Our Board

We are lucky to have a passionate, skilled and dedicated board of former youth in care and allies who are elected each year by our members to guide the work of our organization.  They strive to ensure that the Fed’s strategy is in keeping with our mission, that we are always accountable to youth members, and that we are youth-driven in our approach to achieve our goals.

Debbie Cox, Board Chair

With more than twenty years of experience bringing people, communities and governments together to create positive outcomes, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to learn from the Federation and each of its youth members.

It is my hope that by listening, sharing and building collaborative relationships, I can bring value to the work of the Fed and help provoke meaningful dialogue and action.

As president of James Laurence Group, a company that helps drive change through communications, engagement and social impact work, I am excited about the direction the Fed is taking and look forward to continuing to work with the board, staff and members to amplify the voices of young people in and from care.

Meaghan Dougherty, Member at Large

I am very grateful to live, as a settler and uninvited guest, on the unceded territories of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) and Tsleil-Waututh (Səlilwətaɬ) First Nations. I am extremely privileged to be able to work and live in relative safety, throughout the pandemic, with my husband and my golden retriever, Sunny, in our cozy apartment in what is now called Lower Lonsdale.

I am a faculty member in the Department of Child and Youth Care at Douglas College and am interested in teaching and learning and how students experience their transition into CYC work.

Before coming to Douglas and completing my Doctorate of Education, I worked in social services for about 13 years at PLEA Community Services. I had the honour of working one-on-one with youth living independently on Youth Agreements, providing support for young people involved in the criminal justice system, and supporting youth who faced challenges due to their substance use. I managed Addiction Services at PLEA and have experience writing program proposals, grant applications, implementing and evaluating new programs, and overseeing budget, staffing, and program planning.

I am interested in learning from the Fed and contributing in a good way to advocacy for young people in and from care.

Kim Lee, Member at Large

Hello! My name is Kim Lee and I am so happy to be on the Board of Directors! I first joined the board in 2013 and have been involved with FBCYICN ever since. I love volunteering with this wonderful organization and watching it grow and evolve into something truly amazing. 

I am a second generation foster kid myself and I find it to be incredibly satisfying to empower young people in making changes to a system that is harming them. I love encouraging young people to use their voices and advocate for change and being a member of the board has allowed me to grow my skills and to become a better social worker as well. I am so grateful to the youth in care community for the trust they put into the board and into our organization. I truly believe these words: “by coming together we are not alone.”

Jai Turcotte, Member at Large

During my time with MCFD, I felt anxious and isolated. FBCYICN helped me find community and I have had the honour of being a part of the Fed Fam for over 5 years now, so I am excited that I am able to continue in the organization as a board member. 

I believe in showing up for the people we care about, in all sorts of meaningful ways. I work hard to provide inclusive and accessible spaces, and to be someone that openly learns from the experiences and perspectives of others. 

I have worked in social services for many years and I currently work in mental health & substance use, while I work on my Bachelors of Arts. Outside of school and work, I like to play video games, listen to music, and runaway from home

Ryan Wong, Secretary

I am currently working for a software development company named SAP based in Vancouver and have worked in the IT industry for over 20 years. Prior to joining my current company I worked in a variety of locations including the City of Coquitlam and Electronic Arts.

I’ve been involved with the Federation since 2006 starting with a little IT support and morphing into an adult support person during SCMs. I was also on the Board in 2012. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the positive transformation of the youth I’ve been able to meet and continue to look forward to any events I have the opportunity to see everyone again!

When spare time is available you can find me enjoying local theatre (both film and live), music, playing ice hockey, baking and cooking. I love to travel and have volunteered as Big Brother, for the DOXA film festival and GirlsSmarts4tech. 

Kathy Wright, Member at Large

I believe that supporting all youth, regardless of where they come from and their individual circumstances, will ensure that communities and society will flourish.

Early in my career I worked in an alternate learning school for youth aged 14 to 19. I gained a deeper appreciation for youth who were struggling and not able to “fit in." Recognizing how important it is for youth to have a safe place to go where adults were listening and they could learn, reinforced my belief that it was essential to give youth every opportunity to succeed and develop.

Currently I work in human resources with employees who need help navigating medical issues that affect their ability to work. I continues that work in the BC K-12 public education sector as a leader in workplace health promotion.