Our mission is to support youth and families in British Columbia to find freedom from problematic substance use.
Peak House is a voluntary, ten-week, live-in, treatment program for youth experiencing problems with drugs, including alcohol. We operate within the harm reduction spectrum with a trauma informed, client centred, and social justice framework.
Established in 1988 by Pacific Youth and Family Services Society, the program serves youth from across British Columbia who, due to the serious nature of their substance misuse, require a more intensive level of service than can be provided in their home community.
Peak House has been internationally recognized for utilizing a unique, collaborative, youth-driven, community-based model of care. The roots of this approach are grounded in promoting change that lasts over time and social justice-informed approaches to therapy and counselling. The community at Peak House honours the wisdom and expertise that young persons and families possess and through this wisdom, the Peak House program has continued to grow and evolve.
Peak House is a Licensed Program.
We are proud member of The Federation of Community Social Services of BC.
Peak House was also the recipient of the Addiction Specialists & Allied Professionals of British Columbia (ASAP) Award of Excellence and the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors Professional Care Award for exhibiting special creativity in providing counseling and mental health care.
Collaboration & Community
We are committed to continuing our learning together, taking time to reflect on and acknowledge successes, as well as individually and collectively questioning our practices to address struggles.
Centring Youth Success
We maintain the success of all young people in our program by keeping their success at the centre of our planning and work, and ensuring that youth are uniquely supported in their individual therapeutic work.
Inclusion & Diversity
We welcome clients from all walks of life, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders and gender expressions. We are accountable toward clients and one another in regards to practices regarding gender, race, age, sexuality, social class, and disabilities. Read more…
Peak House Location
Peak House is located in a residential neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia. We have 7 bedrooms and 8 beds, a full kitchen, livingroom, two group rooms, and a beautiful backyard. Youth have told us that the house feels comfortable, warm, safe and welcoming.
Watch this video for a virtual tour of Peak House
Peak House Staff
Peak House staff support clients throughout their stay and help them to reach their goals. We are committed to providing a safe, friendly, caring, non-judgmental and supportive environment.
Our staff team includes Mental Health & Substance Use Support Workers, awake Overnight Staff, weekly on site Nurse Practitioner, Intake Coordinator, Mental Health and Substance Use Counsellors, Administrative Assistant, Kitchen Coordinator/Cook, weekly Acupuncturist & Yoga Instructor, On call Cultural Elder(s), and Summer Life-skills Programmer alongside our Management Team.
James Kelly
Executive Director
James has been working in youth and family services in Vancouver for over 25 years — both in a front-line and management capacity. James began his role as Executive Director at Peak House in 2009. James identifies as trans, is passionate about social justice, and committed to providing anti-oppressive and inclusive services in his community. In addition to his work at Peak House, James has served on numerous community board of directors, and works alongside organizations and individuals providing consultation, workshops, mentorship and leadership training.
Taryn Grant
Program Manager
Taryn holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and brings over 25 years of experience in social services. She has worked across Canada, including in Iqaluit, NU, developing a strong understanding of diverse communities. Her expertise includes supporting youth in the concurrent disorders sector, youth corrections, and addressing anti-human trafficking and violence against Indigenous Peoples.
Taryn is also an active member of the recovery community.
Lilian Garcia
Administration
Lilian is an administrative professional with over 10 years of experience. Her motivation stems from supporting her team members and ensuring businesses run smoothly and effectively. Additionally, Lilian holds a degree in Communication from Douglas College.
In her free time, she enjoys engaging in outdoor activities with her husband and their sweet young daughter.
Stephanie Vranesich
Intake Coordinator
Stephanie is a dedicated Child and Youth Care Worker with ten years of experience in providing support and advocacy to youth and families. Now serving as Intake Coordinator, Stephanie ensures that every client receives a compassionate and thorough introduction to services, helping them navigate the resources they need to thrive. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work, Stephanie is committed to deepening her expertise and enhancing her impact within the field of social services.
