Andy has coached dozens of organizations from across Canada and as Co-Chair of Canada’s Volunteer Awards over two years, reviewed the operations of hundreds of nonprofit initiatives. He’s a three-time Executive Director and twice an interim ED and has conducted strategic planning sessions and initiated 14 programs in diverse settings. Andy has started four social enterprises, five nonprofit societies, sat on over a dozen Boards and has volunteered in many, many ways, leading to his wide range of expertise and knowledge of nonprofit programming & budgets. In March 2025, Andy received the King’s Coronation Medal for “a significant contribution to Canada.”
Social Enterprises created & operated
From conception to operation, as a volunteer Andy co-created Our Community Bikes! (OCB), a full-service nonprofit bike shop. He organized a team that bought & renovated & ran a small bike shop in Vancouver. Over 30 years later, OCB still sells refurbished bikes and assists customers to fix their own bicycles.
Key to success: Andy visited six similar social enterprises before developing proposals. Notable accomplishments: Winning the VanCity Environmental Award, and creating a model that has lasted to today.
GIS/GPS services
For Greenways Land Trust, Andy created a GIS/GPS consulting service in the mid-2000s. Having had prior land surveying experience, Andy re-introduced some high tech (at the time) yet idle GPS field equipment and also a GIS mapping system, hired qualified personnel to run them. They secured enough contracts for a new full time position and started a significant new income stream.
Key to success: Combining the right people with the assets available. Notable accomplishment: This service supported habitat preservation and was profitable at the same time.
Educational packages for elementary schools
When Andy took over as ED at WITS, this nationally-oriented but very small charity was delivering dated educational programs with a loss in every transaction. Even so, there was resistance to change, so to overcome this Andy brought in several expert opinions and developed plans for moving forward. This soon lead to completely modernized program materials (emphasizing accessibility and inclusion), restructured pricing and a new online store. The change created renewed interest & uptake, leading to a significant financial boost.
Key to success: Convincing the Board to follow the advice of professionals. Notable Accomplishment: Within six months of implementing the change, program income surpassed that of any prior year.
Consulting – Recycling system startup
In early ’90s Vancouver when recycling services had yet to reach multi-unit residences, Andy helped start West End Recycling Connection, an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to making that happen. This group convinced owners & managers to install private recycling systems in their buildings and educate their residents about the new systems, for a fee.
Key to success: Convincing building owners that recycling was the right thing to do. Notable Accomplishment: Helped 20 buildings – thousands of residents – access recycling services.
Boards of Directors
- Coast Waste Management Association
- Greenways Land Trust
- Indigenous Perspectives Society
- Oceanside Hospice Society
- Pacific People’s Partnership
- People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola Society
- Recycling Council of British Columbia
- Society Promoting Environmental Conservation
- Vancouver Island Hockey Association
- Vancouver Island Opera
- Volunteer BC
- West End Recycling Connection
- WITS Programs Foundation
Program Development
2026 Inclusion Strategies (currently in development)
Eliminating all discrimination: Methods for children to automatically include, accept and learn about those different from themselves.
2023 Pink Shirt Project
Empowers youth to conceive of, plan and implement solutions to issues that concern them. Encourages equity, inclusion and child rights.
2021 Pink Shirt Day Canada show
A nationally-broadcast annual 45-minute children’s show highlighting the significant achievements of Canadian youth, held the last Wednesday of February.
2021 Canadian Kindness Leaders
Empowers children to identify issues that concern them and then address those issues. Encourages equity, inclusion and child rights.
2021 Stories of Kindness
A five-part video series with Canadian youth interviewing Canadian celebrities about what kindness means to them.
2019 Vital Executive Director Critical Think Tank (VECTTR)
A network of executive staff of nonprofit societies to provide a supportive confidential environment to share information and solve pressing issues.
2006 Women’s Safe House network
In cooperation with Haven Society, creating a network of temporary residences for women & their children fearing abuse and/or domestic violence.
2005 Women’s Drop-in
In cooperation with Haven Society, creating a safe volunteer-staffed place for women fearing abuse and/or domestic violence.
2004 Triathlon Club
A 6-week training course in various aspects of triathlon for students aged 9-11.
1998 Solid Waste Safety Symposia
Annual full-day workshops focused on safety for personnel in the recycling and solid waste industry.
1992 Pedals for the People (PFTP)
Bicycle donation & refurbishment via a nonprofit bike shop storefront to support access to low or no cost bicycles.
1992 Bicycle Repair Mentorship
Hands-on instruction in a Bike Shop (nonprofit) setting
1990 Ride to the Rainforests
Group self-sufficient bicycle rides from Vancouver to the threatened valleys of Carmanah and Walbran on the west coast of Vancouver Island to raise awareness of ecologically unique old-growth forest ecosystems.
1990 One-Day Recycling Depots
A series of eight one-day recycling drop-off events for multi-unit dwellers without in-building recycling systems. Andy advises small & medium nonprofits and leads VECTTR, a group of nonprofit leaders. Andy is also
Personal
Andy advises small & medium nonprofits and leads VECTTR, a group of nonprofit leaders. Andy is also Executive Director of the WITS Programs Foundation, a national charity that empowers children and youth. He’s married to Po Wan (Blackberry Creative) with two grown children, and trains for triathlons.
Why “Rock your nonprofit?” Pre-pandemic, Andy also played in a few rock cover bands.