About Us
Janelle Armstrong - My name is Janelle Armstrong and I am a 20 year old university student, born and raised in Nanaimo. I was born with Cerebral Palsy which has made me reliant on a power chair to get around. I was asked if I would like to become a member of the Access Nanaimo Committee by another committee member and I have been involved for just over a year now. It has been a pleasure so far. One of the things I enjoy most about being a member is having the opportunity to hear other people’s thoughts and feelings about accessibility situations they have experienced and it is truly fascinating. Also I have been able to have obstacles that I have faced heard. I feel that it is important for this committee to remain as an ongoing team. Our community is growing nonstop meaning there will always be situations where accessibility issues need to be addressed. My main goal in being a part of this committee is to help raise awareness about accessibility and advocate for others and myself to having a more accessible community.
Bert Abbott - Bert has been involved with the Access Nanaimo Committee since May 2008 and with Spirit of BC Team Nanaimo for a number of years. He has also sat on several boards related to independent living, accessibility and transportation.
He is a Rehabilitation Consultant for North Vancouver Island with the BC Paraplegic Association working out of the Nanaimo office.
Gail Hadfield – Gail joined the Access Nanaimo Initiative in the position of Program Coordinator in late April 2009.
Prior to this, she held the position of Program Coordinator for the Measuring Up Parksville Initiative. She is also in the process of completing the Social Services Diploma Program through VIU.
She is excited about working with the Access Nanaimo Committee to make Nanaimo a more accessible and inclusive community.
Kristy Tymos -
Participating in the community and being actively involved in a committee that focuses on making a friendlier and more inclusive Nanaimo is what motivated Kristy Tymos to join Access Nanaimo during the summer of 2008. Kristy hopes to build a more accessible Nanaimo by educating others on the legitimate needs of the local disabled and senior community. Kristy had a spinal cord injury in 2005, and maintains that driving and sleeping are two activities that should remain eternally separate. Since that time, she has returned back to Vancouver Island University where she is completing her Bachelor of Arts.
Norm Hemstreet - Has lived in Nanaimo for seventeen years. First became involved with the Nanaimo access committee after a discussion with Bert Abbot from the BCPA, Took the opportunity as a chance to help deal with accessibility issues for people with disabilities. Was injured in July of 2002, broke my neck diving into a pool and hitting the bottom, a C6 quadriplegic, Primarily use a manual wheelchair. Drive a van using a lift, power seat and hand controls. Still very active, enjoy doing lots of activities with my two daughters, walking my dog, going to the gym, swimming, woodworking, traveling and any and everything else I can get out there and do.
Karen Townsend - Has lived in Nanaimo for 15 years but was born and raised in Victoria. Became a member of the Access Nanaimo committee when it started in the fall of 2008.
Been involved with Nanaimo Jr. wheelchair basketball for 3 years and The Rick Hansen Wheels-in-Motion for 4 years with Bert Abbott and it was a natural step to take to help the community. I feel a need for people to advocate for others who do not have access to things we take for granted.
I hope to achieve more changes in Nanaimo's accessibility and understanding of people with disabilities as they have the same needs and wants as we do. My son Alex became a paraplegic at the age of 10 because of an illness and has had many obstacles to overcome from health issues to inclusion to accessibility.
Angela Plasteras - A member of the Access Nanaimo Committee. I am 21 years old and live in Nanaimo with my parents and twin sister. I grew up in Coquitlam and moved to Nanaimo six years ago. My sister and I have Cerebral Palsy as a result of being born prematurely, and we use power chairs to get around. To assist me with my independence, I have been fortunate enough to have a Service Dog named Yogi for the past seven years. I enjoy Power Soccer, horseback riding, swimming and keeping in contact with my friends over Facebook.
Accessibility affects every part of my life. It’s the difference between a full, active life and one filled with restrictions. Through this committee, I hope to make Nanaimo known for being an accessible destination and place to live.
April Plasteras
Valerie Robinson - Valerie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1987. Prior to this she was an avid distance runner who worked as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist and Medical Research Technologist. She had also started training for triathlons but was prevented from participating in any due to the progression of the disease. As another result of the worsening condition, Valerie started to use a wheelchair 15 years ago and changed careers to becoming a personal income tax consultant.
She is currently a single mom with two teenage boys, one of whom has been involved with wheelchair basketball for a number of years.
She joined the Committee to give back. Robin Lee Gibson and the Rick Hansen Foundation fundraised to purchase a new wheelchair for her in 2005 and she and her family have been involved in fundraising efforts with this organization ever since. She also values the support of the other Committee members and has formed close personal bonds with them.
She understands the difficulties that those with physical challenges face in trying to find accessible housing in Nanaimo as she lives in a house that is inaccessible due to a steep driveway.
