About CVTS

Founded in 1987 by a group of caring members of our community who were concerned that women in abusive relationships had nowhere to go.

From that time until 1992, CVTS operated as a safe home network, where local families voluntarily took women escaping violence and their children into their own homes.

In 1992, we turned vision into reality when we purchased and opened Lilli House, a large, comfortable home with eleven beds in six bedrooms situated in a quiet residential neighbourhood that provided a safe, confidential space for women fleeing violence and their children. That same year we started the 24-hour Crisis Line and received funding to begin our Stopping The Violence and PEACE (formerly Children Who Witness Abuse) Counselling Programs, which we’ve been offering ever since.

In 1999, CVTS began providing detox services and in 2015, we opened Amethyst House – a twelve bed social detox and supportive recovery home for women overcoming substance use issues, providing yet another level of support for women in our community.

For more than 30 years, CVTS services have grown and continued to fill an important need in the Comox Valley.

We offer Outreach Services for women, children and families who are unsheltered or struggling through poverty; we partner with the RCMP to provide Victim Services to those individuals who are victims of crime; working with the Comox Valley Coalition To End Homelessness, we operate and manage the CONNECT Warming Centre; and we offer several supportive and educational groups for girls, men, and grandparents raising grandchildren.

Meet Our Board

CVTS is governed by a dynamic Board of Directors, each of whom brings expertise that fosters good governance of the organization and a commitment to support women, children and families in the Comox Valley through the effective delivery of CVTS services.

Jan Adams

Jan Adams

Janice Thorburn

Janice Thorburn

Christy Faraher-Amidon

Christy Faraher-Amidon

Sharon Farquharson

Sharon Farquharson

Nancy Bock

Nancy Bock

Ingrid Brown

Ingrid Brown

Marcie Dumais

Marcie Dumais

Robert Wolfe

Robert Wolfe

Meredith Martin

Meredith Martin

Diane Naugler

Diane Naugler

Jan Adams

President

Jan (She/Her) is a retired Public Health Nurse of 35 years with education and training in leadership, adult education, women’s health and community development. Jan has served on several other non-profit boards in northern B.C. and the Comox Valley, and has been on the CVTS Board since 2004.

Janice Thorburn

Treasurer

Janice (She/Her) is an accountant who has been practicing in the field for over 25 years. She was involved in Rotary for about 15 years and is excited to share her financial expertise as part of the CVTS Board of Directors. Janice is committed to furthering the CVTS vision of a community of people who are respected, safe and supported.

Christy Faraher-Amidon

Secretary

Christy (She/Her) is a retired Speech-Language Pathologist who has worked with individuals with special needs across the age span. She brings experience in program management as well as governance with the Boards of the College of Speech and Hearing BC and Atira Transition Society in Surrey, BC. She came to the Comox Valley in 2015 and joined the Board as a Director in 2019, eager to continue and advance the powerful work of CVTS.

Sharon Farquharson

Director

Sharon (She/Her) has been a Social Worker in the Comox Valley for over 25 years. Her work has centered on building family capacity and helping children reach their full potential. She joined the CVTS Board in 2003 and is committed to the values and mission of CVTS.

Nancy Bock

Director

Nancy (She/Her) is a retired clinical counselor who has lived and worked in the Comox Valley for 30 years. Her professional practice focused on the needs of children, women, and families. Nancy is happy to bring her experience with mental health services and with community consultation and development to the CVTS Board.

Ingrid Brown

Director

Rev. Ingrid Brown (She/Her), BFA, MDiv. is the lead minister at Weird Church, a non-traditional community in the United Church of Canada.Her passion for supporting women and children seeking shelter and support and those struggling with substance abuse started in college. She has been working with Avalon Centres, women’s treatment centers and recovery houses, and other transitional and support spaces since

Marcie Dumais

Diectory

Marcie (She/Her) is a non-profit management professional with over a decade of experience working in fund development, research, project management, communications, and community engagement. She loves the Comox Valley and its people. Nothing makes her happier than seeing how we lift one another up and how we come together to make this community better. Marcie is honoured to sit on the board and to support the exceptional work of the CVTS team.

Robert Wolfe

Director

Rob (He/Him) started his career in 1978 with one of the largest European asset managers. He specialized in estate and retirement planning and in 1994, was promoted to Office Manager. In the U.K., Rob was highly qualified in his field and achieved “chartered status.” Rob’s commitment to the investment business led him to Odlum Brown, attracted by its independence, solid long-term track record, and reputation in the industry that is second to none.

