Meet Our Team

At Nanaimo Community Hospice, our team is dedicated to guiding our mission of providing compassionate care and support to those in need. With diverse backgrounds and a shared commitment to excellence, our leaders work tirelessly to ensure our services make a meaningful impact in the community. Get to know the individuals who drive our vision and lead us in making a difference every day.

Sharon Welch

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I have enjoyed serving in leadership and management positions within the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors throughout my career. My Masters of Arts in Leadership and Training degree, along with the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources designation, has helped me expand my knowledge in leading organizations to new levels of success. I have extensive experience in community development; bringing partners together to create new opportunities is one of my passions. I am committed to our caring staff team, our incredible volunteers, and the courageous clients we serve through compassionate and collaborative leadership. I am truly honored to be an integral part of the NCHS team.
Bonnie Ross

PROGRAMS MANAGER
I come to NCHS with 12 years of Hospice experience. I spent most of those years in Edmonton where I played a role in the building of Edmonton’s first free-standing Hospice. My background in nursing and experience in program development and volunteer coordination, including developing positive Hospice culture, helps me lead with a solid understanding of all of the facets of non-profit service provision in partnership with a complex healthcare system. I am looking forward to contributing to the growth and development of NCHS through forward collaborative teamwork and compassionate person-centered care.
Tiffany Lang

THRIFT SHOPPE MANAGER
I come to NCHS with more than 20 Years of Retail and Volunteer Leadership, in a range of settings including Corporate & Private Retail, Not-for-Profit, Not-for-Profit Thrift, and Entrepreneurship. Running the Social Enterprise for NCHS aligns with my passion for providing positive leadership, fostering relationships, and creating and building community. Being raised in Nanaimo and utilizing the Nanaimo Hospice Services during my own personal grief journey brought the awareness of how important and integral we are for the community at large. I am committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for our volunteers, staff, clients, and customers while also raising as much money as we can so that the NCHS team can support the community to the best of our ability.
Debbie Perry

OFFICE MANAGER
My Career has always been in Administration. After staying home to raise my daughter, I had the opportunity to work t NCHS and have not looked back since. What keeps me here are the people that I see day in and day out: the staff, volunteers and clients. The energy and compassion that flows thoughout the walls of hospice feed my soul. It is truly my safe space, and who could ask for anything more than that.
Erin Finnerty

VOUNTEER COORDINATOR
Having spent the past 25 years in Retail Management, coming to Nanaimo Community Hospice is my second and most meaningful career. I bring extensive experience working with volunteers in community based organizations and corporate partners. My love of volunteers and working with them lead me to Vancouver Island University, where I recently graduated with honours from the Event Management Certificate Program. Being able to find a way to combine my love of volunteerism and working with the incredible volunteers at Nanaimo Hospice is a dream. I look forward to continuing to build our volunteer community with meaningful heart centered opportunities.
Sydney Hunt

EVENTS COORDINATOR
I am excited to serve as the Events Coordinator for Nanaimo Community Hospice. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master's in Management from the University of Victoria, I combine creativity with strategic planning. My background in non-profit administration and development, along with managerial experience across Western Canada, equips me to make a meaningful impact. The work we do at Nanaimo Community Hospice is deeply fulfilling and enriching, and I am passionate about contributing to our fundraising efforts. Seeing the impact our events have on community is rewarding; I am dedicated to supporting our mission and community.
Shannon Farahbakhsh

INTAKE COORDINATOR
Before coming to NCHS in 2006 I worked in long term care and as a caregiver support group facilitator and providing one to one support to family caregivers on behalf of the Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society. Throughout that time, I also volunteered with the Cowichan Valley Hospice Society working one on one with clients. My favourite part of this work continues to be the people – staff, volunteers and clients. I feel heartened by the depth of commitment and compassion that each of our staff and volunteers have for this work. The resilience of our clients humbles me.
Amy Tan

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSITANT
I am passionate about my part-time work at Hospice House, assisting with client intake, wellness programs, and administrative support. My background includes roles as a 911 police dispatcher, admin support in the Canadian Forces, and managing VIU’s Behavioural Neuroscience Lab. I'm a volunteer with a local free food market and NCHS on the PCU. I have an Honours BSc. in Psychology and a Certificate in Addiction studies from VIU, a BA in Anthropology from McMaster University, End-of-Life Doula certification from Douglas College, and am currently working towards my Master of Social Work with Wilfred Laurier University. Married with four children, I enjoy knitting, hiking, reading, and have a passion for hospice and community service.
Lynne MacFadgen

COUNSELLOR
I have been working as a Bereavement Counsellor at Nanaimo Community Hospice for the past two years. I joined our amazing team of staff and volunteers after completing a very rewarding clinical placement on the NRGH Palliative Care Unit (as part of my Clinical Psycho-spiritual Education Certification). I see my role as walking alongside bereaved and dying clients to help “soften” their grief and suffering by creating a safe space for them to express their feelings and emotions, tap their inner strength and wisdom, and regain a sense of meaning and purpose.
Suzannah Mills

COUNSELLOR
I joined this esteemed and dedicated team of Hospice people two years ago and feel privileged every day to walk through the doors. The first 35 years of my career were as a registered massage therapist. Alongside that work there always existed an abiding interest in the wholeness and holiness of this human journey. Now, as a bereavement counsellor I accompany clients on their grief journey, helping them discover their own authentic processes and meaning.
Jim Nelson

COUNSELLOR
I am an educator who has worked with learners from infancy through college. I founded, taught in, and administrated a Montessori school for 30 years. A friend allowed me to companion him as he succumbed to cancer. This relationship opened the door to supporting bereaved and terminally ill persons at Nanaimo Hospice.
Bronte Pike

CHILD AND YOUTH COUNSELLOR
I came to NCHS three years ago to complete my finial practicum of my degree in Child and Youth Care. It was an easy decision to stay with the organization after graduating and I am privileged to be part of the amazing team of staff and volunteers. I am honored to be able to support children and youth navigating grief and loss. I continue to grow and learn from those I meet and hold space for their personal experiences.

