Steve Chan, Executive Director

As the Executive Director of VSMS since 2000, Steve Chan oversees VSMS’ organizational operations, identifies opportunities, and manages change.

He is a SFU graduate with a BBA degree, double majoring in Business Administration and Economics. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a Management Certificate in Facilities Management from BCIT.

Prior to working in VSMS, Steve had over 10 years of experience in hospital planning and administration. He was the administrative head of a 1,400-bed regional hospital extension project in Hong Kong. When he moved to Vancouver in the mid 1990’s, he helped built the first Chinese Museum in North America when he worked for the Chinese Cultural Centre as the Administrative Manager.

Steve is passionate about supporting isolated seniors in Vancouver’s Downtown core, which includes Canada’s poorest neighbourhoods. He sees that many seniors are forgotten in today’s fast-paced society and has observed that many live and die alone. Through his work, he hopes to help seniors achieve a higher quality of life through social connections.

When he’s not providing leadership to VSMS, you can find Steve singing, gardening, or even traveling with his family.

Gayle Noronha, Program Coordinator

DTES Neighborhood Helpers Project

As the Community Outreach Coordinator at the Vancouver Second Mile Society, Gayle Noronha believes in service through action and empathy. A double postgraduate with a Master’s in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from Adler University and a Master’s in Wellness

Counselling from Goa University, Gayle focuses on fostering community through active listening, empowerment, and an emphasis on strengths and gratitude.

She has extensive experience facilitating presentations and group discussions among youth and strives to expand outreach efforts through partnerships with organizations in the neighborhood.

Gayle’s passion for working with seniors blossomed while volunteering in the Downtown Eastside with the Vancouver Second Mile Society as part of her Social Justice Practicum at Adler University. With her background in psychology, she is committed to fostering a sense of

wellbeing and community among seniors in the Downtown Eastside.

Philip Chung, Program Coordinator

Neighborhood Helpers Chinese Outreach Project

Cheuk Kit (Philip) Chung brings a deep passion for community-centered archival work, cultural preservation, and senior well-being to his role at the Vancouver Second Mile Society. As a graduate of the Master of Archival Studies program at the University of British Columbia, Philip has been actively engaged in Vancouver’s Chinatown and Downtown Eastside communities since 2024. His work includes leading archival digitization and preservation initiatives with the Chinatown historical association and serving as a volunteer translator for the Generations of Kinship program, strengthening intergenerational connections through language and cultural exchange.

Philip is also an amateur Chinese papercut artist, a practice that reflects his dedication to cultural storytelling and creative community engagement. His goal is to uncover and share the histories of Chinese Canadians through accessible archival work, digital storytelling, and

meaningful relationship-building.

Working alongside seniors is one of Philip’s greatest joys. He believes that grassroots engagement begins with listening — every senior’s story offers insight into lived experiences, unmet needs, and the strength of the community. By combining his training workshops, cultural

knowledge, and hands-on experience, Philip strives to empower isolated Chinese seniors, build connections, and support a more inclusive and caring neighborhood.