About Us
The Ridge Meadows Education Foundation (RMEF) is a registered Canadian charity recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as a public foundation. RMEF operates independently, at arm’s length from the school district, and supports students through scholarships, bursaries, and grants for programs in areas such as fine arts, athletics, literacy, and student wellness. RMEF is overseen by a board of directors that consists of volunteer community members, 2 School District appointed representatives and 1 appointed School Board Trustee. All members are voting members except for the School Trustee, who acts as a liaison to the Board of Education. RMEF is proud to provide one of two avenues for supporting public education in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Please review our Supporting Public Education in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows document for a quick overview of the two available options. Or reach out to us at rmefinfo@gmail.com
Board of Directors
Michael Malfesi: Chair
Michael moved to Maple Ridge with his wife in 1980 to begin his career as a teacher. Their three sons were all born at Maple Ridge Hospital and all graduated from Garibaldi Secondary. He taught in Maple Ridge for 16 years before working in Mission as a school Vice Principal and then Principal. He finished his career at the University of the Fraser Valley mentoring student teachers.
Michael coached several school sports as well as community soccer. When two of his sons became involved in Kayaking at Whonnock Lake he spent several years on the board of the Ridge Canoe and Kayak Club. At RCKC he was involved in fund raising, officiating and helping to organize regattas. After serving as the Kayaking Sport Chair for the 2024 BC Summer Games he joined the Ridge Meadows Home Town Heroes Board as Secretary.
Michael joined the RMEF board five years ago previously serving as Vice Chair.
Bill Elder: Vice-Chair
After moving from East Vancouver in 1972, Bill Elder became a resident of Maple Ridge. His teaching career included positions in Coquitlam, at the University of British Columbia, in Germany, at a Canadian Forces School, and concluded with twenty years of service in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District before his retirement.
Bill has been an active volunteer serving for 15 years as President and Board Director of the Maple Ridge Recycling Society.
As an accomplished bagpiper, Bill also volunteered and organized Highland Games and piping competitions with the B.C. Pipers Association and the B.C. Highland Games (now Scotfest), serving several years as event co-chair.
While teaching in Germany, he and his wife performed with the Canadian Forces Pipe Band. Having the honour of performing for the Multinational Armed Forces that supervised the security provisions of the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.
Currently, Bill is the Vice Chair of the Ridge Meadows Education Foundation and chair of the Grant Committee which oversees the grant selection process.
Jeff Cawker: Treasurer
Jeffrey Cawker has served as Treasurer of the Foundation since 2012, where he oversees the Society’s finances and fund accounting in support of scholarships and grants benefiting students and schools throughout School District #42. Passionate about giving back to the community, he is proud to help support opportunities that make a lasting difference for local students and educators.
Outside of his volunteer work with the Foundation, Jeff is a partner at a mid-sized local accounting firm. When he’s not working with numbers, he can usually be found on the curling sheet, out on the golf course, enjoying a good book, or testing out a new craft beer with friends.
Cheryl Ashlie: Secretary
Cheryl moved to Maple Ridge in 1995 with her husband, Dean, and their three children. She quickly became active in the community, volunteering for her children’s sports and school activities and community events.
Cheryl went on to serve as a board member for Community Services, the Alouette River Management Society, and the Ridge Meadows Education Foundation. She also contributed to local politics, being elected to the Board of Education for three terms and City Council for two.
Her professional experience spanned healthcare, beginning as a food service supervisor at Vancouver Hospital and continuing as a project manager for the Ridge Meadows Division of Family Practice. Cheryl later fulfilled her dream of becoming a realtor with REMAX Lifestyles.
Now retired, Cheryl enjoys time with loved ones and continues to volunteer in the community.
Ineke Boekhorst
Ineke Boekhorst is a lifelong community leader whose work reflects a deep commitment to service, entrepreneurship, and family. Born the fourth of seven children in Hilversum, Holland, she immigrated to Canada in 1979 with her husband, Peter, and their four young children, eventually settling in Maple Ridge and later Pitt Meadows.
Actively involved in her children’s schools and community organizations, she later became a successful business owner, including Chocolates by Grace, winner of the 1998 Small Business of the Year award. A member of the MeadowRidge Rotary Club since 1990, she has served twice as President and led numerous local and international humanitarian initiatives, including projects in Nicaragua, Russia, Belize, and Ecuador, as well as founding the Starfish Backpack Program in School District #42.
Ineke also served for fifteen years as Executive Director of the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association, playing a key role in revitalizing the city’s downtown.
Her extensive volunteer service has earned her many honours, including Citizen of the Year, multiple Businessperson of the Year awards, and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award.
Since retiring in 2021, she continues to volunteer actively while enjoying time with her eight grandchildren.
