Leadership & Governance
As a member of the Young Adults workstream for the PES Revitalization Project, I participated in creating the Young Adult Mental Health Unit at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Financial Management
As a member of PIPES (Promoting Improvements in Psychiatric Emergency Services), I provide input on what to ask for during grant writing opportunities by identifying current needs and ensuring past recommendations are maintained.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills
‍Delivered an oral presentation to provide context for the PIPES poster at the Putting Patients First Conference in 2024.

Monitoring and Evaluating
As a member of the Patient Experience workstream for the PES Project, I participated in exploring the best ways to ask people with lived or living experience to provide feedback on their interactions with acute mental health services.

As a member of PIPES, I regularly request updates on past decisions to ensure sustained change.

Community Engagement
As a member of the Community Partnerships workstream for the PES Project, I focused on creating clear pathways back into the community for people upon discharge, including accessing sources-of-support documents for patients and caregivers.

PIPES work has involved patient-centred research addressing determinants of health.

Committee Member, PES Revitalization Project & PIPES, Island Health
2021 - present

Putting Patients First Conference 2024

“Jennifer possesses both a methodical approach to synthesizing complex information and a passion to making improvements. She is a pleasure to work alongside in this challenging field!”

- Clara Rubincam, PhD, Island Health

Demonstrated skills: Trauma-Informed Practice, Mental Health Advocacy, Community Engagement, Risk Management, Collective Care

Leadership & Governance
Supported the Literacy Outreach Coordinator in identifying opportunities for the annual Literacy Plan.

Designed and implemented Westshore’s Literacy Week events in 2025 and 2026. 2025 was a foundational event with relationships formed with GVPL and the Colwood Fire Department.

Operational & Program Management
Planned the Literacy Week events with the GVPL, ensuring that activities aligned and complemented one another. I represented both organizations as the operational leader of the events.

Financial Management
Advised on the use of public funds related to literacy goals in the region, including addressing budget carryovers.

Colwood’s Citizen Representative, Sooke/Westshore Literacy Task Group
2023 - 2026

Ren (LOC) and me at the 2025 Literacy Week event.

“Working with Jennifer has been an amazing experience. She leads with passion, close attention to detail and a desire to maximize every opportunity. Her empathic approach is one that can easily be admired.”

- Ren Louie

Mental Health Advocacy

  • Actively advocating for improved mental health services since 2016 with a focus on trauma-informed practices and dedicated mental health services for young adults.

  • In 2018, accompanied my then 18-year-old, who spoke with Minister Judy Darcy about the gaps in the mental health system and their impacts. We were part of a stakeholder engagement process to help inform her 2019 document: A Pathway to Hope. The meeting was facilitated by Mitzi Dean, who was our MLA and with whom we had a personal connection.

Volunteering

  • Volunteer work as a young adult included weekly visits with a senior and a year with Victoria Hospice.

  • Became a Big Sister for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Victoria in 1994.

Kyla and me at her wedding in 2022.

“To try and sum up my adoration for Jen feels nearly impossible. I met Jen when I was 10 years old through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Association. When the big brothers or sisters sign up for this program you are meant to provide mentorship to a child or adolescent through volunteer work. Jen surpassed this role and took it beyond what I could have imagined. Throughout my youth, young adulthood, and even to this day, Jen has been not only a mentor to me, but my big sister, best friend, and mother. This is just who Jen is. She puts all her efforts and love into whatever she sets her mind to. She is intelligent, compassionate, creative, and dedicated. Anyone who has the pleasure of being in Jen’s life, is truly better off for it.”

 - Kyla LaBonte