Meet Our Team of Accomplished and Purpose-driven Board Members

Robin Fisher, President and Chair of the Board of Directors, believes that life-long learning is a prescription for regeneration and continued health and well-being as we age. A seasoned senior university administrator, he played a key role in establishing two new universities, the University of Northern British Columbia and Mount Royal University in Alberta. Robin is also an historian who has published popular, prize-winning books on British Columbia history. As an educator, he relishes teaching Elder College courses, especially watching eyes light up, insights land, and minds grow.

John Black, Vice President and Chair of the Technology Support Committee, is a dyed-in-the-wool educator, with a fondness for art and travel. With degrees from Cambridge and Simon Fraser, and a PhD from UBC, all in Philosophy, he taught Liberal Studies at Vancouver Island University for more than two decades. As Dean of Social Sciences, he pioneered Adventures in Mind, a program of educational travel for community members. Then he spearheaded its transition into a non-profit society. John delights in teaching European travel and art history courses.

Charles Shier, Treasurer, Privacy Officer and Chair of the Finance and Fundraising Committee, has a head for spreadsheets, financial projections, and long-range planning. As a chartered accountant, he worked in public practice careers with Price Waterhouse and Grant Thornton, and as chief financial officer in private business. More than a numbers guy, Charles is passionate about bicycling, curling, and reading. Since 2018 he has participated in over a dozen Elder College and Love of Learning program courses focused on botany, geography, and environmental justice.

John Blain, Secretary, brings us his background in building teams, education, learning and leadership. With over 40 years in education, administration and board rôles in the public school system in North Vancouver and Nanaimo, he has many experiences to draw upon in the areas of leadership and team-building. Also, a long career in professional football has taught him how to lead and perform under pressure. He is excited to be part of Elder College in order to encounter new thoughts and challenges.

Joyce Smith, Fundraiser, brings her experience with business start-ups, fundraising knowledge, passion for life-long learning, plus boundless energy to Elder College. As a retired CPA in public accounting practice for almost 50 years, she worked with many start-up businesses. She graduated with degrees in English and Creative Writing at the age of 74, and now wants to ensure that other seniors have the opportunity to keep learning. Her experience with the VIU Foundation and the Nanaimo Community Foundation has given her valuable insights into the dynamics of charitable giving.

Anne-Marie Lafleur, Director at Large, has a heart for spreading the word about Elder College and planning promotional events. After retiring from her demanding work as an adjudicator in the dispute resolution field, she was thrilled to regenerate herself by taking Elder College courses. She soon joined the board to publicize the wonderful opportunities for life-long learning offered by the many dedicated volunteer instructors who are passionate about their subject and love sharing their knowledge

Pam Petrie, Director and Vice-Chair of the Program Committee, is a huge fan of life-long learning. That’s why she supports Elder College and enjoys working with others to program its courses. Pam is backed by degrees in economics, a Master of Business Administration, and certification as a human resource professional. She has employed her talents in the manufacturing, government, and not-for-profit sectors, most notably for the Vancouver Aquarium and the Vancouver Canucks. Pam brings her people skills, warm presence, and calm way of doing things to the Elder College community.

Steve Lane, Director and Chair of the Program Committee, brings his excitement for building new things, along with his educational administration experience, to the reborn Elder College. Steve is a retired English professor. His research was focused on the English Romantic poets and the American writer Ernest Hemingway. Also a former Dean of Arts and Humanities at VIU, he has long been an advocate for life-long learning. Steve enjoys teaching Elder College courses and leading groups of avid learners on tours for Adventures in Mind.

Lisa Leger, Director and Chair of the Communications Committee, teaches holistic health practitioners in an online masters-level program and is active in governance of her professional organizations. She has a private practice and provides public health education about natural medicine at seminars, clinics, and health fairs. Her course in the ElderCollege program is titled "A Sensible Look at Natural Medicine."

Sharon Speevak, Director at Large, is a retired lawyer who has served as a Board/committee member with RCMP Citizens on Patrol, Friends of the Harbourfront Library, Nanaimo SPCA, Elderdog Nanaimo-Oceanside and the Port Theatre. She was also for fourteen years a group facilitator and educator with the BC Alzheimer’s Society.

Gloria Wells, Director at Large, a lifelong learner, began with a B.A. in Modern Languages and B.Ed. in Secondary Education, after which she taught young students to adult learners. She then acquired an M.A. in Human Services in Education, followed by “all but dissertation” toward a Doctorate of Education in her early 60’s. For over 25 years, as an Educator and Health and Human Services professional, she focussed, as now with Elder College, on developing opportunities to enhance health and well being within, and as a result of, supportive learning environments for all learners.

Jacky Crawford, Director and Vice-Chair of the Volunteer Committee: has been living on Vancouver Island for six years now. As an active retiree, she knew she’d want to continue with volunteer opportunities, and started at Hospice Thrift Shoppe shortly after she arrived. A couple of years after that she was delighted to read about Elder College. She had been involved in Seniors Learning in Retirement in London, Ontario, so it has been a great fit for her. Jacky graduated from the University of Western Ontario as a mature student.  Previous volunteering helped her to find two jobs after graduation; as an ESL instructor with the Thames Valley Board of Education and as the volunteer coordinator for a children’s literacy program with the London Public Library. After moving from the London area, she took a position as part-time instructor with the Chatham Board.