Board of Directors

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Brett Marchant

Board Chair

Senior Policy Advisor, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

  • A member of the Inner Hope community since 2012, Brett has served as a volunteer, mentor, and two-term board member—each role a “cherished and fulfilling” part of his journey. He is a proud member of Peguis First Nation (Manitoba) and has devoted his career to advancing Indigenous rights and fostering relationship-based reconciliation across communities, institutions, and all levels of government. Brett now lives in Gibsons, BC, on the beautiful traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). In his spare time, you’ll likely find him with a strong cup of coffee in hand, or wandering the forest trails with his family.

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Rebecca Janke (RSW, MSW)

Board Vice Chair

Social Worker, Provincial Health Authority, Sunny Hill Health Centre, Sunrise Family Services

  • Rebecca Janke is a Registered Social Worker and parent consultant with over 25 years of experience supporting families in building healthy attachment relationships. A committed member of Granville Chapel, she has served 12 years on its leadership board and spent 6 years on Inner Hope’s Board, reflecting her passion for community and relational ministry. Rebecca works at Sunny Hill Health Centre with children facing complex developmental needs and supports adoptive families through Sunrise Family Services. She is joyfully married and a proud mother of two young adult children who bring laughter and humility to her life.

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Karen Giesbrecht

Secretary

Dietitian, St. Paul's Hospital

  • Registered dietitian with a particular interest in mental health, strong communities, good stories, and real food. She works with several community food programs in Vancouver, and is a long time friend of the Inner Hope community.

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Mary Lum (CPA, CA)

Treasurer

Retired Chartered Professional Accountant

  • ​Recently retired from a career in both the public practice and the not for profit accounting spaces, Mary is now pursuing her vocation within the space of wisdom circles, where one cultivates and nurtures one’s own wise inner teacher. She has a soft spot for upstream, grassroots organizations and places like Inner Hope, having homeschooled with her now adult sons and supported young single parent moms and families in various ways. Her love for nourishing extends to the soil in her “wild” garden and the souls of those around her through her contemplative spiritual practices. One day, she hopes to nourish her own soul on a Camino de Santiago pilgrimage!

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Patricia Victor Switametelót

Member at Large

Director, Institute of Indigenous Issues & Perspectives, and Chair, Indigenous Partnership Council, TWU

  • Patricia is Stó:lō, living on the traditional ancestral unceded territory of Xwchíy:óm First Nation. Her ancestral name is Switametelót.  She serves as pastor within Stó:lō territory and Siyá:m at Trinity Western University (TWU). The word Siyá:m is  Halq’emeylem, the upriver dialect of the Stó:lō people and describes a respected leader who generously shares their gift with others. Teaching Stó:lō worldview, values and culture across disciplines and providing learning opportunities for TWU community to understand Indigenous perspectives in education, spirituality, community, history and reconciliation is part of her role at TWU. She is the chair of Indigenous Partnership Council and director of Institute of Indigenous Issues and Perspectives. Patricia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Theology degree at Summit Pacific and Master of Arts in Leadership at Trinity Western University. She is currently studying for a Doctor of Ministry degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

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Amanda Seymour

Member at Large

Indigenous Student Recruitment Coordinator, SFU

  • Amanda's father is Haudenosaunee, and her mother is Anishinaabe. She is registered on her father's side with the Mohawks of Akwesasne along the St. Lawrence River in Ontario. She has lived in BC since 2008 and calls Vancouver home. She first crossed paths with Inner Hope in her first year of university by receiving a scholarship and then, the following summer, joining the team as the summer intern student. Since then, she has volunteered and worked within Inner Hope in many ways. In her twenties, Amanda gave her life to Jesus and has experienced freedom and joy in her faith as well as her culture. She holds the tension of reconciliation closely to her heart, knowing that the church body is frail but the Lord is steady. Through her work, she travels all across BC supporting Indigenous students in applying to post-secondary education. This summer, she re-entered the powwow circle for the first time since childhood with her first jingle dress, which she made, as well as Fancy Regalia that was gifted to her by her sister.

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Rebekah Bansback

Member at Large

Senior HR Business Partner, Deloitte & Certified Coach, International Coaching Federation

  • Newer to the work of Inner Hope, but inspired by its mission of hope, belonging and growth, Becky has spent her career in Human Resources focused on people and helping them reach their potential. Outside of work she enjoys hiking, travel and food with family and friends. She lives in Vancouver with her husband Nick and 2 boys.

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Lydia Kinnie

Member at Large

​Burnaby Village Museum, Museum Interpreter on the Indigenous Learning Team

  • Having grown up in an Indigenous home, Lydia is thankful for her Sugpiaq/Alutiiq roots in the Chugach and Eyak regions of the Prince William Sound in Alaska. Newly introduced to the heart  & mission of Inner Hope, Lydia is looking forward to seeing how the Creator plans to walk in a good way with this community family in East Vancouver. Married to her husband Brad for over 28 years, they are parents to three young adults, one being a recent son-in-love (and they are eagerly looking forward to having a daughter-in-love in the near future)! You can find Lydia in and about coffee shops in the GVA where she enjoys sipping hot drinks and having essential talks about the heart of our Creator. In fact, she would love to have a coffee with you! Feel free to reach out and set up a time to sip and chat in a good way together!