Abbotsford Hospice Society Staff

Abbotsford Hospice Society staff is remarkable in their skill and dedication to Hospice philosophy. They are involved in all aspects of Hospice services and they are charged with many responsibilities, including management and growth of the facility, training programs, research, fundraising through grants and community events, community education, media relations, staff development, and local, provincial and national end-of-life initiatives.

Members of Staff

DEBORAH LEHMANN
Executive Director

Specializing in the field of human resources, Deborah has focused on organizational effectiveness and employee development and training. Educational background includes human resources, adult education and legal administration. She has also received more specific training in group facilitation, peer counselling, advanced bereavement support, not-for-profit governance, and risk management.

In 2004 Deborah joined the Abbotsford Hospice Society and served as Vice-Chair. In 2006 she was elected to the Chair position and in January 2007 Deborah accepted the position of Executive Director for the society. While maintaining quality service and the grass roots approach she promotes creative program planning, community collaboration and innovative marketing.

Deborah is a Rotarian, Board Member of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and is part of the BC Human Resources Management Association Professional Mentoring Program (PMP) for the Fraser Valley region.

Personal interests include travel, learning from and experiencing other cultures and facilitating community connection.

BONNIE PIERCE
Office Administrator

Bonnie has been on staff with the Abbotsford Hospice Society since October of 2005. In addition to her duties as Office Administrator, Bonnie is responsible for conducting our Orientation training as well as coordinating and supervising office receptionists and special events volunteers.

Born in Vancouver, Bonnie has resided in Abbotsford since October 2003. She is an active volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society, CIBC Run for a Cure, and Relay for Life. Beta Sigma Phi occupies most of Bonnie’s free time.

In addition to her duties as Office Administrator, Bonnie is responsible for coordinating and recruiting the general volunteers (receptionists, events, etc.) and ensuring that the events that we have running are covered appropriately.

KELLY RAILTON
Programs Administrator

Kelly Railton joined the Hospice team as a volunteer in 2001, and has been a member of the staff for the past 3 years. As Programs Administrator, she oversees all Hospice Programs, coordinates facilitators and trainers, oversees the website, looks after general public outreach, advertising, and our Speakers Bureau.

YOKO GIFFORD
Palliative Services Manager

Yoko has been on staff since May 2008. As Palliative Services Manager, she is responsible for providing quality services on behalf of AHS with respect to terminally ill adults. Yoko manages the AHS hospital and facility visitation, and the in-home companioning program.

MARYANNE BALZER
Bereavement Services Manager

Maryanne has been on staff since January of 2007. As Bereavement Services Manger, she is responsible for providing quality services on behalf of AHS with respect to anticipatory grief and bereavement support. Maryanne manages all bereavement services including new client assessments, referrals to volunteers and support groups, facilitating volunteer meetings, recruiting volunteers and volunteer assessments. Maryanne works Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

JUANITA FLEMING
Registered Clinical Counsellor

Juanita works with our staff team and provides quality counselling services with respect to grief and loss and palliative support. Additionally, she manages the specialized Tertiary Palliative Care Unit volunteers, meets with our increasing number of drop-in clients, and attends at the Christine Morrison Hospice.

Juanita has her Masters in Counselling Psychology and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. She also has a Nursing degree and is a member of the BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association. She worked as an HIV and Family Counsellor in her native South Africa and, more recently, has worked at Langley Hospice Society, Mission Hospice Society and Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services.

Juanita provides counselling to individuals, couples, families and groups. She has worked extensively with those who are dying, bereaved, or coping with chronic illness, trauma and life transitions, and she presents workshops to community groups on issues of grief and loss and cultural sensitivity. Juanita uses a client-driven humanistic approach in her counselling, drawing from the schools of solution-focused, brief, narrative and process-oriented therapies. She believes that counselling is a source of support in a crisis, or during a time when you are seeking deeper personal insight and awareness.