About Us
Staff
Diane Elliot-Buckley
Executive Director
diane@westsidefamilyplace.com
Diane has over 20 years’ leadership experience and has been involved in Family Places for nearly 15 years, as a parent, a volunteer, a board member and now Executive Director. Diane holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Victoria.
In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of West Side Family Place, Diane also works with other community service providers to maintain a strong network of support for young families.
Diane is the proud mother of two teenagers, and she strongly believes that the love and support of the nurturing community allows families to thrive.
Eva Svensson
Family Support Coordinator
eva@westsidefamilyplace.com
Eva grew up in Sweden and moved to Canada after completing a degree in education. She settled in Vancouver, trained in Montessori and worked in a preschool for eight years.
With her partner, she raised three daughters in delightful mayhem, welcoming twin newborns when her eldest was just 26-months old. Having experienced first-hand how isolating it can be to raise children as an immigrant and without a natural ‘attachment village,’ Eva decided to focus her professional work on supporting families with young children.
After completing a diploma in counselling, she joined WSFP in 2005. Eva facilitates the drop-in program and is also certified to facilitate a variety of parenting programs such as Nobody’s Perfect, Circle of Security and the Neufeld workshops. Eva is deeply committed to supporting parents bringing up healthy and happy children.
Sue Ellen Elman
Playroom Coordinator
sueellen@westsidefamilyplace.com
Sue Ellen has been with WSFP since 2012. She has her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education from Capilano University as well as Infant-Toddler Care and Special Needs citations from Douglas College. Sue Ellen has been in the early childhood education field since 2006.
Sue Ellen co-facilitates the Indoor/Outdoor Play, Mama and Papa Goose, Monthly Field Trips and Little Chefs programs. For our virtual programming, she created Art and Food Tutorials and facilitated our virtual Circle Time. She is trained as a facilitator for Circle of Security Parenting Program and as a Kids Yoga Teacher from Kidding Around Yoga.
Sue Ellen loves nature and the outdoors and always tries to infuse that in her programming at WSFP. Her other passion is to travel with her husband for food, photography and in search of good hiking trails – she has had some fantastic and inspiring conversations with many of the families at WSFP from these interests.
Maria Cheung
Playroom Coordinator & Toy Lending Librarian
maria@westsidefamilyplace.com
Maria started working with young children at a daycare in 2007 where she was inspired to become an ECE. She joined WSFP in 2008 after completing her degree in psychology from University of British Columbia and Early Childhood Care and Education certificate program at Vancouver Community College. In 2013, she began working with children on the spectrum which led her to further her education in Applied Behaviour Analysis (Autism) and holds a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in the field. She co-facilitates Indoor/Outdoor Play and Mama Papa Goose program as well as the Toy Lending Library.
Maria has a young child and understands how parenting can be challenging yet rewarding. WSFP is like her second home where she enjoys connecting with the families and her little one also enjoys visiting WSFP!
Salena Wong
Playroom Coordinator
salena@westsidefamilyplace.com
Salena was born and raised in Victoria. She studied Psychology at the University of Victoria and moved to Vancouver. She first started as a Playroom Volunteer at Family Place in 2013.
Salena enjoys baking and cooking. For her nieces and nephews’ birthdays, she would make themed birthday cakes to celebrate with them.
Salena can usually be found in the office but will sometimes facilitate Indoor/Outdoor Play, Mama and Papa Goose, and Little Chefs at WSFP. You can watch Salena’s Art and Cooking Tutorials via our social media channels.
Tiffany Lee
Office Administrator
tiffany@westsidefamilyplace.com
Tiffany recently graduated from the University of British Columbia from the Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice Program.
She first started coming to WSFP as a caregiver caring for young children. She has over 5 years of childcare experience and has worked with a variety of families.
On the weekends, Tiffany can be found playing with her nephew and spending time with her family.