Board of Directors
LiR Board of Directors for 2024/25
(Front left) Joanne Chevalier-Communications; Maureen Kelsey-Membership and Eldercare Scholarship; Jane McComb-Social; Sarah Kemp-Secretary
(Back left) Peter Macek-Technical/Sound System; Verle Miller-Safety; Ynette Gibbs-Treasurer; Jean Carne-Chair; Diane Watts-Program; Christine Schmidt-Selkirk College Liaison
(Missing) Susan Milner-Vice Chair and Interest Groups
In any society/organization, the Board and Committees are vital to the survival and vitality of the group. In Nelson’s LiR, this is particularly important because the entire organization is run solely by volunteers. It is their indefatigable work that keeps it vibrant and relevant. We thank them for their boundless enthusiasm and all the work they have done and continue to do.
The Board consists of the following members who meet monthly to oversee the management of LiR consistent with its constitution and bylaws. Members include committee chairs and Board directors at large.
About Us
JEAN CARNE: I’m second-generation Nelson, born and raised…well, in actual truth, a Six Mile brat! I obtained my Nursing Diploma from Selkirk College and left the Kootenays for 40 years, returning “Home” upon retirement after a challenging and rewarding career. I returned to the family property I grew up on…right in the middle of my growing family. Living on the lake enables me to paddle my kayak at a moment’s notice…such a treat for someone who has lived in cities for a long time!
I joined Learning in Retirement because I was interested in becoming a part of the community that was both very familiar, and yet in some ways not so much. I am also very pleased to be a conductor and drive the beautiful Streetcar #23 along the waterfront…channeling my bus driving Father and history-loving Mother.
SUSAN MILNER: I left Nelson for Bishop’s University in Quebec, where I earned a BA in Philosophy & Classics and a BSc in Mathematics. After completing an MSc in Mathematics at McMaster University, I took a year off to teach at Okanagan College in Kelowna. That was way more fun than graduate school, so I stayed in postsecondary education.
After decades of teaching at the institution eventually known as the University of the Fraser Valley, I retired and returned to Nelson. Now for fun, I share math/logic games with people of all ages. That is how I became involved with LiR, where I discovered a whole community of lively and interesting people to play with!
YNETTE GIBBS: After retiring in the spring of 2023, I moved from the Washington coast to Nelson, with my husband Ed, to be closer to our son’s family and our only grandchild.
My background includes working in high tech, teaching at the University of Washington, owning my own consulting business and running a community credit union. I’ve also participated on many professional, community, educational and non-profit boards.
SARAH KEMP: I first visited Nelson more than 30 years ago when my hiking guidebook said that the best hike in the Inland Northwest is to Slocan Chief cabin at Kokanee Glacier Park. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and at the time of my first hike, I was living in California. Serendipitously, I met my future husband, Leon, on that trail.
After spending the intervening years in the U.S., we retired to Nelson in 2017. I thought I might continue consulting as an Engineering Geologist (dam geology and dam safety are my specialties) but instead, I joined LiR and haven’t looked back. I have met so many wonderful people, made new friends and learned new things. Being on the Board is my way of giving back to this great volunteer organization and saying Thank You LiR.
MAUREEN KELSEY: I grew up in South Slocan, truly an idyllic childhood surrounded by an energetic, supportive community. I moved to Calgary in 1976 and remained there until 2016 when after many years and numerous trips back to my beloved Nelson, made the decision to move back. My career in Calgary was in Human Resources which was incredibly interesting and fulfilling. I continue to provide HR consulting support to organizations.
I am a member of the Nelson Rotary Club and the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) and am now excited to be supporting LiR.
DIANE WATTS: I was raised in Nelson and after graduating from UBC taught high school English in Castlegar, Nelson and Vancouver. I returned to Nelson in 1975 and worked in the Office Administration Program at Selkirk College and then at the Canadian International College, a post-secondary school for Japanese students, at the now 10th Street campus of Selkirk College. At CIC I was the director of the first-year program for 12 years.
I retired in 2000 and have loved having more time to spend with friends and family, as well to travel, read and quilt. I joined LiR ten years ago and have been on the Program Committee for five years. I appreciate LiR as it has brought me many new friends, activities and challenges.
JANE McCOMB: I was born in England but moved, as a child, to Canada. My dad was a chaplain in the Canadian Army so we moved to Jericho Army Camp in Vancouver. When my husband graduated from UBC in 1968 we decided to make the move to the Kootenays.
I’ve worked at many jobs but my time at home raising my three children was by far the most gratifying. I’ve been an LiR member for many years and continue to enjoy everything it has to offer. Being on the Social Committee is a natural fir for me and always fun working with a loyal crew.
VERLE MILLER: I moved back to the Kootenays in 1994, to Nelson, the big city where my family went shopping on Saturdays. Roger Oliver asked about the continuing education I needed as a pharmacist, then convinced me to join LiR, so with retirement I had a chance to get involved.
Having first aid training since I was in Grade 6, and having been on school, work and parenting safety committees, the LiR Safety Committee was a logical place to volunteer.
PETER MACEK: I was born in Prague but have been in Canada almost my whole life. I grew up in Vancouver, went to UBC and started working with computers when they were room-sized and fed with punched cards. Nany and I moved for 12 years to Bella Coola and raised two boys, chickens and a big garden. We moved to the Nelson area in 1992 and I enjoyed 15 years of teaching Adult Basic Education on Selkirk’s Silver King campus before retiring.
I’m interested in history, geography, travel and photography. Nancy and I are immensely thankful that we can still pick up our packs and go hiking in the mountains.
JOANNE CHEVALIER: We’re fairly new to Nelson (2020) and have found the LiR Friday presentations to be a super way to meet some amazing people and learn more about our community. Ottawa is my hometown but my husband, Mike, and I have lived in several different places in Canada, as well as England, Germany and the U.S. Along the way I’ve been an RN, a school librarian and a magazine publisher, all very enjoyable.
We moved here to be near our son and his family, long-time Kootenay residents. Our daughter and her family live in Ottawa. Any time spent with our four granddaughters, here or there, is time we treasure.