Our Team

Board of Directors

The SOS Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of SOS. All of the Board members are volunteers, and are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.

The SOS Leadership team below includes the Board of Directors and the Executive Director.

Board of Directors

The SOS Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of SOS. All of the Board members are volunteers, and are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
The SOS Leadership team below includes the Board of Directors and the Executive Director.

Paul Ruffell

CHAIR

Paul Ruffell was born and raised in the United Kingdom, where he received his engineering degree. He came to Canada in 1981 and worked in the Arctic for a decade. He became president and CEO of an engineering consulting firm based in Western Canada and eventually led an Infrastructure group with 3,500 staff across Canada. He has served on several not-for-profit boards. Paul moved to Qualicum Beach in 2015 and lives there with his wife Christine, who also volunteers for SOS. He was elected to the SOS Board in 2017.

Andrea (Andy) Manson

VICE CHAIR

Andy relocated to beautiful Parksville after retiring from her 30-year career operating a successful private nursing business in the lower mainland. She believes in the importance of volunteerism and giving back to her community, which she defines in the larger sense. Her community includes her professional community, the community where she lives and the community of the charitable sector. As a relative newcomer to the region, she brings her varied experience and “superpowers” to the community – “fresh” eyes, a sense of curiosity, a willingness to learn, to work hard, and a sense of humour. Andy was elected to the SOS Board in 2021.

Brandon Charlesworth

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Brandon was raised in the Comox Valley and completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) – Accounting Concentration in Nanaimo. He moved to Vancouver to continue his career, completing his Certified General Accountant (CGA) designation there. He and his wife Marni moved back to Vancouver Island in 2016 and Brandon became a partner at Robbins & Company, CPA’s. Outside of work, Brandon enjoys spending time outdoors with Marni and their son Nolan. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Nanaimo Oceanside, and is thrilled to be working with SOS to continue serving our community. Brandon was elected to the SOS Board in 2021.

Brenda Charles

DIRECTOR

Brenda immigrated from Scotland with her parents as a baby to the Fraser Valley and grew up on a dairy farm. She moved to the Yukon where she lived for 37 years, raised her family, earned her Bachelor of Social Work, and worked in the health care field for the Yukon government and home care programs for 27 years. Throughout her life, Brenda has volunteered for organizations such as Scouts, Arctic Winter Games, and the Restorative Justice and Diversion Program for Youth. Since moving to the Island in 2016, Brenda has volunteered at the Qualicum Beach Seniors Centre and is excited to be on the Board of Directors for SOS. Brenda was elected to the SOS Board in 2024.

Lorne Clarkson

DIRECTOR

Lorne was raised in Surrey and Abbotsford and ventured to Fort Nelson and Fort St. John to work in the oil and gas industry in the ’70s. Lorne was a volunteer firefighter in Abbotsford and transitioned to fire service employment. In 1994, Lorne joined the Office of the Fire Commissioner as a Codes and Standards Coordinator/Fire Safety Officer until 2005 when he started a trailer sales and rental business. Lorne retired in 2023 and began volunteering with SOS Youth Open Space program. Lorne enjoys spending time with his family and has a passion for travelling, fishing, exercising, cooking, and philanthropy, and is thrilled to work with SOS. Lorne was elected to the SOS Board in 2024.

Mike Cochrane

DIRECTOR

Mike was born in Powell River and completed grade school in Port Alberni. He moved to Ontario to attend university and worked in the grocery industry. He opened New Leaf Whole Foods in Parksville in 1980 and started a family, having a girl and two boys. He was on the Oceanside Youth Soccer Board where he was president from 1996 to 2014. He was also on the Baseball Board and co-founded the District 69 Sports Council. His aunt (SOS co-founder Edith Chamberlayne) convinced him to join the SOS Board in 1986 which he continued with for 10 years. Mike closed his food store in 2014 and now works in renovation and home maintenance. He enjoys spending time with his two grandchildren and his family. Mike was re-elected to the SOS Board in 2021.

Karen Corkery

DIRECTOR

Karen Corkery retired from the federal government after a 32-year career in the departments of Finance and Industry. In the final three years of her career, Karen was the Executive Director of a new unit she created to modernize the way Canada procures military equipment in order to generate greater economic benefits for Canada. Karen relocated to Qualicum Beach upon retirement where she resides with her husband and mother. She has volunteered in varying capacities for SOS over the past several years and enjoys giving back to the community through her work on the Board. Karen has two children and enjoys hiking with her Labrador Retriever. She was elected to the SOS Board in 2022.

Andrew Lane

DIRECTOR

Andrew Lane was born in Yorkshire, UK, and came to Canada as a teenager. He received his degree in political science and history from the University of Calgary. He worked as a manager for the federal government with Human Resources and Skill Development Canada with a focus on employment programs. Based in Victoria, he co-chaired the Victoria Homelessness Committee and worked with indigenous groups across Vancouver Island. Once retired, he moved to Pender Island and volunteered with the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue unit as well as the Canadian Legion. He and his partner moved to Qualicum Beach in 2022. Andrew was elected to the SOS Board in 2023.

Moira Rosser

DIRECTOR

Originally from Toronto, Moira Rosser and her Vancouver-born husband relocated to Qualicum Beach in September 2020. Moira retired in 2022 from a long career in marketing communications. The last 24 years of her career were focused on financial services marketing. Prior to that, she worked for a small marketing research firm, for a non-profit organization in the environmental field, and in broadcast news and cable television. She was a founding board member of a Toronto choir, she is a board member of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association, and she is a member of 100+ Women Who Care Oceanside. She and her husband spend their personal time expanding their vocal jazz standards repertoire. Moira was elected to the SOS Board in 2023.

Bonnie Wallis

DIRECTOR

Bonnie relocated to Parksville in 1990 with her family.  She earned her accounting degree in 2003 and has an accounting office in Parkville.  Bonnie has enjoyed volunteering with a number of local organizations, usually as Treasurer. Her daughter and family live in Comox and she has two lovely little granddaughters with whom she enjoys playing. She also enjoys swimming, hiking and yoga. Bonnie was appointed Secretary-Treasurer of the SOS Board in 2017 until 2020, and rejoined the SOS Board in 2022.

Susanna Newton

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Susanna has worked most of her career in the non-profit sector and has been with SOS for over 30 years. She worked in multiple positions at SOS before becoming Assistant Executive Director, and took the reins as Executive Director in January 2018. Susanna was born and raised in Finland and moved to England in 1984, where she worked for a Housing Society on the Isle of Wight. She immigrated to Canada in 1992 with her husband and they landed in Coombs as “butterfly breeders” in the family business.

250-248-2093
sos@sosd69.com
245 Hirst Avenue West

PO BOX 898 Parksville, BC V9P2G9

Charitable Number: 107021537RR0001

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