Directors & Staff

Terry Deakin is celebrating 20 years of service in the Alberni Valley. She began her journey as a social entrepreneur in 1998 with a pilot project in a rented room where the PEAK radio station is now. Continuing her education while growing the business, Terry completed a Diploma in Human Services, a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management and most recently a Master of Arts in Community Development. INEO currently employs a staff of 15 and provides employment and employment related services to those who are unemployed or precariously employed. In early 2021 Terry purchased Animal Ark in Port Alberni as a Social Enterprise where people can learn how to work in a retail environment. Terry believes the magic comes from the people who do the work – the staff who provide the support and those who take that support and turn it in to success stories.

My name is Suzanne Dubé.  I moved back to Port Alberni in February 2020.   I'm proud to call Port Alberni my home town.  I graduated from Alberni District Secondary School – Class of 1978.  My family had a small 10 Acre hobby farm at the end of Saunders Road in Beaver Creek.  We had a menagerie of animals and a huge garden to tend.  I grew up playing road hockey, swimming at Paper Mill Dam and riding my horse on the old log train trail. All through high school I worked as a "car hop" at the A & W on 3rd Ave.   In those days cruising 3rd Ave was a popular activity!  

I have three grown children and six grandchildren.  I moved to Victoria with my young family 30 years ago. I was able to pursue a rewarding career as a professional fundraiser.  I've raised millions of dollars annually for large and small charities to help people in need in our communities.  I was the Director of Development at the University of Victoria, Pearson College, Victoria Women's Transition House, Pacific Opera Victoria and Our Place Society.  I also consulted for many smaller charities and served on several not for profit boards.    After 25 years in this career, I felt it was time for a new challenge.  I decided to become an Edward Jones Financial Advisor - because I have a passion for helping people.  I love understanding what's important to my clients and developing strategies to achieve their financial goals.   I'm also a certified life and business coach.  

It was always my plan to "come home" after retirement.  When Edward Jones offered me an opportunity to open the first and only Branch Office in Port Alberni, I jumped at the chance. I purchased a lovely home in the Echo Centre area. I'm looking forward to being involved in this community. My hope is that my professional fundraising skills and board experience can be put to good use as a volunteer with organizations that help make Port Alberni a great place to live.  

Wearer of many hats, Carol-Anne is the owner of Steampunk Cafe, and a co-owner with All Tied Up Wedding & Event Planning, and a Director of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre. She is the President of the Women in Business group, a member of the Uptown Merchants Association, and is working hard to improve the Uptown core. She sees a positive vision for Port Alberni’s growth and is putting her energies towards making good things happen. She has owned and operated businesses for over ten years, is a mother of three, and grandmother of two.

Currently, as the contract Coordinator with the Port Alberni Community Action Team (CAT), a community-led initiative in response to the overdose crisis. Mary Clare is responsible for implementing the work of the CAT, which is guided by four principals; harm reduction, ending stigma, building a network that supports treatment and recovery, and working to improve all social supports that assist substance illness recovery. The Port Alberni CAT is funded by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and is comprised of a network of over 85 people in the community, including all three levels of government, Indigenous peoples, health care professionals, first responders, and peers with lived/living experience.

In June 2020, Mary Clare was one of four facilitators who was invited to deliver one of the Canadian Mental Health Association programs, Living Life to the Full, virtually throughout the province of British Columbia. This program is an eight-week introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. In just over a year, she facilitated the training to over 200 people with diverse backgrounds, including the Disability Foundation, and the BC Stroke Recovery Association, both organizations assist people with disabilities by providing information, resources and opportunities for greater inclusion and quality of life.

Mary Clare retired from full-time work with the Federal Government in 2016 where she held several senior management positions, in Ottawa and Whitehorse, with the Department(s) of Health, Public Safety, Indigenous Service, and Shared Services Canada.

She is currently taking an Online Learning & Teaching (graduate) Diploma at Vancouver Island University, which will eventually lead into the Master of Education (Educational Leadership). She also holds a Bachelor of Applied Studies from Athabasca University, an Instructor Diploma from Vancouver Community College, and several specialized diplomas and certificates in Emergency Management.

