Our Affiliates board of directors consists of 10 volunteers who are committed to our mission and believe that everyone deserves a decent home. The board is responsible for overseeing governance and policy issues related to our work in the region.
Neil Coburn
Board Chair
Neil believes that personal and professional growth and development create healthy, thriving, confident individuals and families, and collectively, healthy and sustainable communities. His career focus has been on post-secondary education where he served in a community college, a teaching university, and a research university. He has supported individuals, groups and organizations to become more empowered and effective. His analytical skills, conceptual thinking, and passion for continuous improvement and innovation foster a curiosity-driven approach to issues and processes.
Neil has contributed to strategic planning, organizational development, operational planning, and program development and delivery in a variety of organizations. He retired in 2018 as the Vice President, Education at Selkirk College and currently serves as the Board Chair for Habitat for Humanity Southeast B.C.
Dave Watson
Vice Chair
Dave retired from Teck Metals in 2004 as Teck Owner's representative responsible for overseeing the Waneta Dam Upgrade Project. He is a past director of the Kootenay Mountaineering Club and long-time builder/member of the Friends of Rossland Range Society. Dave sat on an advisory board to assist the City of Rossland in setting up project management criteria for the, now complete, Washington street infrastructure upgrade project. He has been a Board member since 2019 and currently serves a Board Vice Chair, and Chair, Build and Land Committee.
William Caley
Secretary
William Caley, worked as a Social Worker (CMHA, Family and Children’s Services, Wilkinson Housing (Toronto’s largest supported housing agency), restaurateur, director (Long Term Care facility). He volunteered as a Library Board Director, Art Gallery Board Director, and currently serves as a HFHSEBC Board Director (serving as Recording Secretary and Chair, Family Services).
After a long career in supporting individuals living with addiction and mental health issues and often resulting poverty, William continues to be a strong advocate of decent, safe, affordable housing for everyone. Having lived in the Boundary for over a decade in “retirement” William has watched what the collective actions of small communities can accomplish in supporting families just needing a hand up to achieve long term stability.
Deborah Wilson
Treasurer
CPA, CMA, MA
HFHSEBC hired Deborah in January 2021 as the new Treasurer. She’s been busy ever since with all the changes and upgrades to create a better HFHSEBC. She’s been living in the Kootenays for 10+ years and, although it took a long time, calls this home. She loves to garden and bake and do tax returns! She & her husband have a camper that they love to take on the road to lakes where they can swim and enjoy the outdoors. Deborah has years of experience in accounting. She is delighted to be able to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to share in the success of the HFHSEBC – helping families with affordable housing.
Ricky Cappe
Board Director
Ricky Cappe has worked as a Sustainability Consultant for the past 22 years - working with public, private and social sector organizations and individuals to develop, implement and manage a realistic, comprehensive sustainability strategy by becoming more socially and environmentally responsible. This is achieved through green building practices, utilizing renewable energy options, managing natural resources, addressing waste issues and stressing the importance of making positive change and providing solutions to challenging problems.
Ricky has worked for many years with Habitat for Humanity by both directing clients to donate materials for re-use, as well as clients who have shopped for materials for their projects. He has always supported and promoted their construction material exchange, as well as Habitat's physical construction of homes for families in need.
Ricky has served on the Board of Directors since May 2020 and currently Chairs the Re-Store Committee.
Savina Kelly
Board Director
Under Construction.
Reidun Rosi
Board Director
Reidun Rosi comes from away. Born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, Reidun and her husband moved to Castlegar in 2018 to be closer with family. Reidun has traveled and worked abroad on many international development projects.
She studied Political Science and Cultural Anthropology at University of Toronto and more recently completed a post-graduate certificate in International Development Project Management at Humber College.
Her passion lies in all things housing and bringing an end to homelessness. She is currently the Manager of Program Development with Homes First, a housing and homelessness registered charity based in Toronto. Reidun is leading the Community Relations committee within Habitat for Humanity Southeast BC.
Sean Thornton
Board Director
Sean Thornton: P. Eng. HFHSEBC Board Director, Land & Build Committee.
Sean spent the vast majority of his career in Engineering and Project Management. While at Teck Trail Operations he oversaw the capital projects program for the facility. After joining AMEC, Sean was study manager, engineering manager and project manager for numerous national and international mining projects. He also provided oversight and guidance to all global mining projects. Sean was an instructor of project management programs and has extensive experience in execution planning, estimating, scheduling, cost control and project governance.
In addition, he has been with HFHSEBC since February 2020, am the Chair of the Governance Committee and active participate in the Build and Land Committee. He is a retired Chemical Engineer.
