Board of Directors
PRESIDENT & MEMBERSHIP - JANICE JOHNSON
Janice became a member with RABC in 2014, and was RAC Certified in 2010. In 2011/2012 she was President for RAC-BC Chapter, before moving over to join RABC. In 2002 she volunteered much time to improving local outdoor air quality, which turned into a full time job with the local regional government. Much progress in 5 years was accomplished, and then Janice was accepted into the Community Futures Self-Employment Business Program. Janice has been interested in alternative health for over 30 years since healing her body from her own multiple allergies, which no longer exist. I am honoured to serve as President to the members of RABC. |
TREASURER - SEEMA JHALLI
I started my medical journey as a Medical Assistant at Kaiser Hospital in California. I worked as a clerk at The Consulate General of India, Vancouver. I was a Job Search Advisor at (Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS). I worked at DIVERSEcity as a South Asian Settlement Worker. I got married and had two sons. I was not able to work full-time. Then I started searching on google for what to do from home. Reflexology was the only option I had.
Now I am an Approved Reflexology Practitioner. I took foot, ear and hand reflexology. Since 2016 I have been a member of RABC. I have been a Treasurer for the last 2 years. I also took Vertical Reflexology with Lynn Booth from London, England. I am a Reiki Master Teacher. I want to be an energy healer. I want to heal this world and the Universe. I volunteer with DIVERSEcity to help Newcomers with the Together Project. I also Volunteer with CRA CVITP to file taxes for students and low-income people. I love to help our community. |
SECRETARY (VACANT) - FRANCES BIRDSELL filling in
Frances Birdsell, Reflexologist and Natural Health Practitioner, has owned and operated Viva Holistic Healing since 1997. She is a Practitioner and Instructor of foot, hand and ear Reflexology, offering ongoing courses in Reflexology and other holistic healing methods in Terrace and across the northwest. Frances holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology, and has worked in health research for a number of years. She arrived in Terrace in 1978, launching a career in community development, running the Terrace Women's Centre. Frances received her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the Instituto Naturista in Guatemala in 1997, as well as a Masters in Kai Igaku / La Medicina Agradable, utilizing the widely used method of applied kinesiology, called the Examen Bioenergetico (Bioenergy Exam) from COHNAN, in Leon, Nicaragua. Through Northwest Development Education, Frances has worked for global awareness with OXFAM and CUSO. She is also an accredited Spiritual Healer utilizing a number of techniques including Reiki, Prana, Polarity, Chakra Balancing, Gemstone, Monadic and Emerald Fire. |
FOOTNOTE NEWS and WEBSITE - DIANE MACDONALD
Diane MacDonald of Raincoast Elemental Wellness and Consulting Inc. is dedicated to supporting those who care for others through Reflexology and bioenergetic techniques. Promoting inner peace and a path forward through relaxation.
Diane is a firm believer that when we invest in ourselves through holistic techniques which support the cycle of relaxation, release and renewal we are healthier, more adaptive and more creative when facing life’s challenges. Diane holds those who care for others with a profound respect and chooses to focus her energy on supporting the caregivers/care providers in her community. Diane is a registered member of the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada, the Reflexology Association of BC, the Reflexology Association of Canada, the Canadian Association of Bioenergetic Wellness, BC Therapeutic Touch Network Society and the Therapeutic Touch International Association. |
SOCIAL MEDIA - RON LEIBEL
Ron Leibel discovered Reflexology in 1985 because of his asthma. When he tried it on regular basis, within a couple of months his lungs cleared up and he was able to stop taking medications. It was a truly life altering experience.
