fits with her beliefs and practice.
Catherine V. Ferguson
Catherine has worked as the Executive Director of the White Rock/ South Surrey Hospice Society, the Mayor of the City of White Rock and as a City Councillor for the City of White Rock. She has sat on numerous committees such as the Metro Environment & Energy Committee, Metro Regional Planning Committee, and Metro Regional Culture Committee. She has attended the University College of the Fraser Valley, Capilano College and BCIT. She holds certification in business administration.
David Ure
Treasurer Peninsula Estates Housing Society
Dave joined the board in the fall of 2014 after gaining some exposure to the good work that Semiahmoo House Society was doing from his children; one of whom had attended a program and another whom had done some volunteer work for the agency. He is the Senior Vice President, Finance of Mercer International Inc.; a Nasdaq traded global producer of softwood pulp, green electricity and chemicals. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance from the Sauder School of Business (UBC) and has completed advanced management studies at London Business School. He currently serves or has served on corporate boards in the biotechnology, energy and pension management spaces along with non-profit boards of entities providing neurological research, child development and counselling services. Dave has lived in Surrey for over 10 years with his wife Denise and two teenage children; one of whom has Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Ian Jarvis
Chair Peninsula Estates Housing Society
For over 25 years Ian provided leadership in organizations that make Metro Vancouver a better place to live. He held various senior positions including Chief Financial Officer at Metro Vancouver and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at TransLink. He was President and CEO of TransLink from to 2009 to 2015 and retired from that organization in December 2015. He currently is employed with the BC Utilities Commission. Ian became aware of Semiahmoo House Society by witnessing the positive impact it makes on the day-to-day life of his friends. He hopes that by serving on the Board he can leverage what he learned and practiced in his public sector career to support the continuing success of the Society. Ian and family have lived in South Surrey/White Rock since 1987 and he is a graduate of UBC and holds CPA, CA and ICD.D designations.
Alexander Magnussen
Board Member
Alexander Magnussen is a co-founder of The Self- Advocates Leadership Network. He is a Mentor to The Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo in South Surrey. Alexander worked for Community Living B.C. for two years and now works for CBI Consultants. He has been a professional public speaker for the last five years and is a former board member of Inclusion B.C.
Katie Crocker
Board Member
Katie Crocker is the Chief Executive Officer of AMSSA, a British Columbia provincial umbrella association that strengthens over 80 member agencies as well as hundreds of community stakeholder agencies who serve immigrants and newcomers. Katie represents the BC Settlement Sector on the National Settlement and Integration Council and is the Board Secretary for the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance (CISSA-ACSEI), the national body for settlement associations. Katie is also on the Executive Committee of the newly appointed UBC Centre for Migration Studies. Along with her background in not-for-profit management and her knowledge of the settlement and integration sector, Katie brings an expertise in children, family, and women’s issues.
Since joining AMSSA in 2014, she has worked with the Federal and Provincial governments to grow AMSSA’s technological expertise to provide online and e-learning opportunities for service providers throughout BC as well as on a national level. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Masters of Business Administration.
Marie Sabine
Vice-Chair The Semiahmoo Foundation
My interest in Semiahmoo House Society began when my daughter enrolled in programs at Semiahmoo House. I am passionate about the rights of people with developmental disabilities and have done advocacy work in the area of inclusive affordable housing, independent living and the need for rent supplements to provide opportunities for individuals to grow and thrive in their own homes. I have served as chair of the Community Living BC (CLBC) Surrey/Delta/White Rock Community Council. I also sit on the Peninsula Homeless to Housing Task Force and the White Rock Housing Advisory Committee. Prior to retirement, I served as Manager of Administrative Support Services with the Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service for sixteen years. I attended Capilano College, receiving a Certificate in Local Government Administration. More recently, I completed training in advanced policy governance and person-centred thinking. My husband and I live in White Rock and enjoy being near the ocean and the many parks and hiking trails in the area as well as being close to my daughter who is living independently with support.
Madison VanOene
Madison is an active member of the Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo. She feels most empowered when she serves the community and promotes inclusion. Some of her work includes participating in bringing beach accessible wheelchairs to White Rock Beach, enabling all people with mobility issues to go in the water and enjoy a summer day with family and friends. Madison has lived independently for over eight years. It’s been a learning curve, but for her, living independently and making her own decision are key.
Nicole Russell
Vice-Chair Semiahmoo House Society, Vice-Chair Peninsula Estates Housing Society
Nicole Russell feels privileged to be a part of such a wonderful organization. She has witnessed first-hand the amazing impact that Semiahmoo House Society plays in individuals’ lives and the community as a whole. Nicole’s sister, Jennifer, has been a participant in various Semiahmoo House programs for over 20 years. Nicole attributes her sister’s growing confidence, life skills and community involvement to the tireless advocacy and support of Semiahmoo House. Nicole Russell is a partner at the firm of Graves & Russell, Barristers and Solicitors. Nicole’s growing legal practice is based in South Surrey, focusing on Wills & Estates. Nicole has also been a facilitator at Anti-Harassment and Discrimination workshops for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Nicole and her family have lived in the South Surrey area for the past 25 years.
Teresita Aristizabal
Treasurer The Semiahmoo Foundation
Teresita Aristizabal has been involved with UNITI since 2005 as a volunteer, employee and board member. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. Teresita is currently a Consultant in Deloitte’s Enterprise, Technology and Performance Management Practice and is pursuing a Masters in Public Health.
