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DEBRA
ABRAHAM

FOUNDER

MARINA
GARMON

MELANIE
SIGRIST

BOOKKEEPER

KELSEY
McGREGOR

DIRECTOR

Unique Get Together Society’s director, Kelsey McGregor, has extensive experience in developing relationships with local community partners and organizations. She oversees all aspects of our organization and continuously reviews them to ensure they are up to date.

JAMES
ROSIER

BASKETBALL COACH

HARLEEN
JHINGER

PRACTICUM SUPERVISOR
& RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Harleen is studying Indigenous Social Work and recently completed her practicum with UGTS. Here, she really enjoyed her experience and the opportunity to learn extensively about the organization. She is interested in social work research and is excited to work on developing this area of UGTS.

KORI
KILLBURN

ASIA
JACOB

Asia is a  college student currently enrolled in the child and youth care program at Douglas college. She is  passionate about her field of study, which allows her to support children and families in need. She looks forward to working with the team at UGTS and she is going to learn a lot from everyone. Aside from school, she has work related experiences working with children and youth volunteering for the Coquitlam summer camps. Asia has completed her first practicum at diversity community resources society, working with children experiencing challenges. She is excited to be working at UGTS as a one to one support for children, youth, and support families to achieve their goals.

RUKY
ABDULAI

COACH

Ruky Abdulai fulfilled a life-long dream of coming to Canada to attend Simon Fraser University. She made the most of her experience, winning a record of 17 NAIA national Track and Field titles. She competed in the long jump at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing China.

CHRISTINE
LI-LEGER

MARKETING MANAGER
& WEB DEVELOPER

Christine has been in the events and marketing industry since 2007; planning, designing, and executing many weddings, private, corporate, and fundraising events.   She hopes to add to the growth of UGTS; Passionate about making a difference, Christine approaches everything with kindness and understanding first.  Her passions include  all levels of design, exploring nature with her family, experiencing art & cultures, connecting with people, and helping those in need in her community.  She is grateful to be a part of the marketing  & web team and excited to contribute to the fabric of the Unique Get Together Society.

KIM
PRICE

PAYROLL & BOOKKEEPER

Growing up in Edmonton Alberta I took a job at an early age of 13 as a dishwasher in a 30 seat pizza house and in a few short months I was serving our guests.  From there Food and Beverage has been my career for the last 40 years. With a few career changes along the way, I have been in administration, bookkeeping, management in retail sales, and back to Management in Food & Beverage.
 

I moved west when I was 18 to Vancouver Island and found my way to Chilliwack where I have called home for the last 21 years.  I have a beautiful family that I am lucky to get to spend quality time with.
 

With 10 years experience as a Food & Beverage manager, In 2018 I decided to take a new path and went back to school for Bookkeeping for Small Business.  I have always been a person looking for ways to give back, at UGTS I feel I am part of a giving family.  I am proud and excited to be a part of UGTS and all the support we have to offer!

HOOMAN
KOUSHANFAR

FOOD SECURITY COORDINATOR

CASSIDY
COOPER

Cassidy is currently in university with the goal of becoming a school teacher. She loves working with children as she has lots of experience volunteering in schools and working as a rodeo instructor for kids of all ages. Cassidy hopes to show children how important but easy it is to show kindness and friendliness. Her goal is to make a child’s week a bit brighter by showing grace and encouraging them to explore the outdoors!

PARRIS
ABRAHAM

My name is Parris Abraham and my pronouns are she/they. I am 27 years old and I have been a guest on the unceded, traditional territory of the Kwikwetlem First Nations (Coquitlam) my whole life. Before coming to UGTS, I worked in the grey market and legal market of the cannabis industry and multiple facets of community work and organization. When I'm not being of service to my community, I am usually hiking, biking, spending time with my dogs, furthering my education or reading a good self help or fiction book. I am passionate about social justice and the fight for racial equity world wide and have had a life long passion for music, lyricism, poetry, and recording. I am so happy to be working with UGTS on building better communities, learn from community members so I can be of better service to them, and continuing the road to racial equity and equality.

MANUEL
PIÑA BALDOQUIN

INSTRUCTOR

Manuel Pina B is an artist, pedagogue, and social and spiritual activist.  Manuel has taught art in the Department of Art History and Visual Arts at UBC for over 17 years. His work explores the relations of art+spirituality+technology as a key to elucidate present realities and challenges, and imagine new forms of life and Justice.

Pina was born in Havana, Cuba. Graduated as mechanical engineer in Vladimir, Russia, in 1983. Began exhibiting his art in 1992.

His work has been exhibited in the Americas and Europe including the Havana Biennale, the Estambul Biennale, Kunsthalle Vienna, Grey Gallery, N.Y., LACMA, U.S.A., Dorsky Gallery, N.Y., DAROS Museum, Zurich.

