Portage BC’s Regional Board

The Portage British Columbia Board is made up of volunteers who are involved in their communities. The Board ensures proper governance of Portage activities in British Columbia.

A message from the Chair of Portage BC

It was on a trip to Montréal in June 2007 that I ran into Peter Howlett, President of Portage and an old friend from my McGill days. I was taken by his devotion to helping substance abusers free themselves from addiction and by his vision for how Portage could help the youth of British Columbia.

As a Board Member of the Vancouver Foundation, I am responsible for the “youth homelessness” portfolio. What a better way to combat youth homelessness than to establish a long-term residential treatment centre for young people with substance abuse problems?

The Portage BC project was developed in conjunction with From Grief to Action, led by Robert and Susan Ruttan, and with Central City Foundation. We are now well into the first year of active programming at the site known as “The Crossing” in Keremeos, BC. Clients are referred to Portage from the Lower Mainland, the Interior, as well as other regions of BC and we are developing relationships to facilitate referral so that we can help as many young people as possible to take back control of their lives.

We have formed a Portage British Columbia Board of dedicated community members and we are ready take Portage to the next level in BC. I am confident that with the enthusiasm and support of our staff, our Board Members, and our valued partners, it is a task that we will achieve.

- John McLernon, Chair of Portage BC (March 2010)

Members of the Portage BC BoardDr. Richard Hooper, Vice-Chair

• Heather Hooper
• Peter Howlett, President of Portage
• John. L. Leathley, Vice-Chair
• Lulu Leathley
• Dr. John MacFarlane
• Marian MacFarlane
• John McLernon, Chair
• Bob Ransford
• Robert Ruttan
• Susan Ruttan
• Peter W. Webster