Board of Directors

Andy Reddekop

President

Andy is a semi-retired Public School Administrator and former teacher with 35 years of experience in public education, including in Special Education. Andy now works with V.I.U. and U.Vic. to supervise and mentor pre-service teachers during their practica in Comox Valley schools from K to 12.

With 47+ years of experience in public and post-secondary education, administration, community organizations, and small business, Andy brings a strong commitment to providing supports, structure and community to facilitating the inclusion of people with diverse abilities and to promoting their interests and personal development. From this background, Andy is inspired by the challenges of transformational change. Andy has been on the Board since 2014, serving as President since July, 2016.

Andy holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Curriculum, a Bachelor’ Degree in Comparative Literature, and a Professional Certificate in Special Education. He has been involved for some years with the Pearl Ellis Gallery and works as an artist. Andy is also a proud family man and grandfather.

Ian Hargreaves

Vice President

Ian has been on the Board of the Beaufort Association since 2020, serving as Vice President since July 2021. For Ian, serving on the Board of Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action is a natural continuation of what has been a lifetime’s work. Ian came to the Valley in 1982 to head up the integration and mainstreaming of the District Special Needs program that was then located at Ecole Puntledge Park Elementary.

Ian holds a Masters’ Degree in Educational Administration, a Bachelor of Education in Administration and Special Education, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science; and Professional Certificates in Special Education from the Downs Experimental Education Unit of the University of Washington and in Augmentative Communications from the Blissymbolics Communications Institute in Toronto.

With over 45+ years of experience in public and private school education, a Contributing Professional to the BC Special Education CORE Curriculum, and his work developing curriculum for the province of BC in the areas of Social Justice – “Making a Case Against Racism”, Fine Arts – Drama, Social Studies K -7, Salmonid materials in Science, and work on local curriculum packages such the “Legend of Queneesh”, and life skills curriculum development; Ian also has more than ten years experience in the administration of non-profit organizations, as the Assistant Director of CRAMH (the Capital Region Association for the Mentally Handicapped) and then as the Executive Director of the Greater Victoria Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Ian also volunteers with community organizations such as the SID Williams Theatre, and has small business experience as partner and licenced private investigator, in a privately owned security service in Saskatchewan.

Ian is now a semi-retired former Public School teacher with over 45 of experience in public education, including in Special Education, and as a former School Board Trustee including two terms as Vice Chair and one term as Chair. Ian continues to work to support the training and development of new teachers entering the profession through his work with V.I.U. as supervisor and mentor for pre-service teachers during their practicums in Comox Valley schools K to 12. Today, Ian continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to providing supports, structure and community to facilitating the inclusion of people with diverse abilities and to promoting their interests and personal development.

Carson Roscoe

Secretary

Carson is a well-rounded individual who is dedicated to making a positive impact in the world. After completing his computer science degree from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 2018, he went on to become a software developer, first working locally in the Comox Valley and then starting his own business in video game and web3 project creation.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Carson is also a philanthropist who cares deeply about helping others. He started the Doge4Water charity drive, which successfully raised $50,000 to build wells in two African communities, providing clean water to approximately 2,000 individuals. This drive was just one example of Carson’s commitment to giving back to those in need.

Carson is also passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion, which is why he joined the board of directors at Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action in 2020. He has been an active member of the board ever since, working to support its mission in any way he can.

Despite his busy schedule, Carson never stops exploring and seeking new opportunities. He is always looking for ways to expand his horizons and gain new experiences, which has led him to travel the world and meet new people.

Overall, Carson is a driven individual who is making a difference in the world through his professional pursuits and philanthropic efforts. He is a true asset to the Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action and is sure to continue making a positive impact for years to come.

Lynn Armstrong

Member

Lynn is a retired social worker who lived in the Comox Valley 1981-2000 while her son and daughter were growing up, graduating from Vanier, and she returned in 2023, glad to be back. She is now a happy grandmother with four grandchildren. The main part of Lynn’s career was focussed on providing support services for adults with developmental disabilities here in the Comox Valley then Victoria, North Vancouver and, for eight years, in England. She remembers the early days of Quest and Options through the 1990’s and is pleased to be able to serve now as a Beaufort Board Director. Lynn says, “As a retired person, I have a strong desire to give back to my local community, to be useful. My particular education, training and experience, including other Board experience, could be a good match for Beaufort.”  Lynn has a Bachelor of Arts degree (UBC, Psychology Major), a Bachelor of Social Work degree (UBC) and a Master of Education degree in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies (UCalgary). She joined the Board January 30, 2024. Other interests include cross-country skiing, balcony-gardening, genealogy, health/wellness and protecting the natural world.

Lorraine Auld

Member

I am pleased to be part of the Beaufort Association and see it as an opportunity to give back to the community. I look forward to becoming involved and aiding in the continued smooth running of the Association in any way I can.

I graduated from the University of BC with a degree in Education with a focus on psychology and special education courses. After many years teaching in Houston, BC (Buckley Valley District) the family picked up and moved to the Comox Valley in 1990. That move brought us much closer to our extended families.

During my teaching career I taught a variety of ages and abilities of children in elementary schools. I’ve also worked as a Learning Resource Teacher in several schools with individual and small groups of children. I retired early in order to travel with my husband Ken and work as a Teacher on Call in the District. I officially gave up teaching after Covid 19 descended upon us all in early 2020.

