Team and Board Members
Meet the Team and Board Members Behind Tabor
Leadership Team
George Jacob MBA
Execuitve Director, Tabor Village
George has his MBA from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and a B.Sc. in Computer Sciences from Andhra University, India. He has additional certification as a project management professional and has used his expertise effectively in a number of projects at Communitas during his time there, including providing residential care across BC for people with disabilities.
Tracey Grant
Human Resources Director, Tabor Village
Tracey is a people and positive culture enthusiast, who has a passion for helping people be their best selves. She migrated to Canada in 2016 to pursue her Masters of Business Administration (MBA), with University Canada West. In addition to her graduate studies, Tracey also holds a BSc. in Education and Counselling from Northern Caribbean University. Prior to her journey to Canada, Tracey served Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, National Training Agency, as leader of the North East Region’s Career and Employment Services Teams. Her career in Canada continued to focus on people, as her passion for service took her to Swingle Holdings Ltd., as Operations Manager, and Redwood Plastics and Rubber, where she served as Director of Talent Management.
She has 2 adult sons. The older, Lorenzo is an avid soccer player and final year University student pursuing a BSc in Criminal Justice. Her younger son, Adriel serves as a church musician and also aspires to join his father in pastoral ministry.
Tracey believes finding Team Tabor is a rare dream come true, as like Tabor her heart is wrapped in every detail of people service, and finds her greatest joy in leading Tabor’s Human Resources toward a highly desired place to work.
Myrna Earle
Director, Care Services, Tabor Village
For the past decade, Myrna has been a clinical leader at Tabor Village in a variety of roles and currently leads infection prevention and control, clinical practice, move ins, care planning, palliative care and all aspects of nursing care. Tabor Village is delighted that Myrna will be taking on this role a leadership position she has previously led and has demonstrated a commitment to quality of care and dedicates herself to ensuring quality of life for all older persons who call Tabor their home.
Bruce Belsher, FCPA, FCMA, MHSc, BA
Director of Finance, Tabor Village
Bruce obtained his accounting designation in 2007 after completing a Masters in Health Administration from the University of Toronto. Bruce has worked in various Finance Management positions within some of the hospitals making up Fraser Health and spent with more than decade leading the Finance Managers in supporting the $3.1 billion Health Authority. He was the P3 General Manager at Abbotsford Regional Hospital & Cancer Centre and then later the Director of P3 Operations BC for Honeywell servicing the SMH Critical Care Tower, Surrey Pretrial Site, and the Comox and Campbell River Hospitals. He was most recently the CFO at MCC Legacy Trust, the private property development and management group of companies of MCC BC.
He is married to Adriana, an elementary school counselor in School District #33. They have raised two sets of now adult twins that include a social worker, an aspiring pastor, movie production crewmember, rugby playing business major and a granddaughter. Adriana and Bruce call Northview Community Church home where Bruce is an Elder and chair of the Stewardship (Finance) Committee.
He learns by watching and listening and believes his ideas are rarely the ones to implement but rather the good ideas to be pursued come from the team completing the work at hand.
Francisco Alvarenga
Food Services Coordinator, Tabor Court
Executive Chef, Francisco Alvarenga, is responsible for the efficient, high quality food service provided for Tenants of Tabor Court. Francisco ensures that meals prepared meet both Tenant needs, and conform to established facility standards, policies and procedures.
Prior to joining Tabor Village, Francisco was an Executive Chef in various hotels and faith-based organizations inc. the Ramada Renaissance - Montreal, Willingdon Church - Burnaby and Young Life at Rock Ridge Camp. Francisco completed the 3-year Executive Chef Program at McGill University in 1984.
Al Gerbrand FMP
Buildings & Grounds Manager, Tabor Village
Al manages the Buildings & Grounds Department at Tabor, with many items falling under his area of oversight. Maintenance, IT, Grounds and safety and security of our campuses. He ensures that all services meet or exceed established facility standards, policies, and procedures.
Before joining Tabor Village, Al spent 3 years at Blackwood Home Hardware, 8 years at Columbia Bible College as their Director of Facilities & Grounds, and 5 years in the mission field working as General Director of Children’s Haven International.
In 2008, Al received “Facilities Management Professional” designation from IFMA. Al is looking forward to a long and fruitful career at Tabor Village.
Gloria Moorhouse
Support Services Manager, Tabor Village
Gloria Moorhouse works collaboratively with Tabor’s Executive Chef, Francisco Alvarenga, to ensure the provision of exceptional food and service throughout Tabor Village. Gloria’s goal is to provide home cooked, nutritious meals that both appeal to our resident population and contribute to their overall health.
Gloria earned her Diploma in Nutrition Management from the Can. Healthcare Association in Ontario.
Gloria and her husband Dennis live in Chilliwack. Together they enjoy travelling, camping, and spending time with their three daughters and two grandchildren.
Rhoda Wassing
Quality Coordinator and Care Advocate, Tabor Home / Valhaven
Rhoda has worked at Tabor Village for over 5 years and brings 43 years of experience as an LPN in Acute Care, a Physician’s Office, Community nursing, and in Complex Care.
Rhoda oversees the RAI-MDS process and participates on the Fraser Health Residential Care Services InterRAI Committee. She is the lead for Point Click Care, a documentation program and Surge Learning, our staff education program.
When Rhoda is not busy at work, she enjoys spending time at home knitting, sewing, travelling with her spouse and enjoying her two grandchildren.
