Staff & Board

Board Bios

Pat Danforth, Chair

Pat Danforth has more than 40 years’ governance and board experience in government and non-profit sectors. Pat has worked on rights-based issues since becoming reliant on a wheelchair in 1970. She represents the Disability Alliance BC on the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) board. She also volunteers on CCD’s Transportation Committee and Human Rights Committee. Pat is on the Active Transportation Committee of Saanich as well as the BC Ferries’ Accessibility Advisory Committee.  She is a founding mother of the Disabled Women’s Network (DAWN). Pat’s career includes work for provincial and federal governments, Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, as well as the Canadian Labour Congress. Her varied background includes the Saskatchewan Public Service Commission Board of Commissioners, Regina Health District Board, National Transportation Agency and CUPE National’s Disability Working Group. She has specialist knowledge of rights and disability issues, policies and programs.

chair@drcvictoria.com

Susan Horner, Vice-Chair

While living in Ontario Susan acquired a disability through a work related accident in 1989 while working in an automotive assembly plant. Shortly after, she began a career advocating for injured workers and the disability community. Her experiences have allowed her to be part of a precedent setting case that was represented by the Advocacy Disability Law Centre.  Susan founded the Workers (Repetitive) Injury Support Team, WRIST which became a member organization of the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups and a recognized stakeholder in her area. While in Ontario she presented to both a Government Standing Committee and Royal Commission regarding Workers Compensation.   She came to BC in 2008 and now has a “Brady Bunch” style family with 12 grandchildren. Currently she is a Vocational Counsellor with the Garth Homer Society and is involved in the working groups of the Center for Research on Work Disability Project.

vice-chair@drcvictoria.com

Jeremy Scott, Secretary

Jeremy grew up outside of Courtenay and has been a Vancouver Islander for almost all his life. He moved to Victoria to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy, and has since worked for both non-profits and in the public sector with over 10 years of HR and leadership experience. Outside of his current leadership role within Service BC, Jeremy also sits as a panel member for the Employment and Assistance Appeals Tribunal. He currently sits on the Board of Directors as Co-Chair of the Strategic Human Resources Committee.

secretary@drcvictoria.com

Kim Donaldson, Director at Large

Kim works as the Community Recruitment Manager at Fable Tech Labs a tech company that supports customers in making their digital products more accessible by contracting native users of accessible technology to perform product testing and provide feedback. Kim is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion and additional works with organizations to make their hiring HR practices more inclusive. Kim brings leadership experience from her years of involvement in sport as an international athlete and university coach.

vdrcboard2@drcvictoria.com

David Hosking, Treasurer

David has more than 40 years experience in the field of human rights, working for the Saskatchewan, Canadian, and BC Human Rights Commissions in various positions. He has extensive managerial, leadership and community organizing experience in public sector, government and non-profit organizations. Now officially retired, he has been a board member and past Chair of the VDRC and filled in as Executive Director of the VDRC during a transition period. David has been a long time member of the Victoria Lapidary and Mineral Society and as a hobby makes lapidary items and silver jewelry.

treasurer@drcvictoria.com

Doug Copley

Doug is the founder and owner of Copley Inclusive Solutions, a Universal Design and Accessibility Consulting company based in Victoria, BC. This follows over 25 years’ experience in the construction industry. The experience and knowledge he has accumulated in both residential and commercial construction has proven to be valuable when assessing the pre-existing built environment and designing new builds to create meaningful access for people of all abilities. His drive to create accessibility for all stems from living with an invisible disability and being a father of children with disabilities.

Melanie Gold

After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Melanie is pursuing her CPA designation and has recently passed the Common Final Exam. She is currently working as a Business Analyst at BC Ferries, and has extensive experience in finance, communications, and accounting. Growing up on Vancouver Island, she has developed deep roots with the community and a desire to inspire those around her. She loves to make homemade crafts, go kayaking on the lake, and is passionate about her two kittens, Bonsai and Kirby.