Meredith Martin

Directors

Meredith (She/Her) has Coast Salish ancestry with the Snuneymux Nation. She is a retired clinical Counsellor. She worked for Child and Youth Mental Health as an aboriginal outreach clinician and for Island Health as an eating disorder therapist. She co-facilitates Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village, an experiential workshop that brings understanding of the impact of Residential Schools and colonization on Indigenous peoples.

Diane Naugler

Director

Diane (They/Them) is the Executive Director of Future Students and Community Engagement at North Island College and the Executive Director of the North Island College Foundation. They bring twenty-five years of experience in post-secondary education and a diverse history of volunteer, no-profit and advocacy experience to their role as a director. Diane has called the Comox Valley home for eight years. Diane is an advocate for social justice, equity and inclusion. They joined the CVTS Board in 2023.

Jan Adams

President

Jan (She/Her) is a retired Public Health Nurse of 35 years with education and training in leadership, adult education, women’s health and community development. Jan has served on several other non-profit boards in northern B.C. and the Comox Valley, and has been on the CVTS Board since 2004.

Janice Thorburn

Treasurer

Janice (She/Her) is an accountant who has been practicing in the field for over 25 years. She was involved in Rotary for about 15 years and is excited to share her financial expertise as part of the CVTS Board of Directors. Janice is committed to furthering the CVTS vision of a community of people who are respected, safe and supported.

Christy Faraher-Amidon

Secretary

Christy (She/Her) is a retired Speech-Language PathologIst who has worked with individuals with special needs across the age span. She brings experience in program management as well as governance with the Boards of the College of Speech and Hearing BC and Atira Transition Society in Surrey, BC. She came to the Comox valley in 2015 and joined the Board as a Director in 2019, eager to continue and advance the powerful work of CVTS.

Sharon Farquharson

Director

Sharon (She/Her) has been a Social Worker in the Comox Valley for over 25 years. Her work has centered on building family capacity and helping children reach their full potential. She joined the CVTS Board in 2003 and is committed to the values and mission of CVTS.

Nancy Bock

Director

Nancy (She/Her) is a retired clinical counsellor who has lived and worked in the Comox Valley for 30 years. Her professional practice focused on the needs of children, women,and families. Nancy is happy to bring her experience with mental health services and with community consultation and development to the CVTS Board.

Ingrid Brown

Director

Rev. Ingrid Brown (She/Her), BFA, MDiv. is the lead minister at Weird Church, a non-traditional community in the United Church of Canada.Her passion for supporting women and children seeking shelter and support and those struggling with substance abuse started in college. She has been working with Avalon Centres, women’s treatment centers and recovery houses, and other transitional and support spaces since

Marcie Dumais

Diectory

Marcie (She/Her) is a non-profit management professional with over a decade of experience working in fund development, research, project management, communications, and community engagement. She loves the Comox Valley and its people. Nothing makes her happier than seeing how we lift one another up and how we come together to make this community better. Marcie is honoured to sit on the board and to support the exceptional work of the CVTS team.

Robert Wolfe

Director

Rob (He/Him) started his career in 1978 with one of the largest European asset managers. He specialized in estate and retirement planning and in 1994, was promoted to Office Manager. In the U.K., Rob was highly qualified in his field and achieved “chartered status.” Rob’s commitment to the investment business led him to Odlum Brown, attracted by its independence, solid long-term track record, and reputation in the industry that is second to none.

Meredith Martin

Directors

Meredith (She/Her) has Coast Salish ancestry with the Snuneymux Nation. She is a retired clinical Counsellor. She worked for Child and Youth Mental Health as an aboriginal outreach clinician and for Island Health as an eating disorder therapist. She co-facilitates Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village, an experiential workshop that brings understanding of the impact of Residential Schools and colonization on Indigenous peoples.

Diane Naugler

Director

Diane (They/Them) is the Executive Director of Future Students and Community Engagement at North Island College and the Executive Director of the North Island College Foundation. They bring twenty-five years of experience in post-secondary education and a diverse history of volunteer, no-profit and advocacy experience to their role as a director. Diane has called the Comox Valley home for eight years. Diane is an advocate for social justice, equity and inclusion. They joined the CVTS Board in 2023.

Our Partners

BC Housing
United Way
Island Health
City of Courtenay