Library Directors & Board
Library Directors
Library Board
About
The Library Board operates under the authority of the BC Library Act.
Members
Jacqueline Gorton, Chair
- CPA, with over 25 year's experience in finance, audit, risk management and technology
- 30 year resident of Coquitlam, passionate about the City and its libraries
- Served on a number of Boards and volunteered in the community
- Married, with two grown children
Raymond Lee, Vice-Chair
- Program Lawyer with Continuing Legal Education Society of BC since 2004
- Called to the BC Bar in 1986
- BA (Honours) in Political Science from UBC, LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
- Avid reader of philosophy, military history and current affairs
- Past Board Member of Place des Arts, Coquitlam
- Has lived in Coquitlam with his family since 1995
Steve Leung, Treasurer
- Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
- Past member of Universal Access-Ability Advisory Committee (City of Coquitlam) for five years
- Bachelor of Commerce, Finance & Marketing (Honours), University of British Columbia
- Avid reader of biography, history and current affairs
- Lives with his wife and two children in Coquitlam
Matt Djonlic, Councillor & Trustee
- Elected to Coquitlam City Council in 2022
- Previously served on the Coquitlam Public Library Board from 2014 – 2021
- Graduate from Simon Fraser University with a BA in Political Science
- Lives in the Town Centre area with his partner Natalie and their cat Petunia
Monica Heir, Trustee
- Technology consultant
- Moved to Coquitlam in 2018
- Can usually be found chasing her husband, two daughters and/or dog around local parks
- Avid reader and, most recently, audiobook listener
Cindy Mark, Trustee
-
Product Design ASIC Engineer
- M. A. Sc University of British Columbia
- Enjoys DIY projects inside and outside the home
- Resident of Coquitlam for over 5 years
Neal Nicholson, Trustee
- Semi-retired, resigning membership in the Chartered Accountants after 48 years in 2016
- Maintains a commitment to his Coquitlam community as a director and often Treasurer of organizations such as the Coquitlam Heritage Society and Evergreen Cultural Centre
- More broadly, he also is Treasurer of the Rivershed Society of BC, BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and secretary of Douglas College Foundation
- He served as a Councillor in Coquitlam until 2014
- With his wife Barbara, Neal moved to Coquitlam in 1976 where they remain, close to their two children, their spouses and three grandchildren
Kimberly Sivak, Trustee
- Research Project Manager at Simon Fraser University
- Certified Project Management Professional
- MA in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies; BA in Film from the University of California at Berkeley
- Co-founder and Leadership Committee member of SFU's Project Management Community of Practice.
- Enjoys stewarding her Little Free Library, historical fiction, classic movies, and dog parks (accompanied by her rescue pup and human family)
Richard Veerapen, Trustee
- Former neurosurgeon with academic legal training, Ph.D (Law & Society, UVic)
- UBC MD Program FLEX Courses Site Director (at the Island Medical Program)
- Resident of Coquitlam, with family mostly on the mainland
- Area of reading and writing: socio-legal and policy strategies related to conflict in healthcare
Todd Gnissios, Executive Director & Secretary to the Board
- Appointed December 9, 2013
- MLIS, University of British Columbia
- BGS, Business and Humanities, Simon Fraser University
Meetings
- The Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, except in March, August and December.
- To attend as an observer, email officemanager@coqlibrary.ca.
Presentations to the Board
Groups and/or individuals who want to address the Board should contact Executive Director Todd Gnissios at tgnissios@coqlibrary.ca at least 5 days before the next Board meeting to be included in the meeting agenda.
Your request must include:
- who will be attending
- the organization you represent, if any
- the topic of your presentation
- the meeting date you wish to make your presentation
Your presentation must be under 15 minutes long.
The Board Chair has final authority on whether to allow a presentation, the time allotted, and the time given to questions from Trustees, if any.
Minutes