Sarah has many years of experience working in palliative and end-of-life care. She is passionate about person and family-centred care and supporting excellence in nursing and multidisciplinary collaboration. She has experience in strategic planning, quality improvement initiatives, and change management strategies. Prior to joining VHS, Sarah led practice in the role of Clinical Nurse Leader at St Paul’s Palliative Care unit for over 10 years. While in that role, she supported excellent patient and family centered care as well as supporting her palliative care program’s Accreditation Canada process, and many initiatives across the organization to improve access to end of life care. She has also been a member of the Vancouver End-of-Life Working group since 2010. Sarah has worked hard to make a difference in the clinical and administrative practice of palliative care and feels honoured to be in a leadership and advocacy role as Executive Director at VHS.

Tamara Tang has worked in a variety of areas since the beginning of her nursing career in 1995 but was always drawn to palliative care.  She joined Vancouver Hospice Society when it opened in 2014 as an RN.  In 2018, Tamara received her hospice palliative care nursing certification through the Canadian Nurses Association.  In 2019, Tamara stepped into the role of Clinical Coordinator at VHS.  She feels that it is a privilege to support and walk beside clients and their families at the end of life.  She desires to provide evidence-based, compassionate, and holistic care to all people who come through the hospice.

Gigi Rentoria joined Vancouver Hospice in June 2023, bringing over 30 years of impressive experience in accounting and finance. She has worked in various industries, including corporate, manufacturing, hotel, and accounting. Gigi has held senior management positions at Universal Douglas Lighting Americas and Panasonic Electric Works, where she oversaw financial operations. She also managed finance and accounting operations for sales offices in multiple locations at Douglas Lighting Controls. Prior to her work in Canada, Gigi specialized in Trust Accounting as a Property Accountant and worked as an Associate Auditor at Carlos Valdes & Co. Her career also included a role as an Accounting Supervisor at the Shangri-La Hotel in the Philippines. Gigi Rentoria’s extensive experience and diverse background make her a valuable addition to Vancouver Hospice.

Originally from Brazil, Cecilia moved to Canada with her family at a young age. She graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Communications and a minor in English, bringing a strong foundation in both strategy and language to her role. At Vancouver Hospice Society, Cecilia is responsible for developing, coordinating, and managing comprehensive communication strategies. Her work bridges internal needs and external audience engagement, with a focus on consistency, transparency, and clarity. Cecilia is responsible for managing our website, publishing newsletters, and creating engaging content for social media, ensuring cohesive messaging that supports Vancouver Hospice Society’s mission.

With a background in Volunteer Management & Coordination and Frontline Social Services, Andrea brings to Vancouver Hospice Society a passion for people, collaboration, organizing, and heart centered volunteer and peer lead support. Having spent the past 8 years working within the non-profit social service sector, Andrea has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of volunteer and peer support. Through experiences of serving diverse persons from all walks of life Andrea deeply understands how valuable volunteer support is to providing holistic person-centered care. Having worked with women in rural BC, to veterans in the Bay Area, Andrea has ample experience of bringing diverse folks together, building bridges and supportive relationships. With experience as a Hospice Volunteer herself, Andrea is not only familiar with the role, but passionate about providing compassionate collaborative end of life care and bereavement support.

Alison came to Vancouver Hospice Society initially as a volunteer in 2013. Trained as a naturopathic physician, her interests have always been in holistic patient centered care. After working as an ND in Seattle and then Istanbul, Alison returned to Vancouver just as the Vancouver Hospice was under construction. Impressed by the vision of the founders to provide such an essential service to the community, she decided to volunteer. Volunteering led to a multi-faceted job in administration and facilities where each day the dedication of the volunteers and her fellow staff members inspires her.

Kayla is an RCC with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counselling. She has worked in end-of-life care throughout her whole career, starting in San Francisco at the California Pacific Medical Centre Hospice in 2008. In 2012, she moved back to Vancouver and continued her end-of-life/bereavement focus by working with Surrey Hospice Society, where she provided end-of-life and bereavement counselling as well as developed counselling, educational, and outreach programs. She joined the team at Vancouver Hospice Society in 2018, as the Lead Clinical Counsellor of a team of 4 other counsellors providing end-of-life and bereavement support for the Vancouver catchment. In addition to VHS, she works in her private practice. Her work is with adults, children, and youth and she specializes in offering Expressive Arts Therapy, Guided Imagery, EMDR, and Trauma Informed approaches.

