Board members

Adelle Cober - Board Chair Board Chair, Adelle Cober (Button Blanket)

Location: Terrace

BOGChair@coastmountaincollege.ca

Adelle Cober is a project manager at Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice. Previously, Ms. Cober was constituency assistant to Members of Parliament and a support worker at K'san Society. Active in her community, she is currently vice chair on the board of directors for K'san Society. She has also been treasurer at Coast Mountain College’s Students’ Union. Ms. Cober was a representative at the University of Northern British Columbia School of Social Work and at Coast Mountain College’s Board of Governors and Education Council. She was elected board chair for Coast Mountain College in October 2023.


Shannon McPhail - Vice Chair Shannon McPhail (Button Blanket)

Representing: Community Member
Location: Hazelton

Shannon McPhail is a mother of two and the co-founder and co-executive director of Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, an organization twice recognized as one of the top ten most effective and innovative organizations in Canada. She is a former recipient of the Northern BC Community Enrichment Award as well as the North American Conservation Leadership Award. She served as a member of the Gananooxxum (Mothers & Grandmothers) - a Gitxsan-settler women’s leadership group in the Upper Skeena. Ms. McPhail is an alumnus of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology where she was captain of the women’s basketball team while enrolled in Chemical Technology and later completed her Welding apprenticeship. She is a certified whitewater rafting guide and successfully completed the Northwest Guide Outfitters training program at Coast Mountain College. She holds certificates in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University and Indigenous Tools for Living (ITFL) hosted by the Northern Society for Domestic Peace.


David Smith Dave Smith, Community Member (Button Blanket)

Representing: Community Member
Location: Prince Rupert

David Smith retired from Canada Post after 32 years of service. He continues to serve his community as the President of the Prince Rupert Unemployed Centre Society and formerly as a Member of the Prince Rupert Airport Authority and Prince Rupert Labour Council. Mr. Smith studies photography and design at Sheridan College.

 


Mary Denton Mary Denton, Community Member

Representing: Community Member
Location: Prince Rupert

Mary Denton (Ama wilgoosk) is a dedicated community member from Prince Rupert (Kxeen), with a strong background in communications. Ms. Denton is currently the director of communications at Gitxaała Enterprises, the business arm of the Gitxaała Nation. With almost two decades of experience working in the Prince Rupert area, she specializes in handling communication needs for local businesses, industry partners, corporations, and First Nations communities. 

Ms. Denton’s commitment to her community is evident through her extensive involvement in various organizations. She has served on the Community Futures Pacific Northwest Board for 14 years, including two years as chairperson and two as vice chair. Additionally, she has been a director on the Prince Rupert Tourism Board, Kaien Island Trail Society, and Friends of Shames.

Ms. Denton is not just active in her community, she also participates in conferences focused on development, employment, decolonization, and economic development in Northern B.C. Her passion for the region where she resides is unmistakable, making her an asset to her community and beyond.


Diane McRae Diane McRae, Community Member (Button Blanket)

Representing: Community Member
Location: Hazelton

Diane McRae (Hagwil Ganaa'w), Gitxsan from the Fireweed clan has worked in administration/finance since 1981 and is currently the Executive Director of the Gitksan Government Commission. Diane has her certification in accounting, land management, mediation and conflict resolution. She obtained her designation for financial management in 2006 and most recently obtained her Master’s Certification in Project Management through the University of Northern British Columbia.  In her spare time, Diane volunteers for several community events/organizations, she has served as a member of the Gitanmaax Band Council and has been a participant (later Director) of the ‘Ksan Performing Arts dance group since 1972.


Jolene Wesley Jolene Wesley, Community Member (Button Blanket)

Representing: Community Member
Location: Terrace

Jolene Wesley is Tsimshian/Nisga'a and her clan is Killerwhale. Jolene is the Program Director for the Kermode Friendship Society and was previously a First Nations Access Coordinator at Coast Mountain College. Ms. Wesley is actively involved in a variety of community activities including the Rural and Remote Advisory Board with the BC Rural and Remote Homelessness partnering Strategy and was also on the Ksan Society Volunteer Board. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Northern British Columbia.


Michelle Horner

Representing: Community Member
Location: Kitsumkalum

Michelle Horner is a member of the Kitsumkalum Indian Band.  She completed her Bachelor of Commerce from University of Northern British Columbia in 2015. She has held roles as an accountant, bookkeeper, and office administrator & in December 2018 she accepted the role of Financial Manager for Kitsumkalum Economic Development Group of companies.  


Danielle Allen

Representing: Community Member
Location: Smithers

Danielle Allen is a lawyer and a partner at Allen & Hoffman Lawyers in Smithers. She practises a mix of administrative and family law. Before moving to Smithers to raise her young family, Ms. Allen practised law in Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria. She was called to the Ontario bar in 2010, the New York bar in 2012, and the British Columbia bar in 2015. Ms. Allen holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree from York University (2005), a Juris Doctor Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School (2009), and a Master of Laws Degree from the University of Victoria (2018).


