I’m truly honoured to be with you tonight, even if not in the same room. In a way, that distance actually reflects what VICCIR is all about: bringing people together across barriers, reaching those who might not be able to walk through our doors, and making care accessible where it’s needed most. This is who we are.
 

Stepping into the role of Executive Director is not just a title for me, it’s a responsibility. A responsibility to our clients, to each of you, and to the communities that trust us. It’s a privilege I hold with humility and gratitude.
 

When I think of why we do this work, people's faces come to mind:
A mother who, after years of silence, finally feels safe enough to share her story…
A teenager who dares to trust again, a survivor of torture who is finally recovering a sense of safety. A family that, while holding tightly to their culture, begins to discover a sense of belonging in a new country.
 

Thanks to our commitment to remote access, many of those faces are not physically sitting in our offices. They join us from across BC and sometimes beyond. And because of this, people who might otherwise never receive culturally responsive, trauma-informed care now have a chance to be heard and supported.
 

And let’s remember: these are not just “clients.” They are people, new Canadians, future Canadians, carrying enormous courage and resilience. When we support one person, we are impacting entire families, communities, and future generations. This is not only healing work. It’s transformational work.

I know the challenges in our world can feel overwhelming: wars, persecution, poverty, prejudice. And we ask ourselves, how can I possibly make a difference? The truth is, we can’t solve everything. But here at VICCIR, we are making a difference, one life at a time. And the ripples of that healing spread far and wide.

Our model, culturally responsive counselling, trauma-informed care, teams of interpreters and counsellors, social support, community grassroots volunteer programs, and remote access, high-value partnerships, is now inspiring conversations not only across Canada but around the world. Communities everywhere are asking: How do we do this well? How do we serve with dignity, compassion, and excellence?

But none of this happens without you, our counsellors, supervisors, interpreters, admin staff, volunteers, board members, founders and partners. You are the living heart of this organization. Your compassion creates safety. Your expertise shows a path forward. Your generosity reminds every client that they are not alone. I am so deeply grateful for each of you.

And tonight, I want to take a moment to honour someone very special, Adrienne Carter. Adrienne is not only our founder but, until recently, our Acting Executive Director. She has poured her life into this organization. Her vision and courage are why VICCIR exists. Adrienne, we honour you, we thank you, and we promise to carry forward the extraordinary legacy you’ve built.

As I step into this role, I want to share five commitments with you:
 

1. Excellence with humility. We will keep pursuing the highest standards of care while remaining teachable, always learning from our clients, colleagues, and partners.

2. Investing in people. VICCIR should be a place where clinicians thrive, supervisors feel supported, and every team member feels valued. When we thrive, so do the people we serve.

3. Deepening collaboration. We are part of a rich network of community partners, academics, and lived-experience leaders. Together, we can co-create, innovate, and expand our impact.

4. Focus on hope. Our work is not only about healing pain but also about building resilience and celebrating every step forward. Hope itself becomes a tool for healing...for individuals, communities, organizations

5. Listening. In the months ahead, I will meet with you and work alongside you, join your supervision spaces, and listen to clients and partners. Your insights will shape our future.

The challenges ahead are real. More immigrants and refugees will be arriving in search of safety and belonging. That calls us not just to respond, but to lead, to show that healing is possible, that displacement can give way to belonging, that uncertainty can give way to hope.

We may not change the whole world. But we can change the world for each person who walks through our doors, or who joins us from afar, sharing the sense that serving with dignity truly changes lives. And when we do that faithfully, with humility and courage, we leave behind a legacy of healing and hope that reaches far beyond Vancouver Island.

I promise to lead with openness, to honour the incredible work made possible through the support of many, some present here today, others not, and to ensure that VICCIR continues to be a place of dignity, growth, and transformation.”

Thank you for welcoming me, for trusting me, and for the tireless work you do every single day. Together, let’s write the future of VICCIR, the next chapter of VICCIR’s story, one of hope, courage, and belonging.

With deep gratitude and hope,
Ana Pavon