Our Team
Positive Living Fraser Valley is led by a 12 person Board of Directors. If you are interested in joining our Board please contact the Executive Director at director@plfv.org ; PLFV reserves 4 seats on its Board for HIV/HCV positive persons.
Kari hackett - executive director
I have been involved in HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C work since 1994 when I first signed on with the North Island AIDS Coalition (NIAC). After 10 years with NIAC working my way up from Harm Reduction/Outreach to Director of Programs I started branching out as a private consultant and contracted with Vancouver Native Health as the Peer Support Coordinator for two years creating and teaching three levels of Peer Support Trainings. I am still in contact with many of the participants who took these trainings. Following the end of that contract I moved to California to accept an Executive Director position with a large non-profit. This large non-profit looked after transitional and supportive housing, a drop in Centre, large community food bank, crisis line and a thrift store. Although I loved the California weather and my job there, I missed my family in Canada and decided to move closer to home so after two years in California my husband Burton and I relocated to NW Washington State where I worked as a private consultant and was instrumental in creating Peer Support Manuals and Trainings for the Pacific Hepatitis C Network. In 2012 I applied for and became the first Executive Director of PLFV. I have enjoyed helping PLFV grow to the vibrant community service it now is. I can be reached at director@plfv.org.
Kindra Breau - Program director
Born and raised in various regions of Ontario, I consider Kingston, where I settled when I was 11 to be my home town. Raised by a family that was actively involved in social change, I was exposed to various social issues both distant and personal at an early age. It was a combination of my upbringing and the people that have inspired me most in life that lead to my eventual career in Social Services. My first thought was to become a police officer but after almost two years of Police Foundations and some work in a local youth shelter I decided that my skills and personality would be better suited for a more supportive and preventative role . I shifted my focus and received my Social Service Worker Diploma, with distinction, from St. Lawrence College in 2005. Though only graduating in 2005, I have spent the last decade (wow I can say decade!) working with various organizations for homelessness, addictions and mental health, harm reduction, anti-violence and HIV/AIDS organizations. I am working with Positive Living Fraser Valley now. I'm grateful for the opportunity to know and learn from such an amazing, wonderful and diverse group of people. It has been an educational, joyful, emotional, tearful, insightful, fun, funny, encouraging and overall rewarding time. Thank You. I look forward continuing to learn and work with you. To reach me please email support@plfv.org.
Carlee madden - medical/community engagement
I was born in Vancouver BC and I grew up in Port Coquitlam. For the last 16 years I was working as a care aide for individuals with severe mental and physical challenges, a job that was very fulfilling for me. After a short break I returned to college for a year and obtained my community support worker diploma and was very fortunate to join the wonderful team here at Positive Living Fraser Valley Society. I look forward to a long career helping all the individuals that require our services. I look forward to meeting anyone in person that needs information, support or if you are interested in volunteering. Please contact me at info@plfv.org or call me at our main number 604-854-1101.
Danny Braaten - HCV Support and Outreach
My interest in Social Service work first came to me when I was a teenager skateboarding around Abbotsford one day. I took a turn down an alley and met a homeless man who was sitting having a cigarette, and I sat and talked with him, hearing his stories and getting to know the man in the alley. It gave me a really nice feeling to know that I was making his day, and all it took was lending my ear!
Years later I had been working dead end jobs while trying to forge a music career, a passion I still follow to this day. I wasn’t having fun at work, and I left each day feeling rather unfulfilled. Then I had a sort of epiphany, why are you doing this work? Why don’t you do something you’re passionate about, something that makes you feel good? That’s when I remembered the man I had met in the alley.
I went online to look into schooling options in regards to working with the homeless/marginalized and ended up enrolling at Sprott Shaw College as part of their Community Support Worker program in 2013. Before I knew it had graduated and was hired by PLFV in 2014 as a Harm Reduction Outreach Worker hitting the streets and meeting people out and about wherever they might be, getting to know people that haven't been treated fairly by society, or just aren't quite understood when it comes to their way of life.
No more than a week later I ran into the man I met in the alley and told him MY story.
Since then my role has changed, I’ve become a Support Worker and I love this role because it allows me to have more of an ongoing relationship with my clients, supporting them day to day with whatever challenges they may face. I’ve learned a lot in my time here and leave each day feeling really great about the work I’m doing. I want to make a difference in whatever way I can and PLFV lets me do just that. I will always be thankful for the opportunity and I look forward to the next chapter as our organization continues to flourish.
You can contact me at hepcsupport@plfv.org, or on my work cell at 604-226-3080.
Years later I had been working dead end jobs while trying to forge a music career, a passion I still follow to this day. I wasn’t having fun at work, and I left each day feeling rather unfulfilled. Then I had a sort of epiphany, why are you doing this work? Why don’t you do something you’re passionate about, something that makes you feel good? That’s when I remembered the man I had met in the alley.
I went online to look into schooling options in regards to working with the homeless/marginalized and ended up enrolling at Sprott Shaw College as part of their Community Support Worker program in 2013. Before I knew it had graduated and was hired by PLFV in 2014 as a Harm Reduction Outreach Worker hitting the streets and meeting people out and about wherever they might be, getting to know people that haven't been treated fairly by society, or just aren't quite understood when it comes to their way of life.
No more than a week later I ran into the man I met in the alley and told him MY story.
Since then my role has changed, I’ve become a Support Worker and I love this role because it allows me to have more of an ongoing relationship with my clients, supporting them day to day with whatever challenges they may face. I’ve learned a lot in my time here and leave each day feeling really great about the work I’m doing. I want to make a difference in whatever way I can and PLFV lets me do just that. I will always be thankful for the opportunity and I look forward to the next chapter as our organization continues to flourish.
You can contact me at hepcsupport@plfv.org, or on my work cell at 604-226-3080.
CHRISTIAN POIRIER - SUPPORT AND FOOD BANK COORDINATOR
I come from a small town in Eastern Ontario, near Ottawa, called Alexandria, which had a population of about 3300 people. I have some formal education in radio broadcasting, and I spent 4-5 years working as a baker for Cob's bread, but most my learning came from years of diverse life experience. I've been with PLFV since the Summer of 2010, and currently work as a Support Worker and Food Bank Coordinator. Being HIV Positive, since 2009, I serve as a sounding board for members and peers, and can connect them to the necessary resources. I am a Lego© MANIAC, and I live a life free from alcohol, drugs, and smoking. You can contact me at tlc@plfv.org, or at 604-621-1022.
sharon olsen - centre support
Sharon started with Positive Living through a practicum placement through Sprott Shaw College and upon graduation was hired by PLFV. Sharon is returning from her maternity leave after giving life to a beautiful baby girl named Brooklyn. We welcome Sharon back to the team! Sharon can be reached at streetreach@plfv.org and she is part of our Harm Reduction Dream Team!
