Elder’s Program Engagement Project
Reimagining Our Future Together

The Project Planning Team of Nation staff and consulting support provide project coordination, planning & research design, and technical support.

Ruby Carrico - Manager of Planning, Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects)

Ruby Carrico was born and raised on the unceded and shared territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations in what is now known as Vancouver. She comes to her role as Planner with Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects) from the non-profit sector where she worked in housing, facilitation, and community engagement. She has a B.Sc. in Natural Resources Conservation and a Master’s Degree in Community and Regional Planning with a specialization in Indigenous Community Planning, both obtained from UBC. Ruby has been with the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw since February 2022 is excited and honoured to be working on the Squamish Nation Generational Plan and other planning projects.

Mackenzie Gomez - Project Coordinator, Elder's Program Engagement Project

Mackenzie is of Musqueam (Sparrow Family) and Squamish decent (Nahanee Family) with Italian and Hawaiian ancestry. Her professional experiences include Finance, Administration and Risk Management, more recently transitioning into Yúustway’s Community Health & Wellness Department as the Elder’s Program Engagement Project Coordinator. Mackenzie assists our wonderful team with project planning and coordination, organizing programs, projects and activities to ensure quality service delivery.

Justine Jordan - Project Assistant, Elder's Program Engagement Project

Justine is the former Elders Program Coordinator for the Squamish Valley Elders. She worked with the elders for over 5 years and was honoured to receive the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh nickname Cheshá7talut, which means ‘one who is motherly’. She lives up to that name as she is dedicated to advocating for, worrying about, and supporting the Elders in a caring manner. She is grateful for the valuable opportunity to spend her time learning and witnessing the knowledge, skills, and experiences of the Squamish Valley Elders.

Justine went to McMaster University to study her passion of Gerontology and has worked in various multi-level care facilities for older adults in recreation services. She lived on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw ancestral lands for 10 years. Currently, she is living back home where she grew up in Southwestern Ontario on Treaty 29 territory of the Anishinaabe people. She is fortunate to be able to still be a part of the Elders Engagement Project from afar.

Kate Kittredge - Project Manager, Elder's Program Engagement Project

Kate grew up in a rural community on southern Vancouver Island as a settler on the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples and is now gratefully living and working in the unceded ancestral territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, xʷməθkwəy̓əm, and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ/Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Kate is a mother to a busy little boy and loves being active in nature with him, her husband, family, and friends.

Since January 2018 Kate has been working with Squamish Nation’s Yúustway (Health & Wellness) department in administration and project management. She specializes in Indigenous community planning, health administration, and project management. She has worked for over 15 years with First Nations, regional governments, health authorities, non-profits, and community groups in the areas of health administration and planning, comprehensive community planning, mental health and substance use research, organizational development, and food sovereignty/food security. Further afield, Kate has worked in education, planning and community-based research in India, Nepal, and the UK. Her educational background is in Indigenous community planning, anthropology, and project management. Kate considers it a real honour to work with the Squamish Nation and is thrilled to support the Elder’s Program Engagement Project.

Shawn Thwaites – Team Leader, Elder's Program (Squamish Valley)

Shawn Thwaites is new to the Squamish Valley team. She started in August as the Elder’s Team Leader and is learning from the Elders each day. She considers it a great honour to be part of this team and is very excited on what the future holds.

Shawn is originally from Saskatchewan. Her younger years were spent working as an adventure guide in both New Zealand and Australia; this is where she met her husband and convinced him to follow her back to Canada. She has a background working in recreation with young adults and seniors in care facilities and this has always been her passion.

Jeff Cook and Paula Hay - Technical Leads, Beringia Community Planning Inc.

Jeff Cook is the Principal of Beringia Community Planning Inc. Jeff is a planning facilitator, consultation and engagement specialist, and educator with over 25 years of award-winning community-based planning and development experience working with Indigenous communities across Canada.

Paula Hay was born and raised on Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh territory. She has been a Community Planner at Beringia since 2017. She supports a variety of community-led planning, training, and engagement processes with Indigenous communities, including Land Use Planning, Health Planning, and Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP).

Jeff and Paula bring diverse skills and planning experience to our community. They will be working alongside SN's Project Team and staff to provide technical leadership, research and process support. This includes maintaining regular contact with the Project Team and providing input on the community engagement design, data and results analysis, and communications. They will also provide program and tool development as well as report writing support.

