Our Team

Our interdisciplinary team is made up of planning, evaluation, and public engagement specialists. Click on a team member to learn more about them and to get in touch, or email bchc@bchealthycommunities.ca and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Jodi Mucha

Jodi Mucha

Executive Director

Gurmeet Sall

Gurmeet Sall

People & Culture Specialist

Jodi Mucha

Jodi Mucha

Executive Director

jodi@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7796

Jodi has a Masters in Environment and Management, over 20 years of community development experience working both at the local and international level.  She also has a strong background in engagement and leadership, community change and practice-based research. She provides expertise in multi-sectoral collaboration and partnerships, systems thinking, the healthy communities approach and practical approaches to understanding the links between the determinants of health.

As a hobby, Jodi runs ultradistance trail races, facilitates leadership courses and maintains her organic garden.

Gurmeet Sall

Gurmeet Sall

People & Culture Specialist

gurmeet@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7773

As BCHC’s People and Culture Specialist, Gurmeet brings extensive knowledge and human resource experience from her 20 plus years of working in the provincial government. Her passion and expertise in human resources translates to a strengthened organizational culture and a supported group of staff members. Working with the Executive Director on HR and operational requirements for the organization, Gurmeet aligns the organization’s HR functions and strategies to support BCHC’s business priorities, and plans. She has a steadfast commitment to shaping a more engaged and unified organizational culture. In her spare time, Gurmeet enjoys walking and spending time with her family and friends.

Stephanie Neilson

Stephanie Neilson

Evaluation Lead

Alyssa Roehrich

Alyssa Roehrich

Age-Friendly Communities Program Lead

Stacy Chappel

Stacy Chappel

Grants & Engagement Coordinator

Stephanie Neilson

Stephanie Neilson

Evaluation Lead

stephanie@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.0941

Stephanie brings a passion for local knowledge, context and experience to her work in evaluation. She believes healthy communities begin with people’s relationship to their environment, and that intentional planning, design, strategies, monitoring and evaluation help foster the changes communities strive for.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development and a Masters in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph. Stephanie has worked in both Canada and overseas and her over 10 years of evaluation and research experience includes projects that examine how research influences policy, capacity building, gender, health, and environment and resource management.

Alyssa Roehrich

Alyssa Roehrich

Community Well-being & Age Friendly Specialist

alyssa@bchealthycommunities.ca

Alyssa holds a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Health Education from the University of Victoria. Her research area encompasses adolescent smartphone addiction and its impacts on well-being. Alyssa is passionate about supporting others to make healthy lifestyle choices and bettering the community through working with BCHC. When she is not in the office, you will find her participating in various outdoor activities and attending concerts by her favourite artists.
Stacy Chappel

Stacy Chappel

Grants & Engagement Coordinator

stacy@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.0510

Stacy is passionate about community-led initiatives to build justice and sustainable communities. She has 25 years’ experience working for community non-profits. She served as a grant adjudicator for BC’s Community Gaming Grants program and manager for the UVic Graduate Students’ Society and VIPIRG. She volunteers with Capital City Fencers’ Club and her local refugee sponsorship group.

Stacy holds a Masters in Community Development. Her research focused on co-operatives and she is committed to democratic and inclusive governance. Stacy owes a debt to friends and colleagues who guided her learning about social justice and community-based research. She credits her high school drama teacher for instilling her belief in the power of humour and a good yarn.

Stacy enjoys theatre, sewing, cycling and fencing.

Connie Allsopp

Connie Allsopp

PlanH Delivery Lead

Monica DeVidi

Monica DeVidi

Research and Planning Assistant

Patrick Dunne

Patrick Dunne

Communications Lead

Connie Allsopp

Connie Allsopp

Connie D. M. Allsopp, Ph.D., is our delivery lead for Plan H at BCHC. She also works as a strategic business/education consultant in private practice and was a former supervisor/ instructor at the University of Victoria, B.C. Canada. Dr. Allsopp holds a B. Ed. In Education, a M.Ed. in Administration with several Business courses, and a Ph.D. in Leadership with a cognate in Public Administration from the University of Manitoba. In 2012 she completed a Post Doctorate in Program Evaluation researching fear and anxiety for the BC Government and University of Victoria. She holds both certification and training as a BC teacher and ICA Facilitator.
Connie has over thirty years of practical experience in the field of teaching, consulting and school leadership while concurrently working as an entrepreneur in multiple businesses. More recently, she serves on the review boards of the Journal of School Leadership, and Journal of Case Research. She has authored/coauthored articles and business cases along with their respective instructor teaching manuals. In 2016, Connie gave talks in China on the STEM curriculum, in 2013 she helped construct a public school in Mexico, and in 2007 served on a medical team in Dominican Republic. Locally in B.C. she launched a not-for-profit dental clinic for children and youth then worked in a family style dental clinic serving families living in the margins. Her research focus has been on leadership, knowledge mobilization, entrepreneurship, strategic planning, project management, and program evaluation.  Contact her at connie@bchealthycommunities.ca.
Monica DeVidi

