Our Board Members:

BC Rehab is governed by a dedicated and passionate Board of Directors. Our Board members are volunteers and come from a variety of backgrounds. They offer a wealth of knowledge and experience to make BC Rehab a strong and effective organization.

Ian Muirhead

Ian retired in 2013 after 27 years as a corporate lawyer in Vancouver, and now fills his time with family, travelling, day-hiking, backpacking, gardening, reading and attempting to stay physically fit. His love of the outdoors is one of the reasons BC Rehab’s mandate appeals to him – to be able to assist anyone who is working to overcome a challenge is very fulfilling, and the strength and determination of the individuals who BC Rehab helps are a continuing inspiration.

Walt Lawrence

Walt Lawrence was born in Vancouver British Columbia. He has been married for twenty five years and has two daughters.

Walt was injured in Kelowna at age eighteen in a diving accident forty-six years ago leaving him with a C2/3 Spinal Cord injury.

Walt went on to pursue a career in counselling, achieving a Registered Rehab Professional Degree. He has been working at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre for the past twenty five years. He was most recently awarded a Doctorate of Divinity and has dedicated his life to advocating for persons with disabilities working closely with the City of Vancouver and various other boards. For the past eighteen years Walt has been on the board of BC Rehab Foundation and finds it very rewarding.

“BC Rehab Foundation is a life changing organization which I am proud to work along side as it has assisted and enabled many individuals towards maximizing independence”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2psWih7IjW0

Knut Nordlie

Knut is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a graduate of Simon Fraser University.  He retired in 2015 from the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer after 20 years of service.  Prior to that, he worked for 10 years at the BC Rehab Society when it ran the George Pearson Centre and GF Strong where he was the Director of Finance and Administration.

Knut has served on a number of “not for profit” boards and was a part-time instructor at the BC  Institute of Technology in the Fundraising Management Certificate program.  In addition, he obtaining his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 2003.

While competing as a member of the Canadian National Ski Team, Knut was injured in 1974 leaving him with a T11/12 Spinal Cord injury taking his life in a very different direction.  His combination of personal and professional experience with the challenges faced by persons with disabilities give him insight and a desire to assist those working to overcome their personal challenges.

Dr. Viet Vu

Dr. Viet Vu is a board certified physiatrist with fellowship training in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. She practices at GF Strong Rehab Centre in SCI rehab, leads the Provincial Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Program and is the Medical Director of the Post-COVID Interdisciplinary Clinical Network in B.C. Dr. Vu is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, Dept of Medicine, Div of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
She believes in equity and quality in healthcare.

David Ennis

David Ennis is a lawyer with extensive experience in the non-profit sector designing and implementing international development programs relating to democratic development, elections, participatory law reform, and justice sector reform. He has managed complex, long-term technical assistance programs in Indonesia, Ukraine and Vietnam and has worked as an expert consultant in post-conflict and transitional societies with intergovernmental organizations including the UN, IOM and OSCE.

David is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to BC Rehab’s work to make British Columbia a more inclusive and accessible place for all.

TJ Isherwood

TJ was born and raised on Vancouver Island. She is an Occupational Therapist (OT) and loves how OT integrates physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and environmental factors to empower people in practical, meaningful ways. She currently works with the Outpatient Acquired Brain Injury team but has worked with all inpatient programs at GF Strong which has allowed her to forge strong connections with clients, families, and healthcare professionals along the continuum of recovery.

TJ is a hands-on, down-to-earth individual who values community and connection. One of the biggest driving forces in her life is the resilience she has witnessed both personally and professionally. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the world with her husband and daughter, practicing yoga, and working with pottery.

Edward Milligan

Ed has been a member of the BC Rehab Board since 2024. A professional engineer, he is the Owner and President of West Shore Constructors. Ed’s long-standing commitment to advocacy is reflected in his extensive board experience, having served on the SCI BC Board since 2000 and previously contributing to the Lions Paraplegic Lodge Board. In addition to these roles, he is a director of the BC Paraplegic Foundation and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Spinal Cord Injury Canada.

Our Staff:

BC Rehab is staffed by one devoted individual who has been with the Foundation for over 20 years. She offers a wealth of knowledge for individuals with disabilities and will advocate for those who require her help.

Trynka Gogal

Client Services and Administrative Coordinator

Trynka Gogal is in charge of Client Services and the Administration at BC Rehab. Trynka has been working for BC Rehab since the beginning of 2005. She attended Langara College Fine Arts program, but left early to travel. Trynka found her true joy when she started working for BC Rehab. She has learned not only how to run a foundation, but most importantly she learned how to advocate for individuals with physical disabilities.