Jamey Paterson, Chair
Service on Board: Jan 2017 – June 2021
Hometown: Langley
In 1979 Jamey Paterson started his own Sales Agency, Paterson Products Ltd. This now extends across Western Canada. They sell Building Supplies, Plumbing, Electrical, Industrial and Safety Supplies markets.  In 2000 Mr. Paterson was the assistant to the Chairman for the BC Games with a Disability; 2005 he chaired the Communities in Bloom Committee; 2012 he Chaired the 50th Anniversary of the Langley Walk Committee; 2010 he was the Vice Chair of the 2010 BC Summer Games, and in 2013 he was Vice Chair for the 2013 BC Special Olympics.  Active in his community Mr. Paterson has served on the Building Supply Industry Association for 10 years. He also served on the Sharon Village Seniors Housing Society for 6 years, and was Vice Chair of the BC Challenge Drug and Alcohol Recovery Centre’s for Men and Women for 8 years.
 
Charles Bruce
Service on Board: Jan 2019 – June 2022
Hometown: Kamloops
Charlie is deeply committed to health, fitness, recreation, sport and education. He has supported his passions by being involved in related organizations, events and activities over the past thirty years. Personally dedicated to pursuing his own goals and objectives in triathlon, cross-country skiing, running, swimming, cycling, Charlie also finds tremendous satisfaction participating at an organizational level. Over the past fifteen years, Charlie has been involved in sport and recreation ranging form the Local, Provincial, National and International levels. Most recently, Charlie served as Race Director for the Sport Chek Kamloops Marathon, a qualifying race for the prestigious Boston Marathon.

Among his many sport and multi-sport commitments, Charlie has had the privilege to serve as President of the 2013 BC Senior Games, which received accolades as being “one of the most successful Senior Games ever!” He also served as Chairperson/Director for the Canadian Masters Cross-Country Ski Championships, which drew skiers from across Canada for the four day event.

Committed to extoling the lifelong benefits of health and fitness, Charlie is a certified Yoga instructor teaching a very active class on a weekly basis through the YM/YWCA. For his enthusiasm and dedication to health, Charlie was awarded the YM/YWCA Peace Medal Recipient in 2016.
He presently serves on the Board of the Kamloops Sports Council and is on the Board of the 2020 Canada +55 Games, which will be hosted by Kamloops in August 2020.
 
Jim Martin
Service on Board: Jan 2017 – June 2021
Hometown: Prince George
Jim Martin is the Chief Administrator Officer for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George where he oversees the activities of the senior management team and the day-to-day operations of a $36 million dollar local government operation. Previously Mr. Martin held a series of progressive roles at the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George as the general manager of environmental services, the manager of operations and an environmental services coordinator. In the past, Mr. Martin was an environmental effects research officer for the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, a primary products inspector for Agriculture Canada and a field biologist for Aim Ecological Consultants Ltd. Active in his community, Mr. Martin is the Vice Chair of the Prince George 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society, a founding director and chair for the International Bioenergy Conference and Exhibition Society, a director for the Northern Sports Centre and a Director of the Prince George Community Foundation Investment Committee. Previously, he was the President of the Prince George Ski Club, a Board Director for the Prince George Community Foundation and the United Way of Northern BC Prince George Cabinet Campaign Member. He holds his Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences) from Simon Fraser University and a certificate in local government services delivery. 
 
Wayne Naka
Service on Board: Jan 2019 – June 2021
Hometown: Nelson
Wayne Naka recently retired as a School Administrator after running K-12 schools in 4 districts throughout the province over the past 35 years. He has had a lifetime commitment to sport as an athlete, a coach, an administrator, and a volunteer. During his first ten years of teaching, he was also the head coach for the Dawson Creek Kodiaks of the PCJHL (one year), and head coach of the Kelowna Buckaroos of the BCHL (8 years). From there he coached four years in the Western Hockey league for the Victoria Cougars. During those hockey years, he also helped develop the Program of Excellence for BC Hockey and Hockey Canada. He has coached the Pacific Region U-17 team, the National U-18 Team, written curriculum for Hockey Canada, and was a presenter for Advance I and II Seminars across Western Canada. From 1986-1989 he also served  as a Master Coach for the National Coaching Institute at the University of Victoria.

Over the past twenty years Wayne has volunteered time to multi-sport events in BC. He has been the Director of Sport for the BC Summer Games (Trail/Castlegar), the Director of Sport for the BC Winter Games (Trail/Rossland), the Director of Sport for the BC Seniors Games Society (Trail/Castlegar/Nelson), and has just finished five years as the Vice-President and President of the BC Seniors Games Society.
Wayne is an avid outdoorsman, and fishing has been a passion throughout his entire life. He has also been a kayak guide for the past 25 years and has taken numerous expeditions to his favorite destination in Belize.  He is very excited about the opportunity to work with the BC Games Society, and contribute to sport, recreation and healthy lifestyles in the province.
 
