Board Biographies

Craig Smith
An active community volunteer for over 20 years, this is Craig's first time volunteering for the MFRC. Craig has lived in both Halifax and Ottawa before arriving in Victoria. Craig has a BBA from Acadia University and an MBA from Athabasca University. Craig's expertise in marketing and communications is a result of working for a number of large international companies. He is currently employed at a nonprofit organization in Victoria. He is looking forward to working with such a dynamic and dedicated group of volunteers and staff that make up the MFRC.

Glen Thomas
Born in Gander, Newfoundland, LCdr Thomas grew up in Ottawa. A graduate of the Royal Military College in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce, he spent close to 33 years in the Navy including 21 in the regular forces and 12 in the reserves. Glen was the Commanding Officer and Admin Officer at Can Flt Pac HQ Esquimalt but is now retired from the Canadian Forces. The father of Matthew and William, Glen currently lives in Saanich. Glen has an interest in badminton, tennis, cycling and hiking.

Kathy Easton
Kathy is a Public Health Nurse and recent graduate of Royal Roads University with a Master of Arts in Leadership. Kathy is passionate about community development and promoting health equity. This is Kathy's first time volunteering for the MFRC although she has been a part of the military community for over 20 years. Kathy and her husband Dean (currently serving aboard HMCS Vancouver) have been fortunate to be posted on Vancouver Island where they enjoy camping, fishing and being outdoors year round.

Carl McLean
Carl is a mortgage broker with Rochar Financial Inc, a Dominion Lending Centre Franchise. He is a member of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (GVCC), the Mortgage Broker of British Columbia Association (MBABC) and the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP). Carl has enjoyed a long career with the Canadian military. In addition to his military qualifications and experience, he holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Royal Roads University, a Diploma in Real Property Appraisal and Assessment from St-Francis Xavier University and a Diploma in Real Estate Trading Services from the University of British Columbia. Carl has lived in Victoria for over 33 years and is very much involved in his community. Carl is married to Debbie Field and together they enjoy the company of six grown children. Carl is bilingual French and English. His hobbies are home renovations, hockey refereeing and playing music.

Marie Amoto
Marie is currently employed as the Executive Assistant to the Base Logistics Officer at CFB Esquimalt. She is an active member on the branch's Entertainment Committee and her key interests are communications, advertising, and events. She also attends night classes at Camosun College where she is working towards a Degree in Psychology. Marie's goal is to become a registered therapist where she will conduct PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and/or OSI (Operational Stress Injury) awareness briefs to soldiers and their families after their tours are completed. Her personal hobbies include wakeboarding, snowboarding and her Jack Russell Terrier.

Michael Morrison
Michael Morrison has spent most of the past ten years working for the Canadian Navy and the Department of National Defence in Victoria, British Columbia where he lives with his wife and their two children. He is currently employed as the Chief of Staff at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. He also works as a consultant including work for the Royal Roads University Faculty of Management as an advisor for MBA students on their final comprehensive project. He is also a participant in the mentoring program for MBA students at the University of Victoria. Michael is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) with proficiency in accounting, management and strategy. He also holds an MBA from Royal Roads University, an executive certificate in Strategic Leadership from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia and a Professional Logistician (P.Log) designation from the Logistics Institute.

Samantha Krzywonos
Samantha is the Manager of Campaign Operations for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Building Care Together capital campaign. She has been working in fundraising and communications since completing the Public Relations program at the University of Victoria eight years ago. She previously spent ten years in the Canadian Navy as a Naval Combat Information Operator. Samantha enjoys her time at many special events around Victoria and building community relationships for charitable causes. Samantha and her husband (posted to 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron) are happy to be back in Victoria and spend their free time going swimming and hiking with their very active toddler.

Nathalia Bellina
Nathalia is a Graphic Designer and works at the UVic Law Careers Office, where she ensures that law students and grads are able to access a broad range of resources to succeed in their legal career paths. Nathalia liaises with legal employers across Canada and assists planning, developing and delivering projects, events and publications. Originally from Colombia, where she worked as a textile design teacher, Nathalia came to Canada in 2001. She and her family have lived in Mexico, USA and Canada. Well aware of the challenges facing families in an unfamiliar place, Nathalia participates in activities that allow her to engage with, and contribute to the community. In 2010, her husband, a Naval Logistic Officer was posted to CFB Esquimalt, she and her family moved to Victoria, BC, and she joined the MFRC as a volunteer. For the previous 7 years she was a member of a Co-op Membership Committee in London, ON and currently she volunteers online digitalizing and indexing genealogical records for the Family Search project. Nathalia enjoys creating networking opportunities within a multicultural community. She is fluent in both Spanish and English, and currently working on adding French to that list. In her free time, you can find Nathalia spending time with her family, taking photos, and exploring the Island and its many wonders.

