Jack Hirose, M.A., President and Owner
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Jack Hirose, M.A. is a Vancouver-based educational event planner and conference organizer with over 30 years experience developing high quality training programs for mental health professionals and educators. During Jack’s 20 year counselling and teaching career, he worked with youth, adults and families in many different environments including outpatient clinics, community colleges, schools, correctional settings, hospitals, treatment centres, and group homes.
During the past two decades, 80,000 participants have attended his professional training events. He is director and founder of the Canadian Mental Health Summit, 2018-2020, School-Based Mental Health Conference (2016 -2020), Healing and Treating Trauma, Addictions and Related Disorders Conference (2010 – 2017). He was also co-director of major Canadian Conferences including: The Western Canadian Conference on Addictions and Mental Health (2004 – 2008), Western Canadian Solution-Focused Conference (2006) and The Art and Science of Psychotherapy Conference (2006). Jack Hirose and Associates was a co-sponsor of The Neufeld Institute Conference (2017-2019).
In another chapter of Jack’s life, he was a member of Canada’s National Judo Team, 1977-1980. He was a former first round draft choice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 1980 and Toronto Argonauts, 1981. In 2020, Jack was inducted into the UBC Football Wall of Honour.
Jack resides in North Vancouver with his wife, Julie, and two daughters.
More information: www.jackhirose.com
Laura Hirose, BA., Director of Marketing and Product Development
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Laura holds a B.A. in Psychology from The University of British Columbia. Her main areas of expertise include planning and coordinating live events, strategic marketing and product development. She is currently working on creating a series of online courses to enable participants greater ease of accessibility to quality continuing education services.
Maddison White, Event and Marketing Coordinator
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Maddison is a full time member of the JHA team. Her hometown is Toronto where she worked as a Court Reporter before deciding to move to Vancouver. She is looking forward to learning and growing in the event business. Her goal is to accomplish more successful and exciting workshop seasons to come!
In her spare time she enjoys reading, road trips and spending time with friends.
Loraine Hubbell, On-Site Event Coordinator
Calgary, Alberta
Loraine joined the Jack Hirose and Associates team 15+ years ago and continues to enjoy coordinating the many workshops in Calgary and central and southern Alberta. Loraine and her husband run a small home business so she was looking for an opportunity to get out of her home office. This filled the bill nicely and she is delighted that she has met and become friends with so many attendees along the way.
Loraine and her husband like to travel and spend time at their summer property in Sylvan Lake, Alberta with her two children and 3 grandchildren.
Carol Oczkowska, On-site Event Coordinator
Edmonton, Alberta
Carol has just joined Jack Hirose and Associates and will be coordinating events in Edmonton. She holds degrees in English, journalism and ancient history, and is a freelance editor and writer. With years of experience in public relations and teaching at the post-secondary level, Carol is never happier than when with groups of people pursuing a common interest. She has also worked in television and newspapers.
A “news junkie” with eclectic interests, Carol is an avid reader of non-fiction, especially of socio-political or esoteric studies. She also enjoys organizing special events and has happily tried her hand at catering. An animal lover who enjoys gardening (yes, it is possible to garden in Edmonton, occasionally), in good weather she can be found strolling the grounds at the zoo. In bad weather, she is usually in front of the fire with a good book.
Verona Leslie, On-site Event Coordinator
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
Verona joins our team in Atlantic Canada. A Halifax native, Verona brings to Jack Hirose and Associates her strong organizational skills, knowledge of the local area and an enthusiastic personality. For over 30 years, Verona worked as an information specialist in several teaching hospital libraries. Verona has a strong interest in sports and held the position of registrar for a soccer club for over 10 years.
Verona has a Bachelor’s Degree in Office Administration and currently lives in Fletchers Lake, NS. She spends her winter months engaged in DYI projects, blogging, quilting and knitting. In the warmer months, with her camera over her shoulder, along with her partner, Capt. Mike, and their small dog, Whiskey, spend their time sailing along the southern coastline of Nova Scotia on their Vancouver 25.
Cynthia Johnston, On-site Event Coordinator
Saskatoon, Sasktchewan, Regina, and Winnipeg
Cindy Johnston has been a coordinator with Jack Hirose and Associates since 2014, focusing on organizing workshops in Saskatoon and Regina.
Cindy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan.
Since retiring from the family restaurant/lounge business, Cindy enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and “Stella” her miniature poodle.
Megan Seely, Web Developer/Graphic Designer
Vancouver, British Columbia
Megan graduated from the IDEA (Illustration and Graphic Design) program at Capilano University (2007) and has since worked for clients around the Lower Mainland and for advertising agencies and design studios. She is an experienced web programmer. In 2009, Megan started up a small design studio named Chestnut St. Pixel Foundry with business partner Kelly Chen. When she is not in front of a computer screen, she can be found reading, exploring nature, experimenting in the kitchen, and attending to her two black Siamese-cross felines. Megan has worked part-time with Jack Hirose and Associates since 2005.
Daniel Yu, Graphic Designer
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Daniel earned his Bachelor of Graphic Design at OCAD University in downtown Toronto. From the urban jungle, his career path has taken him across the country to the scenic west coast. He discovered that the most rewarding work is when he’s contributing toward positive change. At Jack Hirose and Associates Inc., Daniel directs the visual brand by creating the marketing materials and web elements. Outside of the office, he is travelling the world with his wife, enjoying a cup of coffee, healing from snowboard lessons and enjoying a movie.
