Board and management

Katy Hutchison grew up in Victoria, spending twenty years on the Mainland while studying business at university and starting a family. Following several years in manufacturing operations management she transitioned into community economic development. Katy returned to the Island in 1998 with her children following the murder of her husband; an event that changed the trajectory of her life in every way. She refers to her writing, education, facilitation and advocacy work in restorative justice and social justice as her “accidental career”; work that took her to classrooms, community centers, prisons and conferences around the world. Her board involvement for school, youth and other non-profit organizations kept Katy connected to local her community until she retired from public speaking in 2018. She has handled the financial management for her partner’s law firm since 1999 and more recently has also assumed the responsibilities of legal assistant in his busy litigation, corporate, family & estate practice. In her free time Katy loves spending time with her kids & grandbabies, chasing her dog Scrum and rolling out her yoga mat whenever she possibly can! 

 Lauren Duffield has immersed herself in the Canadian tech industry for 8 years, driven by a strong affinity for B Corps—a certification embodying social and environmental responsibility. Specializing in business development, encompassing sales, marketing, and strategy, Lauren brings a wealth of expertise to the table. While her professional endeavors are noteworthy, her beloved dog, Scooby, holds a special place in her life. Lauren's adventures have taken her to over 30 countries, where she's not only explored diverse cultures but also spearheaded numerous volunteer initiatives focused on children's welfare. Since settling in Victoria 5 years ago, Lauren has been passionate about giving back to her local community. 

I'm Jeremy Leahy, and I am a mental health worker who works in shelters and low barrier housing. With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, I'm passionate about giving back to the community.

Beyond work, I find solace in camping, playing slo-pitch baseball, hockey, and exploring the Island. Family is paramount to me, and I cherish spending quality time with them.

Volunteering as a VCAPCC Board member fulfills my desire to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children. While I initially felt lacking in direct field experience, I saw this opportunity as a way to positively impact at-risk youth. Working alongside dedicated Board members, each bringing diverse expertise and a friendly environment, I find enjoyment and satisfaction in our collective efforts towards supporting youth that have been affected by violence. 

I’m Kelly Montgomery, I joined the VCAPCC Board in March 2023. I retired in 2021 from VCAPCC after 32 years in the Victim Service Program. Specifically, as the Coordinator of the Victim Service Program and the Child Advocacy Centre. I bring to the board the perspective of someone who understands the internal workings and issues associated with this amazing organization.

I started my career working with adult female survivors providing counselling and Victim Services before transitioning to working with children and youth. I have always been passionate about creating a community that provides an environment where children can thrive and be safe from harm. I worked hard during my career, along with various community partners, to advocate and create a justice system that was safe and responsive to the needs of children and youth who had suffered trauma. 

Since retiring, I’ve been able to indulge my many interests which include travelling, art, poetry, and cycling. I’m now part of the move it or lose it cohort so I’m at the gym a few times a week. I enjoy spending time with friends and family and my walking buddy Poppy.

 A former military, then NGO, ‘brat’ born in Quebec City, Dr. Michelle Tousignant has lived, worked, and studied, on multiple continents with stops in Rwanda, Belgium, Honduras, and Canada’s arctic, before settling on the wet coast of British Columbia. After completing a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology at UVIC, Michelle was fortunate to be selected as a member of the inaugural class of UBC’s Island Medical Program. After completing a family medicine residency in Vancouver, then an emergency medicine residency in Edmonton, Michelle spent a few action-packed years in Edmonton, working in one Canada’s busiest emergency departments, before returning home to the ER in Island Health, and joining the teaching faculty with the Island Medical Program.

One of the common threads of Michelle’s career, from volunteering in orphanages in post-genocide Rwanda, to helping survivors of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, to managing trauma-filled emergency departments here in Canada, has been supporting our most vulnerable as they move forward after tragedy. It is her hope to be able to use those skills to be of service to the VCAPCC and give back to the first community she’s ever truly called home.

Outside of medicine, Michelle is involved in a variety of volunteer projects, primarily in the areas of child and youth advocacy and spends any remaining free time as an unpaid teen Uber driver, runner (preferably near the ocean), creative writer, and designated dreamer of her family’s next travel adventure.

