About Us
Our Staff

Camila
Camila is the manager of the KidStart 6-12 Program. She’s been working at PLEA as a Program Manager for more than 15 years. Her work has always been focused on delivering high-quality, low-barrier prevention and voluntary support services for vulnerable children and youth, all in the hope that they don’t go on to need PLEA’s more intensive services later on in life. An immigrant to Canada, Camila has always believed in giving back to her community . She has dedicated her career to providing prevention and voluntary support services to vulnerable children and youth , as well as supporting their families. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, taking advantage of the sunny outdoors, and having naps whenever she is able to!

Tina
Tina is the Director of Youth Services, Youth Justice and Addictions Programs. She has been with PLEA for 19 years and was once a Kidstart Coordinator in Ridge Meadows. She has been in a leadership role since 2007. In 2014, she became the Program Director of U-Turn Specialized Homes and Support Services. Outside of work, you can catch her spending time with her family, being active and watching soccer. Positivity and good energy are important to Tina. You will always find her smiling.

Khesro
Khesro is the KidStart coordinator for the Tri-Cities area. He started working with PLEA as a youth worker in 2014, and prior to that was a KidStart volunteer for many years. Khesro enjoys spending time with his son, fishing at local lakes and car camping in the summer with his family. Khesro finds the preventative work that is KidStart very rewarding.

Michelle
Michelle is the KidStart coordinator for the Ridge Meadows area. Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, is an animal lover, and has an array of various pets at home.

Lak
Lak has been a coordinator with KidStart in the Vancouver area for more than 10 years. Laughter is important to Lak…”For me, laughter is like a cup of coffee…I need it everyday!”

Erika
Erika is a coordinator with KidStart. She has been at PLEA for over 10 years and is a former KidStart volunteer mentor herself. Outside of work, you can catch her spending time with family, friends, and her two dogs.

Ethan
Ethan is KidStart’s fundraiser and has been with the program since September of 2019. In his spare time he enjoys drinking coffee around Vancouver and playing board games.
Our Donors
We are extremely thankful to have such incredible supporters who have donated funds to us over the years. Our donors have been vital to our success and growth as a program. Large or small, every contribution has helped provide life-changing mentorship to children across the Lower Mainland.
We truly appreciate all current and past support, here we specifically acknowledge the following who gave $500 or more this fiscal year:
Community Partners
VRCA Young Construction Leaders (YCL)
United Way of the Lower Mainland
Corporate
Dayhu Investments
First West Credit Union
G&F Financial
Josh Bath – Personal Real Estate Corporation
Porte Industries Ltd.
Vancouver Fire and Radius Security
Foundations
- Ames Family Foundation
- Andrew Mahon Foundation
- Gordon Fund, held at the Vancouver Foundation
Mackay Family Fund, held at Fiera Capital Foundation
RBC Foundation
Stewart Fund, held at Vancouver Foundation
- Volunteer for Children Fund, held at the Vancouver Foundation
Provincial
We gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
Municipal
- City of Vancouver
Individuals
- Ann Alexander
Ardyth Macquarrie
Donald Gordon
Einat Stojicevic
- Jen Graham
- Joan Andersen
- Joyce Preston
Kevin Michael Taylor
Mike Jeffreys
Nancy Gordon
Sandra Sengara
Sharmani Pillay
Scott Campbell
- Tim Agg
- Tim Veresh