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| President: Catharine SmiderI have been fortunate to live in some of the most beautiful places on earth – the 30,000 Islands in Ontario, the Cotswolds in England, the Bay of Islands in New Zealand and most recently, the Sunshine Coast in BC. Now my husband and I have settled on the Saanich Peninsula – three of our four children live here, and more importantly, seven of our nine grandchildren are here too. Family takes up a lot of our time these days. We are enchanted with where we live. North Saanich and specifically, Canoe Cove meet all our criteria – easy access to the ocean, hiking and cycling, a great recreation centre, cultural events at our fingertips, and stunning scenery everywhere we look. Leaving our cherished family home and all our friends in 2021 was difficult. Right away, I joined the Peninsula Newcomers Club to meet new people and get involved in localactivities, making the transition from our old life to a new one much smoother. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to create this new chapter in our lives. I joined the PNC Executive because of the women who were giving their time and energy to run the organization. I wanted to get to know them better. Over the last three years, I have learned a lot and laughed a lot, cursed and blessed computers in the same breath, made new friends and most importantly, welcomed many women into this wonderful, heartwarming club. I am happy to serve on the Peninsula Newcomers Executive again this year and engage with this amazing community resource that helps women connect with each other. |
| Vice President: Sherry DudinskyI moved to the lovely city of Sidney in August of 2023 from another beautiful place, Canmore, AB. I traded my life in the Rockies for a warmer one, where I now live much closer to my two children and their families in Victoria. Joining the Peninsula Newcomers Club has been a lifeline for me and I am very grateful for all the advice that has helped me settle in and make the most of this incredible region. After a year as Vice President I have come to realize just how well this Executive works as a team and is very supportive of one another. Therefore, it was an easy choice to run again. I am looking forward to meeting more of the members in this welcoming club at some of the fun activities and events ahead! |
Secretary Co Chair: Mara DurighelloAfter spending half of my life in the USA (San Francisco, CA and Moorestown, NJ) and half in Italy (Treviso, Vicenza, Rivoli), I moved to Sidney with my husband, Steven, in November 2019 and became a Canadian citizen in October 2024. I worked as a high-school English teacher in Italy for 14 years while also taking on translation jobs on the side. Since my return to North America in 2001, I have been working exclusively as a translator. I like travelling, walking/hiking, reading, watching movies, and listening to music. Steven and I have two daughters – Céline (in Ottawa) and Anaïs (in Victoria) – and a granddog, Dizzy. I signed up with the PNC as soon as I arrived and the timing was perfect because I got to meet so many wonderful women and participate in activities in person just before the Covid shutdown. The Zoom meetings during Covid were very helpful and made me feel less isolated. Over time I have formed wonderful friendships and I am very happy to have the opportunity to actively contribute to this great club that has given me so much. Secretary Co Chair: Barbara BruceBarbara and her husband Michael moved to the Peninsula in May 2024. They spent their first summer here on their boat, then found warm and dry winter accommodations before purchasing a condo in the Marigold development, just 8 minutes south of downtown Sidney. Prior to making the move to the island, Barb was the Executive Director for the Alberta Association of Architects for 15 years. Making a transition into retirement has been both wonderful and challenging. She is grateful for the warm welcome from the Peninsula Newcomers Club to help with settling into a new community.These days Barb and her husband fuss endlessly over their two boisterous French Bulldogs, Nikki and Odo. After several years away from it, she has returned to singing acapella harmony, joining the Pacific Edge Chorus, which keeps her learning and growing. Still exploring what retirement means, Barb enjoys the outdoors, reading, boating, gardening, and golfing.Barb has served on several boards and executive committees over the years, most of them within the not-for-profit world, and looks forward to contributing to the PNC in the coming year. |
| Treasurer: Moya WebbMy name is Moya Webb. My husband and I arrived in Sidney in March 2024, from Kelowna to be closer to our eldest daughter Katie who lives in Victoria although when you meet me you’ll immediately know that I hail originally from England. Can’t lose the accent! We knew no one in Sidney but fortunately I found and joined the Newcomers club within a few weeks of being here. This has been a life saver, finding this amazing community of energetic and dynamic women. I felt instantly at home. Wherever I live, I always like to volunteer and give back to my community and I have been in the Treasurer role many times before, once for the Kelowna Sunrise Rotary club and many times for various Toastmasters clubs I’ve been a member of over the years. I’m delighted to be able to be part of this awesome organization. |
| Monthly Event/Venue Coordinator: Deborah DodgeMy name is Deborah Dodge and I hail from Dartmouth Nova Scotia so I always tell people I’m an east coast gal living on the west coast! My husband Philip and I moved here in August 2017 and I began my PNC journey one month later. I had no idea how much I needed this group and how blessed I would be to meet and share my west coast adventure with so many amazing women. After one year with PNC, I stood and was elected Hospitality Coordinator, a position I held for 2 years and enjoyed very much. This opportunity allowed me to become more involved, welcome our newest members and let my creative side thrive. Last year, I was asked to consider standing for the Monthly Meeting Coordinator position. I stood for this position and was elected for the 2024/25 term. It was a wonderful experience, and with the help of a fantastic team, we were able to change things up a bit from previous years by successfully hosting our monthly meetings in different locations and times. This approach allowed for a bit more variety and offered meeting options that we hadn't considered before. I have very much enjoyed not only the role of Monthly Meeting Coordinator, but also being a part of the executive again. I believe that the members of PNC make the group amazing and PNC events enrich the lives of our members through the friendship we build when we attend them. |
