Board Chair

Marnie is a lifetime resident of the Cowichan Valley and co-owner of PURICA.

She is the creator of the Purica Foundation, of which, since the inception of the foundation in 2016, it’s board of dynamic women have raised funds and awareness for Cowichan Hospice House and the Cowichan Valley Youth Services HUB project.

Marnie is a proud volunteer. She dedicates time to Nourish Cowichan, assisting in providing nutritious meals to schoolchildren in the Cowichan Valley.

Marnie and her family also play a role in being coaches and managing team applications for the Duncan Wildcats as they prepare and compete at Operation Trackshoes.

Marnie is married to PURICA Co-Owner Trevor Watkin and they are very proud of their adult children, Kate and Matthew and recently welcomed a wonderful son-in-law and beautiful granddaughter.

Marnie’s superpower is entertaining. No group is too small or too big!

Best words to describe Marnie are, loves to be surrounded by her family and friends, travel enthusiast, music lover, always up for a dance party and is passionate about giving back to her community.

Board Member

The Cowichan Valley has been Sandra’s home since 2012 when she and her family moved from the mainland. She is a wife and proud mother to 3 children. Sandra has always been passionate about working with people with varying abilities and has devoted her life’s career to this. For many years Sandra’s work focussed on directly supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders as well as managing various residential and day programs.

Following that, she worked as an Infant Development Consultant in the lower mainland and loved working with babies and families. Since moving to the Island Sandra has been employed by the Cowichan Valley School District as an Education Assistant and is passionate about her job. She is grateful to be living in such a diverse area and being part of an amazing group giving back to the community.

Sandra’s super power is her positivity and willingness to reflect, learn and grow as an individual. She has faced some unique challenges in her life and believes that it has been these traits that have allowed her to persevere, adapt and even grow during difficult times.

Sandra is best described as family loving, compassionate, grounded, loyal and insightful. She loves a good adventure and enjoys camping, boating, fishing and travelling.

Board Chair

Heather has worked in Retail and customer service as many different roles but mainly as a manager for 25 years.

For 22 of those years she has raised two children on her own that played plenty of sports. That being said that never stop Heather from helping her community in any way she can.

Over the years Heather has been very involved with her children’s sports teams, leading fundraisers, serving as a board member, and managing teams.

One of her fondest memories of volunteering is serving our Indigenous Elders at their different events. Heather’s best asset is fundraising and helping manage an event in anyway she can to make it a smooth running operation.

Best words to describe Heather would be, Warm Hearted, Super Mom, Sports enthusiast, Hard worker, and a love for her community. 

Board Member

Michelle is a certified Colon Hydrotherapist, and owner/operator of the Cleansing Room at the Sol Center in Duncan. She has been providing colonics to help clients improve their health for the past 23 years. She is a wife and mother of two boys and enjoys spending time outdoors in this beautiful valley, being active with her family and friends.

Michelle’s superpowers are caregiving, positivity, and kindness. As a mother and volunteer coach she uses her superpowers to encourage others and promote a positive atmosphere.

Best words to describe Michelle would be homemaker, health nut, competitor, a people person, and obsessed with Frenchies. She is inspired to be part of the Purica Foundation Board, focusing on giving back to both the community and its wonderful people.

Treasurer

Nicky began her love of numbers while working for a credit union on Saltspring Island at 15. By 26 she had moved up the ladder and was a Bank Branch Manager in Victoria. With four children at home playing almost every sport….. Nicky spent many years sitting on boards, fundraising and doing the books for many non-profits.

Nicky’s superpower is little ones, over the years Nicky and her husband Michael, have fostered 70 plus children from the Cowichan valley.

Best words to describe her would be, Proud mom, Foodie, Traveler, G&T lover, Bookkeeper, Book lover, Aunty Candy and Aunty too many little ones.

Secretary

Megan Dragicevich was born and raised on a farm in rural Alberta, where there was always a strong sense of community and where she witnessed first-hand what it truly meant to be a community-minded person.

Megan moved to the Cowichan Valley nearly 30 years ago. She fell in love with the area and her now husband, and never left. Here, Megan and Mike have enjoyed living and raising their two beautiful daughters. Megan has also been a team member of the PURICA family since 2008.

Being on the Purica Foundation Board simply reinforces what an incredible community the Cowichan Valley is, and how much can be achieved when people come together to support individuals and organizations in need. 

Media

Chantal has always had a love for volunteering in her community. Whether it was at her children’s schools or sporting activities, to co-founding the Duncan annual ‘Run for the Clause’ Santa fun run event or coaching and organizing for the Duncan Wildcats, a team committed to supporting individuals with physical and mental challenges which she has done now for just over 20 years.

Chantal’s superpower is connecting people and resources from the many diverse backgrounds, through volunteering, work, family, and amazing friendships. Always approaching situations, projects, and challenges with a solution focused approach, and looking for different opportunities for resources or funding.

Best Words to describe her are a confident and dedicated Mum, a champion of others, creative, resourceful, hardworking, and fun-loving.

Board Member

Cindee loves calling the Cowichan Valley her home where she lives with her husband and two boys.

With a work hard play hard mantra for life, Cindee enjoys balancing her career creating custom-branded apparel with fun-filled times with friends and family, volunteering, dragon boating, hiking, dancing, surfing, reading, and curling up and watching a good movie.

Cindee can be described as creative, caring, a problem-solver, witty, passionate, and hard-working.

“I am truly so excited to be a part of this amazing board of inspiring, creative, hardworking humans with the intent to make a difference in our community.”