Brian Gross
Roxan Trudeau
Roxan Trudeau began her career working with street entrenched and homeless youth in Vancouver’s downtown core. Beginning as a front line worker at a very young age she helped youth and young adults with issues relating to substance use and addiction, developmental disabilities, LGBTQ, and sexual exploitation amongst some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Since then, she has continued to work for urban youth in a number of capacities from residential worker to community liaison. She is an advocate of non-judgemental youth-first harm reduction philosophies and is always striving to make a difference in the lives of the youth/ young adults she works with. Roxan is excited to join the VYPER team to support youth involvement in their home communities.
Roxanne George
Roxanne George is very excited to be a part of the VYPER team. She has 5 years experience working with young people and was a passionate Stolo Youth Council member as a youth. Roxanne currently volunteers for SOC, (Spirit of Our Communities youth group), and ASCIRT (Aboriginal Suicide Crisis Intervention Response Team). The help and support she has received from her communities has allowed Roxy to develop her passion and dedication for working with youth and young adults. Roxanne strongly believes in giving back to her community to create a better future. Roxanne graduated in March with her Stolo Certificate – Stolo history, and all four levels of Halqemeylem. When she is not working or volunteering, she can be found practicing her culture, going on family outings, and supporting family and friends at sporting events.
Sarah Jo
Sarah is a Bay Area transplant living and working on unceded Coast Salish territories. She has almost a decade’s worth of experience working in social justice non-profit organizations, with an emphasis on youth organizing and leadership development. More recently, she graduated with her MA in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice. She is honoured and excited to be a part of the VYPER team. She believes that young people are the experts of their own lives, and that adults should spend more time listening to their stories. Sarah also loves talking about her cats + cat culture, losing at Mario Kart, and playing board games on the beach.
Stacy Wood
Stacy Wood has been involved with youth in the Fraser Valley in several capacities, including the Abbotsford Youth Health Centre and the Fraser Valley Youth Society. He is excited about being a part of the VYPER team as it will allow him to make meaningful, lasting change in the social service realm, as well as in the lives of the youth involved in the VYPER project, and those who will benefit from it. Stacy is outgoing, positive, enthusiastic and fun. He looks to incorporate overall mental, physical, and spiritual wellness into his personal and professional practice, as well as to support and influence others in doing the same. In being part of the VYPER team, Stacy is looking forward to building relationships and connections with those he meets, and to the awesome experiences that lay ahead.
Roger Tourand
Roger joins us as a practicum student from the University of the Fraser Valley in the Community Support Worker Certificate program. Through his work with Abbotsford Community Services in the Discovery Program and as a mentor through the Abbotsford Community Youth Resource Centre, Roger has gained experience working with youth and adults alike. With a belief in person-centred practice, inclusion and a passion for social justice, Roger looks forward to learning and gaining new experience through VYPER. In his free time, Roger can be found at local music events, playing video games, and enjoying coffee with friends.