| Hospitality Co-chair: Lois Axford
Living on the peninsula, we enjoy exploring the many walking trails, kayaking the waterways and sampling the wonderful cuisine and cultural events that this area provides. We love to travel both in Canada and internationally. I joined the PNC on the advice of a friend and it has made this the easiest transition of my life. For the past 2 years, I have enjoyed the Wednesday morning walk, participating in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, “Couples Connecting”, some discussion groups, pub nights and frequently, wine and appies. These activities have allowed my husband and I to meet a wide variety of interesting people and build a network of friends. After two years I feel I should pay it forward and volunteer for the executive to help keep this dynamic organization thriving. I look forward to working with next year’s executive and welcoming more women to the fun of living in this beautiful place. Hospitality Co-chair: Laurie LeachWelcome to Sidney! My name is Laurie Leach, since moving here from Langley BC, with my spouse and dog I have discovered many new friendships through PNC. There is so much to try. I am loving the outdoor walks and many parks. Once an avid hiker and backpacker/canoeist seeing so much of Canada after day-long hikes, I am happy to be settling into this new stage of life. I have always been involved in Volunteering, things like “wiener Wednesday” at kids schools (someone had to do it) Girl Guides and Scouting movement, library helpers, to more recently sitting on boards and working with Ishtar Society, helping women to move on from difficult situations. Yes, I did work too, but somehow my volunteering has always brought me joy, and I look forward to welcoming more newbies to Sidney. |
 | Publicity/Website Coordinator: Ande AxelrodFor decades, I would blow out my birthday candles every year with "I wish I could put my kayak in the water without putting it on the car first." Last summer we found our home to make that wish come true. My path here started in Chicago, then to San Francisco, Vancouver and now on Roberts Bay in Sidney. Larry and I moved here at the end of 2023, and it has quickly become our home and very happy place, in great part to the fun and friendships I found with you in the Newcomers Club. You can find me paddling as much as possible, but also hiking on Mondays, walking on Lochside on Wednesdays, discussing books and movies, biking, knitting, and more... and of course indulging in wine and appies each month! I am very happy to be a part of the team of wonderful women in leadership for the Club and help keep this a thriving organization into the future. |
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| Activity Co-chair: Lynne JordanAs an Ontario transplant (via Kingston, Orillia, London), I lived in Sannich for over 20 years raising my child Addie, and continuing my career as a librarian/ library administrator. In 2021, motivated by retirement, my child launched (now residing in Germany), COVID and a big garden and house to maintain, I moved to a townhouse on Tsehum Harbour in Sidney. Although I'd visited the Peninsula, I didn't know all its wonders, its easy access to the sea, and the amazing PNC! Currently, I coordinate entertainment events at the Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club. In the past, I have volunteered with diverse groups including literacy, women's shelters, and ballroom dance. I am looking forward to assisting Linda Sanderson with PNC Activities coordination. Activity Co-chair: Linda Sanderson |
| Membership Coordinator: Helen SimpsonI had always dreamt of living by the ocean, and when it came time for us to plan for retirement, the opportunity to move to Vancouver Island became a reality. Having immigrated to Canada from England in 1984, we raised our two daughters in Ontario. We moved into our new home in Sidney in February 2022, and since then we have enjoyed exploring our new community and making many new connections to some wonderful people via my membership in the Peninsula Newcomers Club. Over the years I have volunteered in various capacities, including being the membership coordinator of a group that set up a children’s theatre subscription series in a local theatre; co-chair of a parent teacher council; and being involved in many fundraising activities at my children’s schools, including organizing hot lunches, and meet the teacher night BBQ’s. For 16 years, I worked as a medical office administrator.For the past nine months I have been mentored by the current Membership Coordinator, and have been responsible for producing name tags for the new members that have joined. PNC has been invaluable in our transition to Sidney, and I look forward to being able to help out on the executive. |
| New Member Liaison: Jaki Fram Originally from Ottawa, then Toronto, Mississauga and Oakville Ontario. Attached to me is my husband, David, our 2 daughters, 1 son-in-law, our grand dog and a darn cat. North Saanich became home in June of 2020, Covid arrivals we were for sure. Thank goodness for the PNC. My day job, was and still is to a lesser degree, office manager and bookkeeper for my husband’s law practice and firm for the last 35 years. He is now semi-retired, not me...at least it seems that way most days. My background also includes a great deal of volunteering, A Girl Guide leader and Commissioner for over 20 years. I received an award from the Province of Ontario for my service. I also gave a large amount of time to the Parent’s Association of the school my daughter’s attended in Oakville, Ontario. I headed many committees and chaired a Gala and major Christmas event which raised a great deal of funds for the expansion of this Independent school. I am very proud of the volunteer services I have done over the years and I’ve learned a life lesson or two along the way. |
