Board of Directors

Allan is a real estate project marketer and was a Vancouver Park Commissioner from 1993 – 2008.

During his Park Board tenure he was involved with the creation of the Italian Garden at Hastings Park, the refurbishment of Victory Square Park and Cenotaph and served the Board on many projects and committees, including Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Hastings Park Working Committee, and Capital Plan strategy to redevelop Sunset Community Centre and most recently, the renovation and revitalization of Nat Bailey Baseball Stadium.

He was recently reappointed to the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants’ Association and is a Director for the Vancouver Resource Society for People with Disabilities.

John spent his early working life as a stockbroker in Victoria and subsequently moved to Vancouver to become a consultant specializing in transportation issues.

Over the last seven years he has been the Chief Executive Officer of Automated Container Technologies Ltd., the developer of a high speed shipping container transfer system.

In addition to this, he and some associates have recently formed The Portside Group, a consulting and contract managerial company providing services to the transportation industry. He chairs the Advisory Board for the Centre of Excellence in Sustainability, Infrastructure and Transportation Economics at the School of Business of the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

In another dimension to his life, John spent over thirty years as an army reservist retiring in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Security Branch). He chairs the board of the Delta Chamber of Commerce and is the president of the Regimental Association of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. In addition he is active as a volunteer with the British Columbia Institute of Technology School of Business.

Michael Flanigan is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a degree in Urban Land Economics and Finance. For the past twenty years, he has specialized in real estate development in the Vancouver Lower Mainland and has been extensively involved in over three billion dollars of commercial and residential mixed-use projects in the Greater Vancouver marketplace.

In 2001, after five years as Director of Leasing and Vice President for Hong Kong based Henderson Development (Canada) Ltd., Michael joined the City of Vancouver as the Deputy Director of Real Estate Services.In 2006, Mr. Flanigan took over as Director of Real Estate Services and is responsible for the strategic planning and financial management of the City’s $3.2 billion Property Endowment Fund.

Additionally, he currently oversees a number of the City’s major real estate interests including the anchor block redevelopment of the Woodward’s Project in the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the East Fraser Lands project (a 116 acre new mixed use community consisting of over 5,000 new residential homes and a neighborhood shopping centre), the City’s new Federal Office complex downtown, and has worked closely with the SEFC Project Office on developing the Olympic Village in South East False Creek.

Michael is also extensively involved in Community Planning and Financing Vancouver’s growth. Working closely with Vancouver’s development community, he is committed to maximizing the delivery of community amenities, park space, public infrastructure, childcare service, and heritage building retention while commensurately facilitating economically successful real estate developments for the private sector. Michael is also proud to promote the City’s Green Capital agenda and is committed to the City’s goal of ending Vancouver street homelessness by 2015.

Larry Kerr had been a practicing architect for 15 years prior to joining a real estate development company as a Development Manager in 1996. He is currently employed with Wesgroup Properties.

During this period he has been involved in all aspects of residential housing, both market and non-market, from speculative developer multi-family, to very specific purpose built housing for special needs. This has included affordable family housing, community care facilities, facilities for crisis prevention and control, independent living, seniors housing and congregate care.

From 1993 to 2000, Larry sat as a Director on the Board of the Vancouver Resource Society (VRS) for People with Disabilities. The VRS is a non-profit society that offers housing and assistance with daily living for over 125 people with disabilities living in the community. To achieve their mission, VRS must acquire housing for their clients to live in and secure government contracts to provide for their daily care needs. Larry served as President during the last four years of his term on the Board.

In addition, he has served on the Architectural Institute’s Housing Committee, The United Way Building Committee, the Port Moody Mayor’s Planning Policy Advisory Committee, and municipal Design Panels.

As the parent of two sons, Larry has actively participated in coaching minor hockey and baseball.

Joel Camley is a lawyer with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP (Gowlings).

His practice is primarily focused on real estate development, corporate/commercial and commercial lending matters. Joel has previously acted as a director for the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre Society of British Columbia.

Gowlings is pleased to have a relationship with General (Ret’d) R.J. Hillier in his capacity of Strategic Advisor and to offer its support for Honour House by making its services and resources available to Honour House Society.

Fire Chief New Westminster Fire & Rescue Services

Chief Armstrong is a 30 year veteran of the fire service. He was over 28 years serving with Vancouver Fire & Rescue services when he left at the rank of Deputy Chief Special Operations to assume the role of Fire Chief with New Westminster Fire & Rescue.  Chief Armstrong has spent most of his career focused on training and advancing specialty skill sets within the fire service. He is currently the President and Chair of the Greater Vancouver Fire Chiefs Association.

He currently sits on a number of regional committees working to enhance public safety and interoperability within the region and across Canada.

Chief Armstrong has embraced Honour House and its concept of giving back to members of the military and first responders as well as their families in their time of need. He looks forward to working with the board and to educate and heighten awareness with his peers and the community to support this home and all it stands for.

Garth has been a BC Ambulance paramedic for the past 35 years. During this time he spent a number of years as a fee-for-service Coroner, RCMP Auxiliary member, and EMA Licensing Examiner.

Garth has been active in working towards better practices in health care. He has presented a paper to the Select Standing Committee on Health Care Reform on better practices and innovative “Service Models in Service Delivery,” participated in the Conversation of Health Care, and was a committee member tasked with developing Performance Indicators for Hospital Emergency Departments.

For the past 7 years Garth has been working in disability claims management, and representing workers in injury claims and appeals. Garth continues to work in areas of health care and public safety.

Howard Blank’s career in the Vancouver entertainment, media, gaming & film industry spans over 25 years.

Howard serves as Great Canadian gaming Corporation’s Vice President of Communications, Media, Entertainment and Responsible Gaming. Howard acts as an ambassador for the Company and for the Canadian Gaming industry as a whole.

Howard began his career in the media as a featured entertainment reporter for CKLG and 99.3 CFOX radio stations while also working on various film and television productions throughout Vancouver.

Howard volunteers his time as 1st Vice President of Variety, The Children’s Charity, and by MC’ing and acting as featured auctioneer at numerous charitable events throughout BC. Howard serves as ambassador for GO 2 Tourism, Board Member of Canadian Gaming Association, and Committee Member of MTR – Music Therapy Ride.

Howard is a recipient of many accolades including: Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellowship, Variety BC’s, Gold Heart Award, and Award of Excellence, Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Gaming Association.

Howard is honoured and proud to serve as a committee member for Grey Cup 2011.

Howard lives in Southlands with his wife Cassiana and their dog Chocó.

Melissa actively volunteers with several community groups and charitable organizations in Vancouver. Some of the many community initiatives and organizations she has been involved with include; working with the annual Gala and Fundraising committees for Odd Squad Productions and as the Chair and Event Manager for Honour House Society’s annual “Honour our Heroes” Fundraising Gala. Melissa is also a past director of the Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre.

Melissa has managed and worked on several political campaigns for federal, provincial and municipal levels of government. She currently works in real estate development, owns an event production company and is a graduate of Simon Fraser University, holding a degree in Political Science. As the wife of a Vancouver Police Officer and former Canadian Forces member, Melissa brings a fresh perspective to the Honour House Board. She lives in Vancouver with her husband Blair, and their dog.