PEI ANC Board of Directors
- Myra Thorkelson, President [Board Member since 2007]
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Myra worked as an educator for 38 years in Canada, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Ghana, Fiji, and Belize. She taught at all levels, Primary, Intermediate, Secondary, Adult Education, and University. She recently took early retirement from the Diversity and Aboriginal Consultant position at the PEI Department of Education and then volunteered for two and a half years with CUSO in Belize, Central America, where she worked with pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers -- designing, implementing and evaluating ESL courses on parenting, literacy, computer literacy, etc. As Diversity Consultant at the Department of Education, Myra worked with the school system to develop programs for Newcomers and Aboriginal youth in the school system. ESL assessments were a huge part of her work. Myra more recently received certification to provide Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Tests (CLBPT) to immigrants and refugees arriving on PEI, and is the principal Language Assessor for the PEI ANC.
- Joe Zhang, Vice President [Board Member since 2009]
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Joe is widely known as a senior computer engineer, full of public spirit. He likes sports and travel. Joe was born in China, he and his family immigrated to Canada in 2003.
- Jim Hornby, Secretary [Board Member since 2006]
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Jim is a folklorist, musician, historian, and lawyer. He was the editor of The Island Magazine from 1980 to 1984, and has written a number of articles on Island history, folklore, and traditional music. He is the author of Black Islanders: Prince Edward Island's Historical Black Community and In the Shadow of the Gallows (a historical study of criminal law and capital punishment in Prince Edward Island).
- Sarath Chandrasakere, Ph.D [Board Member since 2010]
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Sarath is currently the Provincial Coordinator for Health Canada in PEI. He also teaches sociology at UPEI. He has worked with issues connected with multiculturalism and immigration for a long period of time. His research interests are in the areas of how new immigrants construct their identity in Canada, and the issues connected with immigrants' health. Sarath has lived and worked in the Philippines, Nepal, England, Japan, Nunavut and Sri Lanka. Sarath has interest in Sri Lankan music, and has performed Sri Lankan music at various local multicultural venues. Sarath was also instrumental in introducing cricket back to the Island and he is currently the President of PEI Cricket Association.
- Jolene Chan [Board Member since 2010]
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Jolene Chan is the Manager for Asia/Pacific Region of the International Development of Holland College since 2000. In her position, Ms. Chan has assumed responsibility for managing the international projects such as the educational joint ventures in China, where the College jointly delivers its programs with the a number of Chinese Colleges in China, the CIDA-funded Canadian College Partnership Programs in China and South Africa, and recruiting international students to the College programs. Ms. Chan previously worked as an executive assistant for the Chairman and the Board of Directors of the Xiamen International Bank, the first joint venture bank in China, for thirteen years before immigrating to Prince Edward Island in 1996. Jolene graduated as a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1999.
- Julius Patkai, Treasurer [Board Member since 2011]
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Julius is a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) with over 30 years of experience in agriculture, processing and manufacturing for the private sector. He is Principal of his own International Trade and Business consulting firm, specializing in assisting his US and Canadian clients with International Trade and Business activities. Julius was born in Budapest, Hungary. His family immigrated to Canada in 1972. He now lives in Alliston, Prince Edward Island, Canada for the last thirty years. He is married to his wife Jolee (Campbell from Irishtown, PEI) and they have three wonderful sons, Evan, Dane and Jace.
- Laura Lee Howard [Board Member since 2011]
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Laura Lee has held a life long interest in cross-cultural, immigration, and integration issues. She teaches in the Asian Studies and Island Studies programs at UPEI, and works with the Master of Arts in Island Studies program. She enjoyed working on the book Chinese Islanders with Dr. Hung-Min Chiang. She is currently researching ways to increase parental engagement of newcomer students in the school community.
- Shawn Murphy [Board Member since 2011]
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Shawn Murphy QC resides in Charlottetown, PEI. He holds a BBA and a LL.B degree from the University of New Brunswick. From 1976 to 2000, he practised law with the Charlottetown office of Stewart McKelvey and from 2000 to 2011, he served in the Parliament of Canada as the MP for Charlottetown.
- Peter (Wonchul) Lee [Board Member since 2011]
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Peter comes from South Korea. He was born in Seoul. He has lived in PEI for four years. Peter works in Summerside as a train parts inspector. He live in Charlottetown. with his wife Michal and two children, Ashley and Yeily.
- Asher J. Fredricks [Board Member since 2011]
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Asher Fredricks is a business graduate from the University of Prince Edward Island. He has previously served as a board member on the University of PEI, Board of Governors. Asher has experience working in marketing and has worked as Marketing Manager for a small company on PEI.
Get Involved on the PEI ANC Board of Directors
PEI ANC Board Manual (revised 13th March 2009)
