Meet The Team
Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association is a nonprofit society governed by park association membership and our volunteer Board of Directors.
If you are interested in a leadership role supporting our mission to foster stewardship of the land and education within the parks, please get in touch with us.
Joakim Nilsson
Chairperson
Joakim teaches English at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He has been a Board member since 2014. He lives in Bedford Landing and frequently runs, cycles, and walks on Brae Island and the Fort-to-Fort Trail.
He enjoys promoting greater awareness and use of regional parks. As a cyclist and a dog owner, he's interested in promoting respectful shared use of trails.
Lisa Dreves
Vice-Chairperson
Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) is a long-standing member of the DRBIPA board of directors and they are currently represented by Lisa Dreves. Lisa enjoys dragging her boys for long walks along all the different trails in Derby Reach and Brae Island while taking notes about invasive species and potential planting sites. She has most enjoyed her involvement in the wattle wall plantings along Brae Island with students at BCIT and KPU.
Terri Van Sleuwen
Secretary
Terri lives in Walnut Grove and regularly enjoys walking, with her dog Rosie, on the Fort-to-Fort Trail. She appreciates having access to these beautiful parks and wants to help preserve them so that all of us can enjoy them for many years to come. Terri is a CPA and recently retired from a long career in the B.C. public service who brings strong leadership, financial, and strategic planning experience to the Board.
Stephanie Steves
Treasurer
Like many Board Members, Stephanie began as a Park Ambassador, helping with tree planting, building the living retaining walls on Brae Island, and invasive species mapping & removal.
A lover of the natural world, volunteering grew a greater appreciation. After completing some training at the University of Fraser Valley in Accounting and Bookkeeping, an opening on the board presented another way to give back and help maintain balance.
Sara Alaica
Director-At-Large
Sara Chairs the Langley Bog Restoration Committee hosted by DRBIPA along with community partners Trinity Western University and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks. She helps fund and manage projects to restore the rare species, hydrology, and unique ecosystem of Langley Bog. Sara researched Langley Bog as part of her graduate work in Ecological Restoration from SFU, studying Langley Bog and implementing restoration treatments: reintroducing mosses, and tracking water levels. She is a passionate conversationist and advocate for natural areas.
Oliver Cook
Director-At-Large
Oliver Cook Studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and will graduate with a Bachelor’s of Horticulture Science, Majoring in Urban Ecosystems and Minoring in Plant Health. Oliver has a passion for nature and conservation. Oliver has lived in Fort Langley for two years and enjoys walking through Derby Reach and Brae Island Regional Parks. Oliver is a co-chair of the ecosystem enhancement committee, where he aims to develop his leadership skills while supporting his local community through environmental stewardship initiatives and education events.
Petrina Arnason
Director-At-Large
Petrina has been a resident of the Township of Langley for approximately 20 years, residing in a number of our "community of communities" including Walnut Grove, South Langley, Aldergrove, and the Grants Landing floathome community just west of Fort Langley on the Fraser River. She has a Masters in Environmental Studies and a Law Degree (JD) from Osgoode University in Ontario received in 1994.
Petrina served as an elected official in the Township of Langley from 2014-2022. She served on the Metro Vancouver Board as an alternate from 2018-2022 and was the Township representative on the Metro Vancouver Climate Action Committee from 2018-2022. Additional information can also be found at www.petrinaarnason.com.
Roxci Bevis
Program & Volunteer Coordinator
Roxci is a community engagement specialist and a tireless advocate for environmental and social justice in our society, supporting nonprofit societs locally, provincially, and nationally. Roxci is a forever-learner, her certificate studies spanning over a decade include business administration, human resources, project management, volunteer management, media journalism, and greening the economy.
Roxci has been a part of the DRBIPA team since 2018. She loves working with the team to propel our mission forward, supporting community involvement and volunteer engagement in our parks.
​
Please contact Roxci to get involved with our volunteer conservation program or guided nature walk series.