Maria retired after a successful career in public service, first as a member of the RCMP in BC and later as a manager at Richmond Fire Rescue.
Maria is committed to supporting the Richmond community in her role as Board Chair of Touchstone Family Association. She strongly believes in supporting children, youth and families to help them reach their full potential. Maria shares Touchstone’s vision of delivering programs and services that help to develop “strong, self-reliant families, youth and children”.
Maria Salzl was first appointed to the Touchstone Board of Directors in 2005. She has served as Chair since 2008.
Shawn Issel, currently serving as the Vice-Chair on the board of Touchstone Family Association, brings a wealth of experience to her role. She is retired from an accomplished career at the City of Richmond where she worked as a manager in the Law and Community Safety department. Her background allows her to have an in depth understanding programs like the Restorative Justice program offered by Touchstone Family Association. In addition to her work experience, Shawn contributes expertise in strategic planning, meeting facilitation, training, and report writing to her board position.
When she is not travelling or spending time with family, Shawn enjoys pursuing her hobbies including cooking and gardening. Shawn continues to be committed to the Richmond community and enjoys being able to give back through as a board member.
Shawn Issel was first appointed to the Touchstone Board of Directors in 2010. She has served as Vice Chair since 2014
Ian is a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) with 20 years of experience. He has dedicated his career to volunteer management where his passion lies in supporting staff at organizations with their volunteer programs to support sustainable programming and volunteer growth. Ian has worked directly in programs supporting large scale events like the 2010 Winter Games, and day to day program support for organizations in health care, social services, emergency response, and corporate volunteering.
Ian has also worked as a volunteer management consultant for the Office of the Seniors Advocate BC and other non profits in BC.
In 2018, Ian was awarded the Exemplary Leader Impact Award from the Administrators of Volunteer Resources British Columbia (now, Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada) in recognition of his contributions to the profession. Most recently, he was a panellist speaker for the 2025 VMPC National Forum.
Currently, Ian leads the Capacity Building work for the Healthy Aging team at United Way BC.
Ian was first appointed to the Touchstone Board of Directors in 2007. He has served as Treasurer since 2016.
Stacey Boon is the Provincial Professional Practice Leader for Psychological Health and Safety at the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), where she leads practice and learning for the centralized Provincial Psychological Health and Safety Team, working in partnership with all health authorities in BC. Her work focuses on trauma-informed practice, leadership development, and creating safer, more supportive health care workplaces.
Stacey began her helping career as a family counsellor at Touchstone Family Association. Although her work has since shifted from family counselling to supporting people and organizations across the health system, she has remained connected to Touchstone. She values its people and culture, and the strong sense of purpose she sees in its leadership team’s work with children, youth, and families. She brings both frontline experience and a provincial perspective to the Board.
Stacey has graduate education in counselling psychology, educational technology, and organizational coaching. She has served on Touchstone’s Board of Directors since 2015 and currently serves as Board Secretary. Stacey values the opportunity to support an organization that helped shape her professional journey.
Lisa Martella is the Executive Director with A Loving Spoonful. A Loving Spoonful provides free, nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS in the Greater Vancouver area. Every week, all year round for volunteers deliver frozen meals and 1200 snack packs to men, women and children who are primarily homebound with AIDS. Prior to working at A Loving Spoonful Lisa was the Associate Director at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society which is the 3rd largest food bank in Canada and the largest in British Columbia. Lisa’s experience is invaluable as she is able to put a strategic plan into place, increase public awareness about important issues and create new and exciting opportunities working towards the betterment of our communities. Lisa continues to move forward bringing innovative and sustainable solutions to operating a not for profit organization. With a warm smile, enthusiasm and dedication for helping others, Lisa is a true leader in her field.
Lisa Martella was first appointed to the Touchstone Board of Directors in 2007. She served as Secretary from 2008-2026.
Pamela Toor was first introduced to Touchstone Family Association through the Volunteer Richmond Youth Now program. She really enjoyed this experience and following the completion of the program in 2011 elected to become a full fledged Board Member with Touchstone. Pamela has a B.A in Sociology / IR from the University of British Columbia and is very interested in the community development field. She has and is currently pursuing this interest by helping UBC students become engaged in their broader community. Pamela brings experience in event planning, volunteer management and training, social media outreach and technical research and writing skills to her role on Touchstone’s Board. She is an avid vegetarian foodie, and in her spare time, enjoys reading, photography and blogging.
Pamela has served on the Touchstone Board of Directors since 2011.
Sandi Swanigan spent five years at the City of Richmond, now works for the City of Vancouver as the Senior Manager for Film and Special Events Branch. Sandi’s interest in Touchstone was drawn by the organization’s service model; she strongly believes in the immediate access and provision of critical services for those in need. Travel, music, gardening and a voracious appetite for literature is how Sandi fills her free time.
Sandi has served on the Touchstone Board of Directors since 2014.
Grant Grobman is a Registered Psychologist of the College of Health and Care Professionals. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta. Grant has been in clinical practice for over 40 yrs.
Grant began his counselling career at Touchstone Family Association as a child and family counsellor in 1983. He has worked as a counsellor and psychologist in both private corporations and non-profit settings. He has been a practitioner , supervisor, manager and director in various organizations.
Currently, in private practice, Grant specializes in providing assessment, trauma treatment and interventions for employees, employers and compensation programs addressing situations that involve mental health and workplace concerns.
Grant hopes to give back to Touchstone Family Association by bringing his experience and knowledge to assist in the governance of the organization.
Grant has served on the Touchstone Board of Directors since 2023.
Kirsten Sigerson has dedicated more than 30 years to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), beginning her career in 1993 after earning a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of British Columbia. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of roles across institutional, community, regional, and national settings, building extensive expertise in project management, strategic planning, interdepartmental collaboration, program evaluation, and public education related to CSC’s mandate and objectives. Kirsten currently serves as Senior Project Manager, Community Corrections (Pacific), where she leads partnership development and research initiatives focused on offender reintegration and community engagement.
A longtime Richmond resident, Kirsten is committed to Touchstone’s mission of fostering strong, resilient children, youth, and families within the community.
Kirsten has served on the Touchstone Board of Directors since 2025.
