Our Team
2
Back left to right - Sandy Wetterstrom, Kawiria Creed, Antoon Houben
Front left to right - Kathy Dunn (past Director), Louise Lodge, Marie Downing, Cheryl Thomas, Joyce Laffin, Adriana Martin (missing)
Roles
Chair - Louise Lodge (Fund Development and Leadership Committee)
Vice Chair - Antoon Houben (Fund Development and Leadership Committee)
Treasurer/Secretary - Joyce Laffin
Directors:
Sandy Wetterstrom (Grant Committee)
Cheryl Thomas (Fund Development and Grant Committee)
Kawiria Creed (Information and Marketing Committee)
Marie Downing (information and Marketing Committee)
Adriana Martin
Louise Lodge
Chair
Louise has been a Director with the North Thompson Community Foundation since 2018. She grew up in Barriere and then moved to Vancouver to attend UBC. In 2016 Louise moved back to the valley and became an active member of the community volunteering as a coach at the high school, Director in the Barriere Outdoor Club, Barriere District Councillor and liaison for the Chamber of Commerce.
Sandy Wetterstrom
Director
Sandy has been a Director with the North Thompson Communities Foundation since moving to Clearwater in 2013. Serving as the coordinator of the Grant Committee she works with members of the team to review applications for Spring Grants and Bursaries.
Sandy's background is in Adult Literacy and Food Security. She initiated the BCAFM Coupon and Nutrition Program in 2014 at the Clearwater Farmers Market and recently stepped away as the Coordinator after 3 years in the north in Houston and 9 years in Clearwater.
Antoon Houbin
Vice Chair
Antoon spent his career working in the Information Technology field as a programmer, systems analyst, software architect and eventually as Vice President and CIO at a US Public Corporation. Now retired and living in Barriere. Seven years at the Barriere and District Food Bank, serving at NTVIC, Barriere Lions and tutoring through Partner Assisted Learning.
Marie Downing
Director
Barriere resident since 1991, former Member of the Federation of the Canadian Artists, Graphic Designer for 25+ years, worked for the Barriere Chamber of Commerce for five years, committee member for the Barrriere Toy Run - raising money for Nicky’s Red Wagon Bursary and Barriere Food Bank. Member of The Valley Artisans & Crafters and organizer of VAC Christmas Extravaganza.
Joyce Laffin
Treasurer/Secretary
I attended a Barriere Chamber of Commerce event where the NTCF chair, Louise Lodge and director Cheryl Thomas shared information with members about the vision and goals of the foundation. They are so passionate, knowledgeable and inspiring. I was impressed and wanted to become involved personally,
Adriana Martin
Director
After a rewarding career in healthcare as a Registered Nurse, Adriana retired to a wooded acreage in Barriere to enjoy the North Thompson lifestyle. Dedicated to grass-roots community building, she serves on local recreation planning committees and coordinates vibrant community events. Adriana is excited to bring her organizational insights to the Foundation to support growth across the region.
Kawiria Creed
Director
A resident of Clearwater since 2017, Kawiria is passionate about community events. She is Recreation, Culture, & Events Assistant within the District of Clearwater, and volunteers with several local non-profit organizations. She values accessibility, cultural diversity, and inclusion, and in her spare time, is absolutely terrible at keeping any plant alive.
Cheryl Thomas
Treasurer
Cheryl was one of the original ‘founders’ of the NT Communities Foundation and has stepped on and off the Board over the years. Currently she is a director and on the grant committee.