Emma Sutherland, Executive Director/Founder

Emma was born and raised in east Vancouver and began working in the Downtown Eastside at age 17. She realized quickly that people there cared for and looked out for one another. It reminded her of the care and concern people showed each other in the small Prairie town where her mother’s family settled from Rumania and the Ukraine in 1902. Emma has used her degree in Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University, several years of fundraising school courses from BCIT, and thirty years’ experience in the recreation and advocacy fields to continually support individuals and families in Metro Vancouver. Her goal has consistently been to show youth how to work around the barriers they face to learn new skills, be active and expand their horizons. Her biggest joy is seeing youth take on leadership roles in Red Fox and in the larger society. Emma gets around everywhere on her electric bike and enjoys hiking, birdwatching, swimming and politics.

Suki Chhoeun, Program Manager – Seed Generation

Born in Thailand, and raised on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg, Suki’s family arrived to Canada in the late 80’s.  Suki’s parents fled their war torn country of Cambodia, seeking a better life here in Canada.  Suki moved to the beautiful Unceded Coast Salish Territories in 2016 and resides in East Van. Suki’s passion for service, and community has allowed her to naturally step into a leadership role with Red Fox since joining the team in January 2016. With a passion for leadership training and coaching, and with over 12 years of coaching experience, Suki truly believes in Red Fox’s model to empower youth through mentorship, encouragement and ongoing support to help youth realize their potential. Suki currently delivers the Seed Generation program, a program where youth learn about Indigenous cultures and histories, land stewardship, with weekly recreation outings, giving youth positive experiences in nature. Suki loves skateboarding, hiking, and road trips that involve campfires. While indoors, she’s often found reading, learning to play the guitar, writing haikus and listening to classical music.

Megan Mullaly, Program Manager – Youth Internship

Megan joined the Red Fox team in July 2017. She has been working with at-risk youth locally and abroad for 8 years in a variety of programs involving physical literacy, personal development, and mentorship. Megan has a strong desire to encourage and empower youth to advocate for themselves and their communities through personal talents and interests, such as art and sport. She started her post-secondary education at the Art Institute of Vancouver, where she completed a diploma in Digital Film & Video. She loves documentaries, deep conversations, hiking, and exploring new places. Her travels through East & West Africa prompted her desire to learn more about the world and global affairs. She completed her degree at Simon Fraser University; majoring in International Studies – Conflict and Security, with a minor in Development & Sustainability, as well as a certificate in Social Justice.

 

Cristina Chihaia

Bio coming soon

 

Program Coordinators

Joseph Posey

Joe joined Red Fox through the Youth Leadership program in 2011. His skills, positive attitude and genuine passion for his work lead to his promotion to Youth Instructor in 2014 and then Program Coordinator in 2019. Joe draws on his experiences as a previous Youth Leader to support young people in developing the confidence and skills they need to succeed in life.  Joe is First Nations and is from Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte), Cree, Sioux and Ojibwe from Manitoba.

Siobhan Davis

Siobhan joined Red Fox in September 2019 as an intern from the Robert Lee YMCA Youth Employment Bootcamp. She has enthusiastically signed on to be a permanent part of the team as of January 2020. Her experience and passion working with youth began during her internship at a migrant and refugee support centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where she facilitated English conversation classes and built connections with unaccompanied minors within the organization. Siobhan is interested in empowering youth to take on leadership roles in order to support the never-ending process to build a community that prioritizes social justice, learning, compassion, care, creativity and sustainability. She loves dancing, the Arts, outdoor activities, and trying new things. Graduating from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Art History and Visual studies in 2017, Siobhan soon moved to Vancouver to explore and immerse herself into the community situated on the traditional and unceded territories of Coast Salish nations, and is grateful to Red Fox for providing such a great and holistic way to support this aspiration.

Jean Etienne Tuyisenge

Jean Etienne is a highly active, creative, professional and strong intercultural communicator. I have worked with clients in various sectors, particularly in non-profit organizations and hospital environments, as a fundraising manager, events planner, projects/programs developer, and youth and disability advocate. He is currently pursuing a M.A  in  Nordic Social Work and Children’s Welfare.  Jean Etienne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Sexuality and Women’s Studies  and a Certificate in Sustainable Community Development from Simon Fraser University. He received the faculty of Health Sciences Award for Outstanding Community Service at Simon Fraser University. He was  a certificate in Improving the Health of Women, Children and Adolescents. His qualifications and lived experience as a former youth at risk, and his desire to give back to the community brought him to the Red Fox family in the summer of 2020 as an Active Play Coordinator. He is a very energetic person who is not afraid to try new things and he is an avid traveler. When he is not sightseeing or giving inspirational and motivational speeches, he enjoys watching NBA basketball.

