The Vancouver Youth Team...

Christy Allan

Update:
Christy has moved! She's still working for TG Magazine, but she's now in Toronto.

EMail: Christy_Allan@scilink.org

Born in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, I moved to Vancouver when I was three years old and have lived there ever since.

In 1995, I graduated from the University of British Columbia in Sport & Leisure Management. Some people like to translate that into a Bachelor of GYM but it is really a combination of commerce and Human Kinetics courses!

I have worked with youth of all ages in many capacities including coaching, special events and in the classroom. After having just returned from travelling through the South Pacific, I wanted to somehow combine my experience in working with youth with my interest in the Asia-Pacific region. What better job than being a Youth Coordinator!

Sports of all sorts are my biggest interest. I love mountain biking, hiking and could not imagine a winter without skiing. When I'm not out interacting with nature, I can be found reading anything on any topic or going to the theatre (musical productions are my favourite).

I am the Vancouver connection as far as the Youth Coordinators go. Due to the size of our great country, communicating long-distance to the rest of the team of Youth Coordinators in Toronto and Ottawa will be my greatest challenge on the job. Thank goodness for e-mail and teleconferencing!

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Kristin Patten

Kristen from BC is another one of the interns we would like to introduce to you. Kristin is in her fourth year of University at Simon Fraser U. working on her major in political science.

From what I have heard she has quite the interest in the outdoors. With past employment in jobs such as a Mountain Bike Tour Guide across Whistler Mountain, a Children's Ski Instructor, and a summer Camp Counsellor it is pretty obvious that she enjoys being outside. Amongst many of her interests are mountain bike racing and touring, skiing, rock climbing, hiking, and camping. It seems to me that this woman has a lot of get up and go.

Aside from all of her outdoor activities, Kristin also has her grade eight in piano and enjoys reading.

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Lee Bensted

A native Vancouverite, Lee went to elementary and high school in North Vancouver and just completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies at Simon Fraser University. YEAH! She has studied in France, Chile and Cuba, speaks French and Spanish and has aquired quite a taste for red wine and latin music and dancing (fortunately she has yet become a Cuban cigar aficionado). She hopes to pursue a Masters Degree in Development Studies and looks forward to a career in International Development. As a UNICEF volunteer she helps to promote international education in British Columbia and also volunteers teaching ESL to refugee-claimants in the Vancouver area.

Lee has been fortunate to visit several of the APEC economies--Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Chile and the United States--however she admits to having a permanent travel bug and can't wait to re-visit old friends in these countries and travel to new parts of the globe. When she is in Vancouver she likes to explore British Columbia's spectacular mountains and coastline on foot, skis, bike, rollerblade, boat, car...and her all-time favorite ski buddies (not bunnies) are Christy Allan and Kristin Patten. When the weather isn't so great for outdoor activities then Lee likes to curl up with a good book or, even better, put on some Latin music and do a little salsa dancing-preferably not alone!

Lee is thrilled to be a part of the Asia Connects conference at Burnaby South Secondary and hopes this week will be a great experience for all participants and will offer positive insights about the future of Canadian youth in the Asia Pacific region.

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