Ron realized that Reflexology was his true passion in life. He started a full-time Reflexology practice in 1993 and worked at Le Spa at the Sutton Place Hotel in downtown Vancouver as well as a mobile service for BC Hydro, Vancity, Film Studios and other personal clients. Ron went on to be the President of the Reflexology Association of British Columbia for six years and is currently on the RABC Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Reflexology Association Of Canada. Reflexology is all about thumb and handwork and care must be taken to protect and strengthen the hands in order to ensure a long career. Out of necessity, Ron developed what he calls the "Sliding Technique". The "Sliding Technique requires less effort, you can actually apply more pressure with less exertion and, you don't miss any reflex points. In 2002, he developed his own Advanced Reflexology "Sliding Technique" Foot Course and began to teach courses at various locations in Metro Vancouver such as Langara College, Kwantlen University College, Surrey College, Metro College, Vancouver Community College, Sprott-Shaw Community College, North Shore Continuing Education, Burnaby Continuing Education, Port Moody Community Services, Coquitlam Continuing Education, West Vancouver Community Learning, Vancouver School Board and the Advanced Reflexology Institute. In the ongoing years, he has added the Advanced Reflexology "Sliding Technique" Hand and Ear Course. He has also produced Foot and Hand Reflexology "Sliding Technique" Instruction Videos. |
DIRECTOR AT LARGE - CHRISTOPHER SHIRLEY
Christopher Shirley is the Director of the Pacific Institute of Reflexology school in Vancouver, B.C. and Regina SK. He served as the President of the Reflexology Association of B.C. in 1986 when he succeeded in having “Reflexology” entered as a heading in the Yellow Pages. He has published “Reflexology Foot, Hand and Ear Charts,” and an instructional DVD “Foot Reflexology: A Step-by-Step Guide.” He also produced a set of ten informational brochures that describe the benefits of reflexology for ten health conditions. In 2019 he was made an honorary member of RABC.
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DIRECTOR AT LARGE - MARY VAN GEYN
Mary van Geyn began her journey as a Reflexologist in 2003, after completing her first course at the Pacific Institute of Reflexology with the guidance of Chris Shirley. What began as an 80th birthday gift for her Mom has turned into a wonderful career, sharing this amazing modality with clients from 8 weeks old to 102 years old. She has had the privilege of studying with Reflexologists from Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK.
Mary has been a member of the Reflexology Association of BC (RABC) since 2005, and became an Approved Reflexology Practitioner in 2017. She is also a member of the Reflexology Association of Canada (RAC), as a Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist (RCRT). She served on the RABC board from 2008 - 2012, as Membership Director, and has now rejoined the Board as a Member at Large. Mary lives in Coquitlam with her husband and twin sons, and treats throughout the TriCities area. When not sharing her passion in Reflexology, she can be found in her 1962 Airstream, exploring thrift shops and sales for any and all things Vintage. |
DIRECTOR AT LARGE - LYNNE THUNDERSTORM
I immigrated to Canada from upstate New York in the early 1970’s and lived with my family on a quarter section of land in northern Alberta. We learned homesteading skills from old-timers, and by the time we moved to northwestern BC, we were building log homes, making goat cheese, fashioning clothing from our own sheep’s wool, growing huge organic gardens, and homeschooling our three children.
I took a course in homeopathy and in healing touch, but it wasn’t until many years later, after my kids left home, that I discovered reflexology. My practice took off and I was building a nice comfortable business until the whole covid thing happened. The family homestead has been sold and I live in a small city about a day’s drive south from the isolated wild valley where I spent almost four decades honing my survival skills and learning about plants, herbs, and health. I have a big garden and fruit trees and enjoy walking my dog along the river and lake trails, but I plan to eventually find a more rural place to live. For now, I am getting back to my first love, which was creative writing. Hopefully I will start to put words on paper again and publish something. |
DIRECTOR AT LARGE - SERAH STRANDBERG
I received my reflexology training at the Pacific Institute of Reflexology - completing the diploma program and becoming a member of RABC in 2018.
My interest in practicing reflexology was inspired by the many sessions I was given while living with some serious long-term, energy-depletion issues in the 1990's and again around 2010-2015, due to an over-active lifestyle, which kept me from employment and enjoying life for many months and even years; I'm confident that my health hugely improved over time with the frequent and regular sessions that I seriously searched out from various reflexologists in the community of North Vancouver. With the knowledge gained from having had so many sessions myself, I had a certain confidence that learning the art of reflexology would come quite naturally. I suppose I wanted to give others the calming and slowing down effect of a reflexology session - the effect of which hopefully too, would sustain for some time after the session. Recently I took my reflexology business to the Sunshine Coast when I moved to Sechelt. I'm enjoying working with a small group of clients and find myself frequently researching videos on the internet to explore further from the knowledge taught in my training and RABC workshops, as new issues come up with clients. This seems to be the best way to keep reflexology a constant exploration, and to share with others new discoveries that often relate to their own feet and health. I am a member of a local Tai Chi group and have interest in musical composition and piano performance as well as having had a 35- year-long career in music teaching. I have two wonderful, grown sons. |
Reflexology Association of British Columbia
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