Our History
Brainstreams.ca is the official website of the The BC Brain Injury Association (BCBIA). We are a non-profit provincial organization in British Columbia serving the interests of the acquired brain injury population. It was founded in 1982 and was incorporated July 6th, 1983. In November 2012, BCBIA and the Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference Society (PCBICS) joined together to become one organization with a focused and clear purpose to support the province of BC’s brain injury community. BCBIA engaged The Governance Group to help facilitate the merger and to lead the new board through a strategic planning process and active board governance development. The strategic planning and governance development process began in the spring of 2014.
We are continually revising, adapting and creating content to ensure British Columbians are informed about the brain and brain injury and have access to the kind of information they require, when they require it. With your continued support and feedback we hope to fulfill an existing gap in the brain injury community.
You can view our organization’s Constitution and Bylaws.
Meet our Board of Directors for 2022-2023
Geoff Sing
President
Geoff has been working in the field of brain injury for the past 20 years. Presently, he is the Manager of Brain Injury Services with The Cridge Centre for the Family. This program includes a continuum of residential programs, community support clients and several employment training programs for survivors of a brain injury. He served on the steering committee for the Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference for 15 years. He was the chairperson for Advocacy Plus – a program that trained survivors to advocate for themselves. Geoff has a Masters of Administration from the University of Victoria.
As a stereotypical survivor of a brain injury (at 18 years of age he was in a serious car crash that had him in a coma for a number of days; as well, he suffered several concussions in athletic pursuits), the field of brain injury is Geoff’s life and passion. As an advocate, supporter, or a “whatever it takes” proponent, Geoff’s goal for survivors of a brain injury and their loved ones is your goal – find and develop the best services possible and achieve the best outcomes possible.
Kix Citton
Director
With over 20 years of working with non-profit organizations in Canada and overseas, Kix brings a passion for innovation, collaboration and inclusive leadership. Her experience in program development, community building and advocacy are assets she brings to the BCBIA Board of Directors. She is the Executive Director of the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society and helped found a successful non-profit service co-operative. When not in the office, you will likely find Kix hiking the trails or paddling the waters around beautiful Vancouver Island.
Tony Mok
Director
In January of 2009 the lives of Tony Mok and his family changed forever when Tony suffered an unexpected stroke. At the time, he was living a healthy life style, always taking good care of himself by exercising and eating well.
Since Tony’s stroke, Tony and his devoted family have had to adjust to a new way of life. With love and support they discovered ways to step up to the challenges of living with the devastating effects of a brain injury.
One of Tony’s challenges is dealing with post-stroke fatigue, where even simple things like watching TV or talking to his family and friends takes its toll. Tony continues to fight his way through the challenges that he faces on a daily basis. Tony knows that feeling valued and staying productive are key to survival and has chosen to speak up for others that are living with the effects of a brain injury.
Tony lives to advocate for other brain injury survivors and has proven he is a voice for brain injury survivors. Tony Mok was first welcomed to BCBIA as a director of the board in July of 2014.
Juliet Henderson-Rahbar
Director
Originally from Scotland, Juliet grew up in Vancouver and now lives in Langley BC with her husband and two daughters. She holds an undergraduate degree in the humanities and a graduate degree in divinity.
Juliet began her professional work as a spiritual care practitioner in neurorehabilitation with older adults. She spent 10 years supporting individuals and families through experiences of grief and loss related to health crises or serious injury (Providence Health, PHSA, and Fraser Health).
Juliet experienced a more intimate introduction to brain injury in July 2005 when her first child survived a hypoxic ischemic brain injury due to birth complications. She became a strong advocate for her daughter in the health and education systems, which has led to opportunities to advance inclusive practices in public education.
Juliet joined Connect Communities in Langley in 2014. She leads a collaborative team who help persons with acquired brain injury redesign their lives on their own terms. A creative soul with a penchant for stories, she joins the BCBIA with the hope of helping others share their stories of life after brain injury.