Breeanne Parisien
Service on Board: Jan 2018 – June 2022
Hometown: Elkford
Breeanne Parisien has spent the majority of her life in the outdoors of the East and West Kootenays which lends itself well to her families’ lifestyle. Ms. Parisien completed a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in human resources and marketing, is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CPHR) and a certified Everything DiSC Workplace facilitator. Having worked predominantly in the mining industry, in a variety of HR generalist roles, she’s proficient in a broad range of HR activities. Throughout her career she’s found her passion in leadership development and is currently building a leadership culture at one of Teck Resources’ coal mines. In the various towns she’s lived in, she’s looked for opportunities to be involved in various volunteer activities such as the Advisory Council with the BC HR association, the BC Special Olympics Board of Directors as well as developing Trail Ambassador Programme candidates.
 
Richard Peter
Service on Board: Jan 2019 – June 2021
Hometown: Vancouver
Bio to come.
 
Veronica Planella
Service on Board: Jan 2019 – June 2021
Hometown: Victoria
Veronica is an educator, mental skill practitioner, field hockey coach and master level athlete. She works at the University of Victoria, is a professional member of the Canadian sport psychology association and international society of sport psychology. Veronica is also a certified level 4 coach with the Canadian coaching certification program as well as a trainer coach for the Pan American field hockey association. Veronica’s areas of research interest include coaching expertise, athlete career development and transitions, learning and performance analysis, sport diversity and motives for engagement. Veronica’s passion lies in the collaboration with individuals, fostering the exploration and discovery of what drives action and reflection. Those who have worked with Veronica attest to her ability to craft the conditions that inspire individuals to ascertain their sense of purpose. Veronica insights are enriched by working with and learning from diverse individuals contributing to her innovative approach to academia, research and coaching.

Veronica was a field hockey squad member for the 1992 Olympic Games, Bronze medalist at the Pan Am games in 1995, named Canadian MVP and Academic All Canadian in 1998-1999, and continues to compete at the World Masters level. Veronica volunteers with the local junior field hockey league and Victoria therapeutic riding association. Veronica is a strategist in sport, leadership and coach education.  She has attended Olympic Games, Paralympic World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan-American Games, Special Olympic Games, and Masters Games.
 
Pamela Rai
Service on Board: Jan 2018 – June 2022
Hometown: Nanaimo
Pamela Leila Rai is a teacher, social justice activist, volunteer and owner/operator of Silent Motion Yoga. She was a member of the Canadian National Swim Team from 1980-1987. Highlights of Rai’s athletic career include World Championships, Pan-American Games (silver), Commonwealth Games (gold) and Olympic Games (bronze). She is the first woman of Indian descent to win an Olympic medal (1984) and was inspired by her father’s athletic talents which trailblazed him to be the first Indo-Canadian to make on Olympic team (field hockey 1964). Amongst many awards and honours, she is an inductee into the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum &  the Delta Sports Hall of Fame. 

Rai has degrees from both UVic and UBC and is graduate of yoga studies from the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy in Rishikesh , India. In addition to teaching high school math and social justice, Rai has spent many years mentoring and coaching youth, volunteering and leading various community organizations involved in areas of environmental sustainability, women’s rights, First Nations advocacy, animal rights, and multi-cultural inclusivity.
 
Niki Remesz
Service on Board: June 2020 – June 2021
Hometown: Kamloops
Niki Remesz is the founder and owner of Uniquely Inspired Marketing, a full-service marketing and consulting firm in Kamloops, BC. Niki was the president of the 2018 BC Winter Games and received the Sports Person of the Year award at the 2019 Sports Council Awards banquet for championing the best BC Winter Games ever. She is a member and volunteer with 100 Women Who Care and Chair of the Kamloops Arts & Culture Engagement Group. Niki sits on the board of the Kamloops Blazers Advisory Board, is an active volunteer with Western Canada Theatre, and is Past-Chair of the Thompson Rivers University Board of Alumni and Friends Association. Niki is also a Canadian Women & Sport facilitator for leadership advancement of girls and women in sport.
 
Mark Sime (ex officio non-voting member)
Service on Board: June 2020 – June 2021
Hometown: Victoria
Mark Sime has worked in the BC Public Service for nine years and currently serves as Director, Sport with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Previous to his career as a public servant, Mark worked with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Mark considers his time with VANOC to be one of the highlights of his career and is pleased to be involved with sport again professionally, through his role with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
 
Christine Ulmer
Service on Board: June 2020 – June 2021
Hometown: Vancouver 
Christine Ulmer is an experienced senior marketing and communications professional with more than 15 years of public sector service, as well as unique contract experience working in communications, brand development, and venue and event management in sport with organizations such as TO2015-the Pan American Games, BC Games, and the Canada Winter Games.Currently, she holds a senior leadership position at the City of Vancouver as the Senior Manager of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement. Prior to joining the City, Christine was the Director of Marketing and Communications at BCIT. She also led marketing and communications at Okanagan College for more than a decade in her role as Manager of Public Affairs, while simultaneously teaching communications in the Faculty of Arts.
 
Michelle Webster
Service on Board: Jan 2017 – June 2022
Hometown: Kelowna
Michelle Webster is currently the Interior Region Sport and Physical Activity Coordinator for the Indigenous, Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council. Active in her community, she is an elected member of the Board of Directors for Pacific Sport Okanagan as well as the Technical Director for Kelowna Minor Fastball. She holds her Masters Degree in Business Administration and her Bachelor of Arts in Health Physical Education and Recreation from the Kansas Wesleyan University.
 
Pansy Wright-Simms
Service on Board: Jan 2019 – June 2022
Hometown: Hazelton
Bio to come.

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