Our network is entirely volunteer-led. Here are the good people who have taken on leadership of our organization for this year.
At our Annual General Meeting each year we elect our leadership group. The elected Board then reviews roles and tasks and self-organizes around various functions and projects.
It’s easy to get involved – contact us and get in touch!
Board of Directors
Here’s our 2022-23 Board of Directors:
Isabella Lee
Isabella (Bella) has lived in Victoria her entire life. With a passion for making her community a better, more vibrant livable place- joining the board of Victoria Placemakers was an easy fit. She brings a decade of experience of community and political organizing. Bella works for the Provincial Government, and volunteers as a leader for the Girls Guides of Canada. In her spare time she enjoys baking, and a good romance book. She is excited to hit the ground running!
Jessica Hum (Communications)
Jessica lives in the Fairfield/Ross Bay neighbourhood. She is dedicated to building communities which are more fair, equitable and just. For play, Jessica enjoys exploring Greater Victoria through all her favourite human-powered transportation activities: walking, cycling, kayak and swimming. Jessica’s planning practice explores decolonizing research through the written, oral and podcast forms of Story-telling/Story-listening. Through innovative ways of connecting, Jessica remains passionate about making positive and creative changes in the places we call home.
Jim LaMorte (Secretary/Treasurer)
Jim brings an Urban Planning background and 40 years of consulting in emergency preparedness to the GVPN. He loves projects that turn public spaces into places where strangers can get to know each other, breaking the barriers between social silos. After growing up in Los Angeles, he is dedicated to repairing the damage done to communities by worshipping the car. Among many people and texts of inspiration, the book “Happy City” by Charles Montgomery continues to offer guidance. Jim has contributed to several GVPN projects, including boulevard gardens, street paintings, block parties, and building portable street furniture. Jim enjoys living in and building the North Jubilee neighbourhood.
Jonathan Bleackley
(Info Coming Soon)
Kris Nichols (Vice President)
Kris is a registered community planner with close to 30 years experience working for 3 levels of government (municipal, regional and provincial) across BC. He lives in the District of Oak Bay with his wife, daughter, and small dog. He has been active volunteering in his community since he moved there about 16 years ago. He has volunteered for several District committees and commissions during this time and is a Director with the Community Association of Oak Bay. He enjoys cycling, paddling and running and whenever possible hikes in woods with family.
Lehran Hache
Lehran is a Landscape Architect with over ten years experience leading public park design and construction. She loves creating opportunities for all-ages play in urban environments, and hopes to one day get a sidewalk trampoline in Victoria! She is also passionate about natural systems restoration and the joy of seeing our animal friends return to re-wilded spaces.
Lehran was born and raised in Victoria, and has recently moved back to start a family and enjoy the island pace of life from her Fairfield home.
Molly Rose
Molly first discovered the power of places while living in Berlin, Germany. Enchanted by the energy, the creativity, and the sense of possibility that oozed from every park, bridge and street corner, she was inspired to pursue a 4Cities Euro-Master degree in Urban Studies. She now works as a community planning consultant in Victoria. Disgruntled by the lack of street life and prioritization of cars, Molly is keen to help create a more active and engaging urban environment. She contributes to a number of placemaking initiatives including co-chairing the City of Victoria’s 2021 Participatory Budgeting process, advising local churches to animate unused lands, and coordinating a mural project for a Vic West greenway.
Ray Straatsma (President)
Ray has over 15 years experience as a consultant and advocate for walkable and bike-friendly cities. As Principal with RStreets Urban Strategies, Ray provides advisory services and design expertise – from concept to communication to implementation – on active transportation and complete streets planning.Ray also provides specialized skills in public engagement, strategic communications, research and writing services. Ray values collaborative approaches to urban planning, public engagement and the art of the possible. Ray lives in Saanich.
Susan Martin
Susan is a lifelong learner who takes her lessons not only from academia but from the people, places and nature she encounters every day as she gets around her neighbourhood and city on foot or transit. Since October 2020 she has been helping to support those sheltering in Victoria’s parks and wants to see placemaking enhance public spaces for everyone, not just those lucky enough to have a home in the ‘nice’ part of town. Susan is also deeply concerned about climate change and believes that in walkable, welcoming and human-scaled neighbourhoods people will have lower emission lifestyles not because they are consciously deciding to do so but because it just makes sense and is safe, easy and less expensive to bike, walk or roll rather than using a car.
