Raised in Kamloops, BC, Ryan Deneault is a Skeetchestn Band Member and a fourth-generation settler in the Interior of British Columbia. Over the past 18 years, Ryan has run his own business, worked in sales and business development, and has been an Indigenous Advisor in the construction and mining industries. Ryan is now a Community Engagement Specialist for the United Way BC. His current role focuses on the emergent needs in Lytton, Merritt, and fifteen Indigenous communities in between. This experience, coupled with his Skeetchestn heritage, makes for an approach to community and First Nations relations that is rooted in finding ways to develop mutual understanding and trust. Ryan’s passion for finding ways to connect and develop common ground between those interested in working together has benefited First Nations, communities, and companies alike. Ryan is proud to be a Board Member with ASK Wellness Society, as yet another way to use his experience to give back to the community.
S. Paul Varga has been practicing law since being called to the bar in 2012, after receiving his Juris Doctorate from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a courtroom lawyer who deals with contract litigation, criminal defence, and landlord-tenant disputes, and has seen the housing crisis reach extreme levels resulting in significant conflict and a degradation of our society.
Paul joined the board of ASK Wellness Society in 2019 after recognizing the hard work the group was doing to promote housing interests throughout B.C.’s South-Central Interior, and is proud to represent the interests of Penticton at the board level. Paul believes the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members, and believes we all need to be doing more to ensure all members of our communities are treated with dignity and grace in the face of whatever adversity they may be facing.
Paul is also an active thespian through his participation with Many Hats Theatre Company and an avid cyclist and skier.
Trevor Stephens joined the Board of Directors in September 2024. While new to the Board, Trevor has a long history with ASK Wellness Society, where he served as Director of Finance for ten years before his retirement in 2018. He currently operates his own personal income tax business, which keeps him engaged throughout the busy tax season.
Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Trevor and his wife moved to British Columbia in 1972. He started his career at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Kamloops and later transferred to Smithers as the branch accountant. After several years in banking, he returned to Kamloops to pursue a career in accounting. Throughout his career, Trevor has served as controller for various private companies and nonprofit organizations in the region.
With a professional background rooted in finance and accounting, Trevor brings a wealth of expertise to his role as Treasurer with ASK. He is thrilled to be back and contributing his skills to support the organization’s mission.
Joining in November 2022, Lisa Galbraith comes to ASK Wellness Society’s Board of Directors with the memories of the Society’s beginnings. She brings with her a passion for philanthropic work, along with a breadth of education and experience. With more than 25 years of social work practice that includes working in communities, providing child and family services, offering private counselling services, and working within various mental health and healthcare departments, she is proud to join us!
Lisa has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University College of the Cariboo and a Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies from Royal Roads University, along with a number of certificates and diplomas. Previous local community board work brought about an interest in working with Indigenous communities. This ultimately led her to working in the Northwest Territories and in Nunavut with Inuit communities. Lisa regards her time in these communities as a humbling experience that created invaluable learning opportunities. As a registered social worker, Lisa currently works at Interior Health. She is one of a team of healthcare professionals working in the Kamloops community.
Lisa believes that every day is a new day to be filled with at least one grand adventure and new experience. She is a daughter, mother and grandmother who loves spending time with her family and grandchildren. Lisa sees that we are all captains of our own ship, yet sometimes we all need a little assistance to steady the course. This is what she has hoped to help others with throughout her career and now as an ASK Wellness Society board member.
Stan Fike is a retired family physician, having worked in Kamloops for 37 years. He attained an Honour’s bachelor’s degree at the University of Calgary, a Master’s degree in Psychology at Carleton University, and a Medical degree from University of Ottawa. He completed a two-year residency at the University of Calgary.
Stan is also on the board of Phoenix Centre, and his Rotary club. He has been on the board of ASK Wellness for 9 years.
Stan has been a Rotarian for 34 years. He lives with his wife and is an avid gardener and curler.
He worked with ASK when it was still the Aids Society of Kamloops, for over 20 years. He joined the board to assist with the mission and the work that ASK Wellness does. It has been an honour and privilege to serve this agency, with remarkable staff.
Michael Lamont is a broadcast media professional who is passionate about building a diverse and inclusive community. He was born on Vancouver Island and has lived in the South Okanagan for five years. Michael attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology for Broadcast Media and has previously worked in television with CTV News, in radio and digital advertising, and as a marketing coordinator for non-profit organizations.
Michael learned of ASK Wellness Society when ASK was nominated for a Business Excellence Award for Workplace Culture Excellence, sponsored by his employer South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services. After learning more about the Society and its guiding principles, he was motivated to join the Board of Directors. Michael is proud to provide representation for the South Okanagan and the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Born and raised in Kamloops, Renata is passionate about giving back to the community she calls home. Renata brings a varied perspective with experience working for nonprofits and municipal government, but most notably with over ten years of experience working in the mining industry.
Renata holds a Bachelor of Business Management degree with honours from UBC and has developed her career in social performance, focusing her efforts on community-driven initiatives that support social and community development. She attributes her growth in this area to her time spent aboard in East Africa, where she gained hands-on experience working with grassroots organizations to support community-driven solutions to community needs. Renata has worked closely with social enterprises and understands the power of working with shared values to find creative solutions to complex challenges. Since returning home to Kamloops, Renata has supported sustainability-related work, primarily in the areas of community investment, community engagement and social performance.
In her spare time, Renata keeps busy with her young family and can most often be found reading a book or daydreaming of their next family vacation.
Bio Coming Soon...
Carla has called Kamloops home since 2012, after many years living in northern B.C. She worked as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse for 33 years and has recently retired from Interior Health Authority, where she spent the last 5 years in the Director of Mental Health and Substance Use position. Her work experience has varied from direct care, health planning, education, research, and leadership in acute and community, college and university, and Indigenous Non-Profit settings. Carla holds advanced education in Psychiatric Nursing and a Masters of Arts in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University.
Carla is excited to be joining the Board of Directors and is honoured to represent this organization. She has worked alongside and in collaboration with ASK Wellness Society for many years and appreciates the amazing work the Society does to make a difference in our communities. She believes that all people deserve respect, dignity, and grace. Strong, resilient communities are built through authentic relationships and advocacy for the most vulnerable members.
Carla has 2 wonderful boys and 4 amazing grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, paddle boarding at the lake, and travelling the world.
