The Side By Side Children’s Village board and staff are a dedicated group of professionals and community members. Together, they bring diverse skills and experience to ensure children and youth grow up in safe, supportive families and communities.
Reinhart completed a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Philosophy at Trinity College, University of Toronto in 1973 and attended the University of Florence in Italy, before enrolling at Massey College in Toronto. There he completed a Masters degree in Literature in 1974. Reinhart continued his education, and completed his law degree at the University of McGill Law School. He was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1978. Reinhart has been practicing law ever since in Vancouver at Stewart, Aulinger & Company, of which he is the sole owner.
Reinhart has been involved with SideBySide Children’s Village since 2000, and he is the president of its board of directors.
John Kielski, BA, LLB, LL.M., is a dual-qualified lawyer and member of the Law Society of British Columbia and the Law Society of Scotland. After completing his law degree at the University of Edinburgh, he articled and subsequently practiced as a corporate and commercial solicitor at a national firm. Upon returning to Vancouver in 2019, John completed his Master of Laws at the University of British Columbia and has been practicing corporate, commercial, real estate, and estate planning at the firm of Stewart, Aulinger & Company.
John was appointed a director in 2022 and elected chairman in 2023. During his tenure John has been heavily involved in the Society at an operational level, including spearheading the transition from SOS Children’s Villages to SideBySide Children’s Village, overhauling branding/marketing, rebuilding social media presence, updating internal policies, overseeing technology upgrades, and engaging with government and key social services stakeholders. John’s interest in supporting children and youth facing hardships started in 2002 in High School where he volunteered with Kids Help Phone and collected the second largest donation in Canada.
Outside of professional work, John enjoys photography, piano, motorsports, skiing, and fiction books, among various other hobbies
Robert Matthews, CPA, is a graduate of the University of British Columbia.
After articling with two international accounting firms, he established his own accounting practice in Burnaby, where he advises business owners and individuals on a wide range
of business and income tax matters.
Prior to joining SidebySide Children’s Village, Robert served on the Boards of three non-profit societies, holding positions as both President and Treasurer.
Outside of his professional work, Robert has been deeply involved in his community:
coaching youth baseball, soccer, and basketball, and serving as President of a high
school parent graduation council.
He is dedicated to supporting children, particularly those facing hardship, and is
passionate about helping them realize their potential. Robert firmly believes that
breaking the cycle of disadvantage is essential to giving every child the opportunity to
thrive in today’s society.
Al Jina, BCom, LLB is a lawyer, health service executive, and President of Park Place Seniors Living (PPSL), a fully accredited organization which provides seniors care and
housing in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
Al currently serves on the Boards of the BC Care Providers Association, Jubilee Multi-
Generational Housing Society, and MCYH Multi-Generational Housing Society. He was
appointed in 2022 by the Government of Alberta to the committee reviewing the Alberta Continuing Care Act. In 2019, Al completed 5 years as Chair of SafeCare BC and in
2017, he was appointed by the University of British Columbia to the Advisory Committee
for its Master of Health Leadership and Policy program.
Al’s children have been SBS Ambassadors for over 12 years. He has seen many heartening changes at the Children’s Village and looks forward to supporting positive and meaningful life for the foster children in the village.
Rebecca has a Bachelor of Financial Administration as well as an MBA. Her business
background includes working as a Chartered Accountant in private practice before moving into more commercial roles within several large international mining companies as well as working as a Commercial Manager for one of Australia’s largest supermarket chains.
Rebecca has a strong volunteering background having volunteered for many years in various roles with the BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey League and as Treasurer for the Queen Elizabeth PAC.
Rebecca moved to Canada from Australia with her family in 2016 and has since become a Canadian citizen. Having two teenage boys, she is passionate about working with children, especially those in need, as well as giving back to the community.
Sahar brings over a decade of experience in finance, spanning both corporate and
nonprofit sectors. With a background in Chemical Engineering and post-graduate
studies in Accounting and Finance. She is proud to contribute her expertise to Side by
Side Children’s Village Society, helping strengthen the organization’s mission to support children and families in need.
As a mother of two, Sahar is passionate about creating safe and supportive spaces for
youth.
Outside of work, she enjoys baking, gardening, and traveling with her family.
