Who We Are
Gordon Matchett
Chief Executive Officer
Gordon Matchett
Chief Executive Officer
Optimistic, sociable, and strategic, with over 25 years of experience in the not-for-profit and corporate sector, Gordon is responsible to the Board of Directors – and entire Take a Hike community – for the current operations and future direction of Take a Hike. Gordon’s strategic approach and ability to build strong relationships has nurtured the growth and success of the organization since he joined in 2016.
Having earned a Master of Business Administration, Gordon has held senior positions in several other charities as well as a major Canadian bank. Having accomplished so much in his career, he decided to take three years off to travel and reflect on life, pursuing his passion for self-improvement and becoming the best version of himself. After his travels Gordon returned to BC, doing some consulting work in social enterprise, and worked with the Dalai Lama Centre during the Dalai Lama’s visit to Vancouver in 2014.
Outside of work, Gordon likes to decompress and plan small trips in his free time from walks in Stanley Park, to kayaking and downhill skiing with those closest to him. Of course, if time allows for it, he would like nothing more than to take an extended vacation to Southeast Asia, visiting bustling cities and tropical island paradises for the food, marine life and freedom of riding scooters around the island. Ask Gordon about the overall operations of Take a Hike, who to contact for more insight into the organization, and anything travel related.
Contact Information:
604 638 3385 ext. 108 | gordon@takeahikefoundation.org
Larissa Hayes
Senior Director of Development
Larissa Hayes
Senior Director of Development
Larissa leads Take a Hike’s Development team where government relations, fundraising and marketing collaborate. Applying her passion for what the not-for-profit sector and philanthropy can achieve, she personally assists generous individuals and corporate donors in connecting their philanthropic goals with Take a Hike’s mission.
Larissa started her career in the federal government. After which, she began working (and found her inspiration) in charitable organizations serving missions from healthcare to social services, and she eventually found philanthropy and professional fundraising in 2014.
Her humorous, strategic, and data-driven personality coupled with her forward-thinking work style cultivates a comfortable environment where donors and co-workers alike feel empowered by their decisions. Larissa’s passion lies in helping others succeed by laying down the groundwork and leaning into people’s strengths to support their goals.
Outside of the office, she likes to knit, cook and travel with her husband to tropical island paradises like Phú Quốc Vietnam. Ask Larissa about the different ways to get involved with Take a Hike as well as the statistics and data behind supporting our program or her childhood obsession with and collection of Popples.
Contact Information:
604 638 3385 | larissa@takeahikefoundation.org
Sevan Kadian
Director of Program Operations
Sevan Kadian
Director of Program Operations
Adaptable, dependable, and always going the extra mile, Sevan has a passion for enriching the lives of those in the community. As Director of Program Operations, Sevan oversees the logistics of our existing programs as well as the scaling and development of programs into new communities.
Before finding her way to Take a Hike, Sevan had spent several years volunteering abroad before resuming her studies in intercultural and international communications, later switching her focus to social work. After graduation Sevan was introduced to Take a Hike through an internship opportunity and continued supporting the organization as a volunteer for 3 years before officially joining the team 6 years ago in 2015.
Outside of work, Sevan is a globetrotter who has been to over 35 countries and loves nothing more than to explore new and exciting places with her loved ones. When not traveling the world, you can find Sevan relaxing in her cabin by the lake and planning her next home improvement project with a little help from YouTube. Ask Sevan about what it’s like to be in our classrooms as a student, staff or volunteer, obscure one hit wonder music from the 90’s and how to plan the best trip.
Contact Information:
604 362 6514 | sevan@takeahikefoundation.org
Sue Sheridan
DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY, ONTARIO
Sue Sheridan
DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY, ONTARIO
Curious, responsible and creative, as Take a Hike’s Director of Philanthropy in Ontario, Sue’s role is focused on raising funds to support the organization’s Ontario expansion.
