2024/25 Board of Directors
While we try and teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about. - Angela Schwindt
LESLIE MITTON
HR Consultant
Chair, 3rd Year on the Board
Leslie grew up in Ontario, and moved to B.C. for what was planned to be a short adventure. Nearly 30 years later, with one adult child and two dogs, she is happy to call East Vancouver her home, and to be part of such a diverse and welcoming community. She has previous Board experience and hopes to bring that expertise to Mount Pleasant Family Centre Society. MPFCS plays such an important role for families in the community, and those new to the community, by creating connections and support that help parents and children thrive. Leslie has spent the majority of her career in various roles in human resources. She currently operates her own practice, specializing in helping organizations design and implement people programs. She loves staying active and can be found running, cycling and walking around the city.
"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today" - Will Rogers
ELIZABETH MAGAI
Business Admin/Accountant
Treasurer, 3rd Year on the Board
Elizabeth has lived in Vancouver for over 20 years and currently resides in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. She earned her master’s degree in Accountancy and has over two decades of accounting experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Elizabeth has spent the last 5 years working in the not for profit sector and is looking to start her own business as a financial coach. In her free time, she enjoys the sunshine, reading, practicing yoga, and spending time with the best dog ever, Pugsley. Elizabeth has spent years volunteering throughout the city and is excited to serve her community on the board of the Mount Pleasant Family Centre Society.
"We're all just walking each other home." - Ram Dass
HALEY HUNT-BRONDWIN
Freelance New Media Designer
Director, 1st Year on the Board
Haley works primarily with small businesses and arts organizations. She also works part time as a Communications Manager for a non-profit arts organization. Haley began attending the Family Centre Drop-in in 2022 when her daughter was 1. Over the last few years, Haley has benefited greatly from the programs and community the Family Centre provides and she is so grateful top the kind and caring staff at the centre who welcome her and her daughter each week. As a new board member Haley is looking forward to giving back to MPFCS and assisting in their important work supporting families in such a tender and important time in their lives. Haley is also a Visual Artist and a trained birth doula. She loves to learn, make art, and spend time outside with her family and friends hiking, swimming, sailing, and playing in the garden.
“I rise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world” - E.B. White
LAUREN FLORKO
Organizational Development Professional
Secretary, 3rd Year on the Board
As an aunt to 5 and an auntie to 12, Lauren Florko truly understands the expression “it takes a village”. She has a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and owns her company, Triple Threat Consulting. Her aim is to help organizations understand and engage their employees to create an environment where employees, organizations, and communities thrive. She was previously a board member and Vice President of the CoRe Conflict Resolution Society. Lauren is humbled and grateful that she is able to live and work on the unceded, shared traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking in the mountains and biking by the ocean.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." - Albert Einstein.
SARAH CHU
Marketing and Social Media Specialist
Director, 4th Year on the Board
Sarah Chu has been lucky to call Vancouver home her entire life, she grew up in False Creek and is now happily settled in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Sarah works as a Building Manager and also manages the social media of a media company. She is the mother of 2 wonderful little girls which is her favourite and most fulfilling role. She got involved with the Mount Pleasant Family Centre about a year ago by attending drop ins with her youngest daughter. Sarah was amazed to hear all the incredible work that the Centre was doing, from parenting workshops and discussing environmental issues to aiding refugee families. Sarah is excited to continue the spread of care and warmth by volunteering as a Board Member.