QRCA, qathet regional cycling association

QRCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The board of directors are the decision makers driving association direction and policy. They work closely with local stakeholders and policymakers, including local, provincial, and federal governments, and tourism operators to help grow cycling access and infrastructure. The board meets regularly (every 1-2 months) and each board member commits roughly 3 – 10+ hours per month depending on the role and season. All roles are currently filled by volunteers.

president

Todd Clarke: In a professional capacity I have extensive experience and many skills. Myself and my brother set up and ran a successful mountain bike organization called the Forest of Dean Night Riders. We successfully secured monitory sponsorship and had an active base of 75 riders who would turn up for multiple weekly group rides year round. I also ran a forestry company in the uk, I launched a charcoal company with my brother and we grew it to the second largest producer of British charcoal. This presented many challenges and required me to have excellent problem solving skills and allocated funds and resources well. I am originally from the mountain biking Mecca of South Wales and I already know the Qathet region is my forever home. I’m heavily invested in the sport of mountain biking in all its factions. After a shoulder injury my scope of riding changed to encompass all variations. I truly believe that a person on two wheels is the best thing in the world no matter what trail they’re on. Since moving to Canada I have been in management roles with a local non profit. Most recently I am a project manager for the new store here in town. This has an incredibly tight budget and I have managed to bring the project in under budget currently. I believe I have all the skills to grow the QRCA into the mountain biking organization this expanding region needs it to be.

vice-president

Alston Miller: I am currently the qRCA vice-president. I have also helped to lead and organize the Monday night rides for the past four years, have been an active member of the Chain Gang for the past five years and have sat on the Mahoney climb working group (first as a qRCA member and now as the vice president) for the past year. Outside of qRCA, I volunteer as the president of the Powell River Community Foundation (president for three years and on the board for six) and as an off-ice office volunteer for Powell River Minor Hockey. My goals for the qRCA include, completing and endorsing our strategic plan, aligning the qRCA 2022-2023 goals, outcomes and indicators with the strategic plan, establishing qRCA specific bylaws rather than diverting to the one’s solely mentioned in the Societies Act of BC, completing the Mahoney Climb trail consultation and trail identification project and moving it towards the procurement process for building, identifying and repairing local trails and infrastructure, helping with the s56 and s57 process and identifying and obtaining insurance that meets the needs of our membership ad projects.

secretary

Brooke Hanson: I can offer the QRCA a higher level of organization and planning to help execute projects and events throughout the year. With extensive event management experience (over 15 years) , I can assist the club in all levels of planning and communication internally and to our members. I have executed national level bike races such as the Canadian DH Championships, Sea Otter Canada, the Canadian Enduro series and many more. I am also a mom who likes to ride my bike and chase around my 5 year old twins on bikes too!

treasurer

Patricia Winchell: I was involved with the club many years ago as the WW (Wild Women) Director organizing women’s specific mountain bike rides and events. Two years ago I re-joined the board in the role of Treasurer and I would like to continue to give back to the community in this role. With my CPA designation and work experience in accounting and finance I think I can really contribute to the success of the club. QRCA has so many projects and initiatives in the works that I am excited to support and be a part of.

Director of Government/indigenous relations + advocacy

Craig Galligos: Born and Raised in the Tla’amin Territory I am excited to have the opportunity to continue building relationships between the Local nation and the Association.  I look forward to working together at building and maintaining all that our territory has to offer and to help grow the sport of cycling within the community.

Director of Trails

Brendan Behan: Founding director in 2009. Past President. Current Director of Trails. Member of Mahony Trails Network Working Group. Currently admin for Trailforks for our region and working on a signage project for the region. I’m very passionate about our ability as individual cyclists and as an association to have access to trails, functioning networks and cycling events. I’d like to support a healthy transition of this role that needs more support and concrete direction as we enter an era of great growth and change.

