Meet the Executive

Meet the 2026 – 2027 Executive Officers and Members of the Standing Committee who bring their ideas and energy to our club.

Executive Officers

President –  Sonia Reid (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)
Raised on a farm in Alberta, I spent most of my adult life as a city dweller where I enjoyed a career as an elementary and junior high school teacher. Twelve years ago, my husband and I moved to the Comox Valley, having been familiar with its attractions from our summer vacations here. Additionally, our grandchildren reside nearby in Nanaimo. Joining Newcomers’ and Alumnae has been a true blessing, as the friendships and activities have enriched my life. Serving on the Alumnae Board over the past few years, initially as treasurer and now as president, has only deepened that enrichment. I highly recommend that everyone consider volunteering with our association.

First Vice President – Shelley Marshall (August 27, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
I grew up in Montreal and after graduating from Concordia University with my MBA, I moved to Toronto to pursue my career in Marketing and Sales with CP Rail. Seven years later, I switched careers to become a full time Mum and stayed home to raise my 5 children. In 2019, looking for a change of life, I bought a small trailer and travelled across Canada to Vancouver Island where I settled in Comox. I knew no one, I joined Newcomers, I signed up for every activity, I bought a kayak, I learned to golf and I made so many friends. I am so grateful that my journey brought me here and for the wonderful friendships that I have made through Newcomers. I have never been happier and I’m loving life on the island!

First Vice President – Jeanie Cassidy (August 27, 2026 – June 30, 2027)

I have enjoyed a career in Information Technology (IT), as it parallels information management in the health care sector, across Canada, the USA and Australia. Despite a significant social network in my home city of Ottawa, in November 2022, I made the decision that I needed to re-establish that network closer to family. Without a partner, children or grandchildren, it was an easy decision to adopt the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island to be next to the large clan established by my oldest sister. Somewhat familiar with the region, I had been travelling via the island for years, coming and going to my second home, Australia.
The Comox Valley Newcomers’ Club and now the Newcomers’ Alumnae have been an incredible avenue to establish my new, parallel, social network, mirroring what was so hard to leave behind in Ottawa. I am so very fortunate to “do it again” and in a locale where “the mountains meet the sea”. Now it’s just a case of altering my mindset to allow for the grey skies of the Comox winter, in the absence of the mental uplift provided by the white/bright Ontario winter ground. Yes, I know, “at least you don’t have to shovel it”. <wink>

Second Vice President – Karen Bayer (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)
I grew up in Richmond but moved to Calgary where I spent 28 years. My dream was always to get back to the Coast and in 2015 that dream came true. I immediately joined the Newcomers’ Club and subsequently the Newcomers’ Alumnae and have never looked back. I cannot believe the amazing women I have met and there is always an activity to be involved with. I love the Island life!

Second Vice President – Sharon Nixon (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)
I was born and raised on the west coast of Vancouver Island. In 1975 I relocated to the lower mainland where I resided for over forty years. In 2017 after raising our family my husband and I retired to this beautiful Comox Valley that we now call home. I joined Newcomers as soon as I moved here and I am now a member of the Alumnae group. I am so grateful for these two wonderful organizations. I have met many lovely ladies who are now friends and I have learned so much about this fabulous community and about myself too. I have volunteered as the second VP for this upcoming term because I believe that if we all give just a little this organization will go on to welcome others for years to come.

Secretary  – Linda Graf (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
The Comox Valley has been my home for the past dozen years. Before retiring to the Valley, environmental-related work had me moving across the country from the west coast to Toronto, and the Northwest Territories to Calgary. A chance encounter with an enchanting man in a Yellowknife pub resulted in marriage to Gordon a year or so later. Luckily, we both love the outdoors, dogs, gardening and the west coast and found a true home when we moved to the Comox Valley. Volunteering has always been part of my life. I was Chair of a Ducks Unlimited committee, a fire-rescue member, served lunches at a drop-in centre and, for the past few years have dedicated time to various organizations in the Comox Valley. I love the new experiences to which I have been exposed and the wonderful people that I have met. This year I am pleased to sit as the Newcomers’ Alumnae secretary.

Treasurer – Anne Judson  (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
Born on the East Coast, and raised on the West. When I moved to BC as a child, we came to Courtenay. The next 50 years took me all over the province – Quesnel, Powell River, Victoria, Stewart, Vancouver, Nanaimo, and finally back to Courtenay. My husband Travis and I live on a hobby farm in Merville and enjoy the peaceful quiet of a rural life. My favourite things are hiking and reading, red wine and travel.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Membership Coordinator – Jennifer Blues (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2027)
I moved to the Comox Valley from Prince George with my husband Frank in June 2019. We lived in Prince George for 34 years, after making an earlier move from Scotland in 1981. In January 2019, we came to visit Courtenay for a week to check out the area and ended up buying a house! We quickly found a new community through the Newcomers’ Club, where I met some wonderful ladies who have become good friends.

