Board members
Adelle Cober, MPA - Board Chair 
Location: Terrace
BOGChair@coastmountaincollege.ca
Adelle Cober, MPA, works for the Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice as a community engagement and collaborative partnerships manager. Before assuming this leadership role, she was a constituency assistant to Members of Parliament.
Adelle is an active community member and currently serves as the chair of the Coast Mountain College (CMTN) Board of Governors and as vice-chair of the K’san Society Board of Directors. Her current governance positions build on her active involvement in student leadership roles, including treasurer of the College’s Students’ Union and student representative of CMTN’s Board of Governors and Education Council.
Upon graduation from CMTN, Adelle completed her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Northern British Columbia, where she served as the student representative for the School of Social Work. This was followed by Adelle completing her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Victoria. Adelle is a registered social worker with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
Danielle Allen-Holmes
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board 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).
Michelle Horner
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board 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.
CJ Butcher
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board 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.
Aaron Callaghan
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board member
Location: Fort Fraser
A K-12 educator hailing from Nova Scotia, Aaron is the newly appointed Superintendent of Schools for Rocky Mountain School District (No. 6) in Southeast British Columbia. Prior to this, he held a variety of leadership positions in the K-12 sector, including Director of Programs and Student Services for the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education in Nova Scotia and the Superintendent of Schools for Coast Mountains School District (No. 82) in British Columbia.
Aaron holds a Master of Education degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. Aaron is passionate about education and ensuring that all children have opportunities for inclusive, safe, and meaningful learning experiences. He has enjoyed his recent transition to this province and appreciates both the raw beauty of the landscape and cultural richness found in local communities.
Aaron prioritizes spending time outdoors and enjoys walking, running, biking, and kayaking.
Tochukwu (Tochi) Onuora
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board member
Location: Houston
Tochi is a computer scientist and health informatician, currently working as the primary care network coordinator for Nisga’a Valley Health Authority.
Tochi’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and a Masters degree in Health Informatics.
She worked in the IT department in the banking industry [LL1] before transitioning to the health care sector. Tochi has also worked as a college instructor.
In addition to her professional work, Tochi is committed to her community. She is a board member of the Houston Community Services Association and volunteers in various community activities, including sports programs.
Ang Smith
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board member
Location: Gitanmaax
Ang Smith is Gitxsan and lives on the Gitxsan territory.
Ang has been active in her community over the years by being on council for her band, along with various boards such as Anspayxw School Society and Wilp Si’Satxw Healing Centre, within the Gitxsan area. She was also co-chair of an Indigenous Implementation Committee with the Environmental Assessment Office.
Ang has a degree in Social Work and a diploma in First Nations Public Administration. She is a lifelong learner of Gitxsan culture and a student of Sim’algax.
Ang is involved in the Gitxsan hereditary system and is a member of the Lax Gibuu cla; she is from the house of ‘Wii K’aax.
Ang is the Cultural Services Manager at Gitxsan Child & Family Services Society.
Nicole Jamieson
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board member
Location: Prince Rupert
Dr. Nicole Jamieson, DVM, B.Sc, Tsimshian from the Laxsgiik (Eagle) clan of the House of Gitwilgyoots, is a former student of Coast Mountain College under its former name Northwest Community College, Prince Rupert campus.
Dr. Jamieson continued her studies at the University of Northern British Columbia, achieving a Bachelor of Science, Wildlife Biology. She then worked in the forestry and oil and gas industries before finalizing her education at the University of Saskatchewan, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, where she achieved her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Jamieson was proud to serve her home community of Prince Rupert as a veterinarian for nearly a decade at the Pacific Coast Veterinary Hospital before embarking on her current journey as a locum veterinarian. Some of her other happy accomplishments were as a volunteer for the Canadian Animal Assistance Team to serve her mother's home village of Lax Kw'alaams, and as a role model for School District 52 and the First Nations Education Steering Committee.
’Ilhdesinon Birdy Markert
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board member
Location: Smithers
’Ilhdesinon Birdy Markert is from the House of Many Eyes of the Likhsilyu Clan of the Witsuwit’en Nation. She was raised by her grandmother, ’Ilhdesinon Josephine Michell, whose name she has carried for 15 years within the traditional governance system. Birdy’s grandmother instilled responsibility and reciprocity into Birdy’s soul, teaching her to be thoughtful and kind, but also to have the courage to be fierce and informed.
Birdy has had the privilege of being in the presence of amazing Indigenous leaders who have guided her footsteps to walk softly on Mother Earth. Many Elders have guided her and her work as an educator, mother, and wife.
Birdy has been in leadership roles and networked with several organizations in the region to build a bridge between local families and communities. She is an advocate for equality and equity for Indigenous students in the Bulkley Valley, ensuring that their educational needs are met. She has guided teachers and support staff in developing accessible cultural programs for all learners. Birdy is proudest of being an instrumental driver in creating the Witsuwit’en history textbook Niwhts’ide’nï Hibi’it’ën: The Ways of Our Ancestors, written with Elders and Mélanie Morin.
As a matriarch in training, Birdy is deeply involved in her clan’s business and continually works toward reconciliation for and with her people. She is also a member the Smithers Bridging Committee, a working-group that strives to create cross-cultural harmony between Indigenous and non-Indigenous families living on Witsuwit’en territory. Birdy recently initiated and oversaw the creation of the amazing Walnut Park Totem Pole; a significant act of reconciliation between her district, the Town of Smithers, and the Witsuwit’en. The pole is a legacy of the work she and others have done to make life better for future generations.
In her personal time, Birdy enjoys fishing, berry picking, hiking, and walking her dog. She is married and has two amazing children who are young adults. She is a dedicated wife, mother, and community member.
Michael Mehr
Representing: Order-in-Council (OIC) appointed Board member
Location: Smithers
Michael graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and began working for a public accounting practice in 1986. He moved to Smithers in 1995 and has been a partner in Edmison Mehr Chartered Professional Accountants there since 1997.
Michael's work in public accounting has always focused on ensuring his small business and not-for-profit clients efficiently fulfill their business reporting needs and on providing advisory services to assist them in decision-making for their operations.
More recently Michael has taken on a role with Xero Canada Ltd., assisting the cloud accounting app with marketing, promotion, and product development. Michael has always embraced the importance of quality education opportunities in our remote communities and has taken an interest in Coast Mountain College in past years by instructing several accounting and bookkeeping classes at the College, participating as a speaker at a Smithers Business Diploma graduation ceremony, serving on the College's Business Faculty Advisory Committee and attending numerous special events put on by the College.
Michael and his wife have been proud to call Smithers home since 1995 and have enjoyed being very involved in the local community while raising their three daughters.
Priscilla Michell 
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.
Hazel Anjaria
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.