The Team

A Canada that Works for All Generations is a collective vision.

In developing the vision, Paul has worked most closely with Lynell Anderson, who is a Senior Researcher at the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), UBC College for Interdisciplinary Studies.

Lynell is a BC-based Certified General Accountant and a Senior Researcher within HELP. Bringing almost 30 years of financial consulting, volunteer and research experience to HELP, Lynell has worked with various levels of government as well as children, women, family and youth-serving organizations and advocacy groups.  Lynell is a leading authority on family policy across the country, especially with respect to the finances of child care services.  She is an engaging speaker and writer, and a primary spokesperson for the proposed New Deal for Families.

Lynell Anderson, CGA lynell.anderson@ubc.ca 604-827-5399

Lynell and Paul are supported by the entire team at the Human Early Learning Partnership. As a result, the vision underpinning a Canada that Works for All Generations reflects years of productive conversations with HELP colleagues, including Clyde Hertzman, Lori Irwin, Joanne Schroeder, Pippa Rowcliffe, Brenda Poon, Barry Forer, Martin Guhn and Michele Sam.

Special thanks go to Emilia Walton for her outstanding data visualization and communications skills, which are evident throughout this website.  She is an invaluable team member on whom we regularly depend for our successful communication.

Emilia Walton emilia.walton@ubc.ca 604-827-5390

Special acknowledgement is also required for Bob Parker, Melany Rodgers and Meredith Haaf who provided excellent research assistance over the last two years.

Lynell and Paul’s research and communication work have benefited from numerous collaborations outside of the Human Early Learning Partnership.

Angus McAllister, President of McAllister Opinion Research, has transformed the way we communicate our policy ideas.  His creativity and expertise is interwoven throughout the language used to describe the New Deal for Families, as is the work of his colleague, Colleen Kimmett.

Our collaboration with McAllister Opinion Research is the product of generous financial support from the Vancouver Foundation, and especially the proactive leadership offered by Mark Gifford, the Foundation’s Director of Grants and Community Initiatives.

The United Way of the Lower Mainland has been a very strategic partner in disseminating the policy research that underpins the New Deal for Families.  The organization has allocated its financial resources to support this work and, more importantly still, its reputation and reach into communities throughout BC and across the country.  The contributions of CEO Michael McKnight, COO Deborah Irvine, Jeff Calbick (Director of Strategic Priorities, Early and Middle Childhood) and Alison Bledsoe (Planner, Strategic Initiatives for Children 0-6) are especially appreciated.

The policy and social change activity featured throughout this website has been enriched from its inception by a very important collaboration with the Metro Vancouver YWCA.  CEO Janet Austin remains an inspiring colleague, interlocutor and champion for the vision underpinning a New Deal for Families.

A number of business leaders have made important contributions to our policy research and its dissemination to key stakeholders.  (See Smart Family Policy for a Strong Economy and Healthy Society).  Generous in-kind contributions from Vancity CEO, Tamara Vrooman, and Heenan Blaikie Special Counsel, Suromitra Sanatani, are particularly noteworthy for accelerating mobilization within the business community and strengthening our government relations.  Similarly, Sierra Systems CFO, Warren Beach, has donated invaluable in-house support by engaging his CA colleagues in a careful review of the benefits and costs that accompany the policy proposals for the business community.

Generous financial support for the benefit/cost analysis was donated by Tom Simons, an inspired citizen who is committed to the well-being of our country’s youngest citizens.  With his support, Lynell and Paul were able to contract with economist Marvin Shaffer to guide our benefit/cost evaluations.