Team

Sherry Baker has always been involved in volunteering in her community.  Starting from her teenage years, whenever there has been an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, Sherry has been there – either leading or working behind the scenes.   

After earning a degree in Home Economics at UBC, she taught high school until her husband finished university and their first child was born. The family moved to Chilliwack and Sherry immediately got involved, with her husband, in Kinsmen. This was followed by a long engagement with the Community Arts Council, first as a volunteer and then as the Executive Director with the vision to build a Theatre and Cultural Centre – which opened in 1984.  In keeping with her commitment to the community, Sherry worked part-time for the local Cable TV station to develop a local, community-access TV station.  By 1979, there were over 70 volunteers producing 12 ½ hours of original programming every week. 

Sherry served on the Chilliwack City Council for 6 years in the 1980’s.  She completed a Diploma in Business Administration in 1984 with an emphasis on managing Non-profit organizations.  In 1994, she completed a Master of Arts degree in Applied Behavioral Science from City University in Seattle and, the next year, was hired as the Executive Director of Ishtar Transition Housing Society in Langley.  By then her children were grown,  she and her husband had separated, and she had moved to Fort Langley.  While at Ishtar, Sherry took another part-time contract as CEO of the Aldergrove Neighbourhood House to help them through a transition in leadership.  After 10 years at Ishtar, Sherry was hired as co-Executive Director at Collingwood Neighbourhood House in Vancouver.  It was not a good fit, so her next move was to the private sector where she had a company which was set up to match people over 55 with potential employers.   

In 2010, all the stars aligned, and Sherry became the Executive Director of the BC Association of Community Response Networks.  She was successful in getting full funding from the Province of BC in 2012 to do elder abuse awareness and prevention in BC.  By 2024 the BC CRN has grown to provide support for a coordinated community response to adult abuse, neglect and self-neglect in almost 90 community networks working in over 250 communities in BC.  There were about 25 professionals on contract working towards a shared vision to make this happen.  

In 2024, Sherry left the BC CRN and set up a consulting business to support leaders who are dedicated to “making a difference” through the creation of a purpose driven learning organization. 

Sherry has been a member of Rotary International since 1992.  She has been awarded 4 Paul Harris Fellowships. 

Jerry Gosling was born, raised, and educated in Abbotsford, BC and is now retired there. He is 84 years of age, married (63 years) and has one daughter and three adult grandsons, all of whom have university degrees. He retired from BC Transit in 2001 and serves or has served, on several boards in executive positions, both local and provincially:

• The Council of Senior Citizens of BC (COSCO) as one of the general Vice Presidents
• A COA with the Senior Advocate
• Past President of the BC Old Age Pensioners Org.(BC-OAPO) where I served as President for 5 years with full term (June 8, 2022)
• Past President of the BC Gov’t retired employees assoc.(BCGREA)
• Past Vice President of the Canadian Hard OF Hearing Assoc.(CHHA) and
• Past President of the MSA Museum

He presently teaches courses with COSCO and has taught courses with UVIC where he was a Master Trainer. in BC he has been involved with seniors since retiring in 2001. He keeps involved with the issues that seniors encounter.

Through a dynamic career in television production that has taken her from New York to Vancouver, Katrina Prescott has made her mark in commercials and continues to feed her creativity with new challenges. Having contributed to the success of several major production companies with top tier commercial directors, she has amassed a wealth of experience behind the camera. A dedicated leader combining analytical skills with fresh and innovative approaches, Katrina strives towards attaining the best results and faces challenges head on with a “make it happen” approach. 

Outside of production, Katrina is a dedicated community advocate and innovator. She has created programs and received funding for environmental initiatives, getting hot meals to neighbours in need and combating seniors’ isolation. Recently, Katrina used her talents to develop a campaign to raise money in support of Indigenous-led movements on Canada’s first National Day For Truth and Reconciliation. One Day’s Pay went viral and raised nearly half a million dollars in about a week in its first year. 

Katrina is a caregiving consultant and educator as well as an advocate for people living with dementia. She shares her knowledge with organizations including: West End Seniors Network, Dr. Matthias Hoben (York U): Research Advisory Committee on Quality of Life & Care, UBC Patient & Community Partnership for Education, Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, CDLRN: Community Advisory Committee, Family Caregivers of BC, BC Office of the Seniors Advocate Providence Health Care: Coordinating Care, Shared Care & Virtual Health , Alzheimer Society of BC’s Leadership Group of Caregivers, Family Caregivers of BC, BC Law Institute & Canadian Centre for Elder Law, BC Centre for Palliative Care, Westside Seniors Hub and several studies and research efforts for various universities and organizations. 

In 2023, Katrina received an award for Caregiving Advocacy from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence. She was also first Co-Chair for Caregivers Can, a national advocacy group. Looking ahead, she aspires to drive transformation in health care for individuals with chronic illness and their caregivers and collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders including non-profit groups, researchers, politicians, universities and medical professionals. Her commitment to improving the lives of people around her leaves a lasting impression. Katrina continues to feed her creativity with new challenges.