Blake McGuffie was born and raised in Nanaimo, and has enjoyed a lovely west coast life with his wife, Lois. Blake’s many years of contributions to the community span across the political, educational, financial, and real estate sectors. He joined the NCDC in 1976. As a Nanaimo City Councillor and Regional Director from 1990-1993 and 1996-1999, Blake has also served on and chaired various City committees since 1998. Blake is the founder of two tax services, Esplanade Tax and Budget Tax Service, and has been the owner of Esplanade Properties Inc. since 1980, which owns a mixed Commercial/Residential building in downtown Nanaimo. He also instructed tax courses for Vancouver Island University and is a Founding Director and Treasurer of the E-File Association of Canada. Blake’s ongoing community service includes serving as a Director and Treasurer for the Harbour City Theatre Society (2014 to Date), the Vancouver Island Symphony Society (2014 to Date), as a Director for the South End Community Association (2000 to Date), and the Nanaimo Foodshare Society (1996 to Date). Blake sits on the Governance Committee and the Finance Committee.

Jan was born in Nanaimo and has seen this community grow into an important health care center on Vancouver Island. Her first job was in 1963 at the then newly opened Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, and that work experience led to academic pursuits that eventually resulted in a PhD in Education.
Jan also has a background in communications applying her experience to management and organizational behaviour. She spent several years in public service as a Member of Parliament. Volunteerism has been an important aspect of Jan’s work life experience in Canada as well as overseas.
Jan’s interest in elder care is a direct result of caring for her mother during her last year of life. The narratives of care that emerged from that experience inform her current role as a Kiwanis Village Board member.

Marie Harel, a proud Montréal native, has dedicated her life to nurturing and empowering children and advocating for the most vulnerable members of our community. After being recruited to teach French Immersion Kindergarten in Nanaimo, she embraced her passion for education, leading her to a rewarding 32-year career with SD 68 Nanaimo/Ladysmith. Throughout her journey, Marie has taken on numerous leadership roles, including serving as a principal for over 20 years in both French Immersion and English schools, and as the President of the B.C. Principal’s and Vice Principal’s Association in Nanaimo.
Her commitment to educational excellence was recognized on a global scale when she was invited to participate in a prestigious Think Tank on Educational Leadership at Oxford University in England. Beyond her professional achievements, Marie has been actively involved in her community as a volunteer at Haven Society / Women’s Shelter and as president of Strata 4288 at Longwood.
An accomplished painter and sculptor, Marie finds joy in creativity as well as other activities such as reading, cycling, kayaking, travelling and walking with friends and her dog. Her personal journey took a poignant turn as she provided care and advocacy for her beloved mother in her final years. This transformative experience deepened her understanding of the importance of compassionate care for the elderly, guiding her to join Kiwanis first as a Day Captain for Meals on Wheels and now as a dedicated Board member.
With a personal mission to make aging an empowering and joyful stage of life, Marie Harel continues to inspire others through her unwavering commitment to service, leadership, and community well-being.

Born in Duncan, British Columbia and raised in Toronto, Doug attended Trent University as an undergraduate. He then undertook the combined Ll.B./MBA programme at Dalhousie University.
Upon graduation, Doug was accepted into the Canadian Foreign Service and spent spent 33 years as a Trade Commissioner assisting Canadian companies in exploring and developing new markets overseas for their products and services. His  assignments included Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Phoenix in the United States, as well as Mexico City, Cairo, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), and Mumbai, India. From 1997-2000, he managed Canada’s trade relations with ten countries in Southeast Asia from Ottawa.
After retiring from government service in 2008, Doug returned to Vancouver Island and lives in Nanaimo.