Dr. Joe King

Chair
Raised by parents who were both educators. A graduate of UBC’s School of Medicine, Dr. King is a sub specialist eye surgeon and the Medical Director of Fraser Valley Cataract and Laser in Surrey. He and his wife Holly have 4 children, three of whom are at Star of the Sea Elementary School. Their oldest son is a student at St. John Paul II Academy as part of the legacy grade 8 class.
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Darren Watt

Vice Chair
Darren is Chief Legal Officer of RB Global (formerly known as Ritchie Bros) and is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia. Darren lives in South Surrey with his wife Samantha and five children, three of whom are current students at Saint John Paul II Academy. They are active parishioners at Good Shepherd Church.
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Theo Vanden Hoven

Treasurer
Theo is the Chief Financial Officer of CMP Group Ltd. and holds a CPA, CGA accreditation. CMP is a global marine manufacturer and distributor of pleasurecraft and dock products. As CFO, Theo is responsible for Finance, HR, IT and Customer Service. He is a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, the Vice President of Columbus Charities Association (CCA) dba Columbus Homes, a seniors housing society, and serves on a number of committees in leadership roles. Theo and his wife Linda reside in New Westminster and are parishioners of Holy Spirit Parish.
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Jose Vargas

Secretary
Jose is a Director at OSI Maritime Systems in Burnaby, BC. He has held a variety of technical, management, and executive roles during his 30+ year career in academia, government and the defense industry. Jose lives in Ladner with his wife and two children. His daughter graduated from SJP2 in June, 2024. He and his family are members of Sacred Heart Parish in Ladner. In addition to his board responsibilities he also acts as a brand ambassador for the school at Sacred Heart Parish.
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Dr David Wilkie

Board Member
Dr David Wilkie has been in dental practice since relocating from Manitoba to South Surrey in 1992. He is committed to the value of Catholic education. His children attended Star of the Sea elementary school followed by high school in Little Flower Academy and Vancouver College, and currently all six of his 8 grandchildren of age attend SOS school. Dr Wilkie and his wife Elizabeth are regular attendees at Good Shepherd Church in which they have assumed various ministerial positions. Through the years, he volunteered in a variety of leadership roles, primarily in support of his children’s youth clubs and activities. He and his wife have served as presenters for Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends since 2005, including representing the BC/Alberta district for WWME. Since 2022, they also currently serve on the Archdiocese of Vancouver Permanent Deaconate Committee.
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Bill Regan

Board Member
Bill Regan is a Star of the Sea parishioner, having attended Star of the Sea School himself, along with his two brothers. He is active within the parish alongside his wife, Anna, and their 2 daughters, one of which is currently enrolled in the school, with the second soon to follow. Bill holds multiple Red Seal certifications in HVAC and as a Class A gas fitter, having enjoyed a successful career in the field as well as on the business side. For the last 5 year Bill has been working as an educator, instructing at a college providing Red Seal apprenticeship training in the Mechanical Trades. Bill’s vested interest in the school, insight into the building trades, as well as interaction with college students provide a unique perspective and input.
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Troy Van Vliet

Board Member
Troy Van Vliet has played a pivotal role in the establishment of Saint John Paul II Academy. Alongside his lifelong partner, Lisa Van Vliet, Troy takes great pride in being the parent of two wonderful daughters, Tayla and Annika, both of whom are enrolled at the academy.

Both Troy and Lisa are deeply involved in various aspects of the school. While Lisa usually prefers to work behind the scenes, she has been actively engaged as the Vice President of the parent association for many years. Her dedication and talent have been instrumental in organizing successful events.

As the founder of Saint John Paul II Academy, Troy Van Vliet brings his entrepreneurial spirit and expertise as the Principal of Tavan Group of Companies. His vision and leadership have been the driving force behind the academy’s success. Troy’s business acumen and ability to bring people together have been instrumental in establishing a boutique private school in White Rock and the ongoing development of a new campus in South Surrey.

In addition to his role as Chairman of the Foundation Board, Troy also serves as one of the Directors on the Society board. He spearheads the Building Committee and works closely with project managers and general contractors to ensure the smooth progress of the new campus construction.

Troy Van Vliet’s unwavering commitment and multifaceted involvement have been invaluable to the growth and development of Saint John Paul II Academy.
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Fr. Lawrence Donnelly

Board Member
Fr. Donnelly is pastor of Sts. Joachim and Ann parish in Aldergrove. He served with distinction as the Archbishop’s Representative on the Academy’s education committee (the precursor to the Society Board) and currently is on the board of Catholic independent School of Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA). Fr. Donnelly is a graduate in music from UBC, classics from the University of Ottawa, and theology at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome.
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Thorsten Gutsche

Board Member
Thorsten is the VP of IT Technical Operations at First West Credit Union and responsible for the operation for all enterprise application and technical infrastructure. He is a solution driven senior executive with a progressive 20+ year career worked in national and international IT Organizations. Instrumental in developing and then implementing the operational efficiencies. He developed and implemented multi-year strategic plans to build future-proof digital solutions for services, processes, customers experience and budgeting.
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Mark Watson

Board Member
Mark Watson brings over 24 years of experience in education and leadership to his role on the board. With a Master’s degree in leadership, he has served as a teacher, Vice-Principal, Principal, coach and consultant.
Mark is committed to delivering quality education for all students, focusing on innovative curricula, high-performing teams, and values-driven practices. His passion for servant leadership and values based education supports his ongoing efforts to enhance the school’s mission and impact.

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Julia Dee

Board Member
Mother of ten children. Parishioners
of Good Shepherd. The oldest daughter is a SJP2 graduate, Class of 2024. Presently, Julia & Steve have three high school students and two future SJP2 students.
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Leslie Roque

Board Member
Leslie Roque is an Inspector with the Federal Labour Program, dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of both workers and employers. She and her husband, Nathaniel, have two children, a 2024 Vancouver College graduate and one currently attending St. Thomas More Collegiate.

Leslie is deeply engaged in her children’s schools and the Catholic education community. She served as PEC Chair at St. Andrew’s School and Vice-President of the Vancouver College Parents Association. She is a Director on the Board of the Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver (CISVA), the Vancouver Diocese representative for the Catholic Independent Schools Committee of British Columbia (CISCBC), and a former Director of the Canadian Catholic School Trustees Association (CCSTA).

With a passion for her family and community, Leslie is dedicated to fostering positive change and making a lasting impact through her active involvement in education and community service.

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Stuart Donald

Board Member
Stuart Donald is a semi-retired Business Analytics Consultant with extensive experience in both academia and industry. He previously served as the Managing and Industry Director at the Centre for Operations Excellence at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia (UBC), and has contributed as a sessional lecturer at the Robert H. Lee Graduate School, also at UBC.

Stuart began his career in the forest industry, where he gained valuable experience in the supervision and management of woodlands, lumber, and plywood operations. His professional journey has equipped him with a strong foundation in operational excellence and business analytics.

Raised in South Surrey, Stuart has spent most of his life in the community and is a dedicated member of Star of the Sea Parish. He has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus since 2017, serving as Past Grand Knight of Council 7015.

In addition to his professional and community involvement, Stuart is currently on the Board of Directors for the South Surrey/White Rock Conservative Party of Canada Electoral District Association. His commitment to service and leadership makes him a valuable asset to the Saint John Paul II Academy Society Board.
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