Kelsey Beliveau-Wanek
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker Coordinator
Kelsey is a dedicated professional serving as the program supervisor at Peak House. With a bachelor’s degree from SFU in Psychology, and a minor in Criminology, she combines her academic knowledge with a profound passion for mental health and addictions work. Kelsey’s commitment to making a difference extends beyond her workplace; she actively contributes to the community as a member on the advisory committee for the Youth Future’s Education Fund. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in empowering former youth in care by helping them access financial assistance for their post secondary education. Kelsey’s drive and empathy shine through in her work, embodying the spirit of compassion and support that is integral to the field of mental health and addictions.
Murphy Ryan
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker (On Call)
Murphy first learned about Peak House when he was a teenager himself, in the late 1990s, through participation in activism alongside Vikki Reynolds, who served as the program’s Clinical Supervisor for many years.
After completing his undergraduate degree in Linguistics and Gender Studies at SFU, Murphy joined the Peak House team as a Youth Counsellor in 2006. He left Peak House to prioritize parenting in 2010, and went on to earn a Master’s degree from the Society, Culture & Politics in Education program at UBC.
Heba Khalid
Mental Health & Substance Use Counsellor
Heba (she/her) has been with Peak House since 2019. With years of experience working with children and youth, Heba has worked in inner city schools, treatment facilities, day treatment program, and for the new immigrant and refugee society. Heba has a background in visual arts and dance/movement, she took this creative work and combined it with her interest in working with folks to process trauma and cultivate connection.
Heba has her RTC and completed certification in Expressive Arts Therapy and is a member of the ‘Healing in Colour’ team of BiPOC therapists. Heba is a certified Yoga Instructor with a special focus in trauma informed yoga which she has been able to offer to marginalized communities in Canada and the US. She is a new mama so she is spending most of her time enjoying her expressive little one and learning the world of parenting.
Jessamine Liu
Mental Health & Substance Use Counsellor
Jessa (she/her) is a cis-queer, Filipino-Taiwanese immigrant and settler on stolen Coast Salish lands. As a counsellor, she aims to co-create spaces to explore, wander, and dream alongside one another, collaborate together, and foster space for QTBIPoC magic, ancestral wisdom, and learning from non-human kin. She works with grief, navigating diasporic and multi-layered identities, identity exploration, and dreaming alternative ways of being. Jessa holds a Master of Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and a BA in Psychology from UBC.
Outside of counselling, she finds joy in anime and manga, music, video games and board games, collaborative and parallel art-making, and community and community organizing work.
Joel Jasper
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker (On Call)
Joel started working at Peak House in 2020 as a Youth Counsellor. He has a bachelors in Sociology from UBC and a background in teaching youth both English and Music. He has gained experience working with trauma and crisis intervention from a weekly volunteer responder role at the Vancouver Crisis Line.
Outside of work Joel pursues music production, graphic design and event planning for local charities. At Peak House Joel strives to help build an environment of inclusivity, supporting personal growth and connection. A committed member of the Peak team, bringing insights and experience from a varied background to those in the program.
Open Position
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker: Full Time
Cameron Macfarlane
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker (On Call)
With a focus on creating a positive impact in people’s lives. Cameron is a focused and passionate individual with a background in youth mentorship. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work, Cameron aims to specialize in working with youth to aide in their development towards a brighter future. With experience in athletics and community volunteering, Cameron puts emphasis on persevering through goals and being a team player to support and serve others in the community.
Megan Macfarlane
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker (On Call)
Megan (she/her) is an honoured member of the Peak House staff and an enthusiastic undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Interpersonal Development at the University of British Columbia. With three years of extensive research experience in clinical psychology research labs, Megan has concentrated on the unique challenges minorities encounter in clinical settings, particularly in the context of substance abuse. Her research interests include intergenerational trauma, depression, anxiety, and child development. She has notably highlighted the significant gap in research concerning the heightened rates of psychopathology among minorities far exceeds studies that explore how specific stressors and traumas among these groups distinctively influence the development of mental disorders. Motivated by this gap, she aspires to become a clinical psychologist specializing in treating psychopathology in marginalized youth. Drawing from her own experiences, Megan advocates that healing begins with connection rather than diagnosis. Her empathetic and compassionate approach at Peak House aims to empower youth to envision and pursue a future filled with hope and healing.
John Duong
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker (On Call)
Mia Prokopetz: On Leave
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Megan Ireland
VCH Nurse Practitioner
Laila Biergans
Overnight Staff
Laila has been employed by Peak House since 1989 as youth councillor and night attendant. Holding a bachelors in political science from McMaster University. Post grad studied criminology and philosophy.