My name is Tasha and I am a 31 year old proud mom of a sweet little boy. As someone who is on the Autism spectrum and lives with ADHD, I feel I have a deeper understanding about the struggles that can arise with sensory processing. My calm and quiet demeanor is also a useful trait for clients who especially struggle with sensory issues. Being a part of this organization has been very educational and enjoyable! Before joining UGTS, my background included mostly carpentry and other trades. Outside of UGTS I am a freelance artist with a small business in costume making, jewelry and accessories making and painting!

ARDI
DAEIZADEH

BIO

ALYSHIA
ROBERTSON

Hello, my name is Alyshia!  I am 30 years old, and married with 3 beautiful children. I became a young mother at the age of 17 and went through many struggles and learning curves which helped me grow. I love children, and working with them. I’ve always wanted to be a counsellor or support worker because I am passionate about helping others. I love to cook and have a small home business where I cook personal meals for people around the Fraser Valley. I am super excited to be joining the UGTS team, and hope I can make a big impact on many lives along the way.

ELAYNA
MURDOCK

ASSISTANT MANAGER FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Tansi,

My name is Elayna Murdock, I am happy to be here on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. I am from Fisher River Cree nation treaty 5 territory in Manitoba. I enrolled at University of Manitoba studying Health Sciences and majoring in rural community health.

​

Majority of my work has been with First Nations children, youth and families. My work at the Urban Eagle Transition Centre began as a youth support worker and ended as an Assistant coordinator, where I supported youth in the transition into an urban Centre and assisted with accessing resources and supports to become independent.   I then returned to my home community where I worked at the Employment and Training program and gained skills related to being a lead in organizing events and gatherings and all the administrative tasks that come with supporting a program that supports youth. Most recently I was able to work at  our school as an educational assistant, where I provided one on one support to children who had additional support needs. 

I have worked along side elders in my community to host workshops and events that empower youth, such as medicine picking, culture camps and craft nights. I am passionate about helping others and keeping the culture and traditions alive. On my free time I like to go biking, try new restaurants, music and cooking.

SABINA
GALAY

IFOT THERAPIST

Sabina is of Dene Métis descent and brings 20 years of experience working in healthcare.
 

She’s completed the Indigenous Focus Oriented Therapy training and is a caring support for people as they go through their healing process.  Her approach is respectful, land-based, body-centered and anchored in Indigenous ways of knowing.  

Sabina is also very passionate about assisting people as the follow their dreams and bring them into reality.” 

UGTS STAFF

I recently graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with the Unique Getting Together Society (UGTS) to gain valuable experience in research and development, to learn new skills, and assist with preparing the Indigenous culture camps. I am Anishinaabe and my band affiliation is Wabigoon Lake (ON). In my youth, I was the Founder and President of the Indigenous Students Association (InSA) at UBC, during this time I helped facilitate various Indigenous cultural events. Outside of school, I studied psychology, spirituality, and existential philosophy. 

SEAN
OLENIK

Sean is a recent highschool graduate who is going to attend the University of Regina for social work and to continue his football career. Sean finds social work rewarding and fulfilling as he likes to advocate for marginalized groups of people, in his free time he likes to hang out with friends, listen to music and watch movies.

CHRISSIE
NGARACHU

Chrissie is currently working as a Behavioral Interventionist and finds herself deeply invested in the mental health industry. She Is also studying psychology at Simon Fraser University and hopes to become a clinical or developmental psychologist one day. Open to working within the community, her wish is to fulfill passion projects that will help make the world safer and better for those who do not have access to particular mental health resources.

CHELSEY
DOUCETTE

I have lived in Chilliwack all my life, I'm a proud wife, a mother and step mom to 4 kids. I have always loved helping people,  and after many years in the service industry, I decided to do something  more rewarding for my community. Volunteering and working with youth and children has always been my passion and with help along the way I have been able to do just that. I have spent 3 years working with women and children fleeing violence and am very excited to begin this journey with UGTS in this next chapter of my life .

M'LEE
BAPTISTE

MATILDA
KUMIH

I am currently a student at Simon Fraser University with the goal of graduating with a bachelors degree in psychology. I aspire to become a Mental Health Case Worker so that I can provide a meaningful change in people’s lives as they learn to integrate into mainstream society and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

AIMIRA
GABDULKHAMIT

My name is Aimira, I am 27 years old. I am an international student from Kazakhstan. Currently, I am studying Project Management at Douglas college. Before arriving in Canada, I used to work in the Civil Aviation industry. In Kazakhstan, while studying at university I also did volunteering in Sports. After graduation, I helped volunteer organizations that take care of stray pets. I am proud of becoming part of UGTS and excited to do social work and learn about new cultures. I truly believe work in Vancouver is a new path in my life and I am willing to contribute to the local community. 

Dennis Easter

Neezwaching Mshkogobwio

Seven Times Standing Strong

Dennis Lloyd Easter

Our beloved teacher, mentor, elder friend, and most of all family thank you for your love of teaching the indigenous ways of being. You have deeply and profoundly touched us all  words cannot express our love to you we will continue to honour the work we started, therefore, honouring you,

So long my beloved friend