Lower Mainland, BC

Chapter Director – Jennifer Gamache

Jennifer began with Safe Families Lower Canada in July 2023, passionate about seeing vulnerable children safe and families together. Adopted as a baby and then experiencing a difficult childhood, Jennifer experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of a compassionate community that walked alongside her and her family in a time of crisis. It is through loving Christian people reaching out and providing support that her family found Jesus, and it was the beginning of a complete transformation in the lives of her family. Jennifer desires to see others’ lives changed through radically compassionate communities. God has placed a deep love and care for the vulnerable in Jennifer’s heart with a desire to advocate for families. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as the Lower Mainland Chapter Director and is excited to see all that God will do in the lives of families here in BC.

Jennifer graduated from Trinity Western University in Elementary Education and Psychology. She has worked with children for over 15 years in the classroom and church settings. Jennifer loves building one-on-one relationships and journeying life’s ups and downs with others. Jennifer has been happily married to her husband, Jeff, for 27 years, and they have three grown children. They live on a small Christmas tree farm in the Fraser Valley and enjoy adventuring outdoors together. Jennifer loves spending time with family, playing games and reading a good book with a warm cup of tea.

Family Coach Supervisor – Jessica Van Rees

Jess is thrilled to be a part of the Safe Families Canada team as the Family Coach Supervisor. Since her early 20s, Jess has felt a call to walk alongside struggling families with limited support systems in a practical way. This desire led her to complete a Bachelor’s degree in social work. After finishing her Bachelor’s degree, she worked in her local church with the high school ministry, which grew her love for intentional discipleship and helping people seek God in all moments of their day, big and small. Now, she is overjoyed to be in a position that emphasizes and prioritizes practical support, healthy relationships and intentional discipleship.

Jess lives with her husband, Adam, and loves serving in her local church, being active, drinking coffee, baking sourdough, and watching a good movie.

Family Placement Coordinator – Claire Maljaars

Claire is very passionate about working with the whole family unit. Before starting with Safe Families Canada, she worked as a child protection social worker for seven years. She has seen the world’s brokenness and God’s redemption as a social worker. She is so excited to be able to serve families in our community and hopefully lead them to God in their healing journey. Claire loves meeting new people and getting to know their stories.

Claire recently got married and moved from the city to a dairy farm. She has adapted well to this lifestyle and now has chickens and ducks. Her world revolves around God, her four-year-old son, her 11-year-old stepdaughter and her husband. She is eager to grow Safe Families Canada in Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

Administrative Assistant – Aly Sawatzky

Aly is a wife and mom/foster mom to 3 very active little boys. She and her husband, Aaron, foster through Vancouver Aboriginal Children and Families. She was introduced to Safe Families Lower Mainland (Winter 2023) and knew immediately that she wanted to be involved in some capacity. Aly was hired in August 2023 as our Community Engagement coordinator who works to build relationships with churches, hosts info nights and manages our social media accounts.

Aly’s unique skill set stems from education, training and lived experience. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. She has worked for 15+ years with children with special needs & trauma. She comes from a family of 8 kids with a blend of biological, adopted and foster siblings. Aly was fortunate to grow up in the Church and feels passionate about seeing churches surrounding families in crisis and being the hands and feet of Jesus. She is committed to playing her part in keeping families strong and keeping children safe and supported, wherever possible, and out of foster care.

Capri Alton - Family Placement Coordinator

Capri is grateful to be part of the Safe Families Canada team and feels a deep calling to enter into people’s crises with compassion and care. She is especially passionate about the way Safe Families offers practical and relational support to individuals and families, motivated by the love Christ first showed us.

Before working with SFC, Capri worked for five years on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction. Before that, she served in church ministry leading a youth group, and earlier spent time serving in refugee camps in the Middle East—experiences that sparked and shaped her desire to care for those who are often overlooked by society.

Capri is engaged to her fiancé, Tanner, and together they love hiking, camping, 4x4’ing, having people for dinner, and serving in their local church.

Milan Tam - Family Placement Coordinator

Milan is very excited to be working with Safe Families Canada|Lower Mainland and welcomes the opportunity to practically serve and support families. Milan earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Master’s in Clinical Social Work through Dordt University. During her Master of Clinical Social Work program, she interned for SFC, and her love for both the Lower Mainland Team and the families she served led her to return. Milan’s favourite quote says “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet” by Frederick Buechner; She is thankful to have found a position and environment that so clearly embodies her passion for showing practical love in meeting the community's deep hunger and need.

Outside of work, Milan enjoys spending time with her husband, Caleb, their kitten, Amarti and her friends and family. She loves to read, bake, swim, craft and paint and spend time outdoors.

Leadership Council Members
Jess Wildeboer - Chair
Jules Van Woerden - Treasurer
Danielle Kampen - Secretary
Tammy Brandsma
Russ Toet
Erin Alger
Steve VanDelf
Kathleen Snyder
Marcia Wildeboer
Sylvia Welfing