Created in 1956, the Memorial Society of BC is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization. We are registered under the BC Societies Act and operate under the direction of a volunteer board of directors.

Board Members

 

Steve Kennedy – President

Steve is a seasoned marketing and communications executive, currently working in a senior role at the University of British Columbia. He oversees alumni engagement communications, participates in UBC's integrated fundraising and brand marketing efforts, and manages venue rental marketing.  Before working at UBC, he served as a strategic planner and client services lead at the Vancouver – based offices of global advertising agencies (BBDO, Grey and DDB). Past clients include Expedia, Labatt Breweries/InBev, Starbucks, Telus and BC Lottery Corp. Steve is a longstanding MSBC board member since 2017, and an UBC alum, with a B.Com. (Marketing) from UBC’s Sauder School of Business.

 

Gord Plottel – Vice President

Gord is a retired lawyer, having practiced law for thirty-three years as a commercial litigator at a large national law firm.  He holds degrees from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria.  He has sat on the boards of several sport, recreation and cultural organizations.  He joined the MSBC board in 2021. He lives in Vancouver with his wife, and has three adult children.

 

Jennifer Potter - Treasurer

Jennifer has over 15 years’ experience as a Senior Estate Specialist/Trust Officer for a local financial institution. She joined the MSBC board in 2020 and is currently serving in the role of Treasurer. Her passions include traveling, the Arts and collecting orchids and carnivorous plants.

 

Janet Antonio – Secretary

Janet has over 30 years’ experience working in the not for profit sector in marketing, fundraising and community development.  In her prior positions, her role included planning funerals for donors and this has inspired her interest in serving on the board of MSBC since 2021.  She is currently the Executive Director of the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation and CTS Youth Society.  She has been married to her college sweetheart for over 30 years and together they have an adult son and daughter.

 

Cindy Oxenbury – Past President 

Cindy has followed in her parents' and grand-parents' footsteps as a member of MSBC and is proud to be a member of the board since 2016. She is the co-founder of an international privacy consultancy and has worked in the health tech sector for the past decade. While the list of things that bring Cindy joy is long, her greatest loves are her family and birds.

 

Barrie Webster – Member at Large

Barrie joined the MSBC board in 2010, and served as president for several years, after several years as president of the Manitoba Funeral Planning and Memorial Society in Winnipeg.  He is a retired professor of interdisciplinary environmental analytical chemistry and later worked in the analytical and pharmaceutical business world.  He also served for more than 20 years on the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission and played a leadership role in a number of professional scientific and volunteer organizations.  Barrie has been an amateur musician in a variety of musical genres groups, which has reinforced his capacity to work harmoniously with others.  Barrie is a humanist and enjoys weekly long distance cycling.  He is married and lives in Victoria.

 

Verena Foxx – Member at Large

Verena Foxx and her family joined the MSBC in 1990.  She has served in different capacities on the MSBC board to support her interest in both consumer advocacy and in the inevitability of end-of-life. Verena is a retired Early Childhood/Literacy Educator and Education Consultant with the Vancouver School Board.  Previously she was on Faculty at UBC in the Child Study Centre, and prior to that, she ran a progressive Early Childhood School in (West) Berlin. Her long-time side-hustle has been to write columns for BC business, education and lifestyle publications. Currently, she writes a monthly column for INSPIRED 55+.  Verena is a long-time practising yogi, cyclist, and swimmer, with a lifelong interest in the arts.

 

Andrew Mellenger – Member at Large

Andrew has spent more than 20 years working in the digital and technology sector as a leader, product creator, and solution strategist. He has the ability to map complex business issues into effective, thoughtful, easy to use solutions. Currently the principal at a boutique web-development agency, he has worked for brands and non-profits like SmartSweets, Business in Vancouver, The Oppenheimer Group, UC Davis, alumni UBC, BC Children’s Hospital and others. Andrew joined the MSBC board in 2022 with hopes to help with digital communications tools such as the website and email marketing.