Maritha (Rita) Louw
Volunteer Coordinator
Rita is honored and excited to join the Tabor Village team as its Volunteer Coordinator. Having been a long-time volunteer herself at her church and a variety of non-profit organizations, as well as having managed volunteers for two federal election campaigns, Rita knows firsthand that this role requires a high level of energy and commitment. Her vision for Tabor’s volunteer program is to welcome members from the community into its halls and residents’ lives once again.
Rita is a recent graduate from Trinity Western University where she studied an Honours B.A. in Political Studies with a History Concentration. She has always been a strong advocate for treating all people with respect and kindness, and is looking forward to implementing these values into a renewed volunteer program at Tabor Village.
When not working, Rita enjoys leading worship at her church, going on long runs with her dog, reading contemporary fiction, and watching history documentaries. She is always up for conversation (especially ones centered on films or international politics), and is eager to connect with any and all volunteers who wish to serve at Tabor.
Board of Directors
VICTOR J. MARTENS
Chairperson
Victor J. Martens, member of Ross Road Community Church, serves as the Board Chair and on the Governance and QA & Safety Committees. A graduate of MBBI (now CBC) and UBC, Vic embarked on a career of training in food processing and agriculture at BCIT. He took early retirement after 32 years at BCIT in teaching and administration. As a Professional Agrologist, he is a consultant in food safety management systems and serves as volunteer advisor to projects for the Canadian Executive Services Organization. He leads small group studies and a volunteer choir in his church. He is married to Diane, a retired elementary school teacher, with two married sons.
JAKE KONRAD
Board Vice-Chair
Jake Konrad, member of Ross Road Community Church, serves on the Audit Finance and Long Range Planning Committees of THS as well as the board. His committee involvements have mainly been in building construction, renovation, maintenance and in finance. Jake graduated from UBC with a degree in Civil Engineering. After two years working for a soils and foundations engineering consulting firm, he started his own company building homes in Vancouver. Wanting to raise his family in the Fraser Valley where he and his wife Helen grew up, he moved to Abbotsford. His firm expanded to include land development, commercial, industrial and civil construction. Jake has served as president and director of the Fraser Valley Homebuilders’ Association, director of the New Home Warranty Program and director and chairperson of Tabor Home Society. Jake is married and has three sons and six grandchildren.
Hildegard Bandsmer
To bring joy to seniors is a passion for Hildegard. Her time on the Board has provided rewarding opportunities for personal growth and service to promote excellence in elder care, and in governance.
A graduate of UBC (B.Ed.), Hildegard taught elementary classes with focus on special needs children, music, and art, then was Children’s Pastor at Central Heights. Governance experience came through executive positions on local, provincial and bi-national church boards.
Being retired gives Hildegard time for volunteering, keeping active, making music, and for spending time with husband Rudy, three children and their families.
Sandra McGladdery
Sandra is a member at large and serves on the QA and Safety Committee and the Board. After more than 30 years as an RN, Sandra has a deep concern for the elderly and their families.
Sandra worked 10 years at Tabor Home where she advocated for Resident Centered Care. Sandra also worked in Health Sciences at UFV, coordinating Home Support/RCA and LPN programs. Sandra holds a BSN from UBC and a Diploma in Gerontology from SFU.
Sandra and her husband Bill enjoy living in the Fraser Valley where they attend Mountain View Evangelical Free church. They enjoy the outdoors and spending time with their 5 children and 6 grandchildren.
Vic Spenst
Vic and his wife, Laverna, are members of Sevenoaks Alliance Church and share a large family of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His 50 years of church service included youth and music ministries. The past year included being on the Tabor Long Range Planning Committee and Board of Directors. Vic served on the Board of Garden Park Towers, responsible for Building and Security. He has 40 years of Construction Management overseeing all phases of construction that included projects for government and private sector clients and he is Gold Seal Certified with the Canadian Construction Association.
CAROL WIEBE
Carol Wiebe, a member of Bakerview Church, serves on the board and governance committee. As a graduate of MBBI [now CBC], and with a Bachelor of Education Degree from Simon Fraser University, as well as with a diploma in Special Education from UBC, she spent some 40 years in elementary education, largely in the area of learning assistance, and managing programs for children with special needs. She served as President of the Abbotsford branch of the British Columbia Learning Assistance Teachers’ Association. As a charter member of Bakerview church, she has served in a variety of capacities including education, music, and board/committee work over the years. Together with her husband Paul, they have 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren.
ELFRIEDA NIKKEL
Elfrieda Nikkel , a member of the Bakerview MB Church, joined the Tabor Board after 25 years as a professional marriage and family counsellor. She is a graduate of MBBC (now CMU), U of Winnipeg (BA, B.Ed.) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon (Master’s in Pastoral Counselling). After years of teaching school, raising four sons and serving as the Dean of Women at a Bible College in Saskatchewan, she pursued her career in counseling. Her life of service has included women’s ministries, leading workshops, mentoring pastor’s wives, serving on church and conference boards as well as working together with her husband James in the field of church planting and international assignments. She has volunteered for an internet ministry, Thoughts About God, for the last ten years as a writer and mentor. Travelling to visit her four sons and their families in Switzerland, Ireland, Ontario and Manitoba continues to be a highlight for her. A growing interest in helping people to flourish in their senior years prompted her to accept the invitation to join the Tabor Board.
DEBBIE DICK
Debbie Dick is a member of Central Heights MB church. She is a retired Registered Nurse with a BCIT Nursing diploma and 35 years at Langley Memorial Hospital in acute & extended care. She is a leader for a women’s support group at Central Heights and has served on Tabor’s Quality & Safety Audit committee for the last year.