Dr. James Chamberlain retired to Nanaimo in 2019 after a career as a primary school teacher, union activist, vice-principal and principal. James was honoured to receive a Doctorate of Letters Degree in 2021 from the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford for his life’s work on queer issues in public education. James is also known for the precedent setting case in the Supreme Court of Canada against the Surrey School Board which overturned the board’s ban on books about same-sex families from classrooms. When not in Nanaimo, he travels extensively with his husband.

Cathy Welch is a semi-retired trauma therapist in private practice. Through her career she worked in sexual assault centres, transition houses and mental health centres. She is a strong advocate working on social justice issues and was a pioneer in developing educational materials and programming to address issues of same sex/gender relationship violence. She lives with her partner on Gabriola Island where she enjoys kayaking, gardening, building furniture, playing music and exploring nature with her granddaughter.

Joan Merrifield is a retired elementary teacher, a social justice union activist, feminist and environmentalist. Joan received  the BC Teacher’s Federation Bob Rosen Award in 2018,  for her work on social justice issues. Joan is living on Gabriola Island with her partner and enjoys kayaking and gardening along with spending time with her beloved granddaughter. Presently, Joan is president of the Gabriola Museum working on preserving covenant lands and focusing on equity, inclusion and diversity in Museums.

Steve LeBel is a retired teacher, living in Victoria with his partner for the last 9 years. He worked mainly in Kamloops and Vancouver, but loves the island now. His past experiences have included a lot of traveling and backpacking in various countries. For about 15 years he worked with Gay and Lesbian Educators of BC (later Pride Education Network) helping to educate teachers and administrators about the realities of life for queer students, staff and families, and providing resources at a time when they were less plentiful.

Christopher Bate brings 30 years of education, work experience, and volunteerism in non-profit societies in BC. He has been involved in queer activism since the late 1980s when he trained as an HIV pre and post test counsellor. He attended Winnipeg's first Pride Parade in 1987 and helped form a queer students group in university. He is the current Chairperson of Pride Comox Valley. Currently Chris works in social planning and seniors support in the Comox Valley.

Dan Coles is a newcomer to Gabriola Island, having retired from public education in British Columbia, California, and Washington State.
Born in West Vancouver, one of nine children, he has been a member of the LGBTQ+ running club, Frontrunners, a Board member of Camp Ten Trees, a camp for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth, and advocated for inclusive language in the teacher’s contract in Bellevue School District. Dan and his husband, Steve, are currently working to support LGBTQ+ refugees fleeing persecution in Afghanistan and other countries. Dan and Steve have one son who recently moved to B.C. When not advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights, Dan enjoys kayaking, paddle boarding, gardening, skiing, and taking walks on the beach with his husband and their pooch, Dakota.