Nancy Adams
Treasurer
Nancy Adams was responsible for the care of a family member with brain injury giving her an understanding of the challenges faced by those of living with brain injury. Her family’s appreciation for the supports received by those within the brain injury community left her with a desire to give back to this community.
She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) with decades of experience in the financial accounting field. She built and managed a successful accounting practice, then broadened her horizons utilizing her management experience and writing skills in the non-profit environment. She worked with the Rick Hansen Foundation for 6 years, managing grants and donations as well as the finance department. She is now retired and volunteering her time educating not-for-profit organizations to minimize risk through improved financial systems and processes.
She has volunteered in the community for many years, primarily with Girl Guides of Canada, holding several positions including Treasurer and the Finance and Grants representative on the Properties Committee of the BC Provincial Council. She also served on other community boards, primarily in the health services sector.
Nancy is interested in making a difference and sharing her expertise in any way possible.
Tina Suter
Director
Tina Suter, a 30-year survivor of ABI, brings personal insight to her role as Member Services Coordinator at Brain Resource, Advocacy & Information Network. She initiated the organization in 1999 to assist survivors of Brain Injury, their family members, friends, and caregivers within the Lower Mainland region.
She received the very first Courage to Come Back Award for Physical Rehabilitation and more recently, Fraser Health Acquired Brain Injury Services’ Outstanding Service Award.
She combines her Degree in Business Management from Okanagan College & Community Social Service Diploma from Douglas College to assist in managing B.R.A.I.N. and other work in the field of Community Social Services, but uses her passion and personal insight to provide diligent service to Survivors, their family members, friends and caregivers.
Gary Richardson
Director
Gary has a varied work history including banking, logging, running garages and service stations, smelter work, lumber yard, auto wrecking, bookkeeping, construction (road building and site preparation), operations manager of a marketing research firm and psychiatric assistant (five years) at UBC hospital. His last job was Disability Awards Officer, assessing and granting disability pensions with the Workers Compensation Board, and retired 16 years ago after 25 years of service. In 1969 he lost his right leg in a motor vehicle accident and uses an artificial leg. He also obtained a degree in psychology at UBC.
His volunteer history includes working with autistic children, developing a Parent and Tot program at a local community centre and working with various non-profit organizations including the Amputee Coalition of Canada (VP), Amputee Coalition of BC (Peer
Visitor and trainer), and Visitation Director for the Association for Injured Motorcyclists for many years where he developed a resource manual for downed riders and a training program for other Visitation Volunteers.
Gary has worked on an advisory committee with BCBIA and recently assisted with “The Journey Ahead” program.
During his visitation work with downed riders, he noted signs of brain injury in most of them and also noted they were overlooked in most cases with no treatment program being provided. With some he was able to lobby with ICBC and the medical system to consider the brain injuries to assess and provide treatment.
He has been increasingly interested in brain injury and looks forward to working with BCBIA.
Robin Bienvenu
Director
Robin acquired a brain injury in the spring of 2007, as a result of a rare illness. He went into a sudden, unexpected coma for over six weeks, and woke up completely paralyzed, mostly blind, and very confused.
He understands how a brain injury can instantly change every aspect of a person’s life, and some changes are more permanent than others.
The experience does not always have to be a completely bad one. Sometimes a person can use it to motivate themselves to take life more seriously and pursue a previously unknown interest.
Robin started college in January 2009 and went on to University in September 2014 He finished in June 2022 with an Associate’s Degree in Social Work from Camosun College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria. The education process turned out to be perfectly suited for brain injury rehabilitation. Surviving a brain injury is a constant learning process. Now the goal is to help others with brain injuries.
Geoff Sing and The Cridge Center for the Family are giving Robin an opportunity to apply what he has been studying.
Understanding the uniqueness of each individual before rehabilitation can begin is important. Their goals, hopes, dreams, and how they can change or be altered into realistic, attainable ones.
Cognitive reassessment techniques help to turn a negative event into something more manageable. Basically, developing creative ways of turning something negative into something more positive. Improving a person’s quality of life by re-evaluating life’s priorities.
He is looking forward to helping people with brain injuries cope with their new lives, and learning more about how our brains function.