Giving Hearts Awards

Chantelle is a passionate and experienced community leader known for building partnerships and increasing awareness on key social issues, always in the pursuit of equity and inclusion. Most recently, Chantelle has held leadership roles within the nonprofit sector and provincial government, where she led strategy and designed and executed award-winning programs that influenced policy change. She is dedicated to serving the community and grateful for the opportunity to lead Big Sisters, an organization committed to fostering life changing mentorship relationships for girls across the lower mainland of BC.

Throughout her career, Chantelle has remained committed to creating better futures for women, children and families and has been a thought leader and driver of social programs that build strong, equitable and resilient communities. She is an active community volunteer, sitting on the Board of Directors with BC Women’s Health Foundation and on the Vancouver Foundation’s Honorary Governors Council. Her background in leadership, communications, programming and community engagement has helped to mobilize diverse stakeholders and generate broad-based support.

Erin is currently the CEO of YWCA Metro Vancouver, one of BC’s largest multi-service charities, including two social enterprises, the YWCA Hotel and Health + Fitness centre. With a budget of $50M and almost 500 employees, YWCA currently operates 73 programs supporting women, families and allies across 178 locations including transitional and permanent housing, violence prevention, employment, youth and mentorship, and early childhood education.
A firm believer in the value of public and community service, Erin brings more than 20 years of experience in governance, strategic planning, communications, policy analysis and stakeholder relations. Most recently, Erin served as Senior Vice President, BC Financial Services Authority and CEO of the Real Estate Council of BC, where she was responsible for consumer protection in the financial services sector and regulatory oversight of real estate professionals.
Previously, Erin spent more than 10 years in progressively senior leadership roles with the Government of British Columbia, including Executive Director of Immigration Programs where she oversaw provincial immigrant selection and settlement.

Erin holds a BA in Political Science and Hispanic Studies from the University of Victoria and an MA in International Studies from Simon Fraser University. A long-time community volunteer, she is currently the Past President of the Board for Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, a Vancouver-based community services organization serving children, youth and seniors.

Since 2006 Jennifer has been the President and CEO of the Central City Foundation. Jennifer’s 30-year career has focused on nonprofit leadership and community resource development. She began as the founding program coordinator with the Whistler Centre for Business and the Arts and since then has held key leadership positions with a variety of organizations that include Vancity Community Foundation, Battered Women’s Support Services, Vancouver Status of Women and Ballet BC. A passionate and committed supporter of social justice and community investment, Jennifer is a past President of the Vancouver Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and currently serves as Chair of Association of Fundraising Professionals Canada. She is also a Director of Yaletown House Foundation, A Better Life Foundation, Battered Women’s Support Services and PuSH International Performing Arts Society. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys baking cakes and hanging out with her awesome nephew the inventor.

Jonny Morris is the CEO for the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division. Jonny has spent almost 25 years in community mental health care, starting out in the crisis line movement with a strong focus on suicide prevention throughout. At CMHA BC, Jonny is responsible for leading an organization focused on advocacy, providing direct services, and delivering education and training to reduce stigma and equip people with the skills to support mental health for all.

Lisa Hoglund, is the Executive Director at Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation and a life-long resident of the Delta community. With close to 20 years experience working in the non-for-profit sector, Lisa’s leadership in community engagement and development has enabled the Foundation to achieve significant milestones. Previously, Lisa worked in fundraising positions at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre Foundation and Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC where she gained extensive experience in strategic planning, marketing & event management, and donor relations. Lisa also holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation. Her dedication and passion for promoting outstanding healthcare at Delta Hospital and in the community, continues to strengthen donor relations and drive the Foundation forward to ensure the most critical health care priorities are being met.

Neelam Sahota is a senior executive with over 20 years of progressive experience in spearheading financial management, capital projects, strategic planning, governance risk management within the private, public and not-for-profit sector. Her award-winning work in the social and economic development of Surrey, BC is based on creating community impact through resource connections, innovative economic drivers and values-based community partnerships. Neelam has been named the 2022 BC Business’ Woman of the Year in the nonprofit category.

Neelam joined DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society as the Chief Executive Officer in 2013. She is currently an order-in-council appointed Board Governor of SFU (Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee), a Board Director with the Association of Canadian Studies, Co-Chair of the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), an Advisory Board Member of OMNI TV Rogers Communications and for Solid State Industries. She has been the past Board Chair of Surrey Libraries and past Treasurer of the Immigrant Employment Council of BC.

As founder of Orange Shirt Day and ambassador for Orange Shirt Society, Phyllis Webstad facilitates dialogue around the Indian Residential School system and creates space for healing. A published author, Phyllis has three books that share her story in her own words – Orange Shirt Story; Phyllis’ Orange Shirt; and Beyond the Orange Shirt Story. Due to Phyllis’ work, a simple orange shirt has become a conversation starter for all aspects of Indian Residential Schools across the country and beyond its borders.

Phyllis is Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band), and she currently resides in Williams Lake, British Columbia with her husband.

Randall Heidt is CEO of the KPU Foundation and Vice President External Affairs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Randall has more than 20 years of fundraising experience in the private and public sector, including 14 years in post-secondary education. Randall is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). Randall has a Bachelor of Applied Communications from Mount Royal University, a Master’s of Leadership from Royal Roads University and a Professional Fundraising Certificate from Boston University. Randall has more than 20 years of communications experience as a reporter, photographer, videographer, TV reporter, online editor and city editor. Randall is grateful for the opportunity to raise funds to help students reach their educational, career and life goals.

Shannon Henderson is a proud Skwxwu’7mesh ‘Uxwumixw (Squamish Nation) member, located in the Coast Salish Territories which consist of 23 villages and residing in Xwmelch’sten (Capilano) village. She is a sixties scoop survivor, taken at a very young age of three. Her family fought for her and successfully brought her home at much later age. Since Shannon’s return to her village, she has reclaimed her identity and history. As a mother and Grandmother, it’s her honour to carry on family traditions of the culture.

Shannon is the Co-Chair of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, President of the Orange Shirt Day Society, and the Reconciliation Program Manager at Vancity. As a person who comes from a long line of Residential School Survivors, she has seen the intergenerational impact and effects that families have faced. Shannon is passionate about creating Reconciliation learning opportunities for all communities by sharing her story and educating on the true history of our Indigenous peoples and honouring the lands we live, work, and play on.

Founded in 1998, Minerva is a registered charity that is dedicated to advancing the leadership of women and girls. As CEO, Tina brings more than 20 years’ experience in leadership, career development, program design, adult learning, human resources and communications. Tina has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from UBC and a Master of Arts in Communications from Royal Roads University. She has lived and worked in Germany, Costa Rica, Guyana and Taiwan. Tina currently volunteers with Her Mentors and is a member of the Essential Impact advisory group.