Laila is a book addict, cat lover and drawing portraits.
Ernest Dushime
Overnight Staff
Grew up in Calgary and moved to BC in 2020. Ernest likes watching movies and hanging out with people he cares about. He is a family-oriented person. He likes comic books, specifically DC comics and Superman being his favourite superhero.
Jean Leonardo
Kitchen Coordinator/Cook
Alyssa Mckeown
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Allyssa is a passionate support worker with lived experience in recovery and a strong foundation in trauma-informed care. She brings a calm, grounded presence to her work, supporting youth with empathy, accountability, and non-judgment. Her background includes front-line roles in recovery housing, where she built a reputation for being consistent, compassionate, and deeply connected to the communities she serves. Allyssa is committed to harm reduction, youth empowerment, and creating safe spaces for healing and growth.
Fiona Namara
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker with a Master’s degree and a growing background in Business Analysis, passionate about supporting individuals and strengthening communities through compassion, advocacy, and meaningful connection. At Peak House, I hope to contribute to a safe and empowering environment that reflects my values of empathy, growth, resilience, and community impact.
Frankie Martinez
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Frankie is a caring and empathetic person who’s passionate about supporting youth in a genuine and non judgmental way. Frankie values connection, harm reduction, and creating spaces where people feel safe, comfortable, and understood. Frankie enjoys being part of supportive environments, building meaningful connections, and continuing to learn and grow both personally and professionally.
Gio Gatchalian
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Gio is a social worker graduate from Langara College. His dream career has always been to work with youth and enjoy being active in his spare time.
Greta Ndjoma
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Gretta is an easygoing and outgoing person who genuinely enjoys connecting with others. As a proud mother of two beautiful daughters, they keep her active and grounded every day.
Gretta has spent many years working in social services, where she have developed a strong passion for supporting young people in reaching their full potential and achieving their personal goals.
Hannah Young
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Hannah (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and aims to start a Master’s in Clinical Counselling in the fall. Her work is grounded in a passion for youth empowerment, mental health advocacy, and supporting individuals navigating substance use and recovery. With experience working alongside high-risk youth in both community and residential settings, Hannah brings a trauma-informed, client-centred approach that emphasizes safety, compassion, and connection. Hannah strongly believes in meeting people where they are at, creating space for growth, healing, and meaningful change. Outside of work, Hannah recharges by exercising, being by the ocean, and hiking through nature — her favourite place to reset and reflect.
James Braun
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
”Jamie” (he/him) is honoured to be a part of the Peak House staff. Jamie has been an active member of the sober community since 2021, and sincerely believes in the power of sobriety to make dreams come true. Jamie completed a Bachelor of Arts from UBC in Cognitive Systems in 2021. He is currently pursuing a Master of Counselling from City University to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor by 2025. Rain or shine, you may find Jamie strolling through Vancouver’s beautiful West End enjoying the view.
Jaqueline Krestinski
Mental Health & Substance Use Counsellor
Jaqueline has been on staff at Peak House as a support/relief counsellor since completing her practicum from VCC in 2010. When not at the house she works as an Event Manager in the hospitality industry.
Jaqueline is a mental health advocate, loves travel, cats and reality television.
Kelly Izere
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Kelly is a young Burundian woman, and moved to Canada at a young age. Growing up in Canada she grew up having an interest in Youth work. That made her want to pursue her career in youth justice, and has successfully completed her diploma at Douglas College. The practicums experiences that she gained throughout her two years at Douglas College has helped her gain more knowledge and interest about youth work. Kelly has learned that there is always so much to learn and is always looks forward to learning more.
Kristie Higgins
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Kristie began at Peak House as a practicum student, and has since transitioned into a support worker role (relief). She is currently pursuing a BA in Child and Youth Care with the goal of becoming a counsellor. In addition to Peak house, for the past three years, Kristie has been volunteering as a youth mentor, building supportive one-to-one relationships with youth through connection, consistency and shared experiences. Kristie’s approach is youth-centred, relational, and trauma-informed. She is passionate about supporting youth by meeting their individualized needs, on their own terms. She values collaboration between youth, families, communities, and care teams, and celebrates the diversity of identity and lived experiences.
