Meet the Board

President

Davis is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with a Diploma in Professional Counselling & has a certification in sex addiction (CSAT-C). Davis identifies within the queer community & advocates for safe, non-judgmental spaces within the Central Okanagan.

Through a trauma-informed lens, Davis specifically helps folks navigate intimacy issues, relationship concerns, queer-related issues, emotional disturbances & compulsive sexual behaviours (i.e., pornography, betrayal trauma, infidelity, internet addiction, dating apps, etc.). Whether this is your first-time counselling or a continuation of your journey, Davis will help guide you through even the smallest of concerns in your life.

When Davis is not in the office, he loves to spend time with his boyfriend & two kids while basking in the sun during the warm summer days. If you are a foodie, Davis will never turn down a good place to eat & maybe some sour candy for later.

Vice President

Kristin Kowalko (she/her) is Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw and member of the Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw First Nation and of mixed European settler ancestry. Kristin has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work degree. She is a Registered Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers as well as a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

Kristin has a counselling practice called Noḵe Counselling and provides trauma therapy to primarily Indigenous folks. She also works for the Men’s Therapy Centre in Victoria providing virtual counselling service to men with a history of trauma, as well as for the Children’s Assessment Network as a Social Worker providing support to families of children undergoing assessment for Autism, FASD, and complex developmental disorders. Kristin has over ten years experience in working alongside youth, families, and adults in mental health and prevention services including inpatient psychiatry, community mental health, school- based services, Indigenous cultural safety research, and outdoor land based programs.

Kristin is passionate about culturally relevant, decolonial and trauma-informed care and community building.

Kristin enjoys resting with a good book, swimming in the lake, Kwak̓wala language revitalization, cuddling her cats Peaches and Edgar, and spending time on the land.

IN SEARCH OF.

Treasurer

Sonia is a dynamic finance and operational professional bringing over 20 years of experience leading direct reports as well as cross-functional teams and managing meaningful change in corporate processes. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelors in Business Administration from SFU.

In her current role as Operations Manager at Circle Innovation, a NPO supporting BC small and medium health tech businesses scale up their businesses faster, she provides leadership in the areas of financial reporting, accounting, governance, administration, and information technology.

She is a passionate life long learner and is currently pursuing the UBC Certificate in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

When Sonia is not in the office, Sonia is happiest with her husband Sukh raising their two daughters on the North Shore spending time outdoors hiking, paddleboarding and playing soccer.

Director of Community Engagements

Jeanne is a community engagement professional with academic training in economics, public policy and community development.

Some of her past and present work includes engagement strategy formation, project management, fundraising events, social impact marketing, equity, diversity & inclusion (EDI) program development and community-led & informed research. Currently, she is the Government and Stakeholder Relations Specialist at United Way British Columbia.

Jeanne was born in Manila, Philippines, and moved to BC in 2015 with her family. She has been calling the Syilx Okanagan region as her home base since 2020. During her free time, she likes to go on food trips, hikes and (virtually-synced) runs with her soon-to-be wife, based in the Philippines.

Director

Tamba an experienced professional in Procurement and Risk Management with a background in the Oil and Gas industry and public sector.

He currently serves as the City of Kelowna's Purchasing Supervisor, demonstrating his commitment to community service.

Tamba is passionate about creating safe spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and is a longstanding volunteer of the Etcetera Youth Group. He combines his expertise with his dedication to giving back.

Director

Tannis is a diverse entrepreneur with varied experience leading and consulting in the public and private sectors. She currently owns two clothing boutiques and is the Program Coordinator for Dress for Success Kelowna.

Tannis' previous experience includes IT management and consulting, a term as a municipal elected official, and a former Chamber of Commerce President. She has started two not-for-profits focused on helping women and queer youth and is also a certified yoga and meditation instructor. Additionally, Tannis is also working on developing a program to work with small businesses to make them more accessible and welcoming to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Tannis is relatively new to the Syilx Okanagan region, having moved here with her son in 2021 to open her second boutique and to be closer to her daughter. Tannis is the proud mother of two queer children and is passionate about working to create a more accepting, and better-informed society. Tannis loves reading, art, live music, being in nature, and sharing good times with great people.

Director

Taiwo was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and studied in London, England, and eventually, Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they obtained their Bachelor of Kinesiology and Recreation Management from the University of Manitoba.

Taiwo has 7+ years of experience working with equity-deserving folks in post-secondary institutions and nonprofit organizations across Canada. They are dedicated to the holistic well-being of systematically vulnerable individuals using health, wellness, and cultural initiatives as support.

Taiwo looks forward to joining the 'This Space Belongs to You' team of board members. In Taiwo’s spare time, they spend time outside exploring and bingeing anime.

Director of Public Engagement.

Dhorea is a a woman of Colour, Metis and white. Dhorea is also the parent to two boy; a 20 year old son and a Furr baby!

Dhorea have been in the social services field for over 15 years. She moved to Kelowna almost 5 years ago and now is the founder of Holistic sober Living House Inc. This is a for profit intimate 6-8 bed upscale holistic inclusive recovery house for women by women who self-identify as IBPOC and/or queer. This program centers on deep recovery, relapse prevention, traditional 12 step recovery along many unique modalities that are meant to truly heal. This program works from a trauma informed lens, that is led by the client. This program has wraparound services and outreach, women empowering women all located in beautiful/picturesque West Kelowna. ⁠

Dhorea says, “I believe there is no community without unity. I know we are all just trying to find our tribe”.