We treat all people with dignity and respect; we believe in self-determination and choice for all, and we are committed to building community and fostering collaborative relationships.
Southard Quint
PRESIDENT
Southard Quint has lived in Victoria since 1966. He had a career as a teacher in the Saanich School District where he was involved in volunteer opportunities and leadership roles. He particularly enjoyed directing the District Choir for several years. In his forties, Southard’s hearing acuity was diminishing so hearing aids became necessary in order to function in the classroom. Dealing with hearing loss has been a persistent challenge for him over the past few decades. In retirement Southard and Denise enjoy a wide range of recreational activities and travel. They have two children and a one-year old grandchild. Southard continues to enjoy his music and plays in a jazz trio.
Linda Bradford
Vice president
Linda Bradford recently retired from her professional role as Executive Director of Procurement and Contract Management with the provincial Ministry of Children and Family Development. In her work as a change leader within the social services sector over the past 15 years she has been responsible for complex large-scale business transformation projects. She led and coached multi-disciplinary teams and is a respected mentor. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education, Project Management Institute’s Project Management Professional Certification and Agile Specialization Certification. She is a life-long learner and continues to take courses to help keep her apprised of changes and innovations. She enjoys Vancouver Island living, boating with her husband, watching her young adult daughter launch and caring for her 90-year old father.
Anne Minnings
Treasurer
Anne Minnings is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA,CMA) recently retired from her professional role as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Financial Services with the provincial ministry of children and family development. Her previous positions include Chief Financial Officer for the ministries of environment and agriculture as well as senior management positions in the ministry of finance and with Treasury Board Staff. Anne brings extensive experience in strategic planning, financial governance and oversight, and management of staff and resources. In addition to her designation Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (History) from the University of Victoria and a diploma in business administration from Camosun College.
Cheryl Pardue
secretary
My hearing loss is attributed to some family aspects. My grandmother, father, brother and myself all have dealt with hearing loss. I learned about 15 years ago that I was missing parts of conversation even though I was sitting between two people at work. The conversation for me was difficult at best, and will never forget getting my first set of hearing aids and feeling like I had come to life again! I have volunteered and been the Chair of Membership for three years in the Washington Coop where I live. I also have served on the Board for three years as Treasurer and Member at Large. Through this time, I was involved in several ad hoc committees to review different staff job descriptions, as well as drawing up a Bullying and Harassment Policy, among others. I have been in BC Government service for 40 years this year, currently with the Workforce Planning and Medical Beneficiary Services Division. Prior to moving to Victoria in 1972, I was born and raised in Red Deer where I took my nursing after a couple of years of secretarial work following high school. I have been married and have two adult children, who live in Ontario and on the mainland. I have been involved in the church and choir most of my life. I love to garden, do crafts, walk / hike, spend time at the beach, and read / listen to music. My father raised me to know that strangers are only friends we have never met, so I am always open to making new friends, and what better way than volunteering.
Michael Hayes
past president
Mike is married, the father of four, and delighted grandfather of three little girls and two little boys. After a long career as a classroom teacher, librarian, vice-principal, and itinerant French teacher at the elementary school level, as well as being President of the Teachers’ Associations in both the Gulf Islands and Saanich, he now considers himself seriously retired. He has been a political and community activist for all of his adult life, and volunteers as a goods and services auctioneer for dozens of non-profit groups. He enjoys travelling, gardening, fishing, acting, song writing, playing guitar, and hanging out at the beach with wife Maggie and the grandkids. He has had bilateral hearing loss since his late 40’s. Having been on the Executive of a number of community and work-related organizations over the years, he now has an obvious very personal interest in contributing to IDHHC. He is in his eighth year on the Board.
Mark Dunn
director
Mark served on the IDHHC Board from 1996-98 and rejoined in November 2014. He is a very active leader in the Deaf community and has served in a variety of roles. Since 2000, he has served as the Treasurer for the South Vancouver Island Association of the Deaf. He has worked with the British Columbia Deaf Scholarship Trust since 2006, first as a Trustee, then Co-Chair, Treasurer and now Administrator for the organization. His role is specific to scholarships and bursaries to Deaf people in BC. From 2008-2012, he served as Vice President of the Canadian Deaf Sports Association (CDSA), communicating regularly with the Executive Director, developing policies, and attending Sports Reform Congresses in Bratislava, Taipei and Rome. At the present time he is serving as President of the Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation. He enjoyed acting as a delegate for Team Canada at the 2nd World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship in Helsinki in March 2013. Mark is current bid chair for the 2021 World Deaf Ice Hockey championships to be held in Vancouver.