Yasmin is deeply familiar with adaptation and new beginnings, having immigrated to Canada over twenty years ago. She holds credentials from BCIT in Business and Vancouver Community College in Fashion, reflecting her blend of enterprise and creative expression.
Her career journey has taken her from retail sales management at Mark’s and visual merchandising at Harry Rosen, to managing a second-hand store with SideBySide Children’s Village BC. Her commitment to environmental stewardship and supporting meaningful causes fuels her work, where she sees the impact extend far beyond the community.
She launched the “Houndstooth” boutique in 2023, creating a unique concept for visual display and transforming public perceptions of used goods. Yasmin is dedicated to mentoring youth and, through her involvement with the Venture for Canada Advisory Committee, advocates for stronger career opportunities for young people
Sheena Ram has been a dedicated member of the SideBySide Children’s Village
Society team for over a decade, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to her role as Village Director. A natural nurturer with a deep passion for helping others thrive, Sheena leads the agency’s Year Intensive Housing Program and oversees operations across the Village, including the five on-site homes.
With a leadership style rooted in empathy and care, Sheena is committed to creating safe, supportive environments where individuals can grow, heal, and succeed. She sees each person as capable of growth and transformation, especially when nurtured by
a strong and supportive community.
Outside of her professional role, Sheena finds inspiration in nature and embraces
learning through the world around her bringing that same spirit of curiosity and
connection into everything she does.
Reinhart completed a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Philosophy at Trinity College, University of Toronto in 1973 and attended the University of Florence in Italy, before enrolling at Massey College in Toronto. There he completed a Masters degree in Literature in 1974. Reinhart continued his education, and completed his law degree at the University of McGill Law School. He was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1978. Reinhart has been practicing law ever since in Vancouver at Stewart, Aulinger & Company, of which he is the sole owner.
Reinhart has been involved with SideBySide Children’s Village since 2000, and he is the president of its board of directors.
John Kielski, BA, LLB, LL.M., is a dual-qualified lawyer and member of the Law Society of British Columbia and the Law Society of Scotland. After completing his law degree at the University of Edinburgh, he articled and subsequently practiced as a corporate and commercial solicitor at a national firm. Upon returning to Vancouver in 2019, John completed his Master of Laws at the University of British Columbia and has been practicing corporate, commercial, real estate, and estate planning at the firm of Stewart, Aulinger & Company.
John was appointed a director in 2022 and elected chairman in 2023. During his tenure John has been heavily involved in the Society at an operational level, including spearheading the transition from SOS Children’s Villages to SideBySide Children’s Village, overhauling branding/marketing, rebuilding social media presence, updating internal policies, overseeing technology upgrades, and engaging with government and key social services stakeholders. John’s interest in supporting children and youth facing hardships started in 2002 in High School where he volunteered with Kids Help Phone and collected the second largest donation in Canada.
Outside of professional work, John enjoys photography, piano, motorsports, skiing, and fiction books, among various other hobbies
Robert Matthews, CPA, is a graduate of the University of British Columbia.
After articling with two international accounting firms, he established his own accounting practice in Burnaby, where he advises business owners and individuals on a wide range
of business and income tax matters.
Prior to joining SidebySide Children’s Village, Robert served on the Boards of three non-profit societies, holding positions as both President and Treasurer.
Outside of his professional work, Robert has been deeply involved in his community:
coaching youth baseball, soccer, and basketball, and serving as President of a high
school parent graduation council.
He is dedicated to supporting children, particularly those facing hardship, and is
passionate about helping them realize their potential. Robert firmly believes that
breaking the cycle of disadvantage is essential to giving every child the opportunity to
thrive in today’s society.
Al Jina, BCom, LLB is a lawyer, health service executive, and President of Park Place Seniors Living (PPSL), a fully accredited organization which provides seniors care and
housing in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
Al currently serves on the Boards of the BC Care Providers Association, Jubilee Multi-
Generational Housing Society, and MCYH Multi-Generational Housing Society. He was
appointed in 2022 by the Government of Alberta to the committee reviewing the Alberta Continuing Care Act. In 2019, Al completed 5 years as Chair of SafeCare BC and in
2017, he was appointed by the University of British Columbia to the Advisory Committee
for its Master of Health Leadership and Policy program.
