Delta Youth Support Line Society

Otherwise known as DYSL, pronounced “dee-zal”. This non-profit Society has been operating since August 2003.

Mission: Empowering leaders of tomorrow...today.

Programs:

• Youth Initiated Funding: Young people have a lot of great ideas which seldom become reality. We provide funding up to $1,500 to student groups at all seven of the Delta High Schools for student led initiated projects that benefit the school and the community annually.


• Youth Apprenticeship Program: A pilot on-site summer youth program that develops management and leadership skills through in-store training.


• STEP/LEAP: Our Short Term Enhancement Program (STEP) and Long Term Enhancement Program (LEAP) provides individualized assistance and support to youth in the following areas:
          -Personal growth and development opportunities
          -Counselling on a one-to-one basis
          -Mentoring and coaching
  


• "Spirit Award" Bursaries: A bursary of $500 is granted to a student at each of Delta's seven high schools annually. The recipient must have shown personal accomplishments throughout his/her high school years, despite adversity and challenging circumstances.


• Funded Projects: We have partnered with many socially responsible organizations in the Metro Vancouver area such as :
          -Downtown Eastside Shelters
          -Boys & Girls Club of Richmond/South Delta
          -YouthinBC
          -Delta Humane Society
  

The Delta Youth Support Line Society focuses on 10-24 year old youths in transition. Our Board of Directors is comprised of professionals and interested parties who support, market, evaluate and troubleshoot matters arising from our goals and our fundraising initiatives. We meet monthly (on a Friday) in Tsawwassen and you can join our Society for a nominal fee. We invite interested parties to consider serving on the Board, volunteering, or attending our Annual General Meeting.

News

We received this $5,000 grant from the Youth Philanthropy Institute. The students at North Delta Secondary School nominated DYSL for the best grass roots charity and we won! -June 2010

This was a first for us! We were gifted a vehicle in good running condition. We donated the vehicle to a youth within our community who needed a vehicle to get to job interviews and importantly fit the criteria of DYSL - helping youth who have overcome personal struggles. He was thrilled! .... Just another good story of what DYSL does! -August 2009

KW
2010

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Lesley Taylor, President

Lesley Taylor has over twenty-five years experience as a health care leader, organizational development consultant, professional coach, educator and consultant. Lesley has also served as a volunteer with the Alzheimer's Society, the B. C. Council for Families, the Advocates for Care Reform, the Richmond Crisis Centre and Volunteer Vancouver. Lesley has been on the board of DYSL for three years and is currently the president.

Blake Hurney, Treasurer

Born and raised in New Westminster Blake now makes his home in North Delta with his wife and two kids. Blake enjoys being part of a close knit community and volunteers his time at Delta Youth Support Line as well as charities based in South Surrey and Langley. Blake is a Certified Financial Planner and works as a Financial Consultant with Investors Group Financial Services Inc in Langley.

Debbie Lindsey, Executive Director

Debbie has been with DYSL since its inception 7 years ago as ED. She has extensive experience in administration and management. Debbie held a senior administrative/management position at a large corporation in Toronto for 7 years before moving back to BC to raise her son with her husband. She belongs to the Child & Youth Committee of Delta and is proud of the achievements DYSL has made and continues to strive to make it the best it can be.

Barbara Hughes, Secretary

Barbara has over 20 year of hands-on experience in the full range of human resources (HR) services and has experience in a number of public and private sector environments. Barbara is a leadership coach, a trained facilitator and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Barbara has held a number of senior management positions, spent the last five years as a HR Consultant and Coach and has recently joined Century Group as the Director of Human Resources. Barbara is excited to be a new member of the DYSL Board and hopes that her HR background and passion for leadership development will support building the leaders of tomorrow today.

Sharon Rohwer, Vice-President

Sharon moved to Ladner six years ago to be closer to her family of three sons and five grandchildren. She has been actively employed as a realtor for 20 years. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and working in the community - ie Currently in service for Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Strata Council Representative and DYSL Board.

Grant Fredrickson, Director

A graduate of South Delta Secondary in 1984, Grant went on to study at both UBC and BCIT. In 1994, Grant was hired at South Delta Baptist Church to work with youth. He has served on staff there since that time and currently holds the position of Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults.

Heather Hale, Director

Heather brings her talents in design and writing to DYSL where she has been an active volunteer since 2003. She began as a volunteer and worked her way up through positions of Assistant Manger to Manager and now joins the Board. Heather's engagement of people is reflected in her passion towards the volunteers, customers and the community. Heather currently is employed with Delta Hospital and is a member of the Delta Hospital Auxiliary.

Kajsa Cuthbert, Honorary Youth Board Member

Kajsa is an active youth in the community. She went to Nicaragua for philanthropy work with Delta Secondary's International Friendship Association this past March and plans to do many more trips like this. As a grade 11 student she is very active in numerous sports and committees throughout Delta and the Lower Mainland. She looks forward to continuing working with DYSL and DYSL continuing to work with her.

Rebecca Griffing, Honorary Youth Board Member

Rebecca is an active youth in her student community at Delta Secondary School. She enjoys playing sports, volunteering, and building relationships with people. She has strong interests in humanitarian work and plans to attend medical school in her future.