Monica DeVidi

Research and Planning Assistant

monica@bchealthycommunities.ca

Monica graduated from the Master of Planning program at Dalhousie University after finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies at Queen’s University. Now residing in Victoria, she is motivated to work towards equitable and sustainable communities as BCHC’s Research and Planning Assistant.

Her past research has focused on social and structural determinants of health, food sovereignty, healthy built environments, community-based engagement, as well as environmental justice, coastal climate adaptation, and marine spatial planning. Outside the office, Monica enjoys hiking, camping, and trying out new recipes.

Patrick Dunne

Patrick Dunne

Communications Lead

Patrick has over 20 years experience working in communications and media. Prior to joining BC Healthy Communities, Patrick was an editor at Postmedia Network where he edited and organized the production of national, international and business sections for the National Post, Ottawa Citizen and other leading daily newspapers across Canada. Before Postmedia, he was managing editor for Asia Times, a news and analysis website based in Bangkok.

Patrick has also worked as a marketing and communications advisor for the University of Calgary and spent six years producing annual reports and other marketing materials for Canadian and international companies in the mining and finance industries. Patrick started his career as a journalist and has worked for the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Standard, Vancouver Sun and a variety of trade and business publications.

Abigail Seewald

Abigail Seewald

Practicum Student

abigail@bchealthycommunities.ca

As a competitive figure skating coach for many years, Abigail has gained a passion for promoting activity for life and health equity. Additionally, she is involved in many community initiatives around health and social justice advocacy. Through these experiences, she chose to pursue a Masters of Public Health specializing in Global Health and is now finishing the degree with a practicum at BC Healthy Communities.

As BCHC’s practicum student, Abigail provides the PlanH and Active School Travel programs with research and evaluation support. In this role she uses her extensive health research and program development background as well as building invaluable practical experience in her development as a public health professional. In her free time, Abigail enjoys playing Ultimate, hiking, and swing dancing.

Melissa Johnston

Melissa Johnston

Practicum Student

melissa@bchealthycommunities.ca

Melissa is a Master of Community and Regional Planning student passionate towards creating healthy, equitable and sustainable communities. Her interests lie within fostering connections to promote resiliency through complete and compact communities that balance social, economic and environmental goals.

As a practicum student with BCHC, Melissa provides research and evaluation support to the PlanH program. In this role, Melissa is further developing skills as a planner through policy research and building partnerships with stakeholders through community engagement.

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys gardening, travelling, cooking and exploring the beautiful beaches and trails of B.C.

Amanda Dodaro

Amanda Dodaro

Practicum Student

amanda@bchealthycommunities.ca

Amanda was first introduced to the foundations of healthy equity during her undergraduate degree in health promotion. When combined with her strong passion for healthy environments, this led her to pursue a Master of Public Health at Lakehead University, specializing in socio-ecological systems, sustainability and health. As she wraps up her degree with a practicum at BCHC, Amanda is excited to be assisting with the research and development of the Age-Friendly Communities program.

When not at work, you can find Amanda on a deadlift platform, hiking trail or rock climbing wall.

About

Jodi Mucha

Jodi Mucha

Executive Director

jodi@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.7796

Jodi has a Masters in Environment and Management, over 20 years of community development experience working both at the local and international level.  She also has a strong background in engagement and leadership, community change and practice-based research. She provides expertise in multi-sectoral collaboration and partnerships, systems thinking, the healthy communities approach and practical approaches to understanding the links between the determinants of health. As a hobby, Jodi runs ultradistance trail races, facilitates leadership courses and maintains her organic garden.
Show more
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Gurmeet Sall

Gurmeet Sall

People & Culture Specialist

 
As BCHC’s People and Culture Specialist, Gurmeet brings extensive knowledge and human resource experience from her 20 plus years of working in the provincial government. Her passion and expertise in human resources translates to a strengthened organizational culture and a supported group of staff members. Working with the Executive Director on HR and operational requirements for the organization, Gurmeet aligns the organization’s HR functions and strategies to support BCHC’s business priorities, and plans. She has a steadfast commitment to shaping a more engaged and unified organizational culture. In her spare time, Gurmeet enjoys walking and spending time with her family and friends.
Show more
Show less
Stephanie Neilson

Stephanie Neilson

Program Evaluator

stephanie@bchealthycommunities.ca

Stephanie brings a passion for local knowledge, context and experience to her work in evaluation. She believes healthy communities begin with people’s relationship to their environment, and that intentional planning, design, strategies, monitoring and evaluation help foster the changes communities strive for.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development and a Masters in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph. Stephanie has worked in both Canada and overseas and her over 10 years of evaluation and research experience includes projects that examine how research influences policy, capacity building, gender, health, and environment and resource management.

