Please contact the Executive Director at execdir@bclta.ca with any membership questions including access to BCLTA Board Meeting Agendas and Reports or to connect with any member of the BCLTA Board of Directors.
2019 BCLTA Board Meeting Schedule
- January 8
- March 5
- April 2
- May 11 (to coincide with AGM)
- June 4
- September 10
- September 27-28 (potential board retreat to coincide with UBCM Convention)
- November 5
Board of Directors
The BCLTA held its Annual General Meeting on May 11th. This page is being updated with the names, photos, and bios of the 2019/2020 Board of Directors.
Mike Gagel
President 2019-2021
Board Chair, Prince George Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2016.
Mike earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing at the University of British Columbia and worked as a nurse for almost 20 years at the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Coastal Health, and as a sole proprietor consultant. In the second half of his nursing career Mike progressively focused on staff education through the use of technology. Next, he worked at the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) where he was responsible for all of the Association’s technology needs and also supported various trustee committees. Mike currently works for Northern Health as their Regional Manager, Communicable Disease.
Rhonda Sherwood
Treasurer and Vice President, 2018-2020
Vancouver Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2018.
Rhonda is a Certified Financial Planner® and licensed Investment Advisor, and brings 29 years of wealth advisement and passion to her work. Rhonda holds a Liberal Arts diploma from Simon Fraser University along with Certified Financial Planner®, Financial Management Advisor and Responsible Investment Advisor designations. In addition, she is securities and insurance licensed.
Rhonda is a passionate advocate within her industry promoting professionalism and ethics. She is actively involved with the Financial Planning Standards Council’s ‘Public Policy Ambassador Program’ and sits on their ‘Standards Panel’. Additionally, she is on the board of an industry publication ‘Advisors Edge’ and the ‘Financial Services Advisory Council’ at Douglas College.
Rhonda also mentors young adults and women through different associations. Rhonda believes in the importance of giving back to her community. She is a trustee for the Vancouver Public Library and vice chair with the city of Vancouver’s ‘Women’s Advisory Committee’.
Rhonda cares deeply about the rights and well-being of animals, practicing veganism and vegetarianism for 27 years and devoting her time and resources to many animal advocacy projects.
Deborah Begoray
Director 2019-2021
Greater Victoria Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2019.
Erin Carlson
Director 2019-2021
Okanagan Regional Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2019.
Dave Clark
Director 2019-2021
Cranbrook Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2019.
Dave brings a wealth of skills to his board work, is insurance and mutual funds licensed, and is a Certified Financial Planner®, with over 20 years experience with a national company.
Dave’s passion for public libraries began when he received his first library card for the Chilliwack Public Library at the age of six. As well as being the Chair of the Cranbrook Public Library Board, Dave is the board vice-chair for a local charitable thrift store.
Elysia Glover
Director 2019-2021
Greater Victoria Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2019.
Brenda Leigh
Director 2019-2021
Vancouver Island Regional Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2019.
Caty Liu
Director 2019-2021
Richmond Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2019.
Caty is a Senior Operations Analyst with extensive experience and knowledge in the budgeting, financial analysis and business operations of the non-profit housing sector in BC. Caty has successfully completed the Chartered Professional Accountant program and a leadership program at the Justice Institute of BC. Most recently, Caty has been selected to participate the 2019 Women’s Executive Network Wisdom Mentoring Program.
Caty always looks for opportunities to develop new skills and find meaningful ways to give back. Caty has mentored students through her alma mater and the CPA Western School of Business. In 2018, Caty began to serve as a Board Trustee at Richmond Public Library. In her spare time, Caty loves reading and testing recipes in the kitchen.
Austin Uzama
Director 2018-2020
Surrey Libraries Board
On the BCLTA board since 2018.
Austin is a career teacher. He started his teaching career in Japan in 1994. Since then, he has taught K12 to post secondary students in different countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, and now in Canada. Austin was born in Edo State Nigeria and left Nigeria at an early age for Japan and called Tokyo home until he left in 2011 after the March 11th earthquake, tsunami, & Fukushima Nuclear Plant radiation leak.
Surrey is now his home and where is lives with his wife and 4 daughters. Austin work as part-time teacher with Abbotsford School District and with the Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA). He is also a Sessional Lecturer and Researcher at UBC. As well, Austin volunteers as the Youth Director for the Knights of Columbus, Council #7015, where he mentors and organizes basketball workshops and free basket shooting in CISVA’s elementary schools. When he is not teaching or volunteering, Austin spends time with his wife and daughters travelling around B.C. and playing tennis.
Staff
Babs Kelly
Executive Director
execdir@bclta.ca
Babs has successfully used a community engagement approach for supporting the development of organizations and boards for over 25 years. She has worked for a variety of non-governmental agencies, businesses, and for the public sector, including public libraries in Ontario, Saskatchewan and BC. She has extensive experience in communications, governance, facilitating community forums and dialogues, and with building community partnerships and involvement. Working part-time for BCLTA is ideal as it allows her to continue to work with public libraries while pursuing creative and artistic projects.
Jan Thomas
Administrative Assistant
admin@bclta.ca
Jan has served as the administrative assistant for Heritage BC for more than 25 years, ably supporting this not-for-profit organization to deliver annual and regional conferences, annual general meetings, newsletters, website, and government advocacy activities to a province-wide membership. BCLTA is lucky to have her in-depth knowledge of association management at work for BC public libraries.