CISV Victoria is excited to welcome Amy Verdun as our incoming Programmes Co-Chair and Sophie Smyk as our incoming Co-JB Liaison! Welcome to the team Amy and Sophie!
Interested in joining the board? Check out our open positions or reach out to chair@cisvvictoria.ca to find out how!
Executive Board Members
Meet the CISV Victoria team!
Sarah (she/her)
Chapter Co-Chair, Local Leadership Trainer
At the age of 14, I stumbled upon CISV, and it changed my life! I started off doing a national camp, followed by a step-up, and seminar camp, then took the reins as a leader and staff member for Villages as a grown-up. Now, I'm freshly appointed as one of the Chapter Co-Chairs and the Fund Development Chair, plus Local Leadership Trainer and I'm one of the Village Coordinators.
Lilly (she/her)
Chapter Co-Chair, Communications Manager
I joined CISV when I was 14. I did a step up, an interchange, a youth meeting, and national camp. CISV has such an impact on me growing up that I am honoured to give back to this organization as an adult. I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years, including Mosaic and Secretary, and I am thrilled to be both newly elected the Chapter Co-Chair and the Communications Chair this year. I also previously was the Adult Co-Chair of CISV Canada’s Environmental Sustainability Committee for two years.
Samantha (she/her)
Senior Local Junior Representative (Sr. LJR)
Samantha is the Sr. LJR of CISV Victoria. Which means she helps organize the Steering Board and runs activities for the junior branch youth. Samantha has been a part of CISV for 5 years and she has made great connections through CISV and has grown her leadership skills by being on Steering and running activities for all of the incredible youth who come out to the meetings. Her favorite thing about CISV is seeing the youth grow their confidence while participating, asking questions, and even making new friends in our chapter. Samantha loves the values that CISV stands for and she tries to bring them into other aspects in her life!
Steve (he/him)
Risk Manager
I work to keep our CISV Victoria community safe. I help to select, train and support CISV leaders. I make sure locations are safe for CISV participants and that all adults spending time with children have valid Criminal Record Checks completed. I have been involved with CISV since 2017 when my oldest son went to Honduras for Village. The only thing I love more than learning about people, culture, language, food and music around the world is to see children and young adults experiencing these things for the first time.
Leanna (she/her)
Co-Junior Branch Liaison
My role as Junior Branch Adult Liaison is to support our Junior Branch Steering Committee with their planning, and support them during Junior Branch meetings. I also ensure that Junior Branch just has the extra safety of an adult present during meetings, and I communicate on behalf of Junior Branch with the Adult Exec team. My experience with CISV was as a village delegate to India, and then again as a leader to a Toronto Village. My three daughters have all been involved in Junior Branch, been leaders on Steering and travelled with CISV. I love how inclusive CISV is and how easy friendship is through the shared, fun, and thoughtful activities and games.
Steering
CISV Victoria's youth leaders!
This is a team of youth who run the Junior Branch meetings for CISV Victoria. They are interested in taking an active role in leadership and creating fun for others, and they are passionate about CISV, sustainability, human rights, diversity, and conflict resolution. Lead by Samantha and Leanna, Steering meets twice a month for planning meetings and spending time planning and having fun together too.They lead energizers, games, activities, debriefs at meetings; welcome new members and connect with existing members. Get to know all of Steering over on the JB Victoria website!