Board of Directors
The LifeRing Canada Board of Directors is made up of, in part, professionals in the field of Addictions and Mental Health; LifeRing Convenors and those with other professional designations.
John Beringer Banks – President, Board Chair is the husband of Margot and father to Annie. Originally from Ohio, in 1992 became a dual US/Canada citizen. John practiced law for 20 years in the areas of personal injury and municipal law in Ohio. John was Law Director for 8 villages and one township and has had deep involvement with Habitat for Humanity Victoria as a board member and volunteer - holding positions of building chair, fundraising chair, VP and President from 1999-2004. John started and managed the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Victoria and is a long-time member of Oak Bay and Victoria Harbourside Rotary clubs (1992-2004). John also volunteers at Our Place Society and is a volunteer facilitator for local LifeRing meetings. You can reach John at John (at) LifeRingCanada (dot) org
Audrey Deutschmann BA – Director, Secretary of the Board - An advocate for community inclusion and restorative justice, Audrey has years of experience volunteering and working in the non-profit sector in a variety of roles. She looks forward to using her administrative skills to help LifeRing keep a strong foundation while it grows.
Dave McConnell – DIrector, VP, Convenor Coordinator & Chair of Expansion Committee attended LifeRing meetings in Victoria for about 1.5 years before getting involved as a volunteer convening multiple meetings in addition to providing support for the Detox group. As Convenor Coordinator for LifeRing Canada, Dave is responsible for volunteer Convenor recruitment and retention; orientation and training; and gathering statistical information from all groups. In addition, Dave's new role as Chair of the LifeRing Canada Expansion Comittee will combine developing strategies for starting new groups in select areas and developing a framework with which to support new growth.
Dr. Bill Bullock – Director, is a Family Physician with a special interest in Addiction Medicine. He is a staff Physician at the Victoria Community Detox and a past member of the Community Advisory Board of the Hamilton Women's Detox. Over the past three years he has been an advocate and strong supporter of LifeRing in Victoria.
Michelle Bass M.S.W., PhD, R.S.W – Director; Research Chair teaches in the Community Mental Health and Addictions Programs at Camosun College where she is a faculty member. She also has a private part-time counseling practice with Origins Counseling. Michelle has worked for over ten years as a senior addictions counselor in a treatment facility in Victoria, BC. She is a strong advocate for community - based recovery programs. Michelle is currently working on LifeRing's Convenor Training Program in a collaboration with the UVIC Department of Psychology.
Erica Woodin PhD – Director is a member of the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria and is also affiliated with the Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC). Dr. Woodin’s research focuses on domestic violence and substance use, including the impact of these behaviors on individual and family functioning, as well as the effectiveness of prevention and treatment programs to reduce these harmful behaviours. Dr. Woodin is currently conducting a SSHRC-funded study of domestic violence and substance abuse during the transition to parenthood and is also collaborating on a research project to develop a convenor training program for LifeRing. Dr. Woodin is also a practicing clinical psychologist registered with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia. Dr. Woodin has been instrumental in overseeing the first study ever done on LifeRing participants anywhere in the world.
Kiran Bolaria, B.A., J.D. – Director originally from Saskatoon SK, Kiran practiced criminal defence law in Vancouver before settling in Victoria, BC. Her own battle with addiction ignited a passion for the field of recovery. She worked as an addictions outreach worker for the non-profit society, Umbrella, before moving on to her current career as a mental health clinician with the Vancouver Island Health Authority. She is a strong advocate for empowerment-based, self-guided programs, and truly believes in the joy and power of recovery.
Hendrika Vantriet - Director, Bio Coming Soon
Jonas Breuhan B.S.W - Director is a recent graduate of the University of Victoria’s School of Social Work, specialising in Addiction and Recovery, as well as Indigenist Research. Originally introduced to
LifeRing as a student in another practicum, Jonas fulfilled his senior year Social Work practicum with LifeRing Canada by researching and compiling The Early Recovery Handbook. In addition to Facilitation of the Cowichan Valley LifeRing Meeting, Jonas also provides ongoing research and future literature development, as well as an exploration of the Philosophy of Addictions and Recovery. In his upcoming studies, he hopes to explore the philosophic underpinnings of addiction, recovery, health and related social justice issues. Jonas is an emphatic supporter of empowering, anti-oppressive and collaborative theories and practices.
