Shawnigan Residents Association

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS 


Garry Horwood 

President

Garry and his family have enjoyed a summer place off West Shawnigan Lake Road since the 1960s. Garry’s family owned a new car dealership in Victoria where, as a teenager, he gained experience in a variety of areas from pumping gas to mechanical work.  Garry attended UVic and UBC then entered the transportation industry as a highway tractor trailer driver. He returned to the family business in Victoria for several years before moving his family back to the Lower Mainland where he re-entered the trucking business both as a driver and in management. Garry has extensive business management skills and experience.  He has been appointed to many boards over the years both as a director and board chair.  Garry and his wife Brenda were foster parents for over 30 years and have raised a family of seven children ranging in age from 18 to 44. In recent years they have also had the great joy to welcome four grandchildren. 

Garry grew up enjoying the recreational activities around the lake and it was this appreciation for what he had experienced and the desire to ensure that its integrity be maintained that led him to his involvement with the SRA. Garry has served as a board member, past president, and now as the current president. He served as board president for the first three years of the fight to keep “dirty dirt” from being deposited within the Shawinigan watershed and more recently has contributed to promoting better boating safety on the lake and to discussions regarding municipal status.


Alex Acton

Vice President

Alex grew up on Vancouver Island and spent many summers at the family cottage on Shawnigan Lake. Alex now lives in Shawnigan year round with his wife and three boys. He has been on the SRA board for four years and is currently a member of the Legal and Water Safety & Quality Committees.  Alex has an extensive background in information technology and holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Victoria. If you can’t find him out enjoying the lake, then Alex is probably at the rink coaching hockey.


Dinah Clark 

Treasurer

Dinah and her husband Paul followed their retirement dream in 2007 to purchase an original “oldtimer” cabin on Shawnigan Lake and in 2014 moved in permanently. They love the healthy lifestyle here of swimming, cycling, and growing their own food in an organic garden.  Their love for their new home quickly motivated them to become SRA members and donate to their legal fund, join the protests, and write letters to government officials and letters to the editor.  Dinah is a former school administrator where she helped found an independent school in Calgary and spent her 30 year career there working and developing the school’s administration and governance, serving on their Board of Directors and represented the school community in the design and build of their innovative facility. This is Dinah’s second year on the SRA Board and she serves on the Membership, Marketing, & Communications Committee.



Lorraine Keen 

Secretary

Lorraine has been a member of the Shawnigan Lake community since 2007. She was a vocal opponent to the contaminated soil site and has remained active in the community ever since. With a background in Human Resources, she is now a local business owner and current vice chair of the Shawnigan Lake Community Centre Commission.


Keith Bridge

Keith and wife Bridget have enjoyed being members of the Shawnigan Community for the past ten years.  Keith has recently sold his business, Team Sales in Victoria, where he was President/owner for 35 years.  Over the years in business, Keith became very knowledgeable about the Shawnigan Community with his work for Shawnigan Lake School, Maxwell Baha’i School and Brentwood College.  He is now consulting for the Provincial Government and the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission. Both Keith and Bridget are passionate about the Community and look forward to many more years on the Lake.  This is Keith’s second term on the SRA and he serves on the Water safety/quality Committee.


Aslan Farboud

Aslan was born in Kent, England, but moved to Canada, Vancouver Island, at a very young age. He originally lived in Port Alberni for a few years but then he moved to where he lives right now, Cobble Hill. Aslan has been living in Cobble hill for 11 years where his parents are currently are running their own company together. You could say he lives a spicy life on his chilli farm, where he helps his parents do farm work and help with the family company. Due to his mom, Aslan has conceived a passion and love for the outdoors. He spends most summers hiking through exotic hiking trails on Vancouver Island, days at end. During the school year you will find him either playing his main sport, soccer, or training with his cross-country team at Shawnigan Lake School. This is his first term on the SRA board, he is super excited and keen to help and support, as a student representative. 


Netta Douglas 

Netta describes herself as a specialized generalist supporting business and non-profits in the areas of marketing and fundraising across a variety of industries within private and public sectors. Known as a marketing and branding specialist, Netta works directly with thought leaders on how best to elevate their reputation and define their legacy.

As a volunteer, she has worked closely with the Shawnigan Lake community and politicians to stand-up to the dumping of contaminates within its watershed. Currently she supports the SRA with marketing and communications, and is the chair of the Shawnigan Lake Community Centre Commission. 

Her passion includes collaborating with thought leaders to spark unique ideas that contribute to the greater good for community. In her spare time, she enjoys an early morning waterski or time with her senior pug. 

She serves on the Membership, Marketing, & Communications Committee.


Sara Blair

Sara is a natural explorer and connector. She is inquisitive by nature and passionate about the outdoors. It is not surprising that in 2013, when she moved to Shawnigan Lake, she developed an immediate appreciation and respect for the Cowichan Valley and its natural resources.

Sara currently works as the Director of Board and Community Partnerships at Shawnigan Lake School and has been an integral member of the THINK Shawnigan Team, a group focused on developing a Village Plan for Shawnigan Lake.

Before moving to the Island, Sara worked on designing sustainable urban communities and implementing zero-waste programs in Vancouver to support Clean BC initiatives. She has a background in Eco-Design and has focused much of her practice on re-generation – how will decisions today affect the next 7 generations?

Sara comes with Board experience, having served on an Independent School Board and chairing its Governance Committee. She can often be found hiking on one of the local mountains or cycling through the backroads. 


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