Board of Directors

Young Adult Cancer Canada’s Board of Directors directly oversees our operations and budget, including advising and approving our annual strategic plan.

Board of Directors

Valerie Pike

Chair

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Where do you work, and what do you do there?

Former Teacher, Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation Chair. Recently “graduated” from the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation, NL Department of Education. My work has primarily encompassed high school French second language education with a brief and valuable stop at the Parole Board of Canada.

Where are you located?

St. John’s, NL

When did you join YACC’s Board of Directors?

May 2002

Why did you get involved with YACC?

My initial involvement was pre-YACC after Geoff was first diagnosed and he was forming RealTime Cancer from his hospital bed and his bedroom at home. Beyond gathering the courage to face his personal challenge, he was fiercely determined to share his cancer journey with other young people. I remember him coming back to high school to practice his first speech with no audience in my classroom. His story, his honesty and his determination to open the dialogue about young adult cancer was inspiring and hopeful. It still is.

What’s your favourite thing/sports team/band/book/place in the world?

Sport: Tennis. Djokovic, Federer – incroyables! Music: Andrea Bocelli, Ron Hynes, The Beastie Boys’ In Sound From Way Out instrumental album. Book: les Misérables Places in the world: Newfoundland and Labrador. Ocean and ponds, landscape and wildlife, St. John’s, and beautiful rural communities. As Geoff would say, “It’s the centre of the universe”! The south of France is also a favourite.

Matthew Follett

Director

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Where do you work, and what do you do there?

Vice President, Finance, Crosbie Group Limited

Where are you located?

St. John’s, NL

When did you join YACC’s Board of Directors?

May 2011

Why did you get involved with YACC?

Cancer has and continues to have a significant impact on my family. I was looking for a way to get involved with cancer related support efforts for my demographic group and thought no better way in doing so then volunteering my hair for cancer. After the shave Geoff and I kept in touch. I was overwhelmed by his story and his commitment and dedication in support of YACC and most importantly the organizations efforts in supporting young adults suffering from this terrible disease.

Deirdre "Beep" Ayre

Director

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Where do you work, and what do you do there?

Head of Operations and Director, Other Ocean Group Canada Ltd.

Where are you located?

St. John’s, NL and Charlottetown, PE

When did you join YACC’s Board of Directors?

November 2017

Why did you get involved with YACC?

Many reasons, but partly because I work alongside very talented young adults, and most of our games are made for the enjoyment of young adults, so it seems fitting to try and help young adults and learn from their courage and determination. Deirdre has over 25 years’ experience in the entertainment and digital media industries. In 2006, Deirdre conducted the due diligence and spearheaded the establishment of Other Ocean’s original video game development studio on Prince Edward Island. In 2007 she oversaw the establishment of Other Ocean’s Quality Assurance and Community Management Company, Sculpin QA, followed by the establishment of Other Ocean’s second development studio in St John’s, NL. In 2013, Other Ocean’s PEI development studio was acquired by video game corporate giant, Electronic Arts. In 2016, Deirdre re-established Other Ocean’s production presence on PEI by expanding Sculpin QA to include development of Original IP. Deirdre is recognized for her commitment to economic and social diversification, her collaborative efforts with educational institutions, and her success in recruiting top talent from around the world including, but not limited to, China, Indonesia, Brazil, India, and the UK. Deirdre is vice president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Interactive Media Alliance and past board member of the board for Entertainment Software Association of Canada and the Canadian Interactive Alliance. She is a member of the University of PEI Mathematical & Computational Sciences Advisory Council and a member of the advisory committee for PEI’s Entrepreneurial Launchpad Program. She is a participant of the Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education and previously a participant of the Conference Board’s Leaders Round Table on Immigration. Deirdre graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Radio and Television).

Karl Smith

Director

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Where do you work, and what do you do there?

I’m retired after a long career with Fortis in Newfoundland and Alberta. My focus now is mainly on community support projects. I also serve with Junior Achievement and Team Broken Earth.