Board of Directors

Andrew Barker has been involved in the fields of gay men’s health and community-based research since 1996. He coordinated the Gay Men’s Health Program at AIDS Vancouver from 1996-2001 where he helped launch the Boys R Us program for male sex trade workers. Andrew is a past board member of YouthCO AIDS Society and worked on several community based research projects including the Gay Men’s Action Plan (GMAP), the Three Cities Project, the Sex Now Survey, and Totally Outright. He has also worked as a facilitator and strategic planner for non-profit organizations. Andrew currently runs an interior and landscape design studio where he works with a mix of non-profit, residential and commercial clients.

Moffatt Clarke has had a long career funding community-based health promotion programming throughout BC, focused on gay men and others whose health is vulnerable, especially to HIV infection. Originally from Toronto, Moffatt got an early education in queer liberation while coordinating Gays and Lesbians at U of T during the notorious Body Politic trials and Toronto bath raids. Having a special interest in Latin America, he worked for a brief time with Brazil’s first national HIV/AIDS NGO, ABIA, in Rio de Janeiro. A long time resident of Vancouver’s West End, Moffatt is now happily retired.

Ben Chen is a medical student at UBC. He has worked extensively in gay men's health through various projects with HIM and YouthCO. He's also involved in community projects dedicated to empowering elderly populations living in poverty and at-risk youth.

Dr. Rod Knight is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at UBC and a Research Scientist at the BC Centre on Substance Use. His research focuses on interventions addressing health inequities experienced by LGBTQ and other populations. He is supported by a Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

Dr. Todd Sakakibara is a family physician working at Three Bridges Community Health Centre in Vancouver. He provides care to vulnerable populations including those dealing with poverty, mental health, addictions, HIV, and the LGTB communities. Prior to medicine he was involved with YouthCO AIDS Society where the importance of ties to the community was ingrained. He also is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC where he teaches medical undergraduate and resident students in the areas of health equity.

You can contact the Board of Directors at [email protected].

Christopher Gallardo-Ganaban, Chair

Chris is a lawyer practicing municipal law, and has a keen interest in corporate and nonprofit governance. Since 2010, he has been an active volunteer in various health organizations, such as Health Initiative for Men, Edmonton Men's Health Collective, and now CBRC. Chris has also been involved in organizations providing legal assistance to marginalized populations, including Pro Bono Law Alberta, Pro Bono Students Canada, and Access Pro Bono BC.

Andrew Barker, Vice-Chair

Andrew has been involved in various fields of gay men’s health and community-based research since 1996. He coordinated the Gay Men’s Health Program at AIDS Vancouver from 1996-2001 where he helped launch the Boys R Us program for male sex trade workers. Andrew is a past board member of YouthCO AIDS Society and worked on several community-based research projects including the Gay Men’s Action Plan (GMAP), the Three Cities Project, the Sex Now Survey, and Totally Outright. He has also worked as a facilitator and strategic planner for non-profit organizations. Andrew currently runs an interior and landscape design studio where he works with a mix of non-profit, residential and commercial clients.

Tara Chanady

Tara is the executive director of the Quebec Lesbian Network. She also teaches queer approaches to media studies at Université de Montréals' communication department. She was previously a research advisor at Université de Montreal’s Centre for Public Health Research. Throughout her PhD in communication and her postdoctoral fellowship in public health, she specialized in social and health issues for lesbian, bisexual and queer women, including media representation, mental health, and substance use. As a lesbian concerned with visibility and equity, her lectures, publications, and university classes aim to critically examine discourses and norms around gender and sexuality.

Alex Dow

Alex Dow is the current Director of Community Connections at United Way Greater Toronto, the largest funder of community services after government. He oversees investments and a number of special projects supporting communities to thrive in Toronto, York and Peel Regions. Alex graduated from McGill University and over his career worked in a number of non-profits before joining United Way. Alex was previously on the Board of Director for Unison Health & Community Services in north-west Toronto and earlier in his career worked with LGBTQ+ youth to create positive space and foster social belonging in Toronto's inner suburbs.

Peter Hoong

Peter’s research interests include HIV, mental health, and substance use. His work has examined the interaction between social determinants of health and vulnerable populations, with particular attention to applying conflict theory. Peter is also an experienced facilitator who has conducted over 250 hrs of workshops around HIV and mental illness stigma.

Kimberley Paradis

Kimberley is a law student at the University of Ottawa. Her background includes work in policy analysis, most recently assessing how legislation can affect the 2S/LGBTQ+ community. As a queer woman with a disability who grew up in a rural community in Quebec, she is passionate about increasing access to healthcare for equity-seeking groups. Kimberley is actively involved in a variety of advocacy efforts aimed at empowering members of the 2S/LGBTQ+ and disability communities.

Dr. Todd Sakakibara

Dr. Todd Sakakibara is a family physician working at Three Bridges Community Health Centre in Vancouver. He provides care to vulnerable populations including those dealing with poverty, mental health, addictions, HIV, and the LGTB communities. Prior to medicine he was involved with YouthCO AIDS Society where the importance of ties to the community was ingrained. He also is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC where he teaches medical undergraduate and resident students in the areas of health equity.