ABOUT US
SOS Volunteer Centre Society was founded in 2006 to provide volunteerism support in the Okanagan Similkameen. In 2023, a name change to South Okanagan Similkameen Community Connections and Volunteer Centre to better reflect the services we offer to the community. At SOS Community Connections, we believe that everyone can find a meaningful volunteer role, and we are here to help residents discover their next volunteer adventure.
​
Volunteerism is one way to connect with your community and invest in creating a vibrant community. Volunteers support various social services programs and festivals or events.
MEET OUR TEAM
Subrina Monteith
Executive Director
Joining in 2021, Subrina brings many skills and connections to the centre with her regional approach to team building. Subrina has volunteered on many committees throughout the South Okanagan Similkameen and brings a regional connection to the team. Subrina has been a part of many festivals, events, and organizations in the South Okanagan over the years including Penticton Peach Festival, Rotary Penticton Rib Festival, South Okanagan Crime Stoppers, Volunteer BC, Terry Fox Foundation, Air Cadets, Kaleden Community Association, etc. Subrina has a wide range of experience in volunteerism and is excited to work with non-profits, festivals, corporate partners, and events to find the volunteers they need to be successful.
Karen Brisebois
Director
Karen, and her partner, Chris, collectively have 6 children, 10 grandchildren, one great grandchild and one more on the way. Karen made the decision to move to Penticton BC in 2023, when her partner accepted a new Management position with a company in Penticton. Karen took this opportunity to retire and focus on family.
Prior to this, they made their home in Dawson Creek, British Columbia where Karen was heavily involved in the Community. Karen, in addition to a busy work schedule as an Office Manager, ran several charity events in the Community and surrounding areas. These included annual fundraisers and barbeques for the Canadian Cancer Society. As well, Karen was instrumental in the organization and execution of a fundraiser called 18 Wheels Of Christmas. This was a program centered around helping the less fortunate in the community by running collection campaigns for area food banks. While focused on the Christmas season, this fundraiser ran year round. It involved the coordination of collection sites, trucks and trailers and hundreds of volunteers. Over a 12 year period, this program grew into a very successful campaign that spread into many neighboring cities and communities with donations well in excess of $500,000.00 for churches, food banks and other social programs. The event has continued with great success after Karen left the Community.
Laura Turnbull
Chair
Laura is a retired United Church Minister. Laura joined the Volunteer Centre Board in 2013. She has experience and knowledge in the area of Board development and governance, important to the governance of the Volunteer Centre. Laura has been involved with community Boards as diverse as Art’s Councils, Hospice Society, and Crisis Centre. Laura has been a life-long volunteer. Laura received her Masters of Divinity degree in Saskatoon and Bachelor of Arts from Brock University, St. Catharine’s, Ontario. She was Ordained in 1987 and has served churches in Ontario, the Prairies, and B.C. She retired in 2019.
Paige Schulz
Marketing & Member Services Manager
Joining the Volunteer Centre Board in early 2024, Paige brings over a decade of marketing experience, with strong ties to the hospitality and tourism industry. She received her Bachelor’s Degree of Management with a Major in Marketing from the University of Lethbridge. Having worked with Visit Penticton, a long-standing partner of the SOS Volunteer Centre, since 2021, Paige brings many community connections, including festival and events organizers, which often require large volunteer support. She started volunteering at a young age in her hometown of Medicine Hat and has been involved in volunteering with various organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, Greater Westside Board of Trade, and ElderDog.
_edited_edited.jpg)
Mandie Yantha
Director
Mandie started volunteering at a young age with her Opa for Meals on Wheels in Kitchener, Ontario, delivering meals to seniors. Since then, Mandie has volunteered for several organizations locally and internationally, and has worked alongside volunteers during her professional career. Mandie moved to Penticton from Ontario, in 2022, after a deployment to the area for the BC Flooding event of 2021, falling in love with the area, mountains and lakes. Mandie has been involved in several organizations in town since moving by volunteering her time and skills to support individuals and the environment. She worked for the Canadian Red Cross for three years in emergency management and operations working alongside hundreds of volunteers whom she has learned so much from! The passion, dedication, and experiences that volunteers bring to organizations and support to individuals is contagious and inspiring. Currently, Mandie is a Regional Climate Resilience Coordinator for FNESS (First Nations’ Emergency Services Society) and brings vast experience in fundraising, public relations, event management, operations, and community engagement.
Sarah Andrews
Director
Sarah Andrews is a CPA with over 10 years experience. She moved to Penticton in 2020 from New Zealand and now lives on Apex Mountain with her husband and son. She sits on a number of other boards here in Penticton as treasurer or as a general director. Sarah is committed to volunteerism and its importance in the Penticton community.