Outside of her work, Kristie enjoys spending time in nature with her chihuahua, Moth, playing video games, crafting, and connecting with loved ones.
Mia Prokopetz
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Mia recently graduated with an honours psychology degree from Capilano University, where she completed an undergraduate thesis exploring the impacts of natural spaces on well-being. Her academic focus on mental health and her passion for yoga and mindfulness reflects a deep commitment to understanding the diverse factors that contribute to psychological wellness. Mia also has experience volunteering at the Crisis Centre, where she provided support to individuals in crisis by answering the suicidal and mental health hotline.
Mia is excited to bring this experience and dedication to their work at Peakhouse, helping youth navigate their mental health journeys in a compassionate and supportive environment.
Mo Karimirad
Youth Counsellor
Mo is a youth counsellor with a passion for connecting with young people and helping them navigate life’s ups and downs. He previously worked at Peak House, where he honed his skills in creating safe, supportive, and non-judgmental spaces. Currently pursuing his Master’s in Counselling, Mo is always learning new ways to support growth, resilience, and self-discovery. A former college basketball player, he brings the same energy, teamwork, and dedication from the court into his counselling practice—always keeping it real, building trust, and making sure youth feel seen and heard.
Sakshi Das
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Sakshi recently graduated from UBC with a degree in Psychology and is passionate about mental health, youth support, and creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and respected. Having worked in low-barrier environments, she values meeting people where they’re at and brings empathy and a strong harm reduction lens to everything she does. She hopes to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology in the future.
In her free time, she loves spending time by the beach, discovering new music, and going to live concerts.
Todd Simmons
Mental Health & Substance Use Support Worker
Todd (he/him) is a neurodivergent antidisciplinary artist, educator, and parent of Black West Indian and ADOS heritage. His work with underserved youth at the Sarah McLachlan School of Music first introduced him to Peak House, where he now brings a background in harm reduction, crisis intervention, and collaborative care informed by both professional and lived experience. Todd’s practice is rooted in compassion, dignity, and self-determination, drawing heavily on spiritual grounding and a commitment to creating safe, welcoming spaces. He believes in not simply calling himself an ally, but earning that honour through action, accountability, and an openness to ongoing learning.
“..If you know this secret, you will know that you are what you seek.” - Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi-
Peak House Board of Directors
Pacific Youth and Family Services Society Board of Directors
Emily Coates
Chair
Emily, a lifelong resident of East Vancouver, has been a dedicated Realtor with Sutton Centre since 2003, following a successful career in banking with RBC. She earned her Associate Broker’s License in 2011 and her Property Management License in 2014. In 2015, Emily took on a leadership role as Owner/Director of Sutton Centre Realty and currently serves as Vice President.Currently pursuing her MBA at Dalhousie University, Emily is passionate about community engagement. She has volunteered with various organizations, including PADS, and remains an enthusiastic contributor to the Realtors Care Blanket Drive, which her father co-founded over 23 years ago. A strong advocate for equality and second chances, she actively supports youth initiatives in her community. In her free time, Emily enjoys traveling, savoring coffee, cooking, and cherishing moments with family and friends.
Marc Goffaux
Marc was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil before moving to Canada to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in 2012. He quickly embraced the Vancouver community where he is proud to call it his home. When he is not working or visiting family abroad, you can find him enjoying either a cup of joe at your local coffee shop or hiking one our beautiful mountains.
Angela Lee
Vice Chair
Public engagement is important to Angela (she/her) who has been a lifelong volunteer at various organizations. Born and raised in Vancouver, she calls East Vancouver home. She is committed to making positive changes in her community and supporting its youth. She is a lawyer who has been practicing for the past 16 years in and around the Lower Mainland, as well as previously in Alberta and B.C.’s beautiful North. Issues such as equity, diversity, and inclusion as well as victim support are key passions of hers. Outside of work and volunteering, Angela takes advantage of the many outdoor activities available in our backyard, reading books with her cat in her lap, and traveling the world with her partner and friends.
Shannon Richardson
Secretary
Shannon (she/her) is a Marketing Director with over 15 years of experience. As a mother of two teens, she brings a unique perspective to the Board, combining marketing expertise with a passion for helping at-risk youth.
Stephanie Fitzsimmons