In addition to running her own facilitation and training business she actively volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross. Mary Clare is married to Ron Adams, who grew up in Port Alberni. They relocated to Port Alberni in 2019, you may see them walking their two Standard Poodles, Bentley and Leo, around town.

Murray’s (1970) first venture into business was a small neighbourhood café in Vancouver where he also made fudge. A newspaper announcement of the opening of this business brought a welcoming visit from Charles Flavelle of Purdy’s Chocolates.  Murray opened Olde World Fudge in the Granville Island Market in 1979 and shortly thereafter joined RCI with the encouragement of Charles Flavelle.  He then expanded his product line to include brittles, caramel corns, hard candies and chocolates. 

1981 Murray entered into partnership with a fellow with a strong business acumen.  Together they expanded into many market sites across Canada and into Pike Place Market in Seattle.  In total they opened approximately 15 Joint Venture Partnership stores under the name of Olde World Fudge. Murray sold his interest in this business to his partner and moved to Vancouver Island. 

1993 Murray started Coombs Country Candy in the Emporium in Coombs on Vancouver Island, another market-like location.  Murray operated this site for 15 years.  In 1994 Murray and his wife Lenore bought their current location in Port Alberni.  This location was purchased as it was a deserted gas station and is strategically located on the route past Cathedral Grove and to Vancouver Islands Long Beach.  Murray ran both locations for a number of years and since 2013 has concentrated his efforts on the Port Alberni location only.

 Murray has taken his act on the road and cooked at many exhibitions and trade shows in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island for exposure and public/customer loyalties.

Murray sold the Coombs Country Candy store in 2020 to Community Futures and is now enjoying retirement and is looking forward to giving back to the community by his directorship in the Alberni Chamber of Commerce.

Teresa Bird is the publisher of the Alberni Valley News. She arrived in Port Alberni eight years ago, but she has been an Island girl for 40 years, starting her journalism career at The Westerly News. She has lived in Ucluelet, Tofino, Esperanza, and Port McNeill. Prior to coming to Port Alberni, she was the publisher and editor of the North Island Gazette in Port Hardy and a busy volunteer in the several organizations. 

The Alberni Valley News has always been a member of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and Teresa got involved with the chamber board shortly after her arrival, serving on the board for five years, two years as president. After a two-year break, she returned as a director in October 2018. Teresa is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Port Alberni, serving as president there for two years, and sits on the board of Literacy Alberni.

Sarah wears many hats in the Alberni Valley. She can be found most anytime at Walk the Coast where she Manages the Business and acts as the Buyer for the organization. Within that scope Sarah also operates her own business as a Certified Pedorthist. Sarah also has a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology. She is very well-educated and extremely well-suited to the business at Walk the Coast. Sarah volunteers her time with the Chamber of Commerce and has done so for many years. She is currently sitting as the Past President in a consulting role.

Bill joined the Chamber of Commerce in 2013 after a successful stint as owner/operator of the Boston Pizza Restaurant in Parksville BC that he and his wife Jennifer built starting in 2004. Prior to that business Bill and Jennifer developed another Franchised operation - 'Mad Science of British Columbia' where they conducted Science Shows and Science Clubs throughout the Province. Aimed at Elementary School aged Children the concept worked very well for the couple who eventually ended up with employees throughout the Province - upwards of 20 at any given time. Before venturing into the Entrepreneurial world Bill worked for Western Inventory Service Ltd (now known as WIS International) holding positions ranging from Inventory Manager to District Manager - Area Manager - Regional Manager and finally holding two different Vice President Operations roles (Winnipeg covering the Praires & Vancouver covering BC/Yukon). Bill spent his early years working at a Fly-In Fishing Camp in NW Ontario where he learned about the world of Tourism. He spent several summers at Bluffy Lake accessible only by day long portage or via float plane.

Abby has  been working at the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce since July 2019. She was born and raised in Port Alberni. In June of 2019 Abby graduated Alberni District Secondary School and is now working towards a  Bachelor of Education degree. She is passionate about her hometown and loves sharing information about it to visitors from all over the world. 

Sofia was been working at the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce since December 2020. Sofia is passionate about the sciences and theatre. She is currently working through her last years at Alberni District Secondary School before furthering her education in the fields of biology and chemistry.