Board of Directors
Meet the the 2023/24 Board of Directors of the Sooke Elderly Citizens Housing Society (SECHS), which manages Ayre Manor Seniors Housing.
If you are interested in learning more about serving on our Board of Directors, please contact admin@ayremanor.ca
Irene Todd
CHAIR
Irene moved to Sooke in the fall of 2020 from a family farm in western Manitoba. On the farm, she and her husband Brian raised three children, grew organic grains, and kept a flock of sheep. Irene originally trained as a music educator and, along with helping on the farm, she taught music and many other subjects to all ages in several rural schools. She assisted at Brandon University when a bassoonist was needed and volunteered and sat on the board of the Midwest Arts Council for 6 years. She was also an active volunteer at Personal Care Homes in the local region while she participated in the care of both of her parents. She is very pleased to see a similar arrangement of different levels of care available at Ayre Manor as was available in the small towns near her Manitoba home and is looking forward to working with other board members.
Georgina Patko
VICE CHAIR
Georgina is recently retired from her 30 year career as a Non-Profit Management Consultant. The work enabled her to experience a number of roles in the non-profit sector particularly in the areas of fundraising, social media and community engagement. Her goals are always to work in an environment that satisfies her heart while making the world a better place when she can. Ayre Manor is one of those places that is vital to the community and speaks to her soul. Georgina moved from the Lower Mainland and has been living in Sooke for three years. She adores it here, the quality of life when matched by the nature of her surroundings make her feel that giving back is essential to the balance in her life. She has three adult children and two little grandchildren who are both recent, wonderful, additions to her very full life.
Philip Hulme
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Philip has held a variety of career positions and entrepreneurial roles in Canada and the USA, beginning as a CPA with Price Waterhouse Montreal. He served as Chief Financial Officer & Chief Technology Officer with major pharmaceutical companies in Laval, Toronto and Kansas City and a telecom start-up in Santa Clara. In 2010, he moved back to Canada and cared for his widowed mother in Oak Bay until she passed away at age 97. During this time, Philip built a customer acquisition and retention business remotely. He recently moved to West Wind Harbour in Sooke and is currently owner-operator of Wellness Regeneration & Equine Regeneration, providing patented BEMER PEMF therapy for humans and horses on Vancouver Island. He has previous board experience in Rotary, arts organizations and managing an Oak Bay Co-Op. From his experience with his mother, he understands the importance of quality eldercare and the important role that Ayre Manor plays in our community.
Beth Cox
ACTING SECRETARY
Beth is a recently retired lawyer and municipal judge. She also has a background in business, social work and health care management. Beth and her husband Mike recently moved to Sooke from the United States as permanent Canadian residents and look forward to becoming Canadian citizens. Beth enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, tennis, raising dogs, and cooking.
Pat Phillips
DIRECTOR
Pat worked for the B.C. Liquor Board for 35 years in the Liquor Retail environment, retiring as a manager. She has a wide variety of experience including customer service, scheduling, hiring, mentoring and conflict resolution. She has since volunteered as Fund Raising Director, Vice Chair and Chair of the Sooke Philharmonic Society for six years, as well as Director, Committee Chair and general member of the Sooke Harbourside Lions Club.
“Both my mother and brother were residents of Ayre Manor from 2013 until their passing in 2016 — my brother at 75 and mom at 103! From Assisted Living to Complex Care, I have experienced the level of professional and compassionate care given my family, as well as the kindness extended to me.”
Christy Willoughan
DIRECTOR
Christy is a proud new resident of Sooke with her family and two dogs. She is passionate about helping others, nature and art. As an experienced palliative care Registered Nurse and entrepreneur, she is ready to contribute to the quality of life in our beautiful community.