Al’s children have been SBS Ambassadors for over 12 years. He has seen many heartening changes at the Children’s Village and looks forward to supporting positive and meaningful life for the foster children in the village.
Rebecca has a Bachelor of Financial Administration as well as an MBA. Her business
background includes working as a Chartered Accountant in private practice before moving into more commercial roles within several large international mining companies as well as working as a Commercial Manager for one of Australia’s largest supermarket chains.
Rebecca has a strong volunteering background having volunteered for many years in various roles with the BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey League and as Treasurer for the Queen Elizabeth PAC.
Rebecca moved to Canada from Australia with her family in 2016 and has since become a Canadian citizen. Having two teenage boys, she is passionate about working with children, especially those in need, as well as giving back to the community.
Sahar brings over a decade of experience in finance, spanning both corporate and
nonprofit sectors. With a background in Chemical Engineering and post-graduate
studies in Accounting and Finance. She is proud to contribute her expertise to Side by
Side Children’s Village Society, helping strengthen the organization’s mission to support children and families in need.
As a mother of two, Sahar is passionate about creating safe and supportive spaces for
youth.
Outside of work, she enjoys baking, gardening, and traveling with her family.
Sheena Ram has been a dedicated member of the SideBySide Children’s Village
Society team for over a decade, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to her role as Village Director. A natural nurturer with a deep passion for helping others thrive, Sheena leads the agency’s Year Intensive Housing Program and oversees operations across the Village, including the five on-site homes.
With a leadership style rooted in empathy and care, Sheena is committed to creating safe, supportive environments where individuals can grow, heal, and succeed. She sees each person as capable of growth and transformation, especially when nurtured by
a strong and supportive community.
Outside of her professional role, Sheena finds inspiration in nature and embraces
learning through the world around her bringing that same spirit of curiosity and
connection into everything she does.
Yasmin is deeply familiar with adaptation and new beginnings, having immigrated to Canada over twenty years ago. She holds credentials from BCIT in Business and Vancouver Community College in Fashion, reflecting her blend of enterprise and creative expression.
Her career journey has taken her from retail sales management at Mark’s and visual merchandising at Harry Rosen, to managing a second-hand store with SideBySide Children’s Village BC. Her commitment to environmental stewardship and supporting meaningful causes fuels her work, where she sees the impact extend far beyond the community.
She launched the “Houndstooth” boutique in 2023, creating a unique concept for visual display and transforming public perceptions of used goods. Yasmin is dedicated to mentoring youth and, through her involvement with the Venture for Canada Advisory Committee, advocates for stronger career opportunities for young people
Reinhart completed a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Philosophy at Trinity College, University of Toronto in 1973 and attended the University of Florence in Italy, before enrolling at Massey College in Toronto. There he completed a Masters degree in Literature in 1974. Reinhart continued his education, and completed his law degree at the University of McGill Law School. He was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1978. Reinhart has been practicing law ever since in Vancouver at Stewart, Aulinger & Company, of which he is the sole owner.
Reinhart has been involved with SideBySide Children’s Village since 2000, and he is the president of its board of directors.
John Kielski, BA, LLB, LL.M., is a dual-qualified lawyer and member of the Law Society of British Columbia and the Law Society of Scotland. After completing his law degree at the University of Edinburgh, he articled and subsequently practiced as a corporate and commercial solicitor at a national firm. Upon returning to Vancouver in 2019, John completed his Master of Laws at the University of British Columbia and has been practicing corporate, commercial, real estate, and estate planning at the firm of Stewart, Aulinger & Company.
John was appointed a director in 2022 and elected chairman in 2023. During his tenure John has been heavily involved in the Society at an operational level, including spearheading the transition from SOS Children’s Villages to SideBySide Children’s Village, overhauling branding/marketing, rebuilding social media presence, updating internal policies, overseeing technology upgrades, and engaging with government and key social services stakeholders. John’s interest in supporting children and youth facing hardships started in 2002 in High School where he volunteered with Kids Help Phone and collected the second largest donation in Canada.
Outside of professional work, John enjoys photography, piano, motorsports, skiing, and fiction books, among various other hobbies
Robert Matthews, CPA, is a graduate of the University of British Columbia.
