Meet the Team

CURRENT

Emma Cawood

Let’s Talk LOUD (Group Voice Therapy)

I received my M.Sc.A in Speech Language Pathology from McGill University (2020) and I am a LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment) LOUD for Life certified clinician (2021). I am currently working at Burnaby Hospital and have a particular interest in swallowing disorders and voice. I am very excited and honoured to be joining the IMPACT Parkinson’s Let’s Talk LOUD groups starting in May 2021. I was involved with the groups last year as a student clinician with Mia Mosters and was inspired by the dedication and commitment of everyone involved. The best part was seeing how much the participants got out of the group sessions and the friendships that formed between them.

In my spare time I like to read fiction and hone my pasta-making skills using my pasta machine. I speak French, a bit of Spanish, and am currently taking Mandarin classes at Langara College.

PREVIOUS

We wish to thank the following team members for all their hard work, dedication and support before we had to close the centre!

Mia Mosters

Let’s Talk LOUD (Group Voice Therapy)

I am a Speech Language Pathologist (UBC 2004) and LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Therapy) LOUD for Life trained. I have worked in acute care, out-patient and in-patient rehab in various hospitals in the lower mainland. I have worked with people with Parkinson’s in various capacities including communication, swallowing and voice and have a great passion for meeting each person where they are and helping them to achieve their individual communication goals. I also have a private voice therapy practice in North Vancouver and am fluent in German. My most favourite and most important role is being a mom to my son. In my free time I practice yoga and spend as much time outside as I can.

I am very happy to be collaborating and working with Robyn and Heidi at IMPACT Parkinson’s. Their dedication to Parkinson’s is infectious and I am excited and honoured to be a part of this team.

Kelly Ranford

Yoga for PD

I am a longtime New Westminster resident and have had the privilege of working alongside youth and their families in the public school system for 27 years. It was my work with youth and my desire to support them more fully that prompted me to pursue a Master’s of Counselling Psychology Degree from Adler University. I also completed training in Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and just recently completed a Gentle Movement and Relaxation course through Pain BC.

In order to manage the stress of completing this education while working in the school system I began to practice yoga and my passion was ignited! I completed Naked Truth Yoga Teacher Training and am honoured to share my practice with others. It is through this practice that I have come to discover a holistic way to begin the healing journey of mind, body, and spirit that blends therapeutic counselling and yoga. In my exploration of yoga as a vehicle for healing I completed a Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma and Resilience from Langara College in order to provide this experience for clients. This learning has helped me to design Gentle Healing Yoga Sessions and Therapeutic Groups that provide education, grounding, breath work, gentle stretching, guided visualization, and progressive relaxation experiences. This practice has allowed participants to befriend and reclaim their bodies in order to move toward more complete wellness.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with IMPACT Parkinson’s and the community of brave folks that has been developed there. I am inspired each time I visit by the positive energy that the clients, volunteers, Robyn, and Heidi, share with each other. My personal passions include travelling, making food, spending time with family, playing soccer on a team of Warrior Women, reading, and learning. I am also co-owner of Oxygen Yoga and Fitness New Westminster and founder of Ohana Wellness and Yoga.

Kathleen “Cupcake” Somerville

Assistant RSB Coach New West

I’m thrilled to be part of Rock Steady Boxing New West! I started volunteering with Rock Steady Boxing New West in 2017 and am now a Certified RSB Assistant Coach for Robyn. I am passionate about coaching and love to motivate and support our boxers to maintain an active lifestyle in a fun and supportive environment. I am also a BCRPA Registered Fitness Leader, Weight Training and Group Fitness Instructor and a Yoga teacher. I have been practicing Yoga, Qi Gong and Kick-Boxing since 2001.

