About Us - Dawson Creek Literacy Society

The Lake View Learning Centre is operated by the Dawson Creek Literacy Society, a not-for-profit community organization. The Society was founded in 1991 and has been growing ever since. Our success is due to the active participation and dedication of our board, staff, volunteers, learners and community partners.

Our office can be found at 929 – 102 Avenue in downtown Dawson Creek, BC.

Jennifer Neis, Executive Director

Jennifer has been with the Literacy Society since 2000. She has several years’ experience in the human services field and thoroughly enjoys working with all of the Literacy Society’s learners. Jennifer has been instrumental in the development of the Society’s English as a Second Language programs as well as the Settlement Services. She continues to help build the Literacy and Settlement programs. Jennifer often tutors learners, assists newcomers with their settlement needs and meets with community partners.

Zi Qing Ma, Office Manager, Settlement Services Support

Zi Qing immigrated to Canada in 2007 from China. She has a background in accounting and bookkeeping. She was the treasurer for our Board of Directors for several years and joined the Literacy Society in 2017 after graduated from Northern Lights College. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, likes gardening, walking, biking, and exercising outside.

Michele Mobley, Literacy Outreach Coordinator for Literacy Now and Lead LINC Instructor

Michele has been working in partnership with the Literacy Society since 2010. She graduated with distinction from the University of Victoria in 2006 from the Faculty of Social Science (Anthropology). Before returning to university, Michele worked in broadcasting and communications for 10 years. She currently works as the Literacy Outreach Coordinator for Literacy Now and is our English Language Instructor.

Kezia Kroeker, Program Coordinator

Kezia joined the Dawson Creek Literacy Society team in early 2024. She graduated from the Kelowna College of Professional Counselling with honors in Applied Psychology and electives focused on multicultural competence. Kezia soon returned to KCPC to expand her education, becoming a two-time graduate in 2023. She enjoys spending her spare time out in the mountains and is excited to be working with us in the community.

Kokum, Theresa Gladue

Theresa is a beloved well-known Cree Elder, community leader, activist, storyteller, knowledge keeper, advocate, playwright and much more. She has worked closely with the Literacy Society for many years as the Indigenous Cultural Educator.

Board of Directors

Chairperson – Éva Zita Zahradnyik

Eva was born and raised in Hungary and worked as a RN at a NICU and was a member and Head Nurse of an Infant Transport Team. She moved to Canada in September 2007 as a live-in nanny. Since then she has had the opportunity to work in various positions. Eva is a substitute teacher with SD59 since November 2019. Through her participation in our language classes she has become an active volunteer. Dancing has always made her happy. She did Hungarian folk dances in Hungary and started to discover the Middle Eastern dances (aka belly dance) in Dawson Creek shortly after her arrival, and about a year ago began taking Zumba classes.

Vice Chair – Amna Khaliq

Amna Khaliq holds a doctorate in strategic leadership from the USA, an MBA in economic development, and an honours B.Comm degree from Canada. She works as a business faculty where her research focuses on economic growth, online education, and strategic leadership. She enjoys travelling, working out, and volunteering in her free time. Amna believes that communities are built through kindness, care, and dedication. She has served on the DCLS board of directors for over six years.

Secretary – Pat Wonnacott

Pat has lived in the Peace region since 1980, after living mostly in small communities on the BC coast. She has a BSN and a Masters Degree in Nursing. She retired from working as a Nurse Practitioner in 2016, but still works part-time as an RN university nursing instructor. Pat is passionate about life-long learning, loves quilting, genealogy, travel, walking, and especially doting on her 2 beautiful granddaughters

Treasurer – Masoumeh Abdollah Khani

Masoumeh moved to Canada from Iran in 2008. She became involved in our organization as an English language learner and volunteer when she and her family moved to Dawson Creek. Two growing boys keep her busy. Masoumeh loves to study and learn new things and is looking forward to serving on our board.