Board of Directors

Marc and his wife Jennifer run a regenerative, mixed farm on Quadra Island called Foot Forward Forest Farm. There, you will find a wide variety of plants and animals growing and working together to provide for their family and their community.

Marc has a passion for community. He has a decades long history of community building and community development having served on or led numerous volunteer boards and organizations. In 2013 his dedication to community was acknowledged by the Mayor of Calgary when he was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for Community Service.

Currently Marc serves not only as the Vice-President of the Quadra Island Foundation but as a director on both the Rural Islands Economic Partnership Board and the Quadra Island Recreation Society. His firm belief that only strong communities will be able to thrive in the uncertain times ahead motivates him and his volunteer efforts.

Karen has been enjoying all of the outdoor activities that Quadra has to offer since first visiting in 2003. As soon as they stepped foot on the island Fred and Karen knew they had found a little piece of paradise, purchasing property in 2004 and building their vacation get-away and then retirement home over the next 15 yrs (with the support of Quadrate Ventures). After finally being able to retire full time to the island in 2021, Karen has been volunteering with the Quadra Island and SRD Emergency Management Programs.

Karen has spent 35+ years working to build strong and resilient individuals, organizations and communities. As a systems thinker, she is always looking for the synergies and possibilities that emerge through collaborations, innovation and bold thinking. She holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology and a Masters in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Alberta, and a Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership from York University. She is also trained in strategic design planning and future-focused thinking, leadership development, organizational evaluation, community development, and conflict resolution. Over her career, Karen has worked as a strategic leader and consultant for not-for-profit organizations and municipal, provincial and First Nation governments.

Karen and Fred have three adult children who reside in BC, AB and ON. She is looking forward to working with the QIF and continuing to build a resilient and thriving community for generations to come.

With a degree in Physical Education and Recreation Management, I began my professional life organising sports and fitness programs for the City of Winnipeg. This quickly evolved from the playground to the big office and eventually, as Superintendent of Sports and Fitness, I was responsible for the planning, staffing and finances of many facilities and quickly became fascinated with the world of budgets and accountability. I then spent a few years in Alberta as a Community Recreation Consultant, doing organisational development and board training for community volunteers. This was followed by a few years in Northern Ontario assisting remote communities to develop management plans for sport and recreation facilities to be funded through the Wintario Lottery programs. In the early 90’s I met my partner and moved to the mountain town of Golden, BC where we ran a wilderness tourism destination business together. Putting my Recreation degree to good use, I did everything from cooking to cleaning toilets, loading helicopters, developing advertising, attending travel trade shows and serving as CFO for a business that always managed to survive by careful penny-pinching. When we finally burned out from running a small business 24/7, we sold it and I hung out a shingle doing bookkeeping for other small businesses and not-for-profit clients. Throughout my professional life, I have volunteered on many boards, notably several arts councils and sports groups, as well as environmental organisations such as Nature Manitoba and Wildsight in the Kootenays. My most valuable experience in grant making and strategic planning came from many years as Chair of the Environment Advisory Committee for the Columbia Basin Trust. We moved to Quadra Island in 2015 and I had promised myself that I would not join any boards in retirement, but I truly believe in small community foundations and am proud that Quadra Island has one.

Kristen Nammour is a Quadra Island–based project manager and community builder with over a decade of experience supporting local economic development across agriculture, tourism, and nonprofit sectors. Her work focuses on strengthening small-scale enterprises and fostering resilient, connected communities.

She developed and led the Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Network, supporting new farmers in building viable operations, and has worked as a business planning consultant through the Ministry of Agriculture, guiding farm businesses through strategic and financial decision-making. 

On Quadra, Kristen is a co-owner of the Yellow Rose Food Truck, a family-run business rooted in hospitality and the sharing of Texas and Lebanese food traditions. She currently serves as Finance Manager at the Quadra Children’s Centre, contributing to a long-term vision of sustainability for an organization central to the well-being of local families.

Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to the health and future of island communities, with a focus on practical, collaborative approaches that support both economic resilience and community care.

David Dalton lives on the south end of Quadra Island with his partner Emily.

With nearly 30 years in financial services, David has focused on tax, estate, and retirement planning, including extensive experience supporting charitable giving from the advisory side. He holds multiple professional designations, including advanced training in tax and estate planning, and has supported the development of other advisors in the field.

He is the founder of Dalton Advisory & Resolutions, combining financial advisory and alternative dispute resolution with a focus on clarity, fairness, and sustainable outcomes.

This experience informs his interest in planned giving and strengthening donor relationships, helping bridge connections between donors, advisors, and community priorities. He is pleased to contribute to the Quadra Island Foundation in support of thoughtful, locally grounded philanthropy on Quadra Island.

Mitsuru “Mich” Hirano moved to Quadra Island in 1979, attracted by a challenging job, the island’s rugged natural beauty and pioneering spirit. Mich met the love of his life, Juaneva Smith, on Quadra and they married soon thereafter. Mich has been involved in Quadra’s community affairs for many years serving as School Trustee representing the Quadra, Cortes and Read island communities’ for 6 years and as Chair of the School Board for 3 of those years. Mich was also involved in Quadra Recreation’s Community Center Building Committee and helped in the development of the tennis courts at Blenkin Memorial Park. Mich and Juaneva were away from Quadra for 15 years, seeking warmer weather and career opportunities, but returned to live in retirement on Quadra in 2015.

Mich has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Environmental Studies Degree from York University. Mich has a background in business, land use planning, and specializing in community economic development. Mich has working experience in Canada and the United States advising senior government officials, business leaders, First Nation governments, native Hawaiian and cultural organizations on matters related to land use planning, permitting and economic development. Past memberships include: Canadian Institute of Planners, Planning Institute of BC, American Institute of Certified Planners, and American Planning Association.

Mich is glad to be part of Quadra Island Foundation because it’s a way to give back to the community

Kent has had a varied employment history in the public sector, including as a community college program coordinator, an education officer at a provincial museum, training coordinator for Justices of the Peace throughout BC, a political assistant to Cabinet Ministers, and a constituency assistant to two MLAs and an MP.  He also served as Executive Director of an investment fund supporting new community economic development initiatives in Saskatoon, including small business starts, cooperatives, and community services.  He holds bachelor degrees in History and Education, a post-graduate diploma in Communications, Continuing and Vocational Education, and a diploma in Intercultural Education and Training.

Kent is currently volunteering as the General Secretary for Servas International—a non-governmental organization that promotes peace by facilitating connections among persons from different countries and cultures. He was previously on the board of Oxfam Canada and remains a keen supporter.  Here on Quadra, Kent is a neighbourhood organizer for the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program and busses tables at the weekly Community Lunch.  He camps, bikes, kayaks, and canoes by summer, and he has just expanded his winter activities to include ping pong.  He and his partner Thom love the vibrant community spirit on Quadra and are delighted to help contribute to it.