The Prince George Hospice Board of Directors

Rod moved to Prince George when his family transferred here in 1965, and after finishing high school, he started a career in commercial lending. In 1985, he became the owner of Regional Security along with several other companies before selling them to go into semi-retirement in 2015.

While in business, he believed in giving back to the community to make Prince George a stronger and better place to live, work, and play. He joined the Rotary Club of Prince George in 1985 and the Prince George Shrine Cub in 1994 and is still active in both. Other director positions include Tourism Prince George, Prince George Downtown Improvement Association, and the Freemasons’ Cancer Car program.

Being a director of Hospice gives an opportunity to give back to the community by helping to deliver support services during some of the most vulnerable time in people’s lives.

Walter spent over 35 years with Canfor Corporation, where he held a variety of senior management roles and concluded his career as Group General Manager. In this role, he oversaw residual fibre operations across divisions in British Columbia, Alberta, and the U.S. South.

He holds a Diploma in Forestry Technology from Selkirk College, a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Alberta, and an MBA from the University of Northern British Columbia.

An active member of the Rotary Club of Prince George, Walter has been involved in many community and fundraising initiatives and has served on several professional and non-profit boards. Now retired, he enjoys kayaking, hiking, and cross-country skiing with his wife, Joanna, and continues to dedicate his time to organizations that make a positive impact in the community.

Walter is proud to serve as Second Vice President on the Board of the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society.

Ann Makau is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Northern British Columbia. With over a decade of experience in accounting and financial services, Ann brings both technical expertise and a strong commitment to community service.

She has worked with a diverse range of organizations, including the public sector, not-for-profits, construction firms, professional services, logging companies, retail and the hospitality industry. Her work has always been rooted in supporting organizations that contribute to the well-being and sustainability of their communities.

Ann is passionate about using her skills to support local initiatives, promote inclusive growth, and ensure financial transparency. Her leadership in risk management, cost control, and process improvement has consistently helped organizations become more effective and sustainable in achieving their mission.

As a proud member of the Prince George community, Ann is deeply committed to ensuring that the work of Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Hospice continues to reflect the voices, needs, and values of the people it serves.

Mary Mytting was born and raised in Prince George, lived in Vancouver, then in South Africa for 12 years and returned to Prince George (home) in 2016.  Mary has a diverse background in business and not-for-profits.  She has started, then sold, two successful businesses in Vancouver and started an ongoing successful charity in South Africa, Boost Africa Foundation. Mary is currently the Project Manager of the Leadership & Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (LEAP) for Women at Community Futures Fraser Fort George. With over two decades of entrepreneurship, sales, marketing and communications experience, Mary is able to share her experience while enhancing LEAP’s participant’s learning and understanding of leadership and business development.

Mary has a special place in her heart for Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society and looks forward to utilizing her skills and abilities in supporting the important work done by the society.

Juan Pablo moved to Canada at the age of 14, settling in Fort St. James for high school before pursuing a university education in Prince George. He graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences, majoring in Biomedical Studies. After completing his studies, he began his professional career at the Canadian Brewhouse in Prince George, eventually becoming the regional manager for British Columbia.

Following his time at the brewery, he transitioned to Sun Life, where he started as an advisor and now serves as a business development partner. Over the years, he has had the opportunity to explore entrepreneurial ventures, including owning an e-sports business, which was later acquired by TGS E-sports, where he took on a part-time role as Scholastic E-sports Manager while continuing his regional management duties. More recently, he opened “La Catrina,” a Mexican rooftop patio in Prince George.

Education has always been a key focus for him, and in addition to his professional experience, he holds a CORE business certificate from Harvard University and is currently pursuing an MBA with Jack Welch Management Institute. He is also actively involved in the community, serving as a board member for Northern United Football Club and previously coaching soccer at Duchess Park Secondary School.

Juan is looking forward to bringing to the team both his professional expertise and personal passion for supporting the community.

Behrouz (Bruce) Danesh, came to Prince George in 2018 to pursue his education at UNBC, recognizing the significant healthcare gaps in Northern BC and motivated by a desire to serve a community that truly needs it. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at UNBC, graduating as valedictorian of the Class of 2024, and is currently completing his Occupational Therapy program through UBC’s Northern cohort, based at UNBC.

Throughout his time in Prince George, Bruce has been deeply involved in community service, serving on student union boards at UNBC and as a Multiple Sclerosis Ambassador for four years. These experiences taught him the power of working together toward a shared goal and reinforced his belief that contributing to his community is what gives him purpose.

Bruce’s passion for hospice palliative care is deeply personal. Having lost his grandparents while studying in Canada, he wished he could have been with them more meaningfully during their final days. This experience inspired his commitment to caring for other people’s grandparents here in Canada—honoring them as his own and ensuring they receive compassionate, dignified care.

His journey to Canada and his education on Lheidli T’enneh traditional land have instilled in him a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility to give back to the country and community that gave him the opportunity to live, study, and work. For Bruce, serving on the Hospice Palliative Care Society Board connects his professional goal of working with seniors as an occupational therapist with his personal commitment to meaningful, person-centered care at life’s most important moments.

When not studying or volunteering, Bruce enjoys soccer, volleyball, and anything that brings people together.  

Bruce is honored and humbled to join the team and contribute to the invaluable work being done at the Hospice.