My law enforcement career started with the Tsewultun Police Service, on Vancouver Island. Here I learned to support survivors of the Indian Residential Schools and victims of domestic violence. The key to our success was to treat survivors with dignity and respect. We provided policing services to 4 indigenous groups, including the Penelakut. Where the Kuper Island Residential School was located.

I then transferred to the Saanich Police Department, primarily because of the existence of the Child Abuse Team, now called the Family Protection Unit. I spent 3.5 years with the Child Abuse Team before taking a seconded position with the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (RCMP-NCECC) in 2005. The NCECC is responsible for coordinating online child sexual exploitations investigations in Canada. I spent the next 16 years serving Police agencies in every Province and Territory, teaching investigative techniques and prevention methods for online child protection. During this time I developed technology and techniques to combat online child exploitation.

I also worked with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection; an NGO based in Winnipeg. During this time, we worked closely on both prevention and investigative tools to combat online child exploitation. 

I served on the Interpol Crimes Against Children Committee, as the Sub-Chair of the Internet Facilitated Crimes Against Child Subgroup. Prior to this, as the Chair of the Technical Working Group now called DevOps. During my time serving the international community and providing training in various countries my presentations and training were always focussed on child victim identification. 

I ended my time at the RCMP's NCECC in 2021 and joined the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Cybercrime Unit, located in Bangkok, Thailand. There, I offered training to police, prosecutors and judges in 5 nearby countries that would help build capacity to combat online child exploitation. 

I am now retired from policing, but still serve the child protection community. I work at Hubstream Inc and provide training and support for their child protection software platform that I helped design while at the RCMP. I continue to work internationally, serving on the Interpol DevOps (Hackathon) committee. DevOps brings together NGO's, private industry and law enforcement to develop software to combat online child exploitation.

Born in Russia, Misha Smirnov immigrated to Canada at the age of twelve, bringing a unique perspective to both professional and personal endeavors. By day, Misha diligently works to maintain community safety, at the Saanich Police. Misha is currently an investigator in the Detective Division. As a graduate of the University of British Columbia music performance program, during leisure hours, Misha finds solace by contributing to the community through classical guitar concerts, a cherished pastime that extends to special events like weddings. In keeping with his Russian heritage, Misha also enjoys hockey and cross-country skiing.

Beyond the badge, Misha's commitment to VCAPCC is deeply rooted in a heartfelt desire to protect children and foster a safer community. A father of two, Misha brings a respectful and earnest demeanour to the cause, embodying the resilience and adaptability of an immigrant journey.

While the investigative skills are a testament to Misha's professional life, the commitment to VCAPCC showcases a different side – one marked by empathy and a commitment to making a positive impact. As Misha Smirnov stands with VCAPCC, the community benefits from both a vigilant officer and a compassionate advocate for child well-being, shaped by a unique blend of cultural influences and life experiences.

Born and raised in Victoria, he is a Chartered Professional Accountant, originally completing a bachelor’s degree in business administration, followed by a Chartered Accountant designation in 2012. His happiest moment was welcoming his daughter into the world on April 20, 2024. When he’s out of office, look for him on the golf course or running trails with his wife, daughter and dog Chile.

Huf has worked in public practice accounting since 2008 and takes pride in being a client centered accountant, specializing in Accounting Standards for Non-Profit organizations and small business taxation. He is a strong communicator and deeply values relationships. He completed CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course in 2018 and enjoys staying current with the ever-changing tax laws. His practice focuses on personal, corporate and trust tax compliance; financial statements for all entities; reorganization of companies; estate and succession planning; and sales and acquisitions of businesses and property.

 Sarah brings over 20 years of communications and public affairs experience in the corporate, government, not-for-profit and stewardship sectors. Prior to becoming a consultant, her previous positions included Manager of Stakeholder Relations at BC Ferries, Senior Communications Advisor for the BC Pension Corporation and Director of Travel and Tourism with Tartan Public Relations. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria, a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations Management from Royal Roads University and completed the Governance Essentials Program in 2023 through the Institute of Corporate Directors and Rotman School of Management. 

As a mother who lost her daughters, Chloe and Aubrey Berry, to filicide in 2017, Sarah's personal motivation for supporting VCAPCC is deeply rooted. She has seen first-hand the critical and powerful work the organization provides to its clients and is honoured to bring her dedication and commitment to a governance role.