Susanne Lang
director
Suzanne was born in Marmora, Ontario where she was raised on a 300 acre farm. She worked in Toronto for 7½ years (Bell Canada office and Air Canada Reservations) then moved to Victoria where she married *Irv in 1971 [deceased Christmas 2016*]. Most of her working [secretarial] career was with BC government in various branch offices, four of these years as caucus secretary for Langley MLA / Chief Government Whip. In October 2001 she took early retirement from civil service and, post 9-11, worked for a final 5½ years as a pre-board security screener at Victoria airport. She has volunteered with a number of organizations, two of these being Victoria Hospice and Greater Victoria Victim Services and is currently a volunteer medical driver for Beacon Community Services. In 1986 she developed tinnitus which prompted a hearing test confirming some hearing loss in both ears. With hearing loss prevalent on her mother’s side of the family, this came as no surprise. However, it took several more years to accept the inevitable and relent to wearing hearing aids (1997). As her hearing loss becomes more significant this creates endless frustrations and challenges and she is eager to become involved in bringing increased public awareness to all those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Suzanne has 2 wonderful stepsons & daughters-in-law, 4 grown up grandkids and her sweet household Siamese companion, Lyra. She enjoys walking/hiking, travelling and all manner of interaction with people … including her membership in the Red Hat Society!
Janice Todd
director
Jan Todd has over 40 years of diverse work experience, currently working as an Accessibility Advisor helping organizations become more inclusive for all people living with disabilities. Her predominant work experience has been in the realm of business administration, accounting, with a short stint pursuing a love of woodworking as an apprentice cabinetmaker. As a profoundly deaf woman, she fully understands the frustrations that come from living in a world not made for people who do not hear. Even though she finds that her Cochlear Implant helps a great deal, she continues to rely heavily on speech reading. She is eager to learn sign language so that she can communicate with Deaf individuals who use Sign Language as their mode of communication. On her daily walks, Jan often passes the statue of Terry Fox, who is one of her heroes. Written on one side of the statue are his famous words “dreams are made possible if you try”. Fostering accessibility with passion and dedication supports Jan’s dream of an inclusive society where everyone can take part equitably.
Board of Directors
Our Values
We treat all people with dignity and respect; we believe in self-determination and choice for all, and we are committed to building community and fostering collaborative relationships.
Southard Quint
PRESIDENT
Southard Quint has lived in Victoria since 1966. He had a career as a teacher in the Saanich School District where he was involved in volunteer opportunities and leadership roles. He particularly enjoyed directing the District Choir for several years. In his forties, Southard’s hearing acuity was diminishing so hearing aids became necessary in order to function in the classroom. Dealing with hearing loss has been a persistent challenge for him over the past few decades. In retirement Southard and Denise enjoy a wide range of recreational activities and travel. They have two children and a one-year old grandchild. Southard continues to enjoy his music and plays in a jazz trio.
Linda Bradford
Vice president
Linda Bradford recently retired from her professional role as Executive Director of Procurement and Contract Management with the provincial Ministry of Children and Family Development. In her work as a change leader within the social services sector over the past 15 years she has been responsible for complex large-scale business transformation projects. She led and coached multi-disciplinary teams and is a respected mentor. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education, Project Management Institute’s Project Management Professional Certification and Agile Specialization Certification. She is a life-long learner and continues to take courses to help keep her apprised of changes and innovations. She enjoys Vancouver Island living, boating with her husband, watching her young adult daughter launch and caring for her 90-year old father.
Anne Minnings
Treasurer
Anne Minnings is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA,CMA) recently retired from her professional role as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Financial Services with the provincial ministry of children and family development. Her previous positions include Chief Financial Officer for the ministries of environment and agriculture as well as senior management positions in the ministry of finance and with Treasury Board Staff. Anne brings extensive experience in strategic planning, financial governance and oversight, and management of staff and resources. In addition to her designation Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (History) from the University of Victoria and a diploma in business administration from Camosun College.
Cheryl Pardue
secretary
My hearing loss is attributed to some family aspects. My grandmother, father, brother and myself all have dealt with hearing loss. I learned about 15 years ago that I was missing parts of conversation even though I was sitting between two people at work. The conversation for me was difficult at best, and will never forget getting my first set of hearing aids and feeling like I had come to life again! I have volunteered and been the Chair of Membership for three years in the Washington Coop where I live. I also have served on the Board for three years as Treasurer and Member at Large. Through this time, I was involved in several ad hoc committees to review different staff job descriptions, as well as drawing up a Bullying and Harassment Policy, among others.