Jeff and Paula look forward to connecting with Elders and community members and presenting to staff and/ or Squamish Nation Council when needed. Our Planning Team is excited to have their support as our community decides their vision for the Elder's Program.

Thank you to past members of the Project Planning Team.

Lesley Campbell - Manager of Planning, Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects)

Lucie Neliba - Former Team Leader, Elder's Centre (North/West Vancouver)

We appreciate all your support and planning experience you contributed for the Elders Engagement Project.

The Steering Committee provides oversight and includes Directors and Managers from sponsoring and supporting departments. ​

Jordan Ann Joseph, Sxwelhchaliya - Director, Ts’ixwts’ixwnítway (Member Services)

Jordan Ann is a Squamish Nation Member and the daughter of the Late Julie (nee: Newman) and Jerry Baker, and her Grandparents are the late Harry and Florence Newman and Joe and Ann Baker. Jordan Ann with her husband Lance Joseph Jr. have a son, Owen Joseph.

Having started with the Squamish Nation in 2010, Jordan Ann has excelled at managing a variety of administrative functions with a high standard and keen eye for organizational workflow, information management, and coordination of services and initiatives. Her connection to community and family have brought an empathetic perspective to the decisions and creative thinking required to be successful in ensuring continued positive impact for the Squamish Nation. Her education background is based in Business Leadership and Administration and is currently working on her Executive Masters of Business Administration with SFU. Jordan is enthusiastic to support the work of the project.

Josie Harry, Kw’x’aliya - Manager, Administrative Services, Ta na wa Ch’awát ta Sx̱wéx̱wel (Squamish Valley Operations)

Tiná chen tl’a Kowtain uxwemixw – I come from Kowtain village. Josie’s husband/high school sweetheart is from Swan River First Nations and they have two adult children (son 26 & daughter 18). Her parents are James and Linda Harry. She enjoys spending time with her family, walking her puppy “Georgia”, and crafting projects. Kw’x’aliya has been working for the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw for the past 12 years. Her role is Manager of Administrative Services & the Elder's Program in the Squamish Valley. Her numerous teams are Totem Hall Administrative staff, Membership Services Officer, Finance, and the SV Elders Team.

Glenda Gibbon - Director, Yúustway (Health & Wellness)

Glenda is originally from the Wet’suwet’en Nation, born in Burns Lake, B.C. She is a descendant of the Brown family. Her mother is Elizabeth Brown and her late father is Glen Kerr. She has worked in Indigenous Health for 16 years working in several Indigenous communities on Vancouver Island as well as working in remote communities in coastal B.C. Glenda has also worked in various roles for InterTribal Health and the University of Victoria and holds a degree in First Nations Studies and an Executive MBA in Aboriginal Business and Leadership.

Glenda is passionate about supporting Indigenous communities in their health and wellness journeys and has been honoured to serve as Director of Health & Wellness for Squamish Nation since January 2020. Glenda is proud to support the Elder’s Program Engagement Project, and is grateful to live, learn, work, and play on the traditional unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation.

Samaya Jardey - Director, Ta na wa Ns7éyx̱nitm ta Snew̓íyelh (Language & Cultural Affairs)

Photo and bio coming soon.

Bob Sokol - Director, Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects)

Bob Sokol is a planner with 30 years of experience working with communities to achieve their desired futures. His work with the Squamish Nation is focused on engaging with Squamish Nation Members to chart a course for a sustainable and vibrant future for the Nation encompassing land use, culture, language, health, housing and the environment. Bob was appointed as Director of Planning & Capital Projects for Squamish Nation in January 2020. Bob will provide planning guidance to the Elder's Project and will support linkages with other planning work such as SN’s Generational Plan.

Thank you to past members of the Steering Committee.

Monica Jacobs – Former Director, Ts’ixwts’ixwnítway (Member Services)

Christine Baker, TlatlaKwot - Former General Manager, Ayás Mén̓men (Child & Family Services), Ta na wa Ch’awát ta Sx̱wéx̱wel (Squamish Valley Operations)

We appreciate all your support and knowledge you contributed for the Elders Engagement Project. Your advocacy for this project, guidance, cultural expertise and knowledge of the Elder's program was invaluable in getting this project off the ground and running. We raise our hands up to you.