Executive Leaders
Jeffrey Baergen - Executive Director
Jeff wore a variety of managerial hats at the Big White Ski Resort from 1998-2007. This was followed by youth work at the Cyrus Center in Abbotsford for 4 years as well as his full time studies at Columbia College. Jeff moved on to Union Gospel Mission on the Downtown East Side (DTES) where, from 2010-2015, Internship led to Outreach led to Community Engagement positions, This resulted in work in streets, alleys and boardrooms in service to the disposed of Vancouver participating in advocacy opportunities, honing excellent leadership and management skills, and collaborative team player abilities, including the ability to energize self and others. During this time he has reached out to applicable business, government, non-profits and private citizens to develop relationships, opportunities and partnerships and stakeholders in a way which benefits DTES. He has exercised his judgement in facilitating budgets. Providing leadership in these cases he provided servant-leadership nourishing a truthful, forgiving, approachable, joyful, healthy environment and supervising outside consultants and vendors, researching and soliciting tenders as needed for various projects, evaluating existing contracts while researching new opportunities for more cost effective partnerships. He is social media savvy.
Jeff wore a variety of managerial hats at the Big White Ski Resort from 1998-2007. This was followed by youth work at the Cyrus Center in Abbotsford for 4 years as well as his full time studies at Columbia College. Jeff moved on to Union Gospel Mission on the Downtown East Side (DTES) where, from 2010-2015, Internship led to Outreach led to Community Engagement positions, This resulted in work in streets, alleys and boardrooms in service to the disposed of Vancouver participating in advocacy opportunities, honing excellent leadership and management skills, and collaborative team player abilities, including the ability to energize self and others. During this time he has reached out to applicable business, government, non-profits and private citizens to develop relationships, opportunities and partnerships and stakeholders in a way which benefits DTES. He has exercised his judgement in facilitating budgets. Providing leadership in these cases he provided servant-leadership nourishing a truthful, forgiving, approachable, joyful, healthy environment and supervising outside consultants and vendors, researching and soliciting tenders as needed for various projects, evaluating existing contracts while researching new opportunities for more cost effective partnerships. He is social media savvy.
Management Team
Karla Rudram- Spiritual Care Coordinator
Karla started her career as a missionary / ESL teacher overseas in Japan. When returning home, she continued her work in international education until starting work at the ARC. She has a bachelor's degree in behavioural science and religious studies and a post graduate certificate in Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care. She has been here at the Victoria ARC since November 2014, and she continues to find great fulfillment in seeking ways of connecting people with what can give them hope and strength in difficult times. Spirituality is all about connection; to oneself, to community, and to the divine. Karla also acts as volunteer coordinator here at the ARC, recruiting and supporting volunteers. Karla is also the Family Tracing representative for Vancouver Island, supporting people searching for lost family members.
Karla started her career as a missionary / ESL teacher overseas in Japan. When returning home, she continued her work in international education until starting work at the ARC. She has a bachelor's degree in behavioural science and religious studies and a post graduate certificate in Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care. She has been here at the Victoria ARC since November 2014, and she continues to find great fulfillment in seeking ways of connecting people with what can give them hope and strength in difficult times. Spirituality is all about connection; to oneself, to community, and to the divine. Karla also acts as volunteer coordinator here at the ARC, recruiting and supporting volunteers. Karla is also the Family Tracing representative for Vancouver Island, supporting people searching for lost family members.
Sean Rankin - Food Services Manager
Sean, born and raised in Victoria, started at fourteen as a restaurant dishwasher in a local Esquimalt Pub, later running its night shift while attending high school. He then enrolled in the Camosun College Cook Training program, arranging his own work term placement through a local hotel where he gained a job and apprenticeship. As part of a three year program followed by a full time job for the same company for eighteen years. He progressed through second cook, junior sous chef, executive sous chef and finally executive chef in the same fine dining Victoria Hotel. A chance to move within the company resulted in moving to the biggest hotel in Prince George with three restaurants in casual, fine dining and Japanese restaurant plus catering, where he worked as an executive chef job in in for six years. After this he started working in oil field camps in Fort McMurray, effectively a small city of 9000 workers with three camps, in charge of one camp providing 2400 meals twice a day for five years. He again made a change, when he saw and applied for a posting for Salvation Army Food Service Manager, bringing him to his new calling serving the homeless population here.
