PARTNERS // |
PacificSport Vancouver Island
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jacquie Poulin
Kim Burden
Bill Bestwick
Susan Schellinck
Jack Smith
George Kelly
Doug English
Iain McCaskell
Jim Mitchell
Les Malbon
Brian Nikula
Jacquie Poulin has worked in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District for the past 18 years and is currently the Principal at Forest Park Elementary. Throughout her career she has been very passionate and focused on the importance of fitness, physical education, and nutrition. Jacquie considers herself fortunate to have many opportunities to work on both local and provincial committees whose mandate has been to promote healthy living. In her most recent role, Jacquie worked extensively with a dynamic team tasked with writing the healthy living performance standards for the province.
Fitness and healthy living are core values for Jacquie and her family, who despite busy schedules make it a point to stay active by participating in triathlons and community runs such as the Resolution Run and the Twilight Shuffle.
In her role with PacificSport Jacquie looks forward to leading the Centre in advancing the role of physical activity as a foundation for developing healthier, more active and ultimately more successful students.
Born and raised in Nanaimo, Bill’s passion for sport runs deep. For more than 12 seasons he was head coach for the Nanaimo Clippers Jr. A hockey club. As an athlete, Bill’s high performance playing career began as one of the original Clippers the first year the team was formed and he went on to a successful NCAA career.
Bill’s professional background is in recreation specializing in facility management. Much of his experience was gained from his stints working in Nanaimo and Burnaby where he managed the complexities of day to day operation of multi-use facilities.
Bill’s most recent undertaking is his role as a Nanaimo City Councillor, currently enjoying his second term serving the city he so passionately embraces. Bill looks to support PacificSport in the development of a permanent facility to house the Centre’s operations.
Susan Schellinck
Susan Schellinck grew up in Nanaimo and represented Canada at the Barcelona Olympics in Field Hockey. "Entering the stadium for the Barcelona opening ceremonies was a magical moment. I knew right then that every sacrifice I made to get there was worth it and want to make sure that athletes with a similar dream also get the chance to represent their country on the world stage."
Currently working as an Occupational Therapist in the VIHA Pain Program, Susan helps people to reach their goals of less pain and a more active life. Through PacificSport, she is a committee member of the Nanaimo Sports Achievement Awards, and also spends her spare time volunteering at the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange for their various events.
Jack is an independent consultant providing project management to mainly First Nations clients on Vancouver Island. This work involves policy analysis and development, and management for economic development initiatives, consultation and accommodation negotiations, and treaty negotiations. He has several years of active involvement with non-profit society boards and more recently with a for profit board. He holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Jack is a lifelong sports enthusiast who believes that participation and involvement in any and all aspects of sports makes a valuable contribution to personal and community growth. He continues to play hockey and participate in various parks and recreation programs. Over the years Jack has coached and coordinated hockey and baseball, and served for a number of years on the minor hockey association board. Most recently Jack has served as a member of the summer swim club’s “Pool Operations Committee”.
Jack is originally from Alberta but has been a resident of Nanaimo since 1996. Jack and his wife Pene are the proud parents of three wonderful children - two sons, Jordan and Nick, and a daughter, Amy. He looks forward to providing PacificSport with guidance around any legal issues as well as support for the development of First Nations initiatives.
Kim Burden
Kim’s favourite sport is rugby, although also played football and wrestled in high school, and he currently plays for the Nanaimo Hornets over 40s rugby team. He is involved with PacificSport because he sees it as “an organization that is well positioned to make an impact, not just on sport organizations, but on communities as a whole. I see this as an opportunity make some dreams come true for hard working coaches and athletes, as well as to further the cause of sport as a driver in community development.”
He is currently employed by Vancouver Island Vocational and Rehabilitation Services as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor. His volunteer involvement includes the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce (VP), the Parksville Parkland & Garden Society (Treasurer), and the Oceanside Construction & Developers Association (Director).
Prior to the Director of SS Jim was the Director of Rec & Athletic Services serving for a period as the President of the BC Colleges Athletic Association as well as a board member.
Over time, Jim was actively involved in wide range of facility projects at BCIT; a $1.4M dollar recreation facility expansion, a $1.3M dollar campus residence renovation and developed a plan and managed a renovation to add a new state of the art fitness facility.
Jim’s most recent project was to update a Student Services functional plan for a $40M dollar Student Services Center which opens this summer.
On personal note Jim continues to be active playing senior soccer, bike riding, hiking,
gardening and kayaking; enjoying the move to Vancouver Island and all it offers. Jim will take the lead in development of a permanent facility for PacificSport programs and operation.
Ian has worked for the past 10 years at the Coastal Community Credit Union and is currently the Assistant Manager (Lending). His sport passions include lacrosse and hockey, but it was his love of soccer that led to a collegiate career at both Fraser Valley and UVic and later on with Nanaimo United.
A passionate community member with a wife, daughter and a cat, Ian also finds time to support the United Way and Heart & Stroke Foundation among other fundraising initiatives. He looks to bring this energy to the role of Treasurer within PacificSport and further supporting the community by helping to foster an environment where athletes and coaches can achieve their potential.
Doug English has been a member of the Mid Island Community for over 40 years. A graduate from NDSS, Malaspina University/College and the University of San Diego (B.Ed. and M.Ed.), Doug played many community sports including baseball, soccer and rugby. In past years he has volunteered as a coach for NDLA and NYSC and currently spends his spare time coaching the U16 UVI Metro/Selects in the BC select soccer league. Doug is also the executive chair for the UVI metro/select club.
Doug has been an educator for the past 21 years in school district #68 and is currently the principal of Ecole Davis Rd. Elementary. He has work in several school district #68 schools delivering physical and health education to 1000’s of children. Doug is looking forward to working with Pacific Sport and helping form a partnership between the schools and the Pacific Sport community.
George has worked for the past 20 years at VIU, splitting his time between teaching in the Education and PE faculties. After a successful college and Jr. hockey career at UNB and PEI respectively, George came to the west coast where he acquired a masters in Sport Psych from UVic. His sport passions include baseball, hockey and soccer at the youth levels, helping coaches and athletes to learn what sport has to offer in terms of enhancing life and relationships.
Happily married for 17 years, George has 3 sons and spends much of his spare time supporting their athletic pursuits in baseball, cycling and hockey. His goal is to assist PS in advancing PE and sport opportunities within the public school system.
Recently moved to Vancouver Island from North Vancouver after retiring where he had a successful career at the British Columbia Institute of Technology for 35 years. The last 15 years as the Director of Student Services Jim managed ten departments that provided services for students that included Recreation & Athletics.