Housing Squamish is very fortunate to have a volunteer board made up of skilled and passionate community members who are working together to bring more affordable housing to our community. Guided by our strategic plan, this hands-on board is working to implement the plan and bring our priorities to life.
Housing Squamish has a 12-member volunteer Board of Directors who are appointed for up to a three-year term, with the opportunity to serve for up to two consecutive terms.
Nine members were previously elected or appointed to the Board. They are:
- Kirby Brown – Chair of the Board
- TlatlaKwot (Christine Baker) – Squamish First Nation
- Jenna Stoner – District of Squamish Council
- Ashley Oakes – PearlSpace (Formerly Howe Sound Women’s Centre)
- Laura Modray – Squamish Senior Living Society
- Lori Pyne – Squamish Helping Hands Society
- Cameron Cope – Director at Large
- Mike Van Capelle – Director at Large
- Scott McQuade – Director at Large
We welcomed three new members who recently started their positions:
Leighton Kunz – Sea to Sky Community Services
Leighton joins the SCHS board as a representative from Sea to Sky Community Services. He is the Housing and Facilities Manager for SSCS and has been with the society since 2021. Leighton oversees the operation of all SSCS affordable housing sites and facilities. He brings operations and development experience to the board and looks forward to supporting the growth of SCHS.
In addition to his role at SSCS and SCHS, Leighton serves the local community as an on-call firefighter with Squamish Fire Rescue. Leighton also enjoys volunteering with the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association and exploring the forests of beautiful British Columbia.
Rhianna Williams – Director at Large
Rhianna brings with her over a decade of previous experience in the non-profit sector. She has held various frontline roles as a youth care worker and outreach counselor, dedicating her early career to serving and advocating for vulnerable populations. Throughout her personal and professional life, Rhianna has experienced the immense impact secure housing, and the lack thereof, has on every aspect of one’s life and well-being.
Rhianna previously served as a member of the housing selection committee at Sea to Sky Community Services Society. In that role, she worked to support and advocate for vulnerable clients and to improve their access to safe and affordable housing. Currently, Rhianna operates a private clinical counseling practice in Squamish.
Rhianna holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and an Undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria.
John Chapman – Director at Large
John Chapman is a community planner with over a decade of experience as a planner working in local government. Known for a deep attention to detail and a knack for establishing connections with stakeholders, John is a big-picture strategic thinker who drives policy development, testing, and implementation. John is a Registered Professional Planner and member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and holds a Master’s degree in Planning from UBC SCARP with a focus on urban industrial economies and post-industrial land use transition.
Prior to studying and working as a planner, John had a career as a wilderness guide, forest firefighter, and ski patroller. This work involved providing logistics, project management, and leadership in challenging and dynamic environments. John’s diverse life experiences inform his work as a professional planner.