Topher Burke- President

Topher Burke (he/him/they) is a Two-Spirit, sixth generation Métis. While hard at work learning the family business, they are also a volunteer firefighter, their Métis Chartered Community President, they represent their region on the Provincial 2SLGBTQQIA+ Council within the Métis Nation BC (the first of its kind for an Indigenous nation in Canada!), sit on the Mawiiyahk Nakatikashoo 2SLGBTQQIA+ National Committee, and gratefully facilitates two different suicide intervention workshops to communities across province of British Columbia.

Having a lived experience of suicidality, he is now a passionate advocate of training people to have the skills he needed someone to have in their time of crisis.

Growing up Two-Spirit in colonial western culture proved challenging, being disconnected from the culture of their ancestors. Now they are actively (re)learning, and sharing the teachings cut-off by their grandparents out of fear of the residential schools. They are on a mission to educate our modern world on the value of Ceremony, Culture, Community, & Connection as a powerful way of keeping all our people alive and flourishing.

Pheb Goulet – Vice President

 

Carol Boechler -Treasurer

 Carol is an administrator for her home-based insurance and construction business. A dedicated member of her community, she actively participates in various sports and serves as a volunteer firefighter at the Fairmont Fire Hall. Inspired by her youngest daughter, Carol reconnected with her Indigenous roots, an emotional journey that led to her being sashed and welcomed back into the Métis community. She is passionate about deepening her cultural knowledge and contributing to her local Métis board by organizing gatherings that celebrate art, language, food, and traditions.  
 

Jennifer Cope – Secretary

Mallory Blondeau – Women’s Representative

Taanishi! I moved to Radium in September 2022 and have been enjoying getting to know the Columbia Valley and its community ever since. I’m originally from Hinton, Alberta, so I feel at home back in the mountains after 6 years of living on the coast.  I love hiking and exploring the beautiful lakes and surrounding nature. I’m also a digital illustrator and a beadwork artist, with a focus on recreating historical Métis material items and contemporary pieces. I’m excited to be the CVMA’s new Women’s Representative and create opportunities for  connection among the amazing Métis women within our community. Please feel free to contact me directly at CVMAwomensrep@gmail.com if you’d like to get in touch! 
 
Maarsii, 
 
Mal

Monica Fisher- Member at Large

I was born and raised in Invermere B.C.  I was raised as a strong, proud Métis woman by my Métis mother Debra Fisher (McGilvery), Scottish/English descendant father Ken Fisher and spent much of her life with close connections to her extended family in particular her Nanny (Kokum) Evelyn McGilvery (Bourassa) and James (Streak) McGilvery both originally from Saskatchewan.  My Métis family roots come from the Red River Valley with family names Bourassa, Boyer, Dumont.  

Born and raised in the Columbia Valley I have been exposed to many sports and activities.  I enjoy spending time outside and enjoy mountain biking, hiking, water sports, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.  

I greatly enjoy international travel having been throughout Central America, parts of Europe, Uganda, Tanzania, Peru, Australia and New Zealand. After returning from Scotland and England, I landed in Calgary to focus my energy on my Post Secondary Education.  I have and continue to work in food and beverage having spend 26 years doing so.  I have worked in various positions which include cooking, serving, bartending, General Management and sales.  I enjoy meeting new people, being busy and watching how food brings people together.  My post secondary education is in Social Work and Disability Studies.  I have always been a helper and working in a helping role for over 17 years.  In Calgary I focused much of my employment working with individuals struggling with mental health, homelessness and addiction. 

 

In my volunteer life I have sat in various positions Director with Mountain of Hope Society, organizer for the Tim Goldie Fundraiser, assisted with many fundraising initiatives and more recently with Columbia Valley Métis as VP for 1 year and President for 2 years.  I have decided to step back on all volunteering to focus my energy on my culture and my people. I want all Métis to be proud of their roots, their community and have pride.  

We are a strong, proud, independent group of people and I enjoy getting to meet all our relations in the work I do with CVM.