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Board of Directors
2025 Team
Cathy Lawrence
President
Cathy has been a Member of the Hyack Festival Association for 40 years, including three years on the Board of Directors from 1986-1988. In 2025, she is looking forward to continuing a third term on the board as President. She believes that being involved in the community is important, and the opportunity to participate in local events throughout the City and the Lower Mainland is a great way to support and promote the Hyack Festival Association.
After a long and successful career in Human Resources, you will find Cathy welcoming guests at the Port of Vancouver Cruise Ship terminal during the summer months. She gets to meet people from all over the world, and a trip to Alaska is definitely on her bucket list!
Cathy's spare time activities include golfing and gardening. Ask her about her garden during the warmer months!
Past President
Debora Sutherland
Debora (Deb) has been actively involved as a volunteer in her community for many years. A registered nurse (RN) by profession, Deb works as a healthcare manager and a staff nurse.
She joined the Hyack Festival Association in 2010 and had been a board member for many years before becoming President in 2024. During her time with Hyack, Deb volunteered as a parade marshal and was a chaperone in the Ambassador Program. She has wonderful memories of the long drives listening to the perspectives of the young ladies.
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Deb and her husband, Paul Fuoco, raised their three sons in New Westminster. Two of them still reside in New Westminster, and the third visits frequently. Such is the appeal of our city; it’s small-town feel, it’s walkability, it’s lovely parks and places to gather ….and it’s events!
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Deb encourages everyone to come out and enjoy the best of New West as we ‘Reach for the Stars’.
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Jackie Barber
Treasurer
Jackie has lived in New Westminster since 1992. Her husband, Kerry, was born and raised in New Westminster, and they raised their two chidlren in the city. She volunteered for many of the activities her children participated in, such as Royal City Youth Soccer, where she was the Treasurer, Registrar, VP - Girls soccer, and a Coach. Jackie has been the Treasurer for Royal City Hyack’s Youth Football for the past 8 years and was a founding Board member of the Vivo Children’s Choir. She was active as a parent helper and volunteer for Scouts (Beavers), Salmon Bellies Lacrosse, PAC - Herbert Spencer, NWSS Football, and the NWSS Band program.
For the past 30 years, Jackie has been practicing as a bookkeeper, working with a number of local organizations and businesses, and her current business is a partnership with another New Westminster resident. Her passion for her community and extensive professional experience keep Hyack Festival Association running smoothly!
Penny Cheng
President Elect
Penny immigrated to Vancouver from Hong Kong at the age of three, later settling in New Westminster. She has lived in the Royal City for the past 20 years with her spouse, Korey Simard, and three children, her oldest being crown Hyack Princess and Miss Friendship 2017.
She has been actively involved with the Hyack Festival Association since 1992, with the Annual Hyack Festival in May, the End of Summer Fireworks in August. Penny is best known for her support with the Hyack float in local and international parades.
Penny is a Senior Tax Professional, located in New Westminster. She had previously served on the board for the Certified General Accountants in 1991 and on a co-operative housing strata board in 2002 to 2004. Outside of her volunteer work, she enjoys spending time with her family, doing various crafts and relaxing at the family RV by Mount Baker, WA.
Gloria Munro
Secretary
Gloria served on the Hyack Board of Directors from 2009 to 2022 with a break in 2016, when she received the Volunteer of the Year award for her continued service to Hyack as the Treasurer. Gloria has served on the Parade Committee for over a decade and on the Fireworks, Music Bingo, and several other event committees during her time on the Board.
Gloria is a Chartered Professional Accountant specializing in small business accounting and tax since 1983. She is also a partner in Big O Tires Cloverdale.
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In addition to her contributions to the Hyack Association, Gloria has served on the Burnaby/Royal City Board of Directions from 1990 to 2003, the Provincial Golf Tournament Board for several years, and the North Road Merchant Association from 2004 to 2019. This extensive dedication to her community has earned her several awards and recognitions.
When she's not volunteering in her community, Gloria spends her time on several hobbies. These include ballroom dancing, reading, building miniature dollhouses, and gardening.
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Director
Korey Simard
Born and raised in New Westminster, Korey graduated from New Westminster Secondary school in 1993. At the age of 16, Korey worked on the Samson V Maritime Museum as a Tour Guide as well as providing the general upkeep and maintenance. He also worked during the annual Hyack Festival with set up and tear down of events.
Korey became a member of the Hyack Float Crew in 1993, then became a key member as the Float Driver in 2006, where he remained until 2022. Graduating from BCIT in 1996 from the Automotive Refinishing Technician program, Korey obtained his Red Seal Certification in 1998, and achieved Platinum recognition in the I-CAR Professional Development program. Korey has a wonderful wife and 3 lovely children, the oldest being the Hyack Princess and Miss Friendship of 2017.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and going to the dog park with his dog. To this day, Korey is still a proud resident of New Westminster.
April Bredon
Vice President
April has been actively volunteering for a variety of organizations over the past 25 years. She served as Treasurer for the Tynehead Montessori Parent Advisory Committee for three years and was on the Board for Eureka Camp Society for six years, including three years as President. She has assisted the Burnaby Hospice Society with several events and participated in the Canadian National Institute for the Blind fundraising events. She acted as Research Facilitation Consultant for a study conducted by BC Children's Hospital.
