Compassion
We believe in unconditional love and non-judgmental acceptance of all people. We provide encouragement, support and understanding. We are committed to helping people choose a life free of abuse and violence.
Safety
We believe everyone has a right to live in a safe environment. We continually strive to provide this for our clients, volunteers, and employees.
Understanding
We believe that knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse and violence enables people to respond with compassion and empathy. By promoting awareness and positive relationships we will help improve the lives of the people we serve.
Confidentiality
We hold each person’s story in trust and share only when appropriate and with permission as per federal and provincial laws (“PIPPA”). All information about our clients are held in the strictest confidence.
Hope
We believe that by providing our clients with a safe and supportive environment they will find hope and positive solutions to their situation.
Stewardship
We are prudent stewards of all the resources we receive.
Our Board of Directors
If you are interested in volunteering for our board of directors, please contact our Office Administrator for further details.
President
Treasurer 2012-2016; President 2023-present Angelina is well-versed with Domestic Abuse Services OLGCS operations. From 2012-2016, she served on the Board of Directors as Secretary and then Treasurer and also sat on the fundraising committee. Over the years, she’s participated in countless walkathon events, supported Society galas, assisted in cleaning and upgrade work at Eva’s House and volunteered at the Thrift Store. She is also a considerable financial supporter to the Society. She has over 35 years of experience in banking and is currently Senior Manager in Commercial Credit with RBC. Her work performance has earned her recognition as top performer, a strong leader and mentor, and she’s received top employee engagement scores from the teams she’s managed, consistently over the years. In 2010 she was selected as the Olympic Torch Bearer during the 2010 Olympics. Her volunteer experience repertoire is vast including, but not limited to, Truth & Reconciliation events, Ronald McDonald House, Back to School Back (program for Indigenous students), Resist Exploitation Embrace Dignity, Coats for Kids, and many more. She’s also a 2nd generation CWL members and has wonderful memories of helping her mother at church events as a child and teenager. She is currently a member of the St. Joseph’s CWL in Langley; served as secretary, legislation chair, communications chair, president elect, president and past-president as well as secretary on the Diocesan Convention planning committee. As a member of the ‘Buying Sex is Not a Sport’ multi-group committee, she campaigned for awareness around human trafficking leading up the 2010 Olympics and currently serves on the Vancouver Arch Diocesan Pastoral Council appointed by the Archbishop J Michael Miller. Angelina has extensive and diverse experience serving on the Vancouver Diocesan Council from 2011-2021 including multi-level League Resolution Planning committee and as Resolutions Chair, Community Life Chair, President Elect, President and Past President. Notably she served on the Anti-Human Trafficking Committee at its inception and made presentations in the Diocese during showing of the film Red Light, Green Light; helped set provincial policy during tenure as President; and served as part of the Provincial Executive. Angelina is also a wife and a mother to her two step-daughters and great-auntie to 24 nieces and nephews.
Treasurer
Coming soon...
Secretary
Angela Jindal is currently a full-time Operations and Logistics Manager for Octaform Systems Inc. As a proud single mother to three beautiful children, she too is familiar with the hardship and complexity of healing. A member of the Catholic Women’s League, she also works with the Community Outreach Ministry and teaches catechism to second graders at St. Matthew’s Parish in Surrey. With a long career in customer service, she has developed a full understanding that the best way to assist another person is to remain humble and available to them. She approaches every task with a service-oriented mindset, always asking “how can I help?” to ensure she can provide ways to support others and show a genuine concern for them. Angela greatly enjoys crocheting, reading, and meeting new people wherever she goes and she is looking forward to the next challenge while serving on the Board of Directors at Domestic Abuse Services.
Director: Thrift Store
Thrift Store Chairperson 2016-present Originally from Vancouver, Maureen lived and worked for 25 years in the US and England before retiring from Huntington Beach, California to North Vancouver in 2006. She and her husband have four children and five grandchildren. She has volunteered in many organizations over the years; working with children with disabilities, Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation, Covenant House, Ten Thousand Villages, CWL, Agape, and the DAS-OLGCS Helpline. Her work background in retail management, interior design, and fashion presentation has made for an easy transition as a volunteer at Thrifters’ Paradise. Maureen’s motto in life as always been “do as much good as you can for as long as you can”.