I have been in BC Government service for 40 years this year, currently with the Workforce Planning and Medical Beneficiary Services Division. Prior to moving to Victoria in 1972, I was born and raised in Red Deer where I took my nursing after a couple of years of secretarial work following high school. I have been married and have two adult children, who live in Ontario and on the mainland. I have been involved in the church and choir most of my life. I love to garden, do crafts, walk / hike, spend time at the beach, and read / listen to music. My father raised me to know that strangers are only friends we have never met, so I am always open to making new friends, and what better way than volunteering.
Michael Hayes
past president
Mike is married, the father of four, and delighted grandfather of three little girls and two little boys. After a long career as a classroom teacher, librarian, vice-principal, and itinerant French teacher at the elementary school level, as well as being President of the Teachers’ Associations in both the Gulf Islands and Saanich, he now considers himself seriously retired. He has been a political and community activist for all of his adult life, and volunteers as a goods and services auctioneer for dozens of non-profit groups. He enjoys travelling, gardening, fishing, acting, song writing, playing guitar, and hanging out at the beach with wife Maggie and the grandkids. He has had bilateral hearing loss since his late 40’s. Having been on the Executive of a number of community and work-related organizations over the years, he now has an obvious very personal interest in contributing to IDHHC. He is in his eighth year on the Board.
Mark Dunn
director
Mark served on the IDHHC Board from 1996-98 and rejoined in November 2014. He is a very active leader in the Deaf community and has served in a variety of roles. Since 2000, he has served as the Treasurer for the South Vancouver Island Association of the Deaf.
He has worked with the British Columbia Deaf Scholarship Trust since 2006, first as a Trustee, then Co-Chair, Treasurer and now Administrator for the organization. His role is specific to scholarships and bursaries to Deaf people in BC. From 2008-2012, he served as Vice President of the Canadian Deaf Sports Association (CDSA), communicating regularly with the Executive Director, developing policies, and attending Sports Reform Congresses in Bratislava, Taipei and Rome. At the present time he is serving as President of the Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation. He enjoyed acting as a delegate for Team Canada at the 2nd World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship in Helsinki in March 2013. Mark is current bid chair for the 2021 World Deaf Ice Hockey championships to be held in Vancouver.
Susanne Lang
director
Suzanne was born in Marmora, Ontario where she was raised on a 300 acre farm. She worked in Toronto for 7½ years (Bell Canada office and Air Canada Reservations) then moved to Victoria where she married *Irv in 1971 [deceased Christmas 2016*]. Most of her working [secretarial] career was with BC government in various branch offices, four of these years as caucus secretary for Langley MLA / Chief Government Whip. In October 2001 she took early retirement from civil service and, post 9-11, worked for a final 5½ years as a pre-board security screener at Victoria airport. She has volunteered with a number of organizations, two of these being Victoria Hospice and Greater Victoria Victim Services and is currently a volunteer medical driver for Beacon Community Services. In 1986 she developed tinnitus which prompted a hearing test confirming some hearing loss in both ears. With hearing loss prevalent on her mother’s side of the family, this came as no surprise. However, it took several more years to accept the inevitable and relent to wearing hearing aids (1997). As her hearing loss becomes more significant this creates endless frustrations and challenges and she is eager to become involved in bringing increased public awareness to all those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Suzanne has 2 wonderful stepsons & daughters-in-law, 4 grown up grandkids and her sweet household Siamese companion, Lyra. She enjoys walking/hiking, travelling and all manner of interaction with people … including her membership in the Red Hat Society!
Janice Todd
director
Jan Todd has over 40 years of diverse work experience, currently working as an Accessibility Advisor helping organizations become more inclusive for all people living with disabilities. Her predominant work experience has been in the realm of business administration, accounting, with a short stint pursuing a love of woodworking as an apprentice cabinetmaker. As a profoundly deaf woman, she fully understands the frustrations that come from living in a world not made for people who do not hear. Even though she finds that her Cochlear Implant helps a great deal, she continues to rely heavily on speech reading. She is eager to learn sign language so that she can communicate with Deaf individuals who use Sign Language as their mode of communication. On her daily walks, Jan often passes the statue of Terry Fox, who is one of her heroes. Written on one side of the statue are his famous words “dreams are made possible if you try”. Fostering accessibility with passion and dedication supports Jan’s dream of an inclusive society where everyone can take part equitably.