In 2016/2017, she worked as General Manager for Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association.
She has experience with team building, volunteer recruitment, marketing, and fundraising.
Lisa Falbo
Director
Lisa moved to New Westminster in 2005 where she and her husband Frank have raised their daughter. Lisa as well as volunteering on the Herbert Spencer PAC and Coached the girls
basketball team. She also takes great pride in having worked at WorkSafe for 27 years. She joined the Hyack Ambassador Leadership Program in 2016 as a committee member. Her
daughter Janel is currently on Team Tiara and is Hyack Princess. Lisa and her daughter enjoy the many events that the program offers as well as interacting with our future leaders. Being part of the organization brings her great pleasure knowing that they support the community and other events that occur throughout the city. Lisa loves hiking, beaches, and traveling and considers herself a bit of a foodie.
Catherine Hutson
Director
Catherine Hutson was born and raised in Vancouver. In the Kensington neighborhood.
Had the good fortune of having friends who lived in New Westminster insist they move to that city.
That was 35 years ago and not a day goes by that she and her husband Jim don’t remark that was one of the best decisions ever! It has been an ideal place to raise a family (now three grandchildren who also live in the city) and become involved in the community. Parent Participation Preschool. Hockey. Soccer. Lacrosse. Games and Practices. Connect with others. Get involved. Give back.
Catherine continues to give back to the community as a current director with the Queens Park Resident Association (since 2007) and a current director with Heritage New West (since 1993.) She has sat on the city’s Community Heritage Commission. (2013-2018.)
Catherine was a Case Manager with Veterans Affairs Canada for 32 years and during much of that time was assigned to New Westminster and George Derby Centre for Veterans. Had the honor of visiting many aging veterans who grew up in the city and had stories to share.
In 2008, Catherine received VAC’s National Client Service Award. Nominated by peers for both contributions to clients and to staff morale.
There is something special about New Westminster that draws people to it. (Or back to it.) Parks. People. Riverfront. Walkability. Amenities. History.
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Few cities offer both a rich heritage and a strong vision for social justice. To respect both is something to celebrate!
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Gail Ancill
Director
Gail Ancill is passionate about her family and friends and about healthcare, history and New Westminster.
Gail Ancill was born in RCH and spent her early years in Victory Heights. The family moved to Port Coquitlam when she was young. After graduating from nursing school Gail returned to New Westminster first to Sapperton and then to Queen’s Park. Her career in health care spanned 45 years and included being a staff nurse, head nurse, clinician and educator. She also spent the last six years of her career at the College of Nurses and Midwives as a practice consultant.
Described as spirited and generous, she has heeded the clarion calls to help when needed. She has opened her home to refugees from war-torn countries. She’s also opened her home for house tours where proceeds have helped the residents of Queen’s Park Care Centre.
As a director of the Queen’s Park Residents Association Gail understands positive change starts from the grassroots. From the people. That’s why she is looking forward to joining the Hyack Festival Association and help celebrate the city and its residents through Hyack’s events and initiatives.
She welcomes an association that celebrates diversity and one that bridges the gap between innovation and tradition.
When not busy with family (which includes twin grandsons) Gail can be seen walking her rescue dog Gypsy, cheering on her beloved Canucks, swimming at the new pool and practicing her black belt in karate!
Patricia Morales
Director
Patricia Morales is proudly representing the Newcomers of New Westminster. She is a successful businesswoman who arrived in Canada in 2019, found this beautiful and historic city, and called it home since her first day.
She comes from an indigenous community called Dzitas in Yucatan, Mexico. Coming from a rural area it was not easy for her to accomplish her academic goals, but with the support of his family at only 11 years old she relocated to Merida City to continue her studies. In 2008 she obtained her Business Administration Degree in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
She started her career as a supervisor with 10 pharmacies under her sight in 2010. Rapidly obtaining a better position as a Commercial Advisor in 2012 at a very well-known convenience store in Mexico. With a promising and bright career in 2019, Patricia emigrated to Canada with her partner Mariza Medina, seeking a better quality of life regarding diversity and inclusion.
After only 2 years in Canada, in partnership with Dr. Michela Watts, who back then was her landlord, they funded Monarca Clean in March 2021, a New West-based business providing cleaning solutions to homeowners and small businesses around the lower mainland.
Overcoming language, cultural, and economic barriers, Patricia found companionship and a way to give back to her community at Hyack. Willing to help newcomers to better integrate into society through community events, she is happy to join our board.
She has been volunteering at several of the Hyack festivals this 2023 and she is very excited to continue participating in future events for the New Westminster community and BC.
But her efforts continue, she is graduating in 2024 with her second bachelor's degree in BBA at Acsenda Management School, Vancouver. Side by side with her now wife Mariza, they planned to expand her business to a food chain.
She loves running and learning about other cultures and of course, she is passionate about Hyack.
Learn more about her by visiting https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-morales-3578ba30/