Director: Education & Help Line
President 2014-2017; Past President 2017-present; Education Chairperson 2017-present A member of DAS since the 1990s, Maureen has been an active member of the board since 2010 when she took the fundraising special events portfolio. She came to BC from Ontario in 1966 as a Frontier Lay Apostle with Bishop O’Grady and has a history of social responsibility and working to enrich the lives of others. Maureen’s background in education and educational administration has given her the skills to manage large projects and work with a variety of people. In her early years of teaching she worked with low income families and has a passion for helping children and families. With a Master’s Degree in Administration, Maureen is happy to share her skills, passion and experience with the DAS Board. Maureen is excited about taking the leadership role on the Board and working with such a dedicated and talented group of people. She is confident that together they will move the Society forward in the spirit of the many wonderful people who have served on the board over the last 20 years.
Director: Member At Large
Originally from the Island of Puerto Rico, USA in the Caribbean, and a Canadian Citizen since 2021 Angel Figueroa was recruited into the Knights of Columbus by his wife, Angelina Stiglich. Since then he has been Recorder, Grand Knight, District Deputy, and State Community Programs Director. His home council is 2552 at St. Joseph's in Langley BC. Angel has also been a member of Domestic Abuse Services for a number of years and served as volunteer maintaining Eva's House for a few outings and as cashier at the Thrift Store in Langley. He is a good member of the community in Surrey, BC and is also a 4th Degree Knight holding the position of Scribe. He will be a good addition to the DAS Board and help liaison with the Knights of Columbus. He is glad to offer his time and service to this organization.
Director: Eva's House
Jim retired as Vice President and Security Strategist with Coalfire Systems, Inc. Headquartered in Denver Colorado, Coalfire is a cybersecurity assessment firm that provides independent, tailored advice and services that span the cybersecurity lifecycle. Over the years, Jim worked with a wide variety of clients in technology, healthcare & life sciences, government, retail, hospitality, education and financial services as their cyber security and risk management programs evolve and mature. Before joining Coalfire, Jim was the EVP for Nupremis, Inc, a technology company based in Boulder CO. Prior to that he was CEO of The Electric Mail Company and COO of Axion Internet. His earlier technology experience, training and education came from his many years with IBM Canada.
Director: CWL Liaison
Maria Magnusson was born in Mexico and has been living in Canada since 2000. She has a Bachelor in Computer Science and a Masters in Business Administration. Maria has also a diploma in Holistic Nutrition and has her own Nutrition Consulting private practice. Maria was the president of the Catholic Women’s League in the St Clare of Assisi parish, from 2020 to 2023, and now she serves as the Past President of her council. She has coordinated fundraisers to raise money for charities in Canada and abroad, and has participated with her parish’s efforts to support her community in different capacities. During COVID, she coordinated volunteers to provide support to their senior parishioners, and created a group from St Clare who have been praying the Rosary together online every night until now. She has been part of the refugee family committee at St Clare, where she has supported the arrival of some refugee families to Canada, helping them find a place where to leave and getting their new homes fully furnished. Maria has brought speakers to her church and some schools to bring awareness on Human Trafficking and Sexual exploitation, and collected over 700 signatures for the Petition of the One Million anti-abortion project in 2019. Currently Maria works in Employment services, helping members of the community and newcomers find a job, and has provided guidance to some of our clients on their job search. Maria is part of the Education Committee, and has also been the liaison between DAS and the CWL for the past 2 years. She has volunteered in DAS events like the annual GALA, the walkathon and Oktoberfest, in many different capacities, and she continuously collects donations from her community to support our Thrifters’ Paradise store.
