Board Biographies
Lorie Hall (Chair)
A military spouse, an active community volunteer, mother, and BC Government employee, Lorie has lived the military family lifestyle for 18 years, and been involved for over 10 years with the CFB Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Board of Directors. Lorie has volunteered in a number of capacities at the MFRC beginning in 1995 with her involvement with the HMCS PROTECTEUR Family Network. She joined the MFRC Board of Directors in 1998, contributing to the Executive, Professional Development and Fundraising Committees. Lorie has represented the Esquimalt MFRC at the National level, participating in the National Advisory/Working Group on Healthcare, working with and mentoring board members from coast to coast and as committee member for the 2009 national board conference which Lorie was awarded a Base Commander’s Accommodation for her work. Volunteering in the not-for-profit world has always been an important part of Lorie’s life. In addition to sitting as the Chair for the MFRC Board, Lorie currently holds the position of Recreation Governor for the Victoria Minor Hockey Association and the position of Administrative Officer for St John Ambulance Youth Brigade. Lorie lives in Esquimalt with her husband Mike and son Robbie.
Helen Bates (Vice Chair)
Helen has been involved with the MFRC in various capacities for over 20 years. She began volunteering with special events and different projects, then with several family networks, but finally found volunteer nirvana on the Board of Directors. Helen enjoys the strategic and leadership focus of the Board and the organization’s work in addressing the lifestyle challenges of deployment and relocation for military families.
Leanne Kopp (Past Chair)
Leanne and her family moved from Edmonton and have been in the Victoria area since 2003. She is Executive Director of The Prostate Centre, a local non-for-profit organization dedicated to helping men and their families deal with prostate cancer and prostate health issues. She has worked in the non-for-profit sector for the past decade, primarily focusing on fund development. Leanne has been a MFRC board member since 2003 and currently holds the position of Past Chair. Leanne and her husband, Chad, have a 2-year old son, Harper, and thoroughly enjoy living the West Coast way of life!
Lieutenant Commander Glen Thomas (Treasurer and Fleet OPI)
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 has spent 33 years in the Navy including 21 in the regular forces and 12 in the reserves. Glen is currently the Commanding Officer and Admin Officer at Can Flt Pac HQ Esquimalt and is the Fleet Rep and Treasurer at the Esquimalt MFRC. The father of Matthew and William, Glen currently lives in Saanich. Glen has an interest in badminton, tennis, cycling and hiking.
Debbie Tessier
Originally from Nova Scotia, Debbie moved to Victoria in 1982 and married her husband, a Navy member, the following year. Soon, they found themselves posted to Halifax. Over the years, they moved back and forth across the country, including a three-year posting to Levis, Quebec. During those 26 years of marriage, they raised two sons. Debbie had the opportunity to work for DND as well as other federal government departments over the years. For the past six years, she has held the position of Program Administrator for the RCMP Auxiliary Constable Program. In her past time, she enjoys fishing, golfing, gardening and volunteering.
Trina St Croix
Trina is a daughter of a retired member of the Army and Air Force, and wife of a Navy member serving aboard HMCS CALGARY. She has previously volunteered with the Halifax and Region Board of Directors in 2008-09, working on the Policy Committee. Having worked in the administrative field, Trina is also the mother of Matthew and Ashleigh who are both in French Immersion at John Stubbs Memorial School.
Debra A Pile
Born and raised in Victoria, Debra graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1982. While at university, Debra spent a summer participating in the Reserve Training Program at HMCS MALAHAT. She holds a diploma in Event Management from Algonquin College. As a mature student, she returned to the University of Victoria to study Linguistics and Dalhousie University to study Non-Profit Management and Costume Studies. Debra has spent the better part of the past three decades supporting her family and experiencing all aspects of Navy life with over 13 major moves between Victoria, Halifax and Ottawa. She has been actively engaged in supporting MFRCs for over 15 years. As a volunteer and organizer, Debra was also involved for over a decade with synchronized swimming at the national level. Debra is married to Rear Admiral Tyrone Pile and has two adult children. She enjoys activities such as hiking with her two dogs and rowing.
Elaine Hallé
A graduate from the University of Saskatchewan, Elaine has taught kindergarten and special education in elementary and secondary schools in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Married in 1986 to Marcel Hallé, a Naval Officer, her twelve geographical moves have taken her to numerous cities in Canada, and to the United Kingdom and Australia. Since the birth of the first of three children, Elaine has remained at home to raise her family. Throughout the past 17 years, she has been actively involved as a volunteer in her children’s schools (fundraising and tutoring) as well as volunteering in her church and children’s sports. Elaine enjoys being active outdoors and spending time with her husband and children Matthieu, Danielle, and Renée.
Chief Petty Officer First Class Bob Cookson (Formation OPI)
CPO1 Bob Cookson joined the Canadian Forces in 1980 and the next year started his naval career onboard HMCS TERRA NOVA. While posted to CFB Goose Bay later that decade, he completed a seven-month tour in Honduras as part of ONUCA 89. In 1995, he was posted to CANEX CFB Esquimalt. Three years later came a promotion to his current rank Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1). 1999 brought with it a three-year posting to the National Defence Headquarters as career manager. In 2002, CPO1 Cookson became the Coxswain of HMCS OTTAWA and returned to the west coast. In 2007, he assumed a key position as the Assistant Judge Advocate General CPO. CPO1 Cookson became Formation Chief Petty Officer in 2008.
Chief Petty Officer First Class Peter Ford (Base Commander’s OPI)
Born in Toronto and raised in Scarborough, CPO1 Ford joined the military in 1977. His career path took him through numerous warships, the Ship Repair Unit and the Naval Engineering Unit with the Pacific Fleet, and progressive trades training. Promoted to his current rank in 1996, he became the Divisional Chief for FMF Combat Systems personnel. He returned to sea duties as Coxswain of HMCS Vancouver in 1998 for a three-year tour. CPO1 Ford then served as Coxswain of Sea Training Staff until 2003, when he became the Fleet School Esquimalt Chief Petty Officer. He started his current position as Base Chief Petty Officer CFB Esquimalt in 2007. CPO1 Ford joined the Board of Directors of the MFRC that year and provides a liaison between the Board and the Base Commander. He is also a member of the Fundraising committee. CPO1 Ford is married with two children and calls Cowichan Bay home.