Louise has more than 30 years of experience working in the public sector and in private practice. For 10 years, she was on the faculty of The Haven Institute, where she led personal growth residential workshops. She began work in hospice care at the North London Hospice in England in 2004, where she developed and managed a culturally sensitive bereavement pilot project in a large inner city London Borough and provided high risk bereavement counselling. She worked for 7 years at Marion Hospice until it’s closure in 2013, followed by St. John Hospice for 6 years. While with Providence Health Care, Louise facilitated the hospice/palliative care volunteer training program for 10 years and held regular volunteer debriefing sessions at St. Paul’s Hospital. Louise joined Vancouver Hospice Society in January, 2020.

Vanessa is an RCC with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from UBC. Over her counselling career she has worked in various multidisciplinary settings including Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Mood Disorders Society and Vancouver Community College. Throughout these experiences, her greatest passion has always been supporting those in grief and loss. Vanessa has trained and worked in bereavement counselling since 2017 and joined the VHS counselling team in 2020. Beyond individual counselling she provides group supports, develops educational programs for community partners, and facilitates critical incident debriefings. She uses a trauma informed lens in her counselling practice with adults, having additional training in somatic, attachment-based and nervous system approaches.

Omar is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with experience working in Hospice organizations in Delta, Surrey, and Vancouver. He has also worked at Community Living Societies and has experience supporting vulnerable individuals as a Crisis Line Volunteer and at the Women’s Resource Centre. Omar believes in the importance of normalizing the emotions present following a death. Much of his work is focused on co-creating a compassionate space to help grievers find new and meaningful ways to relate to their loved ones while they adjust to the reality of loss in individual, family and group settings.

Bev, MSW RSW, is a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Dalhousie University (2017). With experience in diverse interdisciplinary teams, Bev has worked with vulnerable populations, including roles at Raincity Housing’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team and the Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention (STOP) HIV team. Bev’s practicums include placements at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, the UK’s Durham school system, and the BC Cancer Agency’s Patient and Family Counselling department. Starting her palliative care career in 2018, Bev served as a Family Social Support Practitioner with the Vancouver Community Palliative Care Program, providing bereavement counseling, education on psychosocial aspects of end-of-life care, and support for advance care planning. Bev, with a person-centered, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive approach, brings additional expertise in EMDR. Joining the Vancouver Hospice Society in January 2023, she continues her commitment to supporting adult clients and families.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Bre has dedicated over six years to working in low-income housing and five years as a support worker for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. She is also a passionate visual artist and singer-songwriter who finds joy in all things handmade. Through Vancouver Coastal Health, Bre has provided art therapy to individuals in substance addiction recovery. She considers it a privilege to walk alongside those seeking change, healing, and healthier coping strategies. With Vancouver Hospice Society, Bre offers one-on-one grief counselling, and facilitates grief support groups. Bre is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with BCACC.

Aviva has spent the last 20 years cultivating the art of holding safe(r) spaces through her work as a birth doula, health educator, care aide, and biodynamic craniosacral therapist. Being entrusted in witness of the vulnerability of others has taught her a great deal about humility and has fostered a reverence for the healing process. Aviva’s therapeutic approach is uniquely tailored to the individual to best support their goals and healing. Her work is relational, consent-based, 2SLGBTQIA+ welcoming, and strives to be non-judgmental and accessible. She values counseling as an opportunity to slow down in order to both build the safety necessary to be with what arises and to integrate and honour our experiences.

Aviva is currently completing her Masters in Counseling with City University.

Adam is currently a practicum student completing a Master’s in Counseling Psychology at City University of Seattle. As a therapist in training, Adam brings experience in various helping roles, including working with individuals experiencing isolation, anxiety, depression, houselessness, substance use, mental health crises, bereavement, and suicidality. In his work he brings with him a commitment to a social justice and anti-oppressive practice. Adam believes in a non-judgmental, strengths-based approach to therapy that recognizes each person as the expert of their own life.  He strives to offer empathy and accompaniment through the unique experiences and challenges individuals are encountering. Adam is passionate about creating a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard and valued. Adam is being supervised by Kayla Hochfelder, RCC #9080.

Jesse Cervenka is an Intern Counsellor at the Vancouver Hospice Society, and he also works as a Bereavement Coordinator at the Crisis Centre of BC, where he develops and runs programs for those grieving a suicide and works to shift societal perceptions of grief toward greater acceptance and support. He draws from person-centered, narrative, and parts work approaches, and has experience in addictions, crisis support, working with diverse populations, and supporting children and families affected by cancer. Jesse is passionate about breaking down the stigma surrounding grief and creating spaces where people feel connected, validated, and supported, with a strong commitment to helping communities support those who are grieving more effectively.