CPO1 Paul Helston
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Helston, a native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in January 1981 as an Electronic Warfare Operator (EW). He was remustered to NESOP in 1985 as part of the Navy's MORPs project. Following Basic Training in CFRS Cornwallis and trade training in Halifax he was posted to Esquimalt B.C. From 1981 to 1990 were he served aboard HMCS Ships RESTIGOUCHE twice, SASKATCHEWAN and MACKENZIE. In 1989 he was promoted to PO2 and from 1990-1992 he served in Fleet School Esquimalt before being posted to HMCS ANNAPOLIS. While aboard HMCS ANNAPOLIS he successfully completed his Above Water Warfare Course and was promoted to PO1 in 1993 and was subsequently posted to HMCS CALGARY as part of the commissioning crew. He was promoted to CPO2 in 1996 and was posted to MARPACHQ as Staff Officer Electronic Warfare. In 1998 he was posted back to sea in Fleet Operations then to Sea Training in 1999. In 2000 he was promoted to his current rank and posted to Athena as the Unit CPO. He was invested as a Member of the Order of Military Merit in the fall of 2001. He was appointed the Coxswain of HMCS PROTECTEUR in December 2001 where he completed a deployment to Operation APOLLO, Canada's commitment to the War on Terror. He was subsequently posted to Sea Training as Coxswain in the fall of 2003. He was selected for his first senior appointment as Canadian Fleet Pacific Fleet Chief in March 2007 until June 2010. On completion of second language training he assumed his current post as Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Chief Petty Officer 28 June 2011. He is married and lives with his wife and their five children in Victoria, British Columbia.

CPO1 Shawn Taylor
CPO1 Shawn Taylor enrolled in the Canadian Forces as a Radioman Sea (251) on 11 May 1981. Upon completion of basic Radio communications training at Canadian Forces Fleet School (CFFS) Esquimalt in April 1982, he was posted to HMCS PROVIDER. Between 1982 and 1994 CPO1 Taylor was posted to CFS Aldergrove twice and served in HMC Ships TERRA NOVA and RESTIGOUCHE. CPO1 Taylor was promoted to PO1 on completion his SLC in June 1991 and was subsequently posted to HMCS PROVIDER as the Petty Officer Telegraphy (POTEL). Posted to the language school in 1994, he was promoted to CPO2 and sent to CFS Aldergrove prior to completing his year long French course. From 1994 to 1999 he was posted to CFS Mill Cove, year long French course in Shearwater NS, Joint Headquarters Kingston Ontario and in 1999 was posted back to the West coast to HMCS HURON as the Combat Department CPO. In 2000 he took over as the Training Company Sergeant Major, Basic Recruit Training Centre, Workpoint Barracks CFB Esquimalt. He was promoted to the rank of CPO1 in May 2003 and posted to CFFS Esquimalt as the Communications Training Officer. In 2004 he was posted to NDHQ Ottawa as the Career Managers for the NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS occupation. Selected to a Coxswain position, he was posted to HMCS ALGONQUIN in May 2005 and held the post for 28 months. In August 2007 he was posted to the Junior Leadership School CFFS Esquimalt as the Junior Leadership Officer. Posted once again in December 2008, he joined Sea Training Pacific as the Coxswain and held that post until July 2010 when he moved to a Key position as the Staff Officer Personnel at Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters. This position was changed to the UCPO, Personnel Coordination Centre Esquimalt. CPO1 Taylor was selected for Senior Appointments and posted to the position of CFB Esquimalt Base Chief Petty Officer in April 2012. CPO1 Taylor’s hobbies and interests include coaching rugby and collecting and painting military miniatures.

CPO1 Dave Bliss
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Bliss is a Naval Weapons Technician (NW Tech) who enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in October 1977. After trades training he was posted to the West Coast and sailed in HMC Ships Terra Nova, Qu'Appelle, and Restigouche. Promoted to Master Seaman in 1985, he was posted to CFRS Cornwallis as a Recruit Instructor and taught in platoons for the entire period until his promotion to PO2 and posting to HMCS Restigouche in June 1988. He deployed in RESTIGOUCHE in 1991 with the Standing NATO Fleet Atlantic. Promoted to PO1 in June 1991, he was posted to FMG Pacific. CPO1 Bliss had the honour to be invested as a Member in the Order of Military Merit on 4 November 1992 and deployed shortly after to Cambodia with the United Nations Transitional Authority. He returned to Esquimalt in June 1993 and was attached to HMCS Yukon for her decommissioning trip. Posted to HMCS Algonquin in the fall of 1993 as the Senior NW Tech, he took the ship through its coastal transition from Halifax to Esquimalt, and was promoted to CPO2 in December 1994. After serving in local engineering positions he was posted to HMCS Regina in 1997 as the Combat Systems Engineering Chief. CPO1 Bliss deployed to the Arabian Gulf in REGINA in 1999. On completion of his deployment he was posted to Sea Training Pacific as the Chief NW Tech. In 2001 he assumed the position of LCMM in Ottawa for the 57mm and 40mm Naval Gun Systems. CPO1 Bliss returned to Esquimalt in 2003 where he took on the role of SO Trials, transitioning West Coast ships to high readiness. Early in August 2005 he returned to Sea Training Pacific and continued to influence the Fleet until his promotion to CPO1 in June 2007 when he became the NW Tech Career Manager at DMIL C2. The following year he returned to Esquimalt as the Formation Ammunition Inspector. In late January 2009 he was posted to HMCS Winnipeg as the Coxswain. WINNIPEG deployed 4 February to conduct anti-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia with SNMG1. CPO1 Bliss was appointed as the Fleet Chief to the Canadian Fleet Pacific effective 03 June 2010.