Director: Fundraising
Diane was born at Saint Mary's Hospital in downtown New Westminster and grew up in the lower mainland. She worked many years in the building supply industry, on sales, managing the family's retail stores and in the Building Supply Industry Association as the Membership Coordinator. She has one adult daughter and enjoys going on day adventures to long holidays as often as possible. She is retired from the business world and has taken on just a few volunteer positions. She is the DAS Chair of the fundraising committee with many exciting plans for the 2023-24 year. She is also on the Pastoral Council for St. Clare of Assisi and works with Talitha Koum Society. Fundraising has been her volunteer go-to all of her adult life, from running Easter chocolate sales, hot dog sales, chairing Treasure of Christmas galas to today heading the team that puts on the marvelous Mardi Gras Gala for our Domestic Abuse Services. We all have our talents and skills, some of us can build, some of us can write grant requests and some of us can throw a party. Diane believes that she falls into that third category. Fundraising is all about giving guests a really good time and they will generously give financially, as well as bringing awareness about the programs that we offer. And that is how we can all help Domestic Abuse Services provide services to those that desperately need it and work toward finding an end to domestic abuse!
Director: Eva's House & KofC Liaison
Ian has been a member of the Board of Directors of Domestic Abuse Society – OLGCS since 2014. During his time on the Board his primary focus has been on renovation and maintenance projects at our first Eva’s House and the new shelter acquired by the Society in 2022. Ian retired from a career spanning nearly 40 years in telecommunications and IT. He and his wife Roxanne have been married for 47 years and have two children. Both Ian and Roxanne have been actively involved in St. Clare of Assisi parish and the Archdiocese of Vancouver in Coquitlam assuming leadership roles in the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League of Canada. Ian’s involvement with DAS has given him the opportunity to interact directly with clients and their families. He finds it is heart warming and gratifying to see that the Board’s work and the contribution of Society members and benefactors can have such a positive and transformative role for victims of domestic violence.
Director: Volunteer Coordinator
Co-founder 1995; Member-at-Large 2010-2018; Volunteer Coordinator 2019-present With a Degree in Social Work from UBC followed by working with children and single mothers at Vancouver Children’s Aid Society, Elaine became a founding member of the RCAV Catholic Family Services. Her experience in family and marriage counseling and passion to help others lead Elaine to become a founding member of Domestic Abuse Services – Our Lady of Good Counsel Society in 1995. She is active in her parish liturgies and with the Catholic Women’s League, and has and has been a member of Providence Health Care Society since 2001 and is currently the Past Chair of that society’s Board of Directors.
Director: Communications
Being a volunteer board member for 25 years at a local, regional and international level, I started doing hands-on work as a volunteer at dinner meetings (setting up tables, handing out materials, etc) for a professional society, APICS, where I met many wonderful volunteers and members. Over the years, I have grown into a strategic role, developing my skills and talent in the areas of governance and oversight for nonprofit organizations. I keep returning because of the many different and wonderful people I have met and the achievements we have worked towards together. I look forward to learning more about Domestic Abuse Services and how I may help.
Director: Past President
Coming soon...
Spiritual Advisor
Coming soon...
Testimonials
Lives are impacted. Here is what people have said …
Our Programs
Helpline
Local 604.640.7549
Toll Free 1.888.833.7733
Open 10 am to 10 pm. Everyday.
Our Help Line operators will provide confidential emotional support, referrals to community resources and can assist with creating a safety plan. The Help Line is open to all victims of domestic abuse.
The Help Line team is made up of volunteers who have received comprehensive training to provide quality and confidential service.
If you are in immediate danger call 911.
Eva's House
Eva’s House is a confidentially located second-stage transition home which provides safe-haven to women and children and a caring environment where they can regain their self-esteem and rebuild their lives after fleeing domestic abuse.
Applications for Eva’s House are available to women in first-stage shelters when space is available. Please contact your shelter’s resource worker.
The Society offers a subsidy program to help make counselling/therapy more affordable to our clients. The Moving Forward program provides funding to ensure clients can benefit from professional support to aid their healing, build their confidence and sustain their journey in every way possible.
Thrifter's Paradise
Located at
20562 56th Avenue, Langley
Temporarily CLOSED.
Our store is currently closed for restoration. Please check back for new hours in 2025. Thank you for your patience.
Questions? Call us at 604.514.7001
A small store with a big HEART! Our thrift store is a bustling enterprise, packed with surprises and treasures at great bargain prices.
Visit our Facebook page and drop in today!