After articling with two international accounting firms, he established his own accounting practice in Burnaby, where he advises business owners and individuals on a wide range
of business and income tax matters.
Prior to joining SidebySide Children’s Village, Robert served on the Boards of three non-profit societies, holding positions as both President and Treasurer.
Outside of his professional work, Robert has been deeply involved in his community:
coaching youth baseball, soccer, and basketball, and serving as President of a high
school parent graduation council.
He is dedicated to supporting children, particularly those facing hardship, and is
passionate about helping them realize their potential. Robert firmly believes that
breaking the cycle of disadvantage is essential to giving every child the opportunity to
thrive in today’s society.
Al Jina, BCom, LLB is a lawyer, health service executive, and President of Park Place Seniors Living (PPSL), a fully accredited organization which provides seniors care and
housing in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
Al currently serves on the Boards of the BC Care Providers Association, Jubilee Multi-
Generational Housing Society, and MCYH Multi-Generational Housing Society. He was
appointed in 2022 by the Government of Alberta to the committee reviewing the Alberta Continuing Care Act. In 2019, Al completed 5 years as Chair of SafeCare BC and in
2017, he was appointed by the University of British Columbia to the Advisory Committee
for its Master of Health Leadership and Policy program.
Al’s children have been SBS Ambassadors for over 12 years. He has seen many heartening changes at the Children’s Village and looks forward to supporting positive and meaningful life for the foster children in the village.
Rebecca has a Bachelor of Financial Administration as well as an MBA. Her business
background includes working as a Chartered Accountant in private practice before moving into more commercial roles within several large international mining companies as well as working as a Commercial Manager for one of Australia’s largest supermarket chains.
Rebecca has a strong volunteering background having volunteered for many years in various roles with the BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey League and as Treasurer for the Queen Elizabeth PAC.
Rebecca moved to Canada from Australia with her family in 2016 and has since become a Canadian citizen. Having two teenage boys, she is passionate about working with children, especially those in need, as well as giving back to the community.
Sahar brings over a decade of experience in finance, spanning both corporate and
nonprofit sectors. With a background in Chemical Engineering and post-graduate
studies in Accounting and Finance. She is proud to contribute her expertise to Side by
Side Children’s Village Society, helping strengthen the organization’s mission to support children and families in need.
As a mother of two, Sahar is passionate about creating safe and supportive spaces for
youth.
Outside of work, she enjoys baking, gardening, and traveling with her family.
Sheena Ram has been a dedicated member of the SideBySide Children’s Village
Society team for over a decade, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to her role as Village Director. A natural nurturer with a deep passion for helping others thrive, Sheena leads the agency’s Year Intensive Housing Program and oversees operations across the Village, including the five on-site homes.
With a leadership style rooted in empathy and care, Sheena is committed to creating safe, supportive environments where individuals can grow, heal, and succeed. She sees each person as capable of growth and transformation, especially when nurtured by
a strong and supportive community.
Outside of her professional role, Sheena finds inspiration in nature and embraces
learning through the world around her bringing that same spirit of curiosity and
connection into everything she does.
Yasmin is deeply familiar with adaptation and new beginnings, having immigrated to Canada over twenty years ago. She holds credentials from BCIT in Business and Vancouver Community College in Fashion, reflecting her blend of enterprise and creative expression.
Her career journey has taken her from retail sales management at Mark’s and visual merchandising at Harry Rosen, to managing a second-hand store with SideBySide Children’s Village BC. Her commitment to environmental stewardship and supporting meaningful causes fuels her work, where she sees the impact extend far beyond the community.
She launched the “Houndstooth” boutique in 2023, creating a unique concept for visual display and transforming public perceptions of used goods. Yasmin is dedicated to mentoring youth and, through her involvement with the Venture for Canada Advisory Committee, advocates for stronger career opportunities for young people
Located on the unceded traditional territories of the Salish Peoples, including the qicəy (Katzie), qʷɑ:nƛən (Kwantlen), and Semiahma (Semiahmoo) land-based nations.
Registered Canadian Charity #: 12993-5011 RR0001 | © 2025 SideBySide Children’s Village Society | Website by FirstPage Marketing
