Catharine Read values the focuses on community connections and building the resilience of community members that underlie the programs and service of the JBCP. The JBCP has demonstrated its ability to adapt its community programs and services, engage volunteers and thrive in the face of changes over the past 40 years and most recently with the COVID-19 challenges. Catharine has worked for governments and in the private sector. She has been Chair of an independent tribunal, Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister for the BC government (10 years) and for the Yukon government (10 years). As a consultant, she has worked for First Nation organizations, including negotiations, governance advice and treaty implementation. Catharine is also on the Board of Our Place Society and she has a master’s degree in economics from Queen’s University.

Efemena, born in Lagos, Nigeria, brings 6 years of auditing and accounting experience from working at KPMG in Nigeria and Canada. Working with a wide range of local and international clients across sectors, she has gained invaluable insights into their distinct needs and challenges. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
Driven by a passion for social impact, Efemena actively volunteers to address SDG 1, “No Poverty,” SDG 2, “Zero Hunger,” and SDG 4, “Quality Education.” She supports initiatives that eradicate poverty, ensure access to nutritious food, and promote quality education.
When not immersed in work or volunteering, Efemena nurtures her creativity through stage play acting.
She is excited to bring her diverse skill set, passion for community service and financial expertise to the JBCP.

Lauren was born and raised on Vancouver Island where she currently lives with her husband and young children. She has been involved with JBCP on the board and committees for ten years and remains passionate about the organization’s vision and mission. She has experience with working with NPOs in her career and is an active volunteer on boards and committees of non-profits in Victoria. Lauren is a Chartered Professional Accountant and it is important to her to use her skills and experience to give back to the community. Lauren enjoys spending time outdoors and time with her friends and family, especially if it involves physical activity.

Rory joins JBCP with many years of experience as a government and industry executive in the agriculture and food sector. He has particular interest in reconciling Canada’s tremendous food production capacity with the reality that far too many Canadian households, including many in Victoria, are food insecure.

Rory has been involved with national and provincial food security initiatives while serving as Executive VP of Government and Industry Relations for Maple Leaf Foods. Prior to that he served with the Canadian and BC governments as a Trade Commissioner in the Canadian Foreign Service, trade policy executive at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and as BC Deputy Minister of Agriculture Food and Fisheries.

With a passion for driving collaboration across governmental, non-profit and private sector organizations, Rory looks forward to helping JBCP grow its community impact.

I have been lucky to have had two careers. My first was in social work. With a BSW from the University of Calgary, I worked in rehabilitation services and child welfare, and then moved to the federal department of Indian Affairs to manage social service delivery to various First Nations in Alberta. This work inspired me to return to university to obtain a law degree. I practiced law for 25 years, including civil litigation, professional liability defense, environmental and aboriginal law. Since moving to Victoria in 2019, I have semi-retired, continuing my legal work with First Nations on a part-time basis. My volunteer work has focused on assisting refugees to resettle in Canada. I recently served as president of the Victoria Women’s Newcomers Club and I am a board member of another social club. In Alberta I volunteered in various leadership positions with the Canadian Bar Association and was president of the Board Environmental Law Centre for several years. I also taught business law and administrative law at McEwan University.

Kristina (Kris) Campbell and her family have been proud residents of James Bay since 2014, and have thrived in the neighborhood’s vibrant, diverse community. She is passionate about making a difference locally and has contributed to fundraising and community-building efforts through the Parent Advisory Council at her children’s school and several other groups. Having previously studied at the University of Toronto and UBC, her professional background is as a communications professional and science writer. Kristina has authored five books on microorganisms and gut health, and strives to increase science and health literacy across all age groups.

Martin McCann has spent most of the last 45 years involved in non-governmental International Development and Humanitarian response. Starting from being a CUSO volunteer in the rainforest of West Africa to the Chair of the Geneva based organization that sets global standards for Humanitarian Action, he has shown a deep commitment to help create a better and more equitable world. He sees that commitment in the JBCP and aims to make whatever contribution he can to its direction and programmes.

Martin has a BA (Hons) from the University of Toronto and a MA in Rural Development from the University of East Anglia ( UK). He has served on over 15 Boards of Directors in the charity sector and presently also serves on the Board of ChildFund International.

• Joined the JBCP Board of Directors in December 2021
• Has +20 years of accounting and finance experience in different industries
• Bachelor in Accounting, Master of MBA
• Freelance Accountant and Business Advisor

Christine Sommers moved to Victoria early 2024 but has a lifetime of connections here: both grandparents were residents, she attended UVic, worked in the BC Government’s 2010 Olympic Secretariat, and developed partnerships across Victoria for her own tech company. Having lived in James Bay Square while at UVic, this neighborhood was her first choice for her move, and she is thrilled to be part of this great community. Christine brings decades of brand, communications, and marketing expertise to JBCP and looks forward to supporting increased awareness, program use, and fundraising. She has been in-house executive or consultant for TELUS, HSBC, Best Buy, Rogers, Mercedes, multiple government agencies, and many others. She founded an emergency management software company, ePACT (bought in 2022), is an advisor to several organizations, facilitator for leadership courses, and mentor to other entrepreneurs.

David is a lawyer with a broad civil litigation practice and a focus on public law litigation, including constitutional, administrative, Aboriginal, and environmental law. He has appeared in all level of courts in British Columbia, as well as courts in Alberta and Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada.

David is actively engaged in the legal community. He is a sessional instructor at UVic Law as well as a coach for their environmental law moot team. He is a frequently invited speaker at law conferences as well as law schools.

As a recent transplant to Victoria (from the lower mainland) and a proud father of two young boys, David recognizes the importance of community hubs, like JBCP, particularly for young families. He is excited to be part of an organization that provides such important resources and services to the community, and hopes to be able to contribute to JBCP’s vision of building a connected and resilient community.