Dr. Brad Kirkland
Brad Kirkland was born and raised in Ridge Meadows and attended schools in District #42. At 17, he made a late application to UNBC with only a few weeks until the semester started and moved to Prince George. Without much guidance or resources, he paid his way by student loans and mucking out barns. After a year, he transferred to Simon Fraser University where he had the opportunity to pay for some of his schooling by working as a teacher in Japan.
He completed his BA with Honours, pursued a Masters degree in the UK at the University of York where he received the Garmonsway Award for Highest Achievement at the master’s level, and was offered a teaching role there while pursuing his PhD. He completed his PhD in 2015 while simultaneously serving as the Dean of the university’s then-largest college.
After completing his PhD, Brad moved into a research position focused on investment and philanthropic partnerships. He returned to Canada in 2019 to take on a position as a financial advisor with Edward Jones, where he is now a partner.
Having found both great challenges and opportunities in education coming out of School District #42, Brad is passionate about helping young people from his community to have the resources and support needed to lessen some of their challenges and enhance their opportunities.
Iris Mo
Iris Mo is the Assistant Secretary Treasurer for the School District No. 42 (Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows) with over 18 years of experience in BC education finance. Throughout her career, Iris has developed a strong understanding of the financial and operational challenges facing public education, with a particular focus on sound governance, strong internal controls, and effective business practices that support student success.
Beyond her role with the school district, Iris also serves as a Director at Large on the BC Association of School Business Officials (BCASBO) Executive, where she contributes to province-wide collaboration, professional development, and the advancement of effective school business practices across British Columbia.
Maple Ridge has been Iris’s family home for the past 12 years, and she and her family are deeply connected to the community. Iris, her husband, and their two children enjoy exploring local hiking trails and actively support their children’s involvement in sports and the arts.
Iris is proud to contribute her professional expertise and community commitment to the Ridge Meadows Education Foundation, where she serves as a board member and district representative.
Dr. Dave Rempel
Dr. Dave Rempel was born in southern Ukraine and immigrated to Canada in 1949, where his family established their home in Clearbrook, British Columbia. Dave married Sharon Kincaid, and together they raised two daughters who have since married. Today, Dave and Sharon are grandparents to six grandchildren, whom they enjoy immensely.
His academic journey began at the Mennonite Education Institute, followed by studies at the Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute and Mennonite Brethren Bible College, where he earned diplomas and a Bachelor of Religious Education. Dave went on to complete a Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia, then achieved a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon.
Dr. Rempel dedicated his professional life to public education in British Columbia, serving as a teacher and principal in various communities and schools. His leadership extended to governance, as he served on the School District 42 Board of Trustees from 1996 to 2018.
Dave was a founding member of the Ridge Meadows Education Foundation (RMEF) in 2005 and served as chair for many years. He has been actively involved with the Ridge Meadows Rotary Club since 1998, taking on important roles such as chairing the annual Winefest.
As President of the Canadian C.I.S. Friendship Exchange Society, Dave organized student exchange programmes between British Columbia schools and schools in Russia and Kazakhstan, spanning from 1989 to 2009. From 1993 to 2013, Dave and Sharon facilitated the adoption of orphans from Russia and Kazakhstan, helping to build connections and support for children in need.
In addition to his educational and community leadership, Dr. Rempel contributed to environmental outreach by conducting school and community group tours at his Whonnock Waterfowl Bird Sanctuary.
Dave Rempel regards his life as rich and rewarding, shaped by service to many organizations and communities throughout British Columbia and beyond.
Mike Murray: SD Trustee Liaison
Mike Murray has worked in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Since 1977 and served as the General Manager for Community Development, Parks and Recreation for the two Cities until retirement in 2010. He is currently an elected school trustee and has been assigned as the school board liaison to the RMEF board of directors, a position he has held since being elected in 2011. He is also the Board of Education liaison to the City of Maple Ridge Engaged and Healthy Community Committee as well as the BC School Trustees Association Provincial Council.
Mike’s current involvement beyond the Board of Education includes volunteer service on the MRPM Arts Council Board and the Salvation Army Community Council. He has also been an active member of the Rotary Club of Haney for the past 30 years and believes strongly in the Rotary International motto “service above self”. Over the past few years his volunteer service has included providing strategic planning support to several Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows social profit organizations and serving a full six year term on the BC Arts Council as a government appointee.
Mike lives in Maple Ridge with his wife Nancy and thoroughly enjoys spending time with their children and four grandchildren of whom both Nancy and he are extremely proud.
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Many bursary and scholarship awards received by students have been made possible through legacies established by people just like you. Families and individuals connected to a school or the community have used establishing a scholarship or bursary as a means of honouring someone in their life. If you would like to leave your own legacy, the Ridge Meadows Education Foundation manages many of these funds and can assist you.
Please contact us at rmefinfo@gmail.com so you can start the process of enriching the lives of students in School District #42.