Leading the Castle in modern times

MOIRA DANN

Moira Dann is a journalist by trade (stints with both CBC and the Globe and Mail) and a history enthusiast by inclination (to earn an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from King’s in 2016, she wrote a book about the Mothers of Confederation).

She currently works as Communications Manager at the James Bay Community Project and has written a book about Craigdarroch to be published by Touchwood Editions in 2021.

Moira served six years previously on the Craigdarroch board 2013-19

PATRICIA FOSTER

Over the past 30 years, Patricia has been helping clients buy or sell their homes, and prior to that she was a top level recruiter.

Patricia has been a fully licensed realtor in Victoria for 14 years. Prior to entering the real estate industry as a licensed realtor she was a personnel recruiter recruiting and training teachers for schools in both Japan and Canada. As a recruiter she was responsible for developing plans and executing on plans to attract the best candidates to teach at over 500 schools.

Patricia graduated university with Bachelor degree in economics (with Honours) and has been actively involved in the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. She is the proud mother of three adult children and is a member of Women’s United.

KEVAN KING

Kevan enjoyed 30 years as in-house legal counsel at public corporations in Calgary, Alberta, 25 of those years as a senior executive in the role of General Counsel. Kevan is a graduate of the University of Calgary Faculty of Lawand was admitted to the Alberta bar in 1981. Kevan retired as Senior Vice President, General Counsel in October 2017 upon completion of the acquisition of Veresen by Pembina Pipeline Corporation.

Kevan has extensive legal and executive experience in the broad range of matters encountered by a public company, including corporate governance, regulatory, compliance, securities, finance, mergers and acquisitions,and human resources.

Kevan has served as a board and committee member of a number of public and private corporations, industry and professional organizations, a private school society and condo boards. As well, Kevan served as campaign coordinator for a United Way campaign for several years, and in other United Way capacities.

Kevan and his wife, Nancy Bell, have maintained a residence in the Victoria area since 2012, and moved to Victoria as full time residents in April 2018.

STEPHEN LYONS

Stephen is returning to Craigdarroch Castle having served as director and treasurer of the Society from 2014 to 2020. He currently serves on the boards of directors of the Victoria Heritage Foundation, established by the City of Victoria to administer grants for owners of heritage-designated homes, and Gasket Games Corp., a video game studio in Vancouver.

Stephen is the founder and managing director of Lyons Law Corporation, which opened as a full-service law firm in downtown Victoria in 2018. A software developer for 20 years before he became a lawyer, Stephen earned a
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies (Honours) and History and a Master of Arts in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology from the University of British Columbia, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Victoria.

JULIE MURTHA

Julie Murtha spent her working career in the media business, holding senior positions at National Post, the Toronto Star and LexisNexis. A graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston with a masters degree in Industrial Relations, Julie began her career in the executive training program of Thomson Newspapers Canada. She took a break from media to launch her own small business, The Boutique Caterer, after graduating from a culinary arts program at George Brown College in Toronto.

After retiring from the Toronto Star, Julie and her husband moved to Victoria, a wonderful basecamp for the hiking and travelling they enjoy. Julie currently volunteers at The Mustard Seed.

ANGELICA PASS

Angie is currently the Collections Manager for BC Archaeology at the Royal BC Museum. She has over 15 years of experience in Victoria’s heritage sector, including conservation ad interpretive roles at Craigflower National Historic Site and Ross Bay Villa. 

Angie has an MA in Greek and Roman Studies from the University of Victoria where she studied Latin satire. While not financially lucrative, this degree has honed her ability to employ humour in even the most dire of circumstances.

In her spare time, Angie enjoys managing her own extensive collections of vintage kitsch, weaving, kickboxing and showing people pictures of her cats.

NANCY REASON

Nancy is a retired teacher, lawyer, and legal education director and manager. Originally from Toronto, she obtained her B.A., M.A., and B.Ed. from the University of Toronto. She attended Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1986.

Nancy has taught students in a variety of settings, including high school (English and Theatre Arts), Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology (various legal subjects), and the Banco de España in Madrid (English as a second language).
She was the Director of Education at Ladner Downs (now Borden Ladner Gervais LLP) in Vancouver and The Advocates’ Society in Toronto. As the Manager of Continuing Professional Development for the Law Society of Ontario, she oversaw the development and production of more than 100 programs and publications for lawyers and paralegals per year, scripted and produced online programs on ethics and professional responsibility for licensing candidates, and created a variety of self-study resources, including case studies on ethics.

After obtaining her Osgoode Certificate in Elder Law from Osgoode Professional Development in 2017, she worked for Pro Bono Ontario, providing legal advice and services to Ontario residents on the Free Legal Advice Hotline as well to patients of Sinai Health.

Nancy recently celebrated her 42nd wedding anniversary and has two daughters, three grandchildren, and one senior Brittany.

KELLY SOMOGYI

Kelly grew up on the family farm in Saskatchewan, then completed architectural training and development in Regina. His work there included schools, the Mosaic stadium, museums and theatres. He has gone on to start his own Architectural Design Studio, where a focus of the company engages in restoration that infuses historic buildings with modern functionality while preserving architectural history. For him, historical preservation has profound value. It reminds us of the longer timeline that stands before the present day.

Technically oriented and creatively minded, he is an architectural technologist who loves getting into the story and history of a building. In Victoria, he has worked with the restoration of the Francis Rattenbury Coach & Boat Houses. Kelly moved from the prairies to the coast with his long-term partner, both having a fascination with buildings, design, and history, together they create spaces designed to inspire and look to be a part of preserving the history of design that defines our region.

Our newest Board member sees Craigdarroch Castle as a landmark with a global audience. He plans to bring awareness locally, provincially, and nationally to our past knowing where we come from and remembering we are part of a larger story.

WILL SORRELL

Will Sorrell is National Director of The Interior Design Show, Canada’s design fair, which takes place annually in Toronto and Vancouver.

For two decades Will has created events, exhibitions and initiatives that support and advocate design and the creative industries. He has led a wide range of projects including the London Design Biennale; the award-winning Designjunction show; Tom Dixon’s critically acclaimed MOST event in Milan; and toured exhibitions with the British Council across four continents. He has brought to life over 50 exhibitions across 16 countries.

Will has also delivered a variety of strategic projects, including The Culture Diary for the Mayor of London and the Prime Minister’s Office; cultural strategy for new property developers, working with consultancy Futurecity; and joinedup design strategy, led by young people, for 15 youth centres across the UK with the Sorrell Foundation.

Will moved from his hometown of London, UK, to Victoria in 2020.