Nanaimo Community Hospice Board of Directors

Wendy Smitka

PRESIDENT
I am honoured to be serving as a Director, and President, of Nanaimo Community Hospice Society. My partner and I sold our business in 2008, which freed me to work on my passions instead of a pay cheque. I have served on numerous boards and committees, including Literacy Central Island, TheatreOne, and have spent 20 years with the Community Futures Network, including time as Provincial Chair, and National Chair. I reside in Lantzville with my spouse Brock and our very spoiled dog Willie. I am humbled by the commitment and compassion of Hospice staff and many volunteers. I believe it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to support each other through loss and dying.
Paul Smith

VICE-PRESIDENT
My background is in the construction and concrete industries. I was responsible for project estimating, project scheduling, and overall management. I have served on the Nanaimo Community Hospice Board of Directors for a total of eight years, three of which were in the role of Vice-President. I currently volunteer at the Hospice Thrift Shoppe in addition to working with clients.
Marilyn Ostercamp

SECRETARY
I have lived in Nanaimo for 16 years and prior to that always in Alberta. While in Alberta, I was a career banker and was involved with many volunteer projects, including Food Bank and non-profit organizations for hard-to-house and mental health groups. I have previously been a member of the Nanaimo Community Hospice Board. I look forward to being able to again contribute as a member of this valued organization and am thankful for the opportunity to do so.
Ron Tomlin

TREASURER
I am retired from the Royal Bank, where I was Area Manager Central Vancouver Island. I have resided in Nanaimo for the past 26 years. Originally from Victoria BC, I have worked and lived in Montreal, Ottawa, Burlington, and Vancouver. I hold my undergraduate degree in Commerce and Economics from Simon Fraser University. I am a Fellow in the Institute of Canadian Bankers. I also served as Past President of the Port Theatre Society and Past Treasurer of the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation. For the past 8 years, I have volunteered at the Hospice Thrift Shoppe. I met my wife Alice at one of the grief groups at Hospice House. Hospice is very special to me.
Dr. Lindsay Eggen

BOARD MEMBER
I am a family physician currently practicing mostly palliative care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Nanaimo community, and occasionally covering Oceanside community and Trillium Hospice. I am originally from Edmonton, Alberta and completed a Bachelor of Science Major in Nutritional Sciences form the University of Edmonton in 2002. I worked as a Registered Dietitian for 8 years in BC and Alberta before going to medical school at the University of Calgary. I moved to Nanaimo with my husband Ben in 2017 and completed family practice residency, where I experienced the wonderful Palliative Care Program here and haven’t left! Since then we’ve added Colby (4 years old) and Polly (3 years old) to our family. Our dog Edgar is almost 16 years old, very deaf, but a beloved family member.
Jeanne Fahlman

BOARD MEMEBER
I began my 35-year not-for-profit career in Alberta before starting my journey with Nanaimo Community Hospice when I joined the Board in 2006. In 2010, I transitioned into a staff position as Development Officer and quickly began working on our Capital Campaign. After a meaningful and rewarding career, I retired in June of 2021 and was able to take several years to slow down, do some traveling, and take time for family. I am excited to rejoin my Hospice family and give back by serving on the Board once again. On a personal note, my husband and I have two children, two grandchildren and a two-year-old labradoodle, Jolene, who is training to join me with her own volunteer work as a therapy dog.
Jon Lampman

BOARD MEMBER
I am a retired lawyer. We moved to Canada in 1968 and bought property near Nanaimo in 1969 with two other couples, together raising 7 children, numerous grandchildren and a Noah’s Ark of animals. I taught politics and history at Malaspina College since 1970, practiced law in Nanaimo since 1980 and have been involved in many local activities, organizations and boards. I have been a “Friend of Hospice” and a Lifetime Member. Lynn and I have been married since 1968. Lynn worked as a physiotherapist at Nanaimo Hospital since 1970 and is a longtime Hospice volunteer.
Laura McKinnon

BOARD MEMBER
I understand and recognize the impact exemplary end-of-life/death care has on the community as a whole. Captivated by the funeral service profession, I began my interest when I was young being exposed at a friend’s family funeral home. It was there I saw the profession from another side and knew in my heart this was my calling. Later I completed my education and apprenticeship becoming a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. Having previous employment, as well as business ownership experience in the service industry, I bring a background in corporate finance that has given me a solid understanding of day-to-day business operations, fiscal frameworks, risk management, recruitment/evaluation and long-term objective planning. Naturally, this led me into a leadership role where I now proudly manage Sands Funeral Chapel and Crematorium in Nanaimo. We cannot stop death from happening, but we can treat the deceased and their loved ones as if they were our own loved one, and we can companion the bereaved and help launch their grief in a healthy manner.
Janet Skinner

BOARD MEMBER
My husband and I moved from Edmonton to Nanaimo in Fall 2012. I retired from my position as an Assistant Deputy Minister after 32 years with the Government of Alberta (30 years with Alberta Health and 2 years with Service Alberta). Once retired, we spent several summers sailing along the BC coast and camping. We also visit our son, daughter-in-law and very dear friends in Alberta as often as we can. We adopted an 8-week-old mini-labradoodle (Beau) in late 2021, and in June 2023 joined the very rewarding St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program. For 2 years I was a member of the Ladysmith Maritime Society Board of Directors, and for 6 years I volunteered on the Board of Directors with the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society.