Staff and Directors

Heather (she/her) is a settler of Scottish, Finnish, English, and Welsh ancestry and is grateful to have grown up near what is now known as Toronto on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. Heather joined VHS in April 2022 as the Program Coordinator for Farmed Animal Programs and is very excited to live in Vancouver and be a part of the team and this amazing work to help both animals and people. She holds a Bachelor of Environment in International Development from the University of Waterloo. Since graduating in 2018 she has worked and volunteered in a variety of areas such as climate action and sustainability, animal rescue, youth employment, community engagement, and plant-based advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, reading, and spending time in nature and with any and all animals. You can reach Heather by emailing heather(at)vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca

Sareeta (she/her) is a settler of South Indian, Hawaiian, Samoan, and Chinese ancestry. She is grateful to be living in so-called Vancouver on the stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) & sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Sareeta joined VHS in 2022 as Program Manager of the Trauma-Informed and Culturally Safe Training Program. She is a queer racialized lifelong learner who lives with mental illnesses and has experience working with marginalized people and families. She has taught English Language Learning to high school-aged refugees, worked at a trauma-sensitive elementary school, and taught alternative education in Burnaby. Through these experiences Sareeta has received training in trauma-sensitive practices. Natural communicator and masterful teacher, Sareeta is renowned for her empathic yet forthright ability to engage, unify, and motivate teams and clients of all ages. She holds a degree in Education and an Arts degree in Drama with an English minor, both from the University of Alberta. Her insights come from both professional training and extensive lived experience working with adults and young students as a school teacher, coach, or mentor. Sareeta has also personally experienced trauma, along with the nonlinear healing journey that follows. She currently lives with three roommates and three cats, including her “bubba,” otherwise known as Matrix. Sareeta is passionate about social justice and anti-oppression, and loves keeping structurally vulnerable people and their animal companion together through equitable, trauma-informed animal services. You can reach her by emailing sareeta(at)vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca.

Brooklyn (they/them) is a settler of Irish, Scottish, British, and Ukranian ancestry living on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) & sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Brooklyn joined VHS in March 2021 as Coordinator of the McVitie Fund and Helping Women & Pets in Crisis.  Brooklyn holds a Master’s Degree in Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University specializing in feminist approaches to public policy.  Brooklyn brings the experience to life as a trauma-informed direct service provider reducing barriers for folks who experience structural oppression.  Working for justice for all animals, human and non-human is Brooklyn’s driving passion.  Brooklyn is also involved with a number of other local organizations working towards justice and inclusion for Queer and/or Trans people, sex workers, and folks living in poverty.  They are a lover of nature, film, food, are a proud pet parent to a beautiful cat named Oliver.  You can reach Brooklyn by emailing brooklyn(at)vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca.