Quick Links

Joan Smulders Appointed To Post Of ESSA Executive Director

May 28, 2004

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C.- The Emergency Social Services Association (ESSA), is pleased to announce the appointment of Joan Smulders of Richmond, B.C. to the position of Executive Director, effective immediately.

Joan Smulders has been promoted to replace former Executive Director, Kevin D'Souza, who has recently left the organization. Joan recently held the position of Regional Representative Liaison Officer for ESSA to assist the 9 Regional Representatives in coordinating seminars, regional meetings and support for the 5,500 Emergency Social Services volunteers in BC.

There have been a number of staff changes at ESSA and Joan is continuing to provide ongoing support for the large number of volunteers that depend on our organization. We are moving through a transitional phase but we have great confidence that our service levels will remain high and we continue to look forward to supporting our communities.

Joan has an extensive background in project management, consulting, teaching of post-secondary education in computer systems design and has performed volunteer work with the Richmond Girls' Softball Association, City of Richmond Emergency Social Services, Canadian Red Cross, Richmond Girls' Soccer Association and Parent Advisory Committee (Richmond schools).

Joan was a member of the Team of Emergency Program Volunteers that assisted at the Central Registry and Inquiry Bureau (CRIB) of the Red Cross during the Firestorms of Summer, 2003. The team was nominated for the Community Safety Volunteer(s) of the Year Award as part of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce 911 Awards. This nomination was jointly shared with the Richmond Amateur Radio Club.

Joan is married with three beautiful daughters, one currently doing volunteer work in Thailand, one on exchange at the University of Nottingham through University of BC and one daughter at home studying Design & Display at Langara College.

ESSA is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 to support Emergency Social Services (ESS) volunteers and communities by providing education, awareness and networking opportunities to assist them in the development of their ESS plans for response to an emergency.

The responsibilities of an ESSA Regional Representative include supporting ESS volunteers in their region by maintaining regular contact with ESS Directors, Emergency Coordinators, Ministry of Human Resources staff, Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) regional managers, ESSA headquarters, and other volunteer response agencies in the region. ESSA Regional Representatives also coordinate educational seminars for ESS volunteers, convene annual meetings of ESSDs, alternates and key emergency response personnel in their region, promote ESSA membership, and provide quarterly reports for ESSA's quarterly newsletter, mESSAges.

Emergency Social Services are defined as those services that are provided short-term (generally 72 hours) to preserve the emotional and physical well being of evacuees and response workers in emergency situations. They include setting up reception centres for evacuees, food services, lodging, clothing, family reunification, personal services, and
other services necessary to support evacuees' and responders' immediate health and well-being. The ESS Program Office in Victoria, a branch of the Ministry of Human Resources, oversees the delivery of ESS in British Columbia.

There are more than 5,000 ESS volunteers in the province who are registered with the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) to provide ESS response in communities throughout British Columbia. ESSA represents the majority of those conscientious citizens through their community's membership in the organization.

Direct Contact:
Joan Smulders,
9111 Arrowsmith Drive, Richmond, BC V7A 4Y5
Residence phone: (604) 241-0276
E-Mail: jsmulders[at]essa.ca

Fast Facts:

• ESSA's primary source of funding comes from the Ministry of Human Resources, through the Ministry's ESS Program Office, and from fees paid by member communities throughout the province.
• ESSA communicates with its members through a newsletter, mESSAges, which is published on a quarterly basis and distributed to ESS volunteers throughout the province free-of-charge.
• Each year, ESSA offers a variety of seminars and workshops to support the work of ESS volunteers.
• ESSA organizes and hosts an annual meeting of ESS volunteers in each of the Provincial Emergency Program's (PEP's) six geographically designated regions of the province.
• ESSA has nine Regional Representatives in the six Provincial Emergency Program (PEP)-defined regions of the province who carry out the Association's mandate at the community level.
• Registered under the Societies Act of B.C., ESSA is governed by a volunteer board of directors consisting of 13 elected members (12 voting members).
• ESSA has 2 paid staff members: Acting Executive Director, Joan Smulders, and an Office Administrator.
• Emergency Social Services (ESS) Program with the Ministry of Human Resources is a volunteer-based emergency response program, providing basic needs to people affected by an emergency or disaster.
• When people in our community are forced from their homes due to an emergency, ESS volunteers step in to provide basic needs, such as food, clothing or lodging. Emergency Social Services are available for 72 hours immediately following the emergency, allowing affected residents the time to make more long-term arrangements and begin the recovery process.
• ESS Team members train throughout the year in preparation for disasters, volunteering not only their time and energy but also their expertise.
• Emergency Social Services has 5 staff members: Director ESS Program, Jeff Cornell, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Maggie Grant, Program Administrator, Cheryl Venn, Program Assistant, Christine Ritson and Provincial ESS Coordinator, David Tomaz.
• Emergency Social Services (ESS) Toll-free contact number: 1-800-585-9559.

Please note: A current photo of Joan can be electronically e-mailed to any media outlet upon request.