Meet the Board of Directors

Megan was commissioned as a Notary Public in 2023 and joined Notaries on Douglas the same year specializing in Real Estate. Prior to becoming a notary, Megan worked in information privacy law at Island Health for over a decade helping others navigate legislative and technical requirements to protect and ensure the privacy of personal information. She is a member of the Canadian Health Information Management Association, and her formal education includes a Bachelor of Health Administration from Ryerson University and a Master’s degree in Applied Legal Studies from Simon Fraser University.  Megan’s husband is serving in the Navy, and they have one young son. As a military spouse, Megan is eager to be able to give back to the military community and is looking forward to contributing as a member of the MFRC Board of Directors. 

Daniel Clarke, originally from the prairies, joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 2008 as a Naval Communicator. He has had the pleasure of serving onboard multiple ships, including HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Regina, HMCS Calgary, and most recently, HMCS Whitehorse.

Daniel first served on the board from 2018 to 2021, leaving when he moved to Vancouver to join the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group. Having recently moved back to the island, he is eager to continue working with the Esquimalt MFRC, promoting diverse and resilient military families. When not in uniform, you can find him indulging in unhealthy doses of social media, reluctantly exercising, and, more wholesomely, spending quality time with his husband and cat.

Leta Martin is currently an employee with the Vancouver Island Health Authority where she works as a Coordinator in Quality and Patient Safety.  In this role she is responsible for working with a wide range of stakeholders to help resolve patient safety concerns as they arise.  This work includes conversing and consulting with those involved in safety events as well as gathering and analyzing historical data to create forward thinking quality improvement plans.  In addition to her work at the Health Authority, Leta also has 8 years of banking experience working at Coast Capital Savings and has worked for the Department of National Defence doing policy and procurement work at Base Logistics.  Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Commerce and an MA in Dispute Resolution.  Leta’s volunteer history includes coordinating volunteer teams of 15 -20 people annually at Operation Track Shoes for the past 9 years, holding an Executive Member position on the University of Victoria Commerce Student Society, and coordinating and planning multiple formal banquets and networking events for upwards of 200 attendees for the students of the Gustavson School of Business. Leta’s husband is in the Navy, and this first-hand knowledge of the military family lifestyle is a great asset on the Board of Directors for Esquimalt MFRC. 

Christine Richard currently works at Royal Roads University, having held various roles there over the last 12 years. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on leadership, organization development, and human resources, with the expectation to be completed in October 2024. Christine has spent many years volunteering with various organizations; including 89 Pacific Cadets as a director, and the Boy Scouts as a scout leader, quartermaster, and secretary. Christine has volunteered with the Military Family Resource Centre as a Family Network volunteer, assisting families before, during, and after deployments and volunteering for several community events such as Family Formation Fun Day, 50/50 sales at baseball and hockey games, and much more. Christine also volunteers in the catering department of Branch 91 Legion, assisting with food and beverage events outside of the military. Christine's husband is in the Navy and has firsthand knowledge of the current military family lifestyle; as such, she is honoured to contribute to the membership of the Esquimalt MFRC Board of Directors.

Glen is a retired Naval Logistics Officer with over 37 years of service in the RCN.  While serving in his final posting as CO of the Pacific Fleet Headquarters, he served on the Board of Directors of the Esquimalt MFRC as Fleet Rep and Treasurer, and continued to do so after retirement.  He is honoured to once again have the opportunity to work with this vital organization in support of Military Families.   Glen and Patti (Keenan), (a retired elementary school teacher), each have two sons the same ages, 33 and 31, and thoroughly enjoy the retired life of travel (local and abroad), badminton, bicycling, playing bridge, and RV camping.  Glen is looking forward to once again making a contribution to such a worthwhile cause, and working with extremely talented and dedicated board members and staff. 