Show more
Show less
Alyssa Roehrich

Alyssa Roehrich

Community Well-being & Age Friendly Specialist

alyssa@bchealthycommunities.ca

Alyssa holds a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Health Education from the University of Victoria. Her research area encompasses adolescent smartphone addiction and its impacts on well-being. Alyssa is passionate about supporting others to make healthy lifestyle choices and bettering the community through working with BCHC. When she is not in the office, you will find her participating in various outdoor activities and attending concerts by her favourite artists.
Show more
Show less
Stacy Chappel

Stacy Chappel

Grants & Engagement Coordinator

stacy@bchealthycommunities.ca
778.404.0510

Stacy is passionate about community-led initiatives to build justice and sustainable communities. She has 25 years’ experience working for community non-profits. She served as a grant adjudicator for BC’s Community Gaming Grants program and manager for the UVic Graduate Students’ Society and VIPIRG. She volunteers with Capital City Fencers’ Club and her local refugee sponsorship group.

Stacy holds a Masters in Community Development. Her research focused on co-operatives and she is committed to democratic and inclusive governance. Stacy owes a debt to friends and colleagues who guided her learning about social justice and community-based research. She credits her high school drama teacher for instilling her belief in the power of humour and a good yarn.

Stacy enjoys theatre, sewing, cycling and fencing.

Show more
Show less
Connie Allsopp

Connie Allsopp

PlanH Delivery Lead

Connie D. M. Allsopp, Ph.D., is our delivery lead for Plan H at BCHC. She also works as a strategic business/education consultant in private practice and was a former supervisor/ instructor at the University of Victoria, B.C. Canada. Dr. Allsopp holds a B. Ed. In Education, a M.Ed. in Administration with several Business courses, and a Ph.D. in Leadership with a cognate in Public Administration from the University of Manitoba. In 2012 she completed a Post Doctorate in Program Evaluation researching fear and anxiety for the BC Government and University of Victoria. She holds both certification and training as a BC teacher and ICA Facilitator. Connie has over 30 years of practical experience in the field of teaching, consulting and school leadership while concurrently working as an entrepreneur in multiple businesses. More recently, she serves on the review boards of the Journal of School Leadership, and Journal of Case Research. She has authored/coauthored articles and business cases along with their respective instructor teaching manuals. In 2016, Connie gave talks in China on the STEM curriculum, in 2013 she helped construct a public school in Mexico, and in 2007 served on a medical team in Dominican Republic. Locally in B.C. she launched a not-for-profit dental clinic for children and youth then worked in a family style dental clinic serving families living in the margins. Her research focus has been on leadership, knowledge mobilization, entrepreneurship, strategic planning, project management, and program evaluation.
Show more
Show less
Monica DeVidi

Monica DeVidi

Research and Planning Assistant

Monica graduated from the Master of Planning program at Dalhousie University after finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies at Queen’s University. Now residing in Victoria, she is motivated to work towards equitable and sustainable communities as BCHC’s Research and Planning Assistant. Her past research has focused on social and structural determinants of health, food sovereignty, healthy built environments, community-based engagement, as well as environmental justice, coastal climate adaptation, and marine spatial planning. Outside the office, Monica enjoys hiking, camping, and trying out new recipes.
Show more
Show less
Patrick Dunne

Patrick Dunne

Communications Lead

Patrick has over 20 years experience working in communications and media. Prior to joining BC Healthy Communities, Patrick was an editor at Postmedia Network where he edited and organized the production of national, international and business sections for the National Post, Ottawa Citizen and other leading daily newspapers across Canada. Before Postmedia, he was managing editor for Asia Times, a news and analysis website based in Bangkok. Patrick has also worked as a marketing and communications advisor for the University of Calgary and spent six years producing annual reports and other marketing materials for Canadian and international companies in the mining and finance industries. Patrick started his career as a journalist and has worked for the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Standard, Vancouver Sun and a variety of trade and business publications.
Show more
Show less