• 29 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1G4
  • 604.736.5262
  • info@womenshealthcollective.ca
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Board Members

Bontle Mokose - Executive Director

Bontle Mokose is a dedicated leader and passionate advocate in the fields of  health, housing, and community building. With a profound commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of marginalised communities, she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Women’s Health Collective, a pioneering organization dedicated to providing health initiatives for those who identify as women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals.

Bontle’s journey towards championing health and community development began with her early experiences witnessing the systemic challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing healthcare and adequate housing, motivating her multifaceted career path aimed at addressing these intersecting issues.

In addition to her advocacy work, she has garnered extensive experience in housing and community development initiatives, playing a pivotal role in spearheading projects aimed at improving health, housing, promoting community resilience, and fostering sustainable development practices. 

As the Executive Director of the Women’s Health Collective, Bontle leverages her expertise in strategic planning, advocacy, and coalition-building to drive impactful change in both the healthcare and housing sectors. Outside of work, she finds joy in traveling, engaging in running activities, and expressing her creativity through creating and appreciating art.

BOARD MEMBERS

Laura McQuarrie Salter (she/they)

Laura is a helping professional with seven years of experience working in social service and mental health care settings. Inspired by intersectionality, her practice is rooted in a trauma-informed, justice-oriented, and community-centred approach to helping. She is committed to upholding sincere compassion, steadfast accountability, and ongoing learning in her work. I see wellness and equity as deeply interconnected. Mass inequities impact our collective wellness across biological, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental dimensions. To promote holistic wellness for all, I advocate for systemic reform in keeping with the principles of healing justice. Everyone deserves equitable access to competent care tailored to suit their unique needs.

Bei Linda Tang (she/her)

Bei Linda Tang is a mother of two school-aged children and is currently completing her second master's degree in applied psychology, concentrating on health and wellness. She also holds an MBA from the University of British Columbia and worked as an investment banker and business owner for twenty years. She is a guided dreaming/dreamwork facilitator, author of Navigate Life with Dreams, and member, workshop presenter and Western Canadian rep of the International Association for the Study of Dreams. To me, health is the foundation for a good life and encompasses physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Our health and well-being are embedded in family, community and social life and intertwined with the natural environment. Ensuring everyone has access to safety, sustainable life-supporting resources, and healthcare services is essential to fostering a sense of belonging and creating a happy, meaningful, and peaceful future for all.

Claire Fergusson (she/her)

Claire is a pharmacy student at the University of British Columbia. She started volunteering at the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective in 2018, passionate about wanting to make a difference in the lives of women in Vancouver. It is a great honour to serve on the board alongside members of the VWHC community, who bring so much love, passion, and action to the community.Health to me is all about access. Without access to healthcare in its broadest and most holistic forms, people are not able to empower themselves to their full potential. Equity includes provision of tailored services folks can access in a low-barrier manner, as quality of care means little without access to appropriate care.

Stephanie Sotlar (she/her)

I am a dedicated advocate with years of experience in social services and community outreach. My approach is firmly grounded in trauma-informed care and intersectional feminism. I am driven by my lived experience. I am devoted to maintaining genuine loving compassion and strong accountability. As I work towards completing my degree in social work, I remain committed to supporting the Downtown Eastside community. Wellness and equity are deeply meaningful to me. Wellness is a holistic state of well-being that includes physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health, supported by compassionate, trauma-informed care. Equity means fairness and ensuring everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need despite systemic barriers. I want to highlight the importance of creating safe, nurturing environments where all individuals feel valued and understood. As an intersectional feminist, I am committed to addressing the compounded inequities that arise from intersecting identities such as race, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic status. Ultimately, wellness and equity are interconnected goals, striving to create a world where everyone can heal and thrive.

Ananya Bhargava (she/her)

Ananya is an articling student at a boutique civil litigation firm, which focuses on human rights law. She holds a law degree with a specialization in business law from UBC and has a background in literature and creative writing. She is passionate about women's health and improving access to healthcare. She is thrilled to serve on the board of VWHC and looks forward to learning from the members, volunteers, employees and community writ large. To me, health means being in a state of optimal physical, mental, and social well being. In other words, health is about feeling your best in all aspects of life. Equity in health means that everyone has a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential, and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential due to social, economic, or environmental conditions.

Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (she/her)

Nayo is a Master of Public Health candidate at Simon Fraser University with a passion for health promotion, equity and community empowerment. She began volunteering withthe Vancouver Women’s Health Collective in 2022 and was inspired by the impactful work of the collective and the resiliency of the VWHC community. She is very grateful for the opportunity to join the Board and work collaboratively with other members to advance the mission of the VWHC. When I think about wellness I think of community and interconnectedness and how influential these two factors are on an individual or group’s well-being. To me, health encompasses the physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and social well-being of an individual. I strongly believe that equity must be at the forefront of any discussion around health. Equitable access to appropriate and quality care is a cornerstone for establishing an environment where individuals and groups can thrive. Equity is inextricably linked to justice and the pursuit of creating a world where nobody is denied opportunities to improve their health or access resources.

Corrina T. Russ

I am a 63 year old First Nations woman from Haida Gwaii, who has been on her healing journey for the past 33 years. Equity means we include EVERYONE regardless of their skin color, we all have a journey that is filled with different things, feelings & emotions. We cannot always walk in someone else's moccasins or wear their regalia but we can listen with our hearts. Wellness means "showing up" even if is for a few hours, mins, finding that one person you can talk to, who doesn't judge you & loves you just because you are being your authentic self. Health to me is paying attention to my physical, mental, emotional & spiritual well being, being in Integrity & always speaking my truth.

Karanpreet Kaur Johar (she/her)

Hey there! I'm Karan, a social entrepreneur on a mission to champion global health and wellness with a strong belief in fostering equity with justice. I am an uninvited settler on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of q̓ ʷɑƛ̓ ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ ic̓ əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and Se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations (Langley). My journey into the health and wellness space was sparked by a personal encounter with endometriosis, driving my commitment to raise awareness about chronic conditions and their profound impact on individuals and their support systems, both physically and emotionally. I am governance professional with passion for youth and women wellness. To me, health and wellness encompass the holistic well-being of individuals, addressing not just physical health, but also mental and emotional wellness. It's about creating environments where everyone has access to the resources and support they need to thrive. Equity is fundamental in this journey; it means ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to resources to achieve their best health and wellness. This involves addressing systemic barriers, advocating for inclusive policies, and fostering a community where inclusion is the basis of everything we do!

Ciara Martin (she/her)

We at the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective are a non-profit organization helping all who self-identify as women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming foster health, wellness, and equity through feminist approaches to advocacy, shared knowledge, and low-barrier programs and services.

About VWHC

Our History

Our Mission

Board Members

Our Community Partners

What we do

Drop-in Centre

Naturopathic Clinic & Community Acupuncture

Wellness Counselling

Cultural Care

Yoga

Contact Information

  • 604.736.5262
  • 604.736.5263
  • info@womenshealthcollective.ca
  • 29 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1G4

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