We have a great ‘blended’ family that includes ‘step’ sons, in-laws, daughters, grandsons, granddaughter and great grandsons that make get-togethers busy and
fun.

My interests include sewing and baking. I love to knit, especially for babies. And when the good weather arrives Ken and I can be found working or relaxing in the backyard garden.

Rosemary Hill

Member

Rosemary was born and educated in London, England, where she became an RN. In 1976, she and her husband Robert emigrated to Canada.

After many moves across the country, she settled in the Comox Valley with her family in 1986. Currently, she is a director of the Board of Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action and is committed to supporting their initiatives, which are very dear to her heart.

She loves going for walks, biking, practicing daily yoga, a little golf, reading, cooking, and baking. When time allows, she spends time in her happy place, the garden, nurturing her plants!

The very best times are spent with her lovely grandchildren, whom she sees very frequently.

Steve Knight

Member

I have been living in the Comox Valley for close to 60 years and I feel very fortunate to be a part of this community I call home.

I attended school at Brooklyn Elementary, Robb Road Junior High School and graduated at Highland Secondary in 1981.

After completing High School I went on to attend the University of Victoria and obtain my Bachelor of Education degree specializing in Physical Education and Geography/History and 10 years later I went back to the University of Victoria to obtain my Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Leadership.

I was very fortunate to get my first teaching position right after completing my degree in education at Lake Trail School and I have been a teacher, Vice Principal and Principal at many schools in the Comox Valley including Lake Trail Junior School, Highland Secondary School, Cumberland Junior School, Vanier Secondary School and finished my last 8 years of my career as the Principal of the International Program in our School District.

I thoroughly enjoyed my 33 years of being an educator with the Comox Valley School District and had the opportunity to work with so many incredible people and I have so many fond memories of the students, teachers and support staff I was able to work with over those years.

My last 8 years of my career was the Principal of the International Program and I would have never imagined I would be traveling to countries all over the world to talk to students and their parents about coming to the Comox Valley to get an education in Canada and experience all that we have to offer students not only in our schools but in our community.
I was very proud of what we could offer to students in our schools and community and wanted to share that with as many people as I could to encourage them to come and live and experience life in the Comox Valley.
I often look back at my career in the schools of the Comox Valley and feel blessed to have had all of the opportunities I had to work with such incredible people and students.

Growing up in the Comox Valley I enjoyed playing many sports such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, fastball and tennis and had the opportunity to play with many outstanding athletes and had so many memories of competing and playing the many sports I enjoyed to play.

Besides sports I enjoy the outdoors and taking advantage of the many rivers, lakes, oceans, hiking trails and all that the Comox Valley has to offer.
I am now retired for the past three years and have been fortunate to do some traveling and spending time with my family and we have a large family and have 12 grand children who my wife and I enjoy being with and spending time with as much as possible.

I have recently decided to also try and give back to my community who has given so much to me over the years and have become a member of the Board of Directors for the Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action.

I am looking forward to learning more about the Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action and doing what I can to support all of the great things they do for the people of the Beaufort Association and the community.

Hugh MacKinnon

Member

I was honoured to have been able to have served my community (Town of Comox) for three terms as an elected official, Town Councillor. I was privileged to have had an extremely rewarding 34 year career in public education in B.C. as a teacher, school counsellor, coach, and secondary school administrator (28 years) in four B.C. communities (Newestminster, Golden, Terrace and the Comox Valley). Also, over the years I held employment positions in University Pub Management, Liquor Service Management – B.C. Place Stadium, Forest Fire Fighting – B.C. Forest Service, University Sport Management, Head Shipper-Receiver Philco-Ford of Canada Ltd., Festival Security, Facilities Management.

I was fortunate to have participated athletically in basketball, football and track and field at the Junior, College and University levels. As well, I have been fortunate to compete internationally as a Masters Athlete in the U.S., Europe and New Zealand at the World Masters Games. I have travelled through North, Central and South America and Mexico, Europe and Asia and now we have the good fortune of being able to visit our four sons who work or have worked internationally in Shanghai, China, the Philippines, Singapore and Central America. I joined the Board of Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action in February 2019.

I have attempted to follow my father’s sage advice years ago: ” The most rewarding and important thing you can do is to volunteer or serve your community in some capacity.” I hope I have been able to live up to his standard!!

Susan Reddekop

Member

Susan has been a Director of the Board off and on since 1998. As such, Susan has seen many positive changes in the inclusion movement for people with diverse abilities. Susan is particularly pleased to be involved in the Association now, helping to make inclusion more of a reality for more people.

As a former teacher, Susan worked in regular classrooms and in a Resource Room setting. Susan is thoroughly enjoying retirement, indulging in “gentle exercise”, sketching and landscape-painting, but most of all – being a doting grandmother.

Sue Minchin

Lifetime Honorary Director

Sue Minchin, a longtime Board Member of Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action for more than twenty years, was honored by the Board of Directors in 2023  by being declared as a lifetime Honorary Director.

Sue retired from School District 71 after a career as an art teacher. She has always been keenly interested in working to support individuals with divergent abilities and she brings that interest and her lived experience to the Board.