Phyllis was a practicing social worker for her entire professional career. She worked as a practitioner for 17 years (primarily in Northern BC) and as an instructor in the Social Service Worker program at Selkirk College for 22 years.
She has always been interested in the work of non-profit organizations as responsive agents of change in community. She was involved in board governance off and on during the years she was a social work practitioner and, since she retired, has been very involved with numerous non-profit boards.
Phyllis is currently the Treasurer of Nelson CARES and of the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Cooperative. She’s also the Past President of the BC Association of Social Workers, and chair of the professional development and nominating committees. As well, she is the Co-Chair of the Nelson Community Advisory Committee on Housing.
Phyllis says that all her experiences of volunteering in the non-profit sector have been truly rewarding and have reaffirmed her belief in the importance of community input into services for the vulnerable.