A dedicated team on a mission to help those in need

Julie has been with Community Builders since 1999, occupying a leadership position since 2008, and is dedicated to promoting equality and creating opportunities for marginalized populations. Julie credits her upbringing in East Africa for driving her commitment to working in areas of poverty, both in Canada and around the world.

Shauna has been part of the Community Builders team since 2014. She is a committed advocate with deep experience supporting individuals and families facing barriers. Her background includes years of involvement with non-profits focused on inclusion, accessibility and community connection. Shauna brings empathy, dedication and a strong belief in equity to her work every day.

‍

Arita has dedicated her career to serving marginalized communities through harm reduction and trauma-informed practice. A racialized woman identifying as a lesbian, she has worked with non-profits locally and globally for 23 years. During her master’s program, she participated in social policy research on housing and community development in Kisumu, Kenya, and London, UK. She holds a BA in Child and Youth Care with a minor in Indigenous Studies from Douglas College, and an MSc in Social Development Practice from University College London. Born and raised in Squamish, BC, Arita is an avid outdoor enthusiast, vegetarian yogi, and passionate about social and environmental justice.

‍

Omar started his career working frontline in warming shelters in the Downtown Eastside. He then went on to hold leadership roles across different organizations and has been with Community Builders since 2023. Omar earned his BSc from UBC focusing on biology and psychology. Ever since he started at the warming shelters, he has been passionate about harm reduction and meeting people where they are at. He focuses his work on breaking down barriers that vulnerable populations face on a daily basis and being the voice and advocate for those who have no one else. Omar's role with CBG involves oversight of multiple projects and programs including shelters and housing.

Simran started working with Community Builders in 2021. Simran went to Kwantlen Polytechnic University where he completed the Business Management Program. He would like to pursure further studies in the Social and Medical Fields in the near future as he thinks necessary changes are needed in those areas. In his spare time, he loves to enjoy the outdoors and travel as he is passionate about having a healthy lifestyle. Simran’s motivation working for the organization strives from the happiness and satisfaction he gets working at Community Builders Group.

Sharla has been with Community Builders since 2022 where she works as a Property Manager managing the maintenance department and upkeeping several shelter and housing sites. She brings with her 12 years of prior operational management experience where she was responsible for hiring, training, reviews, logistics and day-to-day operations. She has completed several related certifications in Communications, Management, Leadership, Safety and Conflict Resolution. She is dedicated to creating and maintaining spaces that foster well-being and recognizes that the environment plays an important role in promoting health and wellness. In her downtime, Sharla enjoys being a wife and a mother to three amazing children, being outside and is an active promoter of a health and wellness company.

Bre has a Bachelor of Social Work and a BA in Criminology. A long-time advocate of mental health awareness, she's interested in traumatic stress and its impact on physical and mental well-being. In her role, Bre seeks to make a difference by advocating for policy change and developing programs and services that are trauma-informed and culturally safe. She's been with Community Builders since 2019.

As a Financial Controller, Meisam leads the accounting department, ensuring precise financial reporting. With over twenty years of professional experience, he has risen from entry-level roles to senior positions across various industries, including automobile manufacturing and sawmills. Meisam holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting, an MBA, and is currently pursuing his CPA designation. Beyond his professional life, Meisam enjoys playing tennis and swimming. He completed water safety training and earned his Lifesaving Certificate.

Carol oversees scheduling efforts for all Community Builders sites. She also provides staff members with immigration support, HRIS administration and related HR Generalist duties. She joined CBG in 2018 and spent three years as a front-line worker. Following this, Carol joined the management team, working across both the HR and Operational teams. Carol holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, has previous HR experience from her home country, and is also in the progress of completing her Post Graduation certificate in Human Resources Management. Carol aligns with the values and philosophy of CBG and is proud to be part of our team.

Harprit joined Community Builders in 2022 as recruitment Coordinator. She brings with her years of experience working in Human Resources roles with a special interest in non-profit organizations. Harprit has completed her diploma in BTECH with a major in Human Resources nad has brought innovative new ideas and procedures to the organization since joining. In her off time, Harprit enjoys travelling, trying new dessert and cafe spots and hiking. Harprit is proud to work for an organization that values supporting vulnerable and marginalized communities and finds her day-to-day work both challenging and rewarding.

Adrick started with Community Builders in 2024. He oversees communications, grants and fundraising and writes fiction in his spare time.

Kristina began frontline work in 2020 and has since focused her career on supporting others through meaningful, relationship-based learning. A UBC graduate with a BA in Sociology and Family Studies, she believes in the power of teaching to build confidence, connection and lasting change. Kristina is passionate about harm reduction, equity and creating space for growth at every level. Having grown up in the DTES, she carries a deep sense of care and connection to community in everything she does.

‍

Michelle To is a dedicated professional who joined CommunityBuilders in September 2020. A Psychosocial Rehabilitation graduate with acounseling minor from Douglas College, Michelle strives to support individuals'autonomy and goals. Guided by her values of compassion, empathy, and equalityfor all, Michelle is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives ofothers.

‍