Sue is strategic and passionate when it comes to her work, aiming to live a life of service to others. A former entrepreneur, Sue found her calling in the non-profit world, where sales savvy meets impact.
A career highlight saw Sue consult for the World Health Organization on the creation of tools to help countries curb the tobacco industry’s harm. Beyond this, Sue’s work has mostly focused on children and youth, raising money to support the development of programs that are critical to changing lives for the better.
Outside of work, Sue loves to get creative via hobbies including welding, woodworking, renovations, thrifting and repurposing – Pinterest is her go-to Friday night date buddy. If she could be anywhere in the world right this minute, she’d choose to be in Lake Tahoe. Ask Sue why the phrase ‘emotional support otter’ did not land well with her husband…
Laura Braude
DIRECTOR, INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Laura Braude
DIRECTOR, INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Open-minded, thoughtful (and almost ridiculously nearsighted!), Laura’s goal is to make sure Take a Hike’s donors feel appreciated, inspired and deeply connected to the impact they’re creating, by building relationships and sharing stories of how their gift has made a difference.
Laura joins Take a Hike with over 14 years of development experience spanning higher education, social services, and community foundations. Laura’s passionate about building community both within the work that she does but also outside of the workplace, aiming to be a good role model to her kids as well as a good friend, family member and neighbor.
As someone constantly daydreaming about where to go next on vacation, if Laura could be anywhere in the world right now, she’d pick a beach in Italy. Beyond her holidays, Laura loves to bake, hike, roller-skate, try new restaurants with friends, make homemade ice cream and hang out with her girls (and husband!). But, make sure to ask Laura why you might want to reconsider buying your kids a karaoke machine..
Nav Nagra
Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
Nav Nagra
Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
Strategic, detail-oriented, and just a little bit sarcastic, Nav has a passion for social justice and making a positive change in the world. As the Marketing and Communications Manager, Nav ensures Take a Hike’s messaging is consistent and conveys Take a Hike’s mission and work throughout our social media, website, and other communication mediums.
Nav’s affinity for the arts and insatiable hunger for knowledge led her through a unique career path, adding valuable experiences to her professional portfolio. While in university, she worked as a gallery curatorial assistant working directly with artists, creating artist catalogues, and promoting large shows through social media. After graduation, she joined the team of Room Magazine, a feminist literary magazine, gaining valuable insight about the nuances of communications while engaging different audiences though digital marketing. Nav then moved on to the non-profit sector starting at Vantage Point as the Education and Events Coordinator, moving up to Communications Manager and finally found her way to Take a Hike.
Outside of work, Nav likes re-charging her social battery whenever possible by spending quality time with friends. However, she is no stranger to a comfortable night indoors, pulling up a movie and engaging in some form of fiber arts. Nav’s dream is to eventually live in a swanky flat in the centre of London, England as a writer. Ask Nav about digital marketing, how to write amazing copy, and 1970’s punk rock.
Contact Information:
604 306 9749 | nnagra@takeahikefoundation.org
Rachael Lipetz
Senior Manager of Philanthropy, Individual Giving
Rachael Lipetz
Senior Manager of Philanthropy, Individual Giving
Positive, enthusiastic, with a tenacious attitude towards making a positive difference, the Senior Manager of Philanthropy, Rachael supports 125 donor households in the Greater Vancouver Area. Providing high quality support to our donors, keeping them informed and up to date with everything that is going on at Take a hike.
During her university years, Rachael’s first introduction to the non-profit sector started at the David Suzuki Foundation where she discovered fund-raising as a potential career path option. Starting her official fund-raising career with the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center of BC, followed by the Arts Club Theatre Company, the BC Non-profit Housing Association and eventually found her way to Take a Hike.