Membership Coordinator Assistant – Gale Abello (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)
I was born in Vancouver but grew up in Courtenay. At the age of 19, I married and moved to Edmonton. After 4 cold winters, we moved back to the BC Coast. I had a successful career as an Investment Product Consultant working in downtown Vancouver. After retirement, my husband and I decided to return to the Comox Valley. In 2021, that dream came true. My days are filled with my two cats, walking, gardening, camping and downhill skiing. I am thrilled with all the activities that are offered through Newcomers’ and am thankful for the beautiful friendships I have made.

Activities Coordinator – Leslie Thurlborn  (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)
When I retired my husband and I moved to the Comox Valley. We moved around the province a lot for work and decided that Comox Valley would be a great place to come for retirement.

Most of my jobs were in the secretarial field which was easy to pick up and move again. Moving around a lot was always hard to make new friends everywhere so when I moved here and joined the Comox Valley Newcomers’ I was so happy to make new friends so fast. Now I am in the Alumnae and it just keeps getting better. I joined lots of the group activities that the Alumnae offer such as golfing, Hiking, Snowshoeing, Friday Walks, Appy nights, Brisk Walks etc.. When I was in Newcomers’ I was the Membership person along with my friend Shauna, and I helped convene the Brisk walk.

Communication Coordinator & Newsletter Assistant – Linda Rasmussen (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2027) 
Born and raised in Lethbridge AB, I was eager to see the bigger world. In my late teens and early 20s, I hitchhiked across Canada and traveled through most of South America. I settled in Edmonton for 34 years where I raised four children. I had an eclectic career in film production and distribution, in public health doing health promotion, and as a small business owner marketing legal services. Knowing that daffodils bloom on the West Coast in February, I always believed I would move here. In 2017, on impulse, my husband and I bought a condo in Comox overlooking the mountains. I joined CV Newcomers’ Club and was introduced to a fantastic group of women, new restaurants and pubs, and beautiful walks.

Newsletter Editor – Theresa Lepine (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)
I retired from teaching in 2019 and moved from Ontario to the Valley the following year.  Having spent my childhood in Australia I just needed to get back to live near the ocean.  My husband and I travelled often to the island over the years.  We knew we would eventually live here to enjoy the beauty and adventure it offers.  Loves:  walks by the ocean, hikes and snowshoeing on our mountain, kayaking, art , golf, games, good wine, good food, and fine company.

Webmaster – Roxane Lacroix  (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2027)
Originally from the province of Québec, I moved to Ontario then to B.C. a few years ago. I lived on the mainland for a few years and then moved to this beautiful Island, in the Comox Valley. I love outdoor activities (cycling, hiking, photography, gardening) but also quieter ones like reading, sewing…but I discovered a passion on the island for beachcombing. This island has so much to offer! Thanks to the Newcomer’s Alumnae, I also met some wonderful women, whom I now call friends.

Webmaster Assistant –  Christine Schnellert (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)

I grew up in the prairies enjoying the beautiful prairie sunsets. Ambition and career took me ‘down east’ where I worked as a systems consultant until my retirement. I had visited Courtenay in the summers for several years because my future husband lived here. It was not difficult for him to convince me to move. I am happy to be living back west and on this beautiful island where we golf year-round!

The Newcomers Club, and Alumnae Club, are such a blessing for all of us who moved here. Contributing my time and effort to the club serves as my expression of gratitude, and also provides an opportunity to continue to learn!

Hospitality Coordinator – Sara Strachan (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)
Born and raised in Victoria, BC, I later moved to Vancouver in my 20s, where I met my husband, who grew up in the Comox Valley. In 2019, we retired and returned to the Valley, embracing the outdoor lifestyle we love. I enjoy paddling sports, especially dragon boat and all the natural beauty the island offers. With four children and three grandchildren, most of our family is nearby, making it truly feel like home.

Hospitality Coordinator Assistant– Barbara Lewis  (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
I am a West Coast girl born and raised on the Lower Mainland. In 1980 moved to Oak Bay with my husband and 2 girls. Then in 2007, now on my own, I moved to Courtenay to be by one of my daughters and her family. Since retiring I have enjoyed lots of travelling and volunteering. I also enjoy the Newcomer Alumnae’s activities.

Life Events Coordinator – Sharon Fearn (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
Born and raised in Vancouver I spent many weekends and summers in Crescent Beach at our family cottage. My husband and I later built three homes in nearby Ocean Park where we raised our three children. I graduated from Vancouver Vocational College as a Medical Office Assistant and worked as secretary for the UBC Division of Neurosurgery at VGH for many years. I later co-managed the Ophthalmology clinic in White Rock for 20 years before retiring. My husband was in the relocation industry which took us to many beautiful worldwide locations. Our love of golf brought us to the island on numerous golfing holidays and the Comox area was always one of our favourite spots. Our oldest son and his family had settled in Courtenay in 2013 and when my husband passed away, it was an easy decision for me to move to the Comox Valley. When moving here in Covid year 2020, I joined the Newcomers Club and it was the best thing I ever did! Here I met such amazing women and am so blessed to have made many wonderful friends through this organization. Having lived in Oakville, Ontario and Christchurch, New Zealand I always knew I wanted to stay on BC’s west coast, living near the ocean. My loves are my family, my grandchildren, my dog, golf, friends, crafting, cards, cooking, reading and Maui.