Sean, born and raised in Victoria, started at fourteen as a restaurant dishwasher in a local Esquimalt Pub, later running its night shift while attending high school. He then enrolled in the Camosun College Cook Training program, arranging his own work term placement through a local hotel where he gained a job and apprenticeship. As part of a three year program followed by a full time job for the same company for eighteen years. He progressed through second cook, junior sous chef, executive sous chef and finally executive chef in the same fine dining Victoria Hotel. A chance to move within the company resulted in moving to the biggest hotel in Prince George with three restaurants in casual, fine dining and Japanese restaurant plus catering, where he worked as an executive chef job in in for six years. After this he started working in oil field camps in Fort McMurray, effectively a small city of 9000 workers with three camps, in charge of one camp providing 2400 meals twice a day for five years. He again made a change, when he saw and applied for a posting for Salvation Army Food Service Manager, bringing him to his new calling serving the homeless population here.
Jonathon Hopkins - Community Residential Facility (CRF) Manager
Jon has a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Government from the University of Victoria (2008-2009) and a Master of Arts Degree in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia (2015-2017). He was a graduate Teaching assistant in the University of British Columbia and has served in a variety of duties at the ARC including CRF High Risk Counselor before assuming his current duties as Director of the Community Residential Facility(CRF) in 2018.
Jon has a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Government from the University of Victoria (2008-2009) and a Master of Arts Degree in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia (2015-2017). He was a graduate Teaching assistant in the University of British Columbia and has served in a variety of duties at the ARC including CRF High Risk Counselor before assuming his current duties as Director of the Community Residential Facility(CRF) in 2018.
Lauren Menzies - Program Department Manager
Lauren has a Bachelor of Arts Degree Major in Psychology from the University of British Columbia – Okanagan (2012-2017). In 2019 Lauren moved to Victoria and began her career in Social Services. She began at the ARC working as a support worker in our Emergency Weather Response Program. Through her time at the ARC Lauren has also worked as a Support Worker in our Transitional Housing and Shelter Program. In Dec 2020 Lauren became the first Program Facilitator for our Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program. Lauren has worn many hats here at the ARC and happy that in each role she gets to give compassion and support to the unhoused and underserved community of Victoria.
Lauren has a Bachelor of Arts Degree Major in Psychology from the University of British Columbia – Okanagan (2012-2017). In 2019 Lauren moved to Victoria and began her career in Social Services. She began at the ARC working as a support worker in our Emergency Weather Response Program. Through her time at the ARC Lauren has also worked as a Support Worker in our Transitional Housing and Shelter Program. In Dec 2020 Lauren became the first Program Facilitator for our Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program. Lauren has worn many hats here at the ARC and happy that in each role she gets to give compassion and support to the unhoused and underserved community of Victoria.
Catherine Reid - Program Department Assistant Manager
Cat (she/they) has a Bachelor of Health Sciences from McMaster University. When she moved to Victoria in 2021, she began working for the Salvation Army ARC as well as the Victoria CoolAid Society. Their previous experiences in social services were mainly with a sexual assault centre, as a crisis/support line worker. Since coming to the ARC, Cat has worked as a support worker in the Transitional Housing Program as well as the Emergency Weather Response Program. She is very grateful to be part of a team that does such awesome work.
Cat (she/they) has a Bachelor of Health Sciences from McMaster University. When she moved to Victoria in 2021, she began working for the Salvation Army ARC as well as the Victoria CoolAid Society. Their previous experiences in social services were mainly with a sexual assault centre, as a crisis/support line worker. Since coming to the ARC, Cat has worked as a support worker in the Transitional Housing Program as well as the Emergency Weather Response Program. She is very grateful to be part of a team that does such awesome work.
Community Advisory Council
The ARC is ably supported by a number of community volunteers who lend their expertise to assist the Executive Director in leading the organization. These volunteers assist especially in areas of strategic planning, financial & risk management, property management and community relations.