CJ Butcher

Representing: Community Member 
Location: Prince Rupert

CJ Butcher is the acute care manager for the Northern Health Authority in Prince Rupert. Previously, Mr. Butcher worked in Executive Services for the Health Employers Association of British Columbia in Vancouver supporting contract implementation and bargaining within the health sector. He has been a faculty member and program head within the nursing program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree from Vancouver Island University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Simon Fraser University Beedie School of Business. Mr. Butcher is also an active member with the Project Management Institute, with a project management professional (PMP) designation. Outside of work he enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors with his family.


Hazel Anjaria Hazel Anjaria, Support Staff Rep

Representing: Staff Member Elect 
Location: Terrace 

Hazel Anjaria is a program officer for Workforce Training and Contract Services at Coast Mountain College. She is an accomplished multimedia broadcaster with a passion for education advancement and accessibility. Based on her experience at Coast Mountain College, she has become a proficient and committed professional in providing education that aligns with the employment requirements of the community. 

Ms. Anjaria is also an active board member for the local non-profit pottery studio, Clay Artists of Terrace. She spends her spare time with her family, making pottery and exploring the outdoors.


Reto Riesen Reto Riesen, CUPE Rep

Representing: Faculty Representative Elect
Location: Prince Rupert

 

 

 

 

 

 


Marja Burrows

Representing: Education Council Chair
Location: Terrace


Priscilla Michell Priscilla Michell, First Nations Council Chair (Button Blanket)

Representing: First Nations Council Chair

Traditional Ancestry: Gilsayu Clan, an Unist’ot’en member of the Yikh Tsawilhggis: Dark house. Traditionally, this is a matriarchal society. Ms. Michell’s mother is Lht’at’en, Doris Rosso, who has instructed the Wet’suwet’en language and culture for over 30 years within the Witset community.

Currently Ms. Michell works with Kyah Wiget Education Society (KWES), which operates under the umbrella of Witset First Nation (formerly Moricetown Band Administration). She manages both the pre-employment and post-secondary funding for the Nation. While her post-secondary training in business administration may have suggested other career paths, Ms. Michell has worked to support her Wet’suwet’en Nation for the past 20 years, most recently filling the position of project manager. 

Ms. Michell’s work has extended beyond the administrative role and into organizations that enhance and promote Aboriginal education, including: 

  • Elected School Trustee for School District 54, Bulkley Valley and Chair of the Aboriginal Education Council, serving 19 years
  • Indigenous Adult Higher Learning Association (IAHLA) Board, over 5 years
  • Recently appointed to the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
  • Coast Mountain College, First Nations Council Chair and Board of Governors.

Ms. Michell has been a member of Coast Mountain College since 2003. She is the elected chair of First Nations Council, a position she has held for the past two and a half years, and she has served as chair in previous years. In her leadership roles, she has championed student success. She leads with core values – respect, relationships, reciprocity, and responsibility. She has a strong commitment to lifelong learning and encourages the ongoing engagement of Indigenous knowledge and experiences.


Alishia Benson-McCarthy Alishia Benson - Student Rep

Representing: Student Member Elect 
Location: Terrace

Traditional Ancestry: Traditional Gitxsan name is Xpit amonstoone; she is from Wilp Gyetem Maxmagii through Simoogit Hanamuuxw and Sigidim haanak Gwa amaats the Giskaast pedeek of Gitsegukla, BC. Ms. McCarthy’s given birth name from her parents is Alishia G. Benson-McCarthy (Grace). 

Ms. McCarthy has more than 15 years of leadership experience working in community governance and non-profit societies, and for different federally funded companies regarding funding for education and training. Ms. McCarthy is a first year business student at CMTN, Terrace campus, working towards a Business Administration Diploma (Human Resources). Ms. McCarthy is honoured to be a student representative for the CMTN student body on the Board of Governors.


Harsimran Singh Harsimran Singh, Student Rep

Representing: Student Member Elect
Location: Smithers 

Harsimran Singh is a dedicated post-graduate business student at Coast Mountain College in Smithers. Mr. Singh has embraced the challenges of leaving his home in Punjab and following Sikhism, a faith that teaches that life is a learning stage, that helping others and sharing happiness and sorrows with each other is important, and that respect and humanity come before anything else. 

With his strong commitment to educational progress, Mr. Singh fills many roles at the college, including digital ambassador and Leaders-in-Action, where he works to motivate himself and his colleagues. Besides being engaged in diverse activities, from organizing college events to promoting the college to volunteering at The Salvation Army, Mr. Singh is a successful YouTuber with over 35.1K+ subscribers. He has a passion for photography and plans to use his leadership skills in management roles.


Board meetings are held approximately every six to eight weeks from September through to June of the school year. Please refer to the meeting schedule section for the current meeting dates and locations.

Information can be obtained by emailing: eallen@coastmountaincollege.ca

Students, staff and the general public are welcome to attend public portion of the meetings.