The BC Cancer Foundation’s Associate Director – Gift & Estate Planning on her belief in fairness, being intentional about time and her takeaways from the recent CAGP Conference
- What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Feeling content with who you are. Looking at your life, its successes and its shortcomings, and feeling grounded, grateful, and at peace—without the need to constantly prove or redefine yourself.
- What trait do you most deplore in others?
Self-interest, without regard for others; especially when people make choices that benefit themselves while causing harm elsewhere. I have a strong sense of justice, and while it can be hard to turn off, it comes from a belief that fairness matters.
- What is your greatest extravagance?
Time. We all spend so much time working, so I’m intentional about how my most precious hours are used. For me, that means time with family; being present with my husband and my kids. They are number one. And taking time for myself; staying social with friends, playing soccer and being competitive. That’s my extravagance.
- What is your current state of mind?
Stretched and a bit disorganized, if I’m being honest. But in way that comes from balancing many things that matter.
- What is your educational background?
I attended college in my community, where I had an interest in business and marketing.
- What/where was your first career-related job?
Following school, I struggled to break into marketing. My first position was a Marketing Associate at a food distribution company, working in sales with restaurants and hotels. I loved the relationship-building aspects of the work. Like many fundraisers, I found my way into the field somewhat unintentionally. After my first son was born, I began looking for work that better aligned with my values, which led me to my position at Victoria Hospice as a Donor Relations Officer.
- What talent do you wish you had?
This isn’t a talent but a skill. I wish I had an easier time organizing my thoughts. Writing, (especially emails) and responding quickly doesn’t come naturally to me. I often need time to work through what I want to say and how I want to say it. But, if you also want to know a talent I wish I had, I’d say learning to dance the salsa and bachata!
- What was one key takeaway from the CAGP Conference in Winnipeg?
ONE! That’s impossible. For me, the big takeaway was reflecting on what I love most about this work. While I attended many advanced sessions to build my technical knowledge, it was Jaya Mootoo’s Good Grief session that resonated most. It reaffirmed the importance and privilege I have in truly connecting with donors, especially when they feel comfortable sharing the personal reasons behind their support. Working in hospice and cancer care brings heavy emotions, and those conversations are the ones that stay with me.
- To what organization did you make your most recent charitable donation?
- What do you see as the biggest challenge currently facing the nonprofit sector?
One of the biggest challenges is differentiation. Donors have many choices, with hundreds of charities focused on similar causes. For organizations like BC Cancer Foundation, the challenge is helping donors understand our unique role as the charitable partner of BC Cancer and how their support directly impacts care at their local cancer centre. In such a crowded landscape, clearly demonstrating impact is essential.