I am very passionate about working and volunteering in the community. I was born in New Westminster but raised just outside of Toronto. I moved back to B.C. in 1997. My family moved to the Sapperton neighbourhood in New Westin 2009 and we quickly fell in love with the city. I have volunteered with a number of non-profits in New West and served on boards with The New Westminster Environmental Partners, NewWest FilmFest, The New Westminster Community Gardening Society as well as city committees. My love for the environment and community has allowed me to work and volunteer with inspiring people. I am married with two children (21 and 14) and two cats (both 10). When I’m not in the gym I can be found gardening. I love the beach, dancing, and going out to eat at one of my many favourite vegan restaurants. My family collects board games, we own close to 100!

Lillian “Lillypad” Cardoza

Assistant RSB Coach New West

When I first heard about Rock Steady Boxing New West, I was instantly intrigued and knew I wanted to be a part of this organization. I love the high energy environment as well as building a connection with the fighters. I started off as a full-time volunteer in the summer of 2018, and I am thrilled to be recently employed as an Assistant Coach. I feel fulfilled when I can put a smile on the fighters faces and help them exceed their expectations.

I am a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and my career goal is to become a registered nurse. I also volunteer at Queens Park Care Centre, working with elderly residents and residents with physical disabilities, at Strive Centre Headway, an acquired brain injury drop-in centre, and at Aquafit For All Association, an adapted aquatic exercise class for people who are recovering from a stroke or are visually impaired.

I have many years of experience doing gymnastics, specifically trampoline and floor tumbling, as well as competitively swimming with the Hyack Swim Club. I love spending time outdoors, going on hikes or exploring new places and restaurants in Metro Vancouver with my family and friends. I am also passionate about travelling to and exploring other parts of the world, as well as practising my Spanish.

Connor Poirier

Assistant RSB Coach Fraser Valley

When I first heard about Rock Steady Boxing Fraser Valley, I was very interested in the program as I would get to experience working with a special population and helping out where I could. I started volunteering with Rock Steady Boxing Fraser Valley in the summer of 2019. Shortly after volunteering for a few months the Assistant Coach position opened up and was offered to me. I took this as an opportunity to continue working with the fighters and take more of a leadership role with them.

I am a 4th year student in the Bachelor of Kinesiology in Exercise Science at the University of the Fraser Valley. After that I am applying to the Cardiac Perfusionist Program at BCIT then planning to continue my education in medicine to eventually work as a physician. I also volunteer at the Abbotsford Hospital in the Emergency Department helping visitors and patients with way-finding as well as visiting with patients who want to talk to someone.

I have always lived an active lifestyle – I started off competing in club Track and Field and focused in pole vaulting. I transitioned to long distance running where I eventually lead clinics and groups to train and successfully complete half marathons, whether it was their first or their hundredth. Being so busy with school, volunteering or work, most of my free time you will find me out hiking the mountains or helping my girlfriend with her horses. I have started to learn to ride horses as well and eventually plan on going into competition.

Laura “Lefty” Hoffard

Rock Steady Boxing Volunteer Coordinator

Since my early 20’s I’ve been actively involved in sports and fitness from playing soccer, to teaching aerobics, bodybuilding, hiking, and overall health and wellness.

My husband and I moved to New Westminster 26 years ago and raised our 3 boys here. We love the community in New West and our boys played hockey, baseball and lacrosse. We have spent a lot of years volunteering for their sports teams. I have worked full time at WorkSafeBC for the past 19 years in their Legal Department. Health and safety issues are very important to me. Now that my boys are young adults, I have time to volunteer and give back to my community.

Rock Steady Boxing has been great for me as I was looking to volunteer and hadn’t found the right fit. I went to the Grand Opening of IMPACT Parkinson’s prior to going for a hike with some friends and I knew right then and there that this was the right fit. Rock Steady Boxing is a family working together to help people with Parkinson’s. The passion, love and knowledge that Robyn and Heidi bring to Rock Steady Boxing and all their programs at IMPACT is contagious and it flows on down to the volunteers and our fighters. I’m honoured to be a part of this organization that is bringing awareness and assistance to those fighting back against Parkinson’s.