 Elise Eva Ardizzi

Elise was born and raised on Treaty 13 (Toronto, ON) and joined the Red Fox team in the summer of 2020. She is a Program Coordinator, encouraging movement and active play with children and youth. Elise just completed her Marketing Management degree, and Minor in Professional Communication at Ryerson University. Her passion for filmmaking has helped create videos and content for Red Fox, managing their website while coordinating for programs. Elise also enjoys photography, rock climbing, beach volleyball and live music.

 

Elliot Cluney

After watching many other of his family members grow with Red Fox since 2015, Elliot joined the team in spring 2021. Elliots is Esk’etemc First nations from Williams Lake on his mother’s side, and loves learning about Indigenous culture, teachings, and history. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of social work degree (specializing in Indigenous youth), with hopes to continue onto a Masters of social work in policy development. With being a former youth at risk, Elliot has spent many years advocating and getting involved in programs and initiatives that help better the lives of marginalized youth. Elliot also loves camping, hiking, listening to music and painting.

Diaz Jamin

Paul Welch

Paul joined the Red Fox programs team in 2016 as part of Active Play programming in North Vancouver. Paul has a background in recreation and childcare and is a strong supporter of Red Fox’s programs. He is a committed volunteer with the Red Fox Drum and PowWow Dance Group, where his children are regular participants. Paul is First Nations and can often be found drawing and making art.

Natalie Van Niekerk

Natalie joined Red Fox in 2018 as a practicum student and was hired from there as a program coordinator. Natalie believes in the power of kindness and overcoming your fears and encourages participants to practice both. She’s also an advocate for mental health.

Program Facilitators

Skylar Walker

Ivorie joined the team in 2013 as a youth leader, and has been a dedicated team member since. They graduated from Kwantlen Park Secondary in 2019, and is working their way toward becoming a child and youth worker. Through their time at Red Fox, Ivorie found their passion for working with at risk youth and is very passionate about spreading kindness and love wherever they are. They believe through love and dedication, people can achieve things they never thought they could.  Ivorie is  very artistic,  and loves hiking, basketball, swimming and  reading.

 

William Nahanee

Bio coming soon

 

Tilly Edgar

Matilda (Tilly) has been in Red Fox for five years. When she first joined Red Fox, she was shy and afraid of public speaking. Once she starting helping lead the programs to children,  she was able to overcome those fears. Red Fox has helped her to get out of her comfort zone and learn a lot about leadership skills and organization. When she is not at Red Fox, she is usually at home working on schoolwork or writing songs in her song book. Her favorite part about Red Fox is getting to connect with the kids in the programs and learning a lot of new things and having new experiences.  Working at Red Fox all these years has taught her so much, and she is very grateful to work with such amazing people.

 

 

Program Contractors

J Peachy, Creative Director of J Peachy Gallery

J Peachy is active in his community engaged art practice through a wide range of creative projects from solo work to multi-disciplinary arts activations. J Peachy is an Arts Based Environmental Health Advocate and his art speaks to themes as they relate to the psycho, socio and ecological environments. Through arts based Wild Salmon Advocacy in BC, he has combined mental wellness and environmental advocacy through a number of Arts based initiatives including working with the Port Moody Ecological Society, Wild Salmon Caravan and many indigenous communities in Coast Salish Territories. Jay often shares knowledge through an entertaining inspiring lens, designed to challenge how we think we see the world around us. As a bearista and creative producer of mobile creative cafe events, his expressive platform can be taken to the streets.  The collaboration with Red Fox Healthy Living Society is truly exciting. www.jpeachygallery.com

 

James Dawson

Bio coming soon

 

Current Volunteers

Steven Pham

Steven has been part of the Red Fox team for 10 years. He works mainly with children through Red Fox’s Active Play program, and secures prize donations for the kids from local businesses. Steven’s favourite part of his job is seeing the happy faces of kids who come out to Red Fox programs and events. Steven is creative and enjoys sharing his artistic skills with those around him. Steven is passionate about social and environmental justice and is involved in many grassroots initiatives.