Director of communications + branding

Miles Arbour: I work as a writer and tech editor in the cycling industry, which means I’m not only up to date with current cycling trends but also spend a lot of my time communicating with cyclists. I have enjoyed being at the forefront of QRCA’s rebrand and look forward to continue developing the association’s image and following.

Director of events

David Mayers: My first mountain bike ride was in 1987 and prior to that I was riding and racing bmx. I’ve been passionate about cycling for more than 40 years and have been involved in everything from racing to coaching, Trail building and even worked in various roles in the bike industry in my twenties. I moved to Powell River/Qathet Region about 18 months ago however I have had family ties here all of my life and have been visiting since childhood. I have watched the town grow and evolve over the years and have seen how much the cycling community has grown and continues to grow as well. There is huge opportunity here to promote and continue that growth through a mixture of great events, great trails and great community. I am passionate, driven, organized and detail oriented and I believe I can help grow and promote great events that benefit our community and grow our reputation as a brilliant cycling destination in British Columbia.

Director of fundraising

Mike Chadwick : Previously was a race director for a trail running series on the lower Sunshine Coast. Thus use to marketing, sponsorships, permitting and seeing the impact that sport has to communities with bringing people together, impacting health. Would love to try and get more financial support for QRCA as they do a great job.

Director of membership

Randall Smisko: I have lots of experience on 3rd party web based programs with my job so I can manage the memberships etc. I can work with the Director of Events to try and grow our membership. As cycling in growing so should our membership and we have scene this in the last few yrs and we should be proud to have 475 members. My goal as a director is to give back some of my time to help QRCA continue to do awesome things.

Director of active transportation

Chris Lightfoot: I’m looking forward to becoming more familiar with the official goings-on of the QRCA and help further the aims of the Association. I am particularly interested in helping establish more safe, easy and enjoyable paths for cycling across qathet so people aged 8 through 80 feel comfortable choosing to cycle to wherever they like/need to go. Streets that are designed to safely accommodate cyclists of all ages and abilities contribute to our community’s physical, social and economic well-being. Before arriving in qathet this summer with my family, I had founded and had been the principal organizer behind Complete Streets for Prince Rupert since 2017 (www.completestreetsforprincerupert.com). Activities involved engaging local government agencies around the topic Active Transportation, community outreach at local events, promotions via social media and collaborating with local organizations, etc. Through our combined efforts, both the City of Prince Rupert and Board of Education signed the Communities on the Move Declaration, Northern Health officially endorsed the Complete Streets concept, and Prince Rupert is now writing its first official Active Transportation plan. I’m excited to meet others who would like to see better cycling across qathet. 

Director of volunteers

C Chad Warford: Having embraced several modes of biking in the qRD and reaped the benefits of the hard work the community does to make this a great place to move on two wheels, I want to give back. It has been a long time since I have made a contribution to any volunteer efforts, and while my primary strengths are as an educator, I have, as a baseline, strong organizational, communication, and information conduit skills which I can lend. Initially, I would like to serve as a director at large in order to find the best fit for my skills and capacity in the context of the QRCA’s needs, with a view to taking a more active role in a defined position in the future. I could probably do an adequate job of Events or Volunteers if those positions have no other candidates, but would also relish being directed as extra capacity for other directors when needed.

Directors at large

Ty Bourassa: Trail builder, mountain biker, previous board member. I want to help find a common ground with trail building and the legalization process. A step by step process that makes trail applications/legalization user friendly and motivates more builders to come forward.

Carl Hanson: Moving away from my home town of Powell River and then moving back in 2018, I feel like I have a good picture of what the olden days were and what is new and exciting to come. I have been heavily involved in the mountain bike scene since moving back and have welcomed and toured many out-of-towners I’ve met on the trails. I can see this area turning into a mountian bike mecca over the next ten years and beyond. I would love to help shape that and get more people stoked on biking! I have experience with social media and have an eye for videography. My current work is largely decision making and managing people and projects. My unofficial resume may also include beverage consultant. Cheers!