Outside of work, Rachael likes to stay active, completing several sprint distance triathlons with a goal to complete her first ever Olympic distance tri. Apart from that, she also enjoys a casual day indoors, relaxing, watching reality tv-shows, and playing all sorts of games with her friends and cat Frankie. Ask Rachael about making a donation, ways to get involved with Take a Hike, and 90’s action movies starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Contact Information:
604 362 0417 | rlipetz@takeahikefoundation.org
Victoria Ballance
Senior Manager of Philanthropy, Annual Giving
Victoria Ballance
Senior Manager of Philanthropy, Annual Giving
Victoria is passionate about championing opportunities for young people to thrive and building stronger communities. As the Senior Manager of Philanthropy in Annual Giving, she connects generous supporters to life-changing programs through heartfelt storytelling, impactful campaigns and engaging events – ensuring every donor feels appreciated and understands the significance of their gift.
Her commitment to this work is deeply personal. Having faced challenges similar to those experienced by Take a Hike youth, Victoria knows firsthand how transformative the right opportunities and support can be. This lived experience fuels her drive to ensure every young person has the chance to build a brighter future.
Victoria lives in a small town near Parksville on Vancouver Island with her husband and their beloved fur babies. Outside of her work, she finds joy in exploring the outdoors, staying active, and diving into a great book. Whether she’s starting a new book club or soaking up the sun on a well-deserved getaway, she’s always seeking her next adventure.
Victoria loves connecting with people. Ask her for a book recommendation or about the incredible impact your support for the Take a Hike Foundation has on youth across BC—she’d be thrilled to share a story that will inspire you!
Contact Information:
604 362 4990 | vballance@takeahikefoundation.org
Lucie Calder
MANAGER OF PHILANTHROPY, INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Lucie Calder
MANAGER OF PHILANTHROPY, INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Imaginative, creative and curious, Lucie is passionate about the rights and wellbeing of children and youth; she believes real change happens when young people’s voices are at the center of the systems that affect them.
As the Manager of Philanthropy, Individual Giving, Lucie connects individual donors to the real impact they’re making in young people’s lives. Through sharing stories of transformation directly from Take a Hike students, Lucie highlights their growth and resilience, and celebrates the generosity of Take a Hike’s supporters. These conversations are her favorite part of the job, as she’s curious about what draws supporters to Take a Hike, and enjoys building real, thoughtful relationships.
Before Take a Hike, Lucie worked at a children’s rights charity, working with foundations, government, and individual donors. She also got involved in community events, chatting at a booth or cheering on charity runners.
Outside of work, Lucie loves all things crafty, especially sewing – quilting is her new thing! Since moving to Vancouver, she’s been trying to rebrand as outdoorsy with a bit of hiking, skiing, and the occasional cold dip. If she could be anywhere in the world right now, she’d choose to be back with family and friends in the UK, giving her little niece the biggest hug ever. Ask Lucie for her not-too-touristy London recommendations – she lived there for six years and has strong opinions…
Devni de Silva
Senior Director of Finance & Shared Services
Devni de Silva
Senior Director of Finance & Shared Services
Devni is hard-working, wise, and compassionate. She excels in supporting leaders by articulating complex financial issues in simple language. Devni is passionate about working with an organization that helps promote mental well-being in youth. As the Director of Finance and Shared Services, Devni’s responsibilities include financial strategy, and financial and risk management.
Devni is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has a Master of Science in Strategic Business Management. Devni started her career in banking, after which she started her accounting career at KPMG. After arriving in Canada in the year 2000, she went up the ranks at the University of British Columbia. Since 2020, she has been supporting the not-for-profit sector, an area that she has always held dear to her heart. She also serves as a board member for a few not-for-profits.
Outside of work, Devni enjoys walking, spending time with family, listening to music, and catching up on shows on Netflix. Ask Devni about financing, risk management, and Grey’s Anatomy.
