2016/17 Board
Melanie Osmack (President)
Professional Representative
Melanie Osmack is the founder and director of Fit 4 Two® Pre and Postnatal Fitness. She has been connecting new moms and moms-to-be through fitness since 2003. Melanie has a passion for developing teacher training programs, facilitating courses and presenting at conferences. She has served on the BCAPOP Board since 2015 and is the current board president. The skills she brings to the board include: leadership; marketing; strategic planning; project management; and pre & postnatal health and fitness expertise. Melanie lives in Vancouver with her two children and loves to cycle. You can contact her at melanie@fit4two.ca.
Liz Kahle (Vice President)
At-Large Representative
Liz Kahle is the Coordinator of Best for Babies with Abbotsford Community Services; she facilitates groups and provides outreach support. Liz developed a deep passion for supporting families while working at New Beginnings, a young parent school completion program and witnessing how education, support systems and community were so powerful and made an impact in these young families’ lives. Liz is passionate and intentional about sharing breastfeeding knowledge and connecting families to perinatal education, support and community. This is her second year sitting on the Board and she is inspired by all the experience the Board Members bring to the table. When Liz is not at work, she is spending time outdoors with her two daughters and husband in the Lower Mainland.
Jane Haywood-Farmer
Immediate Past President
Jane has worked as an Registered Nurse for the past 10 years. She has worked in a variety of healthcare environments including labour, delivery and post-partum, street nursing, pregnancy outreach and primary care. Jane currently works for Interior Health in a rural primary care clinic. Jane has served on the BCAPOP board of directors since 2013, currently as the BCAPOP Healthcare Professional Represntative.
Erin Smedley (Secretary)
Northern Representative
Sue Clarkson (Treasurer)
South-East Representative
Sue graduated from nursing with a perinatal specialty from Ryerson University in 1992 and moved west to live in the mountains. She has worked primarily in perinatal health, women’s health, sexual health and public health. Nursing has taken her to Mexico and Nepal where she helped train birthing attendants, taught HIV prevention and provided prenatal education to locals. She currently works as an RN with Bellies to Babies, as a casual Public Health Nurse, and as an RN Supervisor/Educator with Options for Sexual Health. Sue has served on the BCAPOP Board since 2012 as South East Representative and Treasurer. She is raising two boys in Fernie and loves biking and playing ukulele when she can find the time.
Michelle Querin
Interior Representative
Michelle Querin is from Baby’s Head Start in Kamloops. Working in a pregnancy outreach program allows her to support women to be their best selves. Her particular passion is the post natal period. Having suffered and survived two bouts of post partum depression helps her empathize with and support new moms. When she is not at work she is running around after her two children and trying to find a wee bit of time for herself outside on her skis or her bike.
Hanne Bruhwiler
Vancouver Island Representative
Originally from Denmark, Hanne has been living in Tofino on Vancouver Island since 2001 with her family. She has a BSc in Dietetics from the University of Copenhagen. Hanne has been the facilitator for a BCAPOP program since 2011, for both First Nations and non-First Nations' families. The Healthy Baby program is on reserve but is open to all families in their region. The program is unique as it serves families in their program until the child is three (3) years of age. Besides facilitating the Healthy Baby program once a week she is also a part of a bigger Maternal Child Health team and trained as a Birth- and Postpartum Doula. In addition to her work with perinatal women and their families she also works for the Aboriginal Infant Development and Supported Child Development Programs.
Helen Rex
Lower Mainland Representative
Helen has been with the Healthy Babies program since 2014. Previously she had worked as an Early Childhood Educator for over 20 years, starting her career in England before moving to Canada in 1992. Helen enjoys supporting women through their pregnancies and is a great believer in informed choice. Helen enjoys the variety that her work provides, particularly learning about child rearing from other cultures. Helen runs groups in Maple Ridge and the Tri-Cities area. She has served on the board since 2017. Helen is a mom to two teenagers and a Cocker Spaniel dog, she enjoys family walks and kayaks.
Adrienne Johnny
Aboriginal Funded Agency Representative
Wéytk Adrienne Johnny ren skwekwst. Hello my name is Adrienne Johnny, I am from the Secwepemc’ulecw Sxwetsmèllp IR #6. I am of Shuswap decent born and raised from Salmon Arm, BC. I have been working with Merritt Moms and Families since 2012 as a frontline worker and now I am the Prenatal Coordinator here at Conayt Friendship Society. I currently sit on the Board of Directors for BCAPOP as the Aboriginal Funded Agency Representative and I look forward to be a part of this wonderful opportunity.
Dawn Carignan
At-Large Representative
Dawn Carignan has lived in Williams Lake for 26 years raising her family. She is passionate about making a difference in the community. For Dawn, educating women to empower themselves and achieve success in their own lives is meaningful work. Her time spent at Pregnancy Outreach as an outreach worker has been challenging and rewarding. It has been the perfect opportunity to further develop her skills working in the social services profession. Her interests include health and nutrition, physical fitness, yoga, wellness and music.
