meet our staff
Queenswood is a special place because of the dedicated people who work within its walls. Feel free to browse our staff biographies and "meet" us here on this web page.
Marina Smith, ssa
Community Relations Coordinator
As coordinator of Community Relations at Queenswood, Marina enjoys meeting many people. Besides letting them know more about Queenswood, she also introduces newcomers to this beautiful and peace–filled place. Having been a teacher for 25 years, and a university chaplain for 14, Marina loves learning, and seeing people excited about their own spiritual growth. She also loves gardening and the ‘green’ aspects of Queenswood. Marina has a creative gift for seeing new possibilities and we are grateful to have her leadership on our team.
Kate Fagan Taylor, M.Div.
Executive Director
Kate is proud of her staff team and all they have accomplished together over the past two and a half years. Kate's past career experiences have informed and enriched her work at Queenswood, including her years as a chaplain at the University of Victoria, Assistant Secretary/Registrar of the University of Victoria, and government work as Manager of Universities and Director of Strategic Initiatives at the BC Ministry of Advanced Education. Kate loves working at Queenswood because of the many wonderful people she gets to meet, who are all making a difference in the world.
execdirector@QueenswoodVictoria.ca
Tony Rushworth
Director of Operations
Tony joined the Queenswood staff in May 2008 in the newly created role of director of operations. Tony's ability to offer creative solutions and his "can-do" attitude quickly helped make him an essential member of our team. Tony's professional knowledge and background in managing hospitality and food and beverage operations has given us a valuable new perspective on our operations. We have also been blessed by his facility operations expertise in the upkeep of our beautiful facility and the project management of our renovations. Tony has a big, caring heart and his positive attitude and willingness to laugh makes him fun to work with.
Stefan Jonsson
Programs and Marketing Coordinator
Stefan Jonsson is a graduate of the University of Victoria and brings 8 years of experience in program development and promotion in Canada and abroad to his work at Queenswood. As Queenswood's Programs and Marketing Coordinator, Stefan works closely with other staff members to design and implement Queenswood's program offerings, and manages marketing initiatives to spread "Victoria's best-kept secret" far and wide. In his spare time, Stefan is also an avid actor and traveler who loves all things French and Swedish. And whether at work or at play, Stefan strives to share love, wisdom and laughter with everything he does and everyone he meets.
programs@QueenswoodVictoria.ca
Barbara Holt
Hospitality Coordinator
Barbara is the friendly face of Queenswood whom you will meet if you drop in during the week. She coordinates our hospitality services. Barbara has the gift of being able to make people feel comfortable and welcome, and has a deep appreciation for the variety of needs and questions expressed by our guests. She is a trained spiritual director. In addition to coordinating hospitality, Barbara helps lead silent retreats at Queenswood. With a professionial background working in bookstore management, Barbara has a love of books and reading. Closest to her heart, Barbara is a doting grandmother and has the twinkle in her eye to prove it.
retreats@QueenswoodVictoria.ca
Barb Northwood
Weekend Hospitality Coordinator
Barb Northwood is the weekend reception and hospitality coordinator. She is happy to call Queenswood home - she lives here full time. She loves her work and it is her joy to try and make guests feel welcome and at home when they come here. She started coming to Queenswood six years ago and has been working and living here since September, 2008. She is also an artist and continues to paint at Queenswood and to support and inspire others to paint. You can find samples of Barb's art and even purchase originals and reproductions at barbsart.ca. Her fellow staff appreciate Barbara not only for her efficiency, ingenuity and competence, but because she has a gift of sensitivity for experiencing delight and inspiration, and sharing it with those around her.
Sandra Price
Bookings and Finance Coordinator
Sandra wins the prize for being at Queenswood the longest-- she has graced these halls for 19 years. Sandra can always be relied upon to greet her team-mates with a smile and a cheery hello to start our day. As one of the keepers of "institutional memory" Sandra has loads of lore to share. Her professional bookkeeping abilities, attention to detail, and williness to explain things (repeatedly yet patiently) are relied upon with gratitude. Her fellow staff appreciate her problem-solving abilities and willingness to try new things. Sandra is an avid reader and enjoys listening to music. She apparently does not like getting her photo taken... but we are in talks with her agent to see if we can arrange something.
Dawn Mahara, ssa
Administrative Assistant
Sr. Dawn is the oft-unseen yet essential force of nature that helps Queenswood to function well. Sr. Dawn keeps our materials well stocked, coordinates our printing and mailouts, is the keeper of the Queenswood database, helps to keep us from running out of supplies, and asssts with many other significant aspects of our day to day operations and communications. She has a wonderful personality and sense of humour. Sr. Dawn obviously did not write this bio herself ; we think that the world deserves to know how great she is We'll try to take a photo of her right after she reads this for the first time, so you can see how delightful she looks when she blushes.
Eileen Curteis, ssa
Director, Reiki Programs
Born and raised in Victoria, Eileen entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Ann in August 1961. She trained in education and spent many years in this field. For the past 15 years, Sr. Eileen has been actively involved at Queenswood offering Reiki treatments, providing support groups and teaching Reiki workshops. She is also a poet, filmmaker and author of several books. Click here to view her books and film here.
Trudy Harding
Reiki Healing Ministry
Trudy Harding is a mother of four, which she successfully homeschooled for most of their school years. She trained with Sr. Eileen, is a Usui & Karuna Reiki Master and has assisted Sr. Eileen in many workshops. Trudy is passionate about her practice and is currently offering Reiki treatments, retreats and workshops at Queenswood. She includes other modalities in her classes such as drumming, smudging, chanting, meditation, and chakra balancing. Her workshops are fun, exploratory and informative. Trudy has been volunteering at Queenswood for four years and is currently training with Citizens Counseling.
Peter K. Jones
Garden Volunteer
Peter developed and maintains the "Mary Garden" at Queenswood. As an Associate in Theology, Peter has developed and facilitated courses on theology and spirituality at St. Andrew's Cathedral for the past four years. He is also a part of the Pastoral Care Team of St. Andrew's Cathedral. Currently, Peter is completing the writing of a book entitled Our Desire to Know God. For the past ten years, Peter has been a friend of Queenswood and the Sister of St. Anne.
Denise Holmen
Library Volunteer
Denise Holmen continues as a library volunteer here at Queenswood after having worked as Queenswood's main librarian for 8 years. She recently retired in July 2009. A librarian at university and government libraries for over 35 years, she finds the people, work and beautiful space at Queenswood the most interesting and enjoyable of her career.
Rose Christensen
Library Volunteer
Volunteering at The Queenswood Library gives me great pleasure. When we enter the library there is a sense of peace and serenity. The efficient, organized librarians provide a place to read, greet and borrow books, videos, music cds and tapes. I moved to Victoria in 1991 when I was a working single mother and one of the first places I gratefully found was Queenswood, since that time each and every year I have attended retreats and workshops. Over the years Queenswood and the Sisters of St. Ann’s have given me support, solace, friendship and guidance. I received more than I give as a volunteer at Queenswood
