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Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility

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About Wavefront Centre

Board of Directors

Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.  In accordance with the BC Societies Act, these Directors are accountable for the oversight of Wavefront Centre as a registered charity.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors at the Wavefront Centre is comprised of Directors from diverse backgrounds.  Many of Wavefront Centre’s Directors are Deaf or Hard of Hearing or Hearing and bring deep personal understandings of deafness and hearing loss to their role.

Board Members

Lance Williams

Chair

 

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Lance is committed to helping Wavefront Centre maintain and expand its services to the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing community, and exploring new and innovative ways to deliver services.

 

Having a number of relatives who are hard of hearing, improving accessibility is something Lance is passionate about.

 

Lance is a lawyer and partner with the national law firm McCarthy Tetrault LLP, where he regularly advises clients on complex corporate restructuring, insolvency and financing matters. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with distinction) from the University of Alberta, a Juris Doctor from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. He enjoys his spare time with his husband Kyle and their two small children.

Dr. Dean C. Powers, Psy.D, M.A.

Vice Chair

 

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I have worked in the capacity of a rehabilitation psychologist and medical-legal consultant evaluating residual employability of persons with debilitating orthopaedic injuries, as well as post- traumatic stress and acquired (traumatic) head injuries, since 1980. I have been accepted as an expert witness in the area of vocational rehabilitation in the Supreme Court of both British Columbia and the Yukon and Washington State (USA) and I have presented expert opinions on the employability of persons with disabling conditions. My credentials include a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from California Southern University, Santa Ana, California, USA, a Masters degree (M.A.) from Simon Fraser University. I am currently a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional-Fellow (CVRP/F) with the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals. I am a Diplomate (ABVE/D) with the American Board of Vocational Experts. I am a registered member and in good standing with the Canadian Psychological Association. I am a member in good standing with the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators. I have held the position of President for several organizations including the Deaf-Blind Rubella Associations of BC; the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals BC; and Youth Employment Canada. Currently, I am on the board of directors for the Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility in British Columbia.

Since 1984, I have consulted to private and institutional agencies serving the needs of persons who are mentally and physically disabled and persons with closed or traumatic head injury in both Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta as President of Vocational Litigation Solutions Inc.

I am the father of a deaf-blind child now age 43. I am the spouse of Jamie and have been in a same sex relationship for the past 45 years. My hobbies are vintage cars, golf and wilderness hiking.

Dr. Graham Bryce, M.D.

Director

 

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I started my journey at Vancouver General Hospital in the same year that Wavefront Centre began theirs, with my childhood spent in Vancouver and, Parksville (Summers with my grandparents). I attended Queen Elizabeth Elementary and, Lord Byng Secondary schools in Point Grey. A post-secondary year of traveling led to UBC (1975-78) Linguistics and, Biochemistry studies before completing my M.D.(1982). at the University of Toronto. My university years were funded by working for captain Ian Bryce LLB. [I served as his salmon fish-boat crew/deckhand] A post-M.D. rotating internship (1982-83) at the Royal Colombian Hospital [President of the Interns.] Was followed by General Practice locums [I delivered 120 babies that year.] throughout B.C. [Included work on the North Coast [Port Simpson First Nations Reserve, Prince Rupert&, Kitimatt.] From the rainforest I headed for the Northern Interior [Dawson Creek [Lived on a ranch caring for 1/2 doz. horses, Terrace, &, Prince George. Subsequently I completed an Otolaryngolgy residency at the University of Hawaii and, UBC, ENT locums throughout B.C. and, Clinical fellowship [Otology and Neurotology] years at the Universities of Toronto and Oklahoma.

I began private practice [Limited to Otology/Neurotology in New Westminister in 1991, becoming Division head of Otolaryngology at St. Paul’s hospital, Vancouver in 1996. Eventually I held the UBC post of Associate Clinical Professor. I practiced at St. Paul’s and, VGH until the end of, ‘Plan-A’ subsequent to a severe R-Cerebrovascular accident [stroke] in 2000. Since then, my work has encompassed rehabilitation and, social-profit governance, advocacy and, fundraising [ resource development.] I married my highschool friend, Cicely Ford in our 4th year of medical school and, our 3 daughters study or, have completed graduate degrees.

 

Kim Wood

Director

 

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Kimberly is deaf and was born to deaf parents. Growing up she loved to read Stephen King novels in her spare time when she wasn’t playing volleyball, basketball or skiing. In between all her sports, Kim was actively involved in her high school student council, especially working for equal rights causes.
Kim and her partner have been together for almost twenty-three years. They have four children one of whom is deaf and two are hard of hearing. Kim was committed to bringing VRS to Canada, working for this for many years and was in Ottawa when VRS was signed into law.
Kim works full time, enjoys bike riding as a form of meditation, and walks with her well-behaved Pit Bull, Rocko.
Kim’s volunteer work is her way of giving back to the community. She is passionate about seeing members of the deaf community successful in life, in work and in the community. She strives for equality, believing that every individual has the right to equal opportunity and freedom from barriers to make the most of their lives and talents.

Rosalyn Hogg (Chan)

Director

 

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Rosalyn has served on the Board of Wavefront Centre since 2020 and is committed to serving Wavefront Centre as the organization continues to make strides in the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing community. She enjoys assisting the board in areas such as corporate governance and strategic decision making.

 

Rosalyn is a corporate lawyer at MEP Business Counsel in downtown Vancouver. She has several years of experience advising clients across multiple industries on matters such as corporate governance, sophisticated mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance transactions and day-to-day commercial matters. Rosalyn holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.

Cynthia Johansen

Director

 

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I have been a resident of British Columbia my entre life, I am of European ancestry and currently live in North Vancouver on the unceded and traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples. In my professional career, I lead the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, the largest health profession regulatory agency in western Canada.

 

I believe in the important and valuable work of Wavefront Centre. The clients, families and communities that benefit from the services and supports offered by Wavefront will be front and centre for me as a member of the Board of Directors. I fundamentally believe that every person should be afforded the right to access the services and supports they need freely communicate without barriers or discrimination. Wavefront Centre’s role in our community is significant – it has the capacity and the mission to transform the lives of Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing and Hearing individuals.

 

I am excited about the opportunity to join the board of directors at such an important and critical time. As a member of the Board of Directors, I commit to collaborating with my board member colleagues, supporting good governance practices and engaging in respectful and values-based dialogue that puts the present and future of Wavefront Centre ahead of any other competing agenda. I am honoured to serve the membership and to help support the growth, development and vision of Wavefront Centre, its members, staff and contractors.

Michelle Grant

Director

 

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Michelle is a Partner with PwC’s Deals practice. Her practice specialty is corporate advisory and restructuring.

Michelle provides insolvency, restructuring advisory and distressed mergers and acquisition services. Her engagements have included turnaround advisory, viability assessments, business reviews and other informal mandates. She has also acted as CCAA monitor, information officer, receiver and trustee. She has experience advising clients across a wide range of industries including agriculture, food and beverage, manufacturing, mining and metals, real estate, technology and transportation.

Michelle is a recipient of the Business in Vancouver Top 40 under 40 award (2016) and the Association of Women in Finance, Rising Star Award (2016).

She is a member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada and the Western Canada International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation network.

Michelle is a Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professional (CIRP) and a Licensed Insolvency Trustee.

Michelle was appointed to the board in the fall 2022 and is committed to serving Wavefront Centre as the organization continues to make strides in the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing community.

 

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