Meet the Board of Directors

Members continuing their term: (in alphabetical order)

Megan Chong (Secretary)

Megan has worked for the Vancouver Island Health Authority for the past 10 years and is a Privacy Specialist in the Information Stewardship, Access & Privacy Office. In this role, Megan works as a subject matter expert in privacy legislation and helps both Island Health staff and patients 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 has also recently been commissioned as a Notary Public and provides Notary services at Notaries on Douglas. 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. 

Term: Director 2021; Secretary 2022 to present

Braden Greaves (Chair)

Braden is a Legal Officer at the AJAG -Pacific Office at CFB Esquimalt. Previously he was a Lawyer with Stevenson Luchies & Legh in Victoria.  He received his JD from the University of Victoria and completed his articles with his current firm. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Braden was an Infantry Officer. Braden‘s spouse is a recently retired Naval Officer, with whom he has two young children. Braden continuously seeks way to give back to the community. In his previous law practice, Braden worked with legal aid and provided free estate planning for teachers and medical workers during the COVID 19 pandemic. For Braden, volunteering with the MFRC was a natural decision that will allow him to support military families outside of the legal realm. Braden is excited to bring his knowledge and experiences as a serving member, former military spouse, and lawyer to the Board and give back to the community. 

 Term: Director 2018 to 2021; Vice Chair 2021; Chair 2022 to present

Leta Martin (Vice Chair)

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. 

Term: Director 2016 to 2017; Secretary 2017 to 2019; Vice Chair 2019 to 2021; Secretary 2021; Vice Chair 2022 to present

Christine Richard

Christine Richard currently works at Royal Roads University for the last 11 years as a Student Accounts Associate, Executive Assistant, and now a Capital Program Coordinator. Christine has a proven track record of high-volume, high-pressure performance in all of her roles. Her formal education includes an honours diploma in Legal Assistant, and she is currently working on her Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a focus on Leadership. 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.

 Term: Director 2022 to present

Glen Thomas (Treasurer)

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, 29 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. 

Term: Treasurer 2022 to present

Erin Walsh

Erin is a senior leader in the BC Public Service and has served in the Justice and Public Safety Sector for nearly a decade.  Her professional focus is on designing programs to tackle public safety issues, and she enjoys stakeholder relations, negotiating and policy. Erin is also actively engaged in the Sector’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy. Erin’s spouse serves in the Navy and together they have two daughters who love to sing, dance and cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Erin is grateful to contribute her personal and professional experience to the MFRC’s Board of Directors. 

Term: Director 2021 to present

Kayla Whitesel

Kayla is the Director of Business Development for Regroove Solutions Inc., a Microsoft consulting company based out of Victoria, where she assists companies migrating to the Microsoft cloud and implementing communication, collaboration, and automation solutions. She is also a Signals Officer in the Canadian Army Reserves with 39 Signals Regiment in Victoria. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo. Kayla grew up in Southwestern Ontario and relocated to Victoria in 2018. Kayla’s partner spent 10 years in the Navy before transferring to the Air Force in 2022, and she spent five years volunteering with the MFRC’s Family Network before joining the board in 2022. She is passionate about facilitating programs and events that benefit the military community and using technology to improve the way teams work.   

Term: Director 2022 to present

Emily Zhong

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 in 2015. 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. For the last 3 years 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 her community connection.

Term: Director 2016; Director 2022 to present