Family Navigator
Megan is a white settler of Welsh descent who is privileged to live, work, and raise her two young daughters near the ocean on the traditional lands of the WSANEC people on the Saanich Peninsula. After returning to school later in life as a single, working mother, Megan discovered a passion for health and community services, social justice, equity, and social determinants of health. For the past three years, Megan has been working to support Indigenous community members across Canada navigate the claims process for Indian Day School class actions, and Indigenous Drinking Water class actions, supporting claimants one-on-one while they navigate the challenging, traumatizing process of re-telling their stories.
Megan is honoured to bring her skills and experience of helping others walk the path of their own life challenges to the IKCA families. In her role as the Family Navigator, Megan offers one-on-one guidance, support, and understanding to families while they navigate their personal experiences.
Board Member
Matt has come from a professional rugby career, transferring his knowledge in coaching high school rugby at Saint Georges in Vancouver for seven years. Since moving to the island with his family, Matt’s passion for helping families and his love for golf led to his connection with IKCA, where he initiated and helped to kick start the charity’s 1st Annual Golf Tournament.
Matt’s commitment to helping families resonates through his insurance company where he strives to reach out to as many individuals and businesses, providing peace of mind and insurance solutions through his knowledge and support.
The important work that IKCA does for families relies on teamwork, and personal connections. Matt brings these values to the charity, through his business and sport background, where he is currently part of the Cowichan Valley 49ers soccer team.
Treasurer
While going through chemotherapy treatment herself in 2021, Carolyn was moved by a news story about what children, their parents, and their families are faced with when given a cancer diagnosis here on Vancouver Island and the surrounding islands. Her cancer journey, including navigating the diagnosis and treatment, was daunting as an adult with treatment and care given in Victoria. Although exceptional treatment has been provided by BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, before IKCA there was limited after-treatment support locally on Vancouver Island. She immediately reached out to Island Kids Cancer Association asking how could she help.
Carolyn volunteered at the 2022 IKCA Golf Tournament and has since joined the Board as Treasurer. Carolyn has over 30+ years of experience in accounting from managing large for-profit corporations to working with not-for profit organizations; offering IKCA her varied wealth of experience.
Board Advisor
Ewa Lunaczek-Motyka has worked as a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist at the Victoria General Hospital since July 2009. Prior to that, she completed her fellowship training at the B.C. Children’s Hospital. She recognizes the challenges that Vancouver Island patients and families face, having to travel to Vancouver, and is enthusiastic about helping to support them to be closer to home whenever possible.
She is extremely grateful for the terrific team she works with both in Victoria and Vancouver. She is volunteering as a board advisor for the “Island Kids Cancer Association” as she sees first hand every day how important it is for families facing cancer to have a local support network, both from an emotional and financial standpoint. She started “Jam for the Kids”, a fundraiser for the Victoria General Hospital Pediatric Oncology clinic, in 2011, and hopes to continue it annually to raise funds for the Island Kids Cancer Association.
Chair
Dale brings more than 25 years of human resources experience to IKCA. He is passionate about helping others and believes that a principled, people-centred approach is essential for good governance.
An active community member, Dale volunteers his time supporting independent care for seniors, housing for adults with disabilities and coaching and playing adult competitive sport.
Dale is currently a faculty instructor at Camosun College in the Management, Human Resources and Leadership Department within the School of Business.
Program Development Coordinator
Jenna moved to Victoria in 2019 and started working with IKCA in the spring of 2020. Jenna’s passionate about connecting with community, taking her dog on hikes, and creating enjoyable, meaningful experiences for others; whether she is working on the front lines or behind the scenes.
Jenna graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Since then she has worked in the disability-sector, post-secondary education, events, career development, and recreation. At the heart of everything she does is people, making her enthusiastic about the positive impact that the Island Kids Cancer Association brings to the community.
Events Coordinator
Jamie’s mission, in her personal and professional endeavours, is to use effective communication to forage connection and enhance relationships. She is currently a fourth year student at the University of Victoria, pursuing a degree in History and Communications while competing nationally as a varsity swimmer. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a masters degree in Community Development. Jamie considers herself a West Coast person, having moved to Victoria in 2014, and she loves exploring all that the Island has to offer with her partner, family, and dog.
Having previously worked in education, events, and digital storytelling, Jamie is passionate about connecting with individuals through verbal, written, and interpersonal communication. Jamie was a part of IKCA’s volunteer network for a few years, and is honoured to now have the opportunity to contribute to the work that Island Kids Cancer Association does for families on the Island in a more robust capacity.
Touchstones Mental Health Program Advisor
Cathy has been part of Island Kids Cancer Association since 2018. She values the opportunity to help other families along the difficult journey of childhood cancer, a journey that she and her family began in 2010 when her daughter was treated for a brain tumour. Cathy is a psychologist and university professor specializing in child and family mental health. She strives to use these skills to meaningfully contribute to the IKCA’s mission of supporting kids with cancer and their families at all phases of their journeys.
Board Member
Maria’s son was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 21 months old. He went through 3.5 years of chemotherapy and the family felt quite isolated during this time. Island Kids Cancer was there during their cancer journey. Maria and her family accessed activities offered by IKCA and were able to meet kindred spirits who know what it’s like to have your child go through cancer treatment. Maria joined as a member of the board with the hope to give back in a meaningful way.
Administrative Coordinator
Hope is a wife, a mom of 1, and an artist has lived in Victoria the past 8 years. Hope’s mission has always been to make a difference through people by establishing cohesive teams and partnerships. She brings to IKCA more than a decade of experience working with non-profit sport organizations. In those roles she was a Volunteers Committee board member and meet official’s coordinator.
Hope planned and led volunteer recruitment and training for many different roles and worked with different committees to ensure each event’s volunteer requirements were met. She feels passionate about supporting IKCA and is honoured to be involved with an organization that supports and prioritizes families the unique way IKCA does.
Founder / Executive Director
As Founder and Executive Director of IKCA, my personal journey with my son gave me valuable insight to the gaps and critical needs that were not being met. My family was not the exception.
In 2005, my son Jacob at the age of 5 led us on a long, winding path through childhood cancer and we had no choice but to learn everything we could about cancer and its effects on our son, our family, our ability to put food on the table and our mental health and wellness. Jacob unfortunately passed in 2019, but not before leaving a legacy of support through his journey.
Working as a Pediatric Oncology Patient / Parent Liaison for 8 years with a provincial organization ignited my passion to support Vancouver Island kids and families while spreading awareness and building on numerous relationships throughout Victoria and Vancouver Island. Island Kids Cancer Association was formed based not only on gaps in services, but unique and individual stories of hardship, resilience and courage.
I am honoured to be part of an amazing team who truly understands and cares, working together for kids and families affected by childhood cancer.
Life can be unpredictable and when our children get sick we often feel helpless and lost. IKCA walks with families, helping them navigate and receive much needed support through uncertain times.