Contact Information:
604 362 7586 | ddesilva@takeahikefoundation.org
Marnie Goldenberg
Senior Director, Programs
Marnie Goldenberg
Senior Director, Programs
Strategic, caring, and goofy, Marnie is passionate about systems that work for all people and living things, and about community care. As the Senior Director of Programs, Marnie leads leaders and ensures that the youth we serve are supported in the best ways possible. Marnie juggles growth projects and make plans for the future.
Marnie attended law school with the plan to advocate for children and youth. Marnie has devoted the last 25 years to the charitable sector, most recently as the VP of Programs for Family Services of Greater Vancouver. Alongside program management, they’ve held senior roles and provided consulting services in organizational development, operations, stakeholder engagement, governance, and other systems. Marnie’s professional roles have often focused on vulnerable youth related homelessness services, legal advocacy in youth criminal justice, sexual health and wellness, and outdoor education.
Outside of work, Marnie enjoys going on hikes, swimming, cross-country skiing, and spending time with their teenage kids, wife, and their favourite housemate, Pekoe, the wonder dog! Marnie dreams of being on the Canadian Shield, paddling a canoe on a calm lake at dusk. Ask Marnie about the fabulous people who work with Take a Hike youth, delicious light-weight meals for the backcountry, and their favourite housemate.
Contact Information:
236 308 6102 | mgoldenberg@takeahikefoundation.org
Alaine Anicete
Interim Director, Programs
Alaine Anicete
Interim Director, Programs
Compassionate, curious, and extremely thrilled by whales. Alaine has a passion for equitable opportunities, building community and social enterprises, being outside, creating, and refining spaces, and dreaming up new business ideas. She is also a proud Filipino/Indo-Canadian and uses her voice to advocate for intersectional equity. As the Program Manager, of Lower Mainland, Alaine ensures Take a Hike’s Lower Mainland program staff who empower youth, feel supported, and are on the receiving end of our trauma-informed practices of change.
Alaine began her career in the field of community and social services while in Alberta supporting persons with disabilities and families experiencing homelessness. In the midst of this, she launched a social enterprise called Succulent by Nature that was centered around self-care and community. Succulent by Nature created custom terrariums and provided workshops that allocated 10% of profits to be donated back to the community. Over the course of 2 years, $15,000 was donated to charities like, the Ronald McDonald House of Alberta, Alberta SPCA, Meow Foundation and many more. Through owning a business, Alaine realized her love for business strategy which led to a career change as she accepted a role in Business Development for a Big 4 firm. Alaine decided to return to the work that fills her cup and took a leap by moving to Vancouver in 2021 to manage employment readiness and life skills programs for self-identifying women with justice involvement and youth aging out of government care, which is what led her to Take a Hike.
Outside of work, Alaine is a plant mama and loves hanging out with her 18-year-old chihuahua, exploring the forest, going for sea wall runs, and learning how to swim. Alaine dreams of traveling and going on safari in the Serengeti. Ask Alaine about decolonizing social systems, baking focaccia, and 90’s Hip Hop and RnB.
Contact Information:
236 308 7479 | aanicete@takeahikefoundation.org
Lenai Moore
Program Manager, Interior Region
Lenai Moore
Program Manager, Interior Region
Caring, compassionate, and adventurous, Lenai is passionate about mental health and wellness, caring for others, fostering meaningful relationships, and sharing her deep appreciation and love of the outdoors with others. As the Program Manager in the interior, Lenai provides support and guidance to staff located in the interior ensuring they are equipped with the tools they need to move forward together in alignment with the program model and practices of change.
Lenai’s has always been drawn to the social services sector, specifically the mental health field. Prior to Take a Hike, Lenai spent most of her working career post-University graduation with the Canadian Mental Health Association in Vernon. During her time with CMHA, Lenai had the opportunity to gain valuable insight and expertise working on various front-line multidisciplinary teams providing a diverse range of mental health-focused programming to her community of Vernon. This experience led her to follow her passion for providing leadership and program management to staff teams for the past 4 years before pursuing a new career opportunity with the Take a Hike Foundation.
