Together with husband, Ray, she shares the challenges and joys of a blended family that includes four children, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Her family ranges in age from her 99+ year-old mother-in-law to her five-month-old great-grandson, and it spans most of the province and all the way to Regina, Saskatchewan.

Lynne is a retired professional accountant (CPA, CGA) and worked in both public practice and the forestry industry.She has been a CWL member for a total of 34 years. During that time, she held most positions on her parish council including president, diocesan convention convenor and mentor. On the Kamloops diocesan council, Lynne has served as chairperson of christian family life, communications, community life, resolutions, and organization before assuming the presidency in April of 2022.

In her parish of St. Ann’s, Quesnel, Lynne currently serves as lector. She was active as part of the RCIA team for many years and currently she enjoys participating in the small group format of the “Walking With Purpose” program, a Catholic Women’s Bible Studies series developed by LisaBrenninkmeyer.

Lynne has a long-time love of the League and a deep appreciation of the work it accomplishes and is excited about the proposed strategic updating of the organization. For the Kamloopsdiocesan theme, she chose Serving Together with Love and Joy, and she looksforward to working with all levels of the League, including the wonderful new team of diocesan officers, in doing justthat.

The family went on several postings overseas because Murray, her husband, was a Canadian Foreign Service Officer. It was not easy to be uprooted every two or three years, but it was a rare opportunity for the family to study people, their languages, cultures and traditions firsthand. She says she learned more from living in different countries than she would have sitting in classrooms or reading books. She was awestruck when she met Saint Mother Teresa of Kolkata at the Mother House in India, felt fulfilled working with the poor through volunteer work and was captivated by the kindness of people who made her feel at home.

They have been blessed with six children and eight grandchildren and she confides that her life often revolves around them. Murray retired in 2001 so they returned to Canada, made Kelowna their home and St. Pius X their church. She has been lector, RCIC teacher, and coordinator for a diocesan convention. She is currently a eucharistic minister, social outreach coordinator and social convenor for parish council. Murray is a eucharistic minister, an active member of the Knights of Columbus and has held the positions of grand knight and district deputy grand knight.

Victoria joined the League in 2005 and became chairperson for community life, organization chairperson and then president. At the diocesan level, she took the same path and is now deeply honored to be serving as president. The diocesan theme for 2021-2023 is Connecting with Love, a theme she hopes will inspire all members of the League in Nelson to achieve what they can because they care about others.

Maria graduated as a registered nurse in 1969, specialising in emergency medicine. For the past 30 years, Maria has worked in mental health as manager and counselor. Her passion is sharing her experience in mental health and gratefully the League has given her a forum. An engagingand humorous speaker, Maria can present complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner. She has given workshops in mental health and addictions at both the parish and diocesan level.

A member of The Catholic Women’s League for 15 years, Maria has held several positions in the Christ Our Saviour parish council including president, organization, and secretary. On the PrinceGeorge diocesan council, Maria held the positions of organization for four years and is now president. She is also one of the members of the League’s strategic plan effective communications working group.Now retired, Maria can pursue her many hobbies, including reading, knitting, tatting, walking, hiking, cruising, and fine dining.

Maria’s goal for the next two years is to travel to all parishes, to get to know her sisters inNorthern B.C. and to unite the Prince George parish councils.