Anja is proudly on her seventh year of service in the Canadian Armed Forces. She started her career as a Steward at CFB Halifax gaining valuable experience including a deployment to Europe. She moved with her husband, who also serves in the Royal Canadian Navy, to CFB Kingston where she had the opportunity to be the Barrack Warden before moving again and working as the Support NCM to Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific here at CFB Esquimalt.
While her husband was deployed last year, Anja made the transition from her retiring trade to continue her service as a Material Management Technician. Her experiences with a trade retirement and change, multiple moves, her deployment experience, and her service couple transition to supporting her husband’s deployment bring a well-rounded perspective of the challenges faced by military couples.
 Anja is excited for the adventures ahead as her and her husband continue service. She is honoured to contribute and give back to the community that has supported her family through their various challenges.

Chelsie Astles is a dedicated Financial Services Administrator with over 16 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces. Throughout her career, she has supported military operations both at home and abroad, experiencing the unique challenges of deployments not only as a serving member but also as the parent supporting from home.
As part of a dual-service couple and mother to three wonderful children, Chelsie has consistently balanced the demands of military life with a deep commitment to her family and her professional development. A lifelong learner, she has pursued post-secondary studies in accounting and business management through the University of Alberta and Thompson Rivers University, and holds a CPA certification in Public Funds from the Royal Military College.
Chelsie has served at several bases across Canada, with the majority of her career spent at CFB Esquimalt in various key roles within the financial community. Her experience has reinforced her strong belief in the power of community. She is a passionate advocate for the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC), recognizing it as a vital space for connection, especially when members and families are far from their home village.

Anne has been serving in the Royal Canadian Navy for over a decade in a variety of management positions and is a recent MBA graduate from the University of Victoria. As part of a service couple family with a young child, she understands some of the unique challenges military families can face and is excited to bring her lived experience and fresh perspective to the Esquimalt MFRC Board of Directors. Outside of work, Anne enjoys exploring the exceptional natural beauty of British Columbia with her family.

Veteran | Financial Entrepreneur | Fintech Innovator 

Francois Joumaa is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran with over 15 years of distinguished service, having operated across the globe—from the Arctic to Afghanistan and nearly everywhere in between. His military career reflects a deep commitment to excellence, beginning as a Light (Para) Infantry Soldier and later transitioning to the Royal Canadian Navy as a Marine Systems Engineer. 

He went on to serve in highly specialized roles, including Helicopter Crash Rescue Firefighter, Navy Team Diver, Instructor at the Royal Canadian Navy Damage Control School (Damage Control Expert), Helicopter-Crash Firefighter, and Attack Team Leader. 

Francois retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2023 but continues to serve the military community with dedication. He currently sits as a Director on the PPCLI Association Board, advocating for veterans and supporting those still in uniform. 

In parallel with his military service, Francois spent the past five years helping families, individuals, and small businesses achieve their financial goals. After gaining valuable experience at a major financial institution, he embraced entrepreneurship by co-founding the Joumaa-Johnson Group (JJG) alongside fellow veteran and long-time friend, Dwayne Johnson. 

Today, as Co-CEO and COO of JJG and its subsidiaries, Francois leads a broad range of initiatives in financial services, fintech innovation, and program development. He is especially passionate about financial literacy and accessibility, aiming to equip his clients with the tools and education needed to achieve lasting financial independence. 

Francois remains deeply connected to his roots in service, offering expert financial guidance through the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) and other veteran-focused initiatives. His mission is simple but powerful: to serve, support, and empower.

Emily is a military spouse and mother of two energetic young daughters. She acquired a Diploma in Business Administration at the University of Victoria and graduated from Royal Roads University with a Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies. Emily is currently working as a Civilian Employee at DND. Previously, she has assisted over five hundred refugees and immigrants in their career transition through her 8 years at the Victoria Immigrant & Refugee Centre Society. Emily has been part of the military community since her oldest daughter started at the MFRC daycare when she was one and a half years old. While pregnant with their second daughter and with her military husband on course in Winnipeg and Gagetown for most of a year, the MFRC provided much needed support. Emily and her family love the island lifestyle. She enjoys being active in her community by volunteering at a variety of organizations and events. She has supported the Esquimalt MFRC in various volunteering opportunities. She believes that resilience and maintaining a positive attitude can help a military family through even the toughest time. The military community is important to Emily, and by joining the MFRC Board, it will allow her to bring her non-profit organization management and operational skills, as well as her community connection.