Outside of work, Lenai loves stretching her social battery to its fullest potential. She loves spending time with her husband, family, and friends, often chasing adventures together or planning their next travels. When she craves some quiet time, she loves to try out new baking and cooking recipes to share with others. Lenai enjoys being outdoors all year round, in the summertime you’ll find her hiking or paddle boarding and skiing in the winter. As a travel lover, Lenai dreams of being somewhere tropical beach, feeling the warm sunshine on her face, making new memories, and sharing laughter with her loved ones. Ask Lenai about her favourite travel adventures, her love of Volleyball, and local hidden gems to explore in the Okanagan.
Contact Information:
236-308-7734 | lmoore@takeahikefoundation.org
Andrea Krakan
Program Manager, Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley
Andrea Krakan
Program Manager, Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley
Compassionate, relational and fierce, Andrea is responsible for supporting Take a Hike’s six programs across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley region. Andrea offers support to the on-the-ground school-based teams, working to ensure their needs are met so they can focus on best practice and student achievement.
Andrea’s nonprofit career has seen her work at multiple organizations, including Family Services Youth Detox, where she was boldly introduced to stories of struggle, resilience and hope from the young people she met. At Peak House Youth Treatment Center, Andrea supported youth with finding freedom from problematic substance use. After holding various positions such as Youth Counsellor, Intake Coordinator, Life Skills Coordinator & Supervisor, she proudly held the position of Program Manager for 5 years.
At Take a Hike, Andrea is dedicated to offering mentorship, guidance and support to the programs she manages, ensuring the focus is always on the youth in the programs we serve.
Outside of work, Andrea loves spending time with her husband and son (a competitive martial artist – look out for him at the Olympics one day!) going swimming, heading to the playground and watching movies as a family.
If Andrea could be anywhere in the world right now, she’d choose to be in Split, Croatia swimming in the turquoise sea with the sun on her face. Andrea was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and spent summers in Croatia, before her family came to Canada as refugees in 1994.
Ask Andrea about Bosnian Coffee, low maintenance indoor plants and her famous Bolognese recipe!
Tristan Tjosvold
PROGRAM MANAGER, VANCOUVER ISLAND REGION
Tristan Tjosvold
PROGRAM MANAGER, VANCOUVER ISLAND REGION
Enthusiastic, thoughtful, and heart-forward, Tristan’s role at Take a Hike is two-fold. In his role as Program Manager, he supports the ongoing operations of TAH’s four Vancouver Island programs. He provides support and guidance to the staff teams, ensuring they are equipped with the tools, connections, and resources they need to create and maintain safe, caring classrooms. Tristan also supports the Interior and Ontario teams with clinical supervision and consultation, helping to co-develop, plan, and implement clinical practice, procedures, and training. Tristan is optimistic about what is made possible when we are connected to ourselves, to others, and to our environment, and aims to be an encouraging manager and clinical supervisor within the TAH team.
Tristan is a registered clinical counsellor and has worked extensively with vulnerable populations, children, youth, and families in a variety of settings including a family service agency, on integrated teams for the health authority, a mental health crisis response team, and in private practice. Tristan is passionate about building and maintaining communities where folks feel safe, heard, understood, and loved for who they are – both at work and more broadly. Prior to his current role at TAH, Tristan was a Mental Health Clinician at the organization for four years.
Outside of work, Tristan is a curious wanderer; he loves exploring the outdoors with his loved ones, whether that’s by foot on a hike, by bike in the mountains, or on the water in a kayak. He loves playing and listening to music, cooking good food, and spending quality time in community with his friends and family.
If Tristan could be anywhere else in the world right now, you’d finding him whipping around on a 125cc scooter along the coastline of a sunny surf town in Indonesia. Ask Tristan about the silly games he used to run as a camp counsellor, his baba’s borscht recipe, or the time he was highlighted on a reality TV show on Much Music…