About

The Surrey/Delta Métis Association a Chartered Community within the Métis Nation BC family. We service the area of Surrey and Delta BC.

Executive Directors

Lee Fraser – President
Anthony Krilow – Vice President
Vanessa Masters – Secretary

Directors At Large

Dustin Bergeron
Mary Letendre
Vanessa Masters
Sandra Murray

Becky Parker

Emmanuel Tran

Kelly Tymich

Penny Tyler

Shannon McConaghy

Director Profiles

Lee Fraser – President
Lee Fraser was born and raised in Prince George and currently lives in Ladner, BC. Lee’s Métis family roots stem from the Ross Family in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. Other family names include Short, Parenteau, Cuthbert Grant, and McGillis. The first person in her Métis family to go to university, Lee obtained her BA in Psychology from UBC, after two years of the Bachelor of Music program at U of A.

Lee was recently widowed after being happily married for 40 years. She is a proud mother to Greg (39), Jeff (37) and Jamie (24), and proud grandmother to Jeremy (14), Emma (11), Maelle (11) and Beau (8). Lee believes that everything we do is for our children and grandchildren, that they are the heart and future of our communities. By learning and sharing our culture with them, they will keep their pride in being Métis and carry on our traditions. Working toward that goal has kept Lee involved in volunteering for Métis communities.

Lee has spent the last 18 years volunteering through Métis Nation BC, including as President of the Surrey-Delta Métis Association (March 2022 to present); as the elected Regional Women’s Representative for the Lower Mainland Region (2008 – 2021), and on the Board of the Nova Heritage Métis Association (2003 – 2008). Regarded as a good listener and a calming spirit in meetings, Lee is a thoughtful and caring, family-oriented Métis woman.

Lee’s passion is facilitating cultural knowledge workshops to Métis people, which result in communication, inclusion, sharing, community building, and pride in being Métis. Lee worked with grass roots Métis women through the Métis Nation BC for approximately 10 years facilitating beading and moccasin making workshops. From these workshops grew a circle of Métis women who continued to meet and bead together monthly, and over zoom during the pandemic.

Anthony Krilow – Vice President
Anthony Krilow lives and plays in Surrey BC. He has a spouse and three daughters. Anthony was once the vice president of the Nova Métis Heritage Association. Additionally, Anthony was once the president of the North Fraser Métis Association. He is now serving his third year as vice president of the Surrey Delta Métis Association.

Vanessa Masters – Secretary

Dustin Bergeron – Director At Large

Mary Letendre – Director At Large
Mary Letendre, a vibrant and passionate individual, resides in Surrey, British Columbia, while cherishing her upbringing in Hazelton on Gitxsan territory. Hailing from a lineage connected to the Letendres’ de Batoche in Saskatchewan, Mary is deeply rooted in her Metis heritage and carries it with pride.

In her household, Mary shares her living space with two feline companions, Eggnog and Commander Erwin, as well as her supportive partner. Professionally, she wears multiple hats, serving as a behavioral interventionist and also pursuing a career as a freelance model and photographer. Her diverse background includes experience in childcare, which has nurtured her profound interest in child development. Mary’s journey has led her to develop a strong passion for advocating for individuals, both young and old, who face mental health challenges, as she herself has experienced such struggles.

Driven by her own lived experiences, Mary aspires to dedicate her life to making a difference through mental health advocacy and championing human rights. Her unwavering commitment to helping others and promoting their well-being is truly inspiring. Embracing the opportunity to bring about positive change in the lives of Metis people, Mary feels deeply honored. Her enthusiasm is contagious as she looks forward to serving the Surrey/Delta community with dedication and passion.

Mary Letendre’s genuine desire to support others, combined with her diverse skill set and personal experiences, positions her as a valuable asset to the Surrey Delta Metis Association. Her enthusiasm for implementing change and fostering a sense of empowerment within the Metis community is a testament to her unwavering dedication and drive.

Sandra Murray – Director At Large
Sandra Murray, a dedicated member of the Surrey Delta Metis Association, serves as a Director At Large and holds the esteemed role of Elders Representative within the association. With a wealth of life experience, Sandra is not only a devoted mother of two but also a proud grandmother to three cherished grandchildren. As a longtime resident of Cloverdale, she has deep roots within the community.

Sandra brings a wealth of professional experience to her role on the board, having dedicated 34 years of her career to Canada Bread. Her long-standing commitment to her work reflects her reliability and perseverance. Through her years of service, Sandra has honed valuable skills and developed a strong work ethic that continues to guide her in her various pursuits.

Although this is Sandra’s first time serving on the Surrey Delta Metis Association Board, she has already made significant contributions as a regular contributor to the association’s Facebook page. She actively engages with the community through this platform, sharing insights, updates, and fostering meaningful connections with fellow members.

Beyond her professional and community involvement, Sandra finds joy in creative pursuits. Beading has become a beloved hobby for her, and she particularly enjoys crafting beaded earrings and exploring the art of traditional beading. This past year has allowed her to further develop her skills and delve deeper into the craft.

With a genuine passion for learning about her Metis heritage, Sandra relishes the opportunity to connect with others who share this interest. Her commitment to representing the association’s seniors as the Elders Representative is a testament to her desire to support and advocate for the unique needs of this important demographic within the Metis community.

Sandra Murray embodies a spirit of dedication, creativity, and community engagement. Her enthusiasm for her role on the board, coupled with her eagerness to learn and connect with others, ensures that she will be an invaluable asset to the Surrey Delta Metis Association and a reliable advocate for the seniors she represents.

Becky Parker – Director At Large
Becky Parker is a proud Métis-Cree woman, deeply connected to her heritage. She was born and raised on the unceded and traditional territories of the Semiahma (Semiahmoo), sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsawwassen), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), kwikwəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), and q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nations. Her family roots trace back to the Red River region, now Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Peguis First Nation (Treaty 1).

Becky is a district cultural facilitator with the Surrey School District, where she shares her passion for Indigenous culture, with a strong emphasis on Métis traditions, in K-12 classrooms. As an urban Indigenous person who grew up disconnected from her culture, Becky is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for youth to explore and celebrate their heritage. Additionally, she serves as the Youth Coordinator for the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC) under the Skookum engagement arm. In this capacity, Becky acts as a bridge between Surrey Schools and Skookum, collaborating with the Indigenous Transitions teacher to plan and implement the Skookum Windspeaker program. This initiative focuses on fostering cultural connections and providing land-based learning opportunities for Indigenous youth in the Surrey School District.

Beyond her professional and volunteer commitments, Becky enjoys creative pursuits and crafting, as well as adventuring with her husband and two children.

She is excited to serve the Surrey/Delta Métis community and contribute to its growth and well-being.

Emmanuel Tran – Director At Large
Emmanuel lives in Surrey B.C. and traces his Métis ancestry through the Ballendine family of North Battleford Saskatchewan to the Souvie and Cardinal family names in Alberta, the Red River region in Manitoba, and Quebec. He is a fourth year student at Simon Fraser University majoring in Biomedical Physiology. When he is not studying, he enjoys playing or coaching volleyball, learning a new language, or catching up on the latest news in technology and politics.

Kelly Tymich – Director At Large
Kelly is a mother of two and a Koocum to one 6-month-old baby boy. She has been a certified reflexologist since 2019. She discovered She was Métis in her twenties.

Growing up, she remembers her grandmother could speak some French, which she later realized was Michif.

She is now a beginner in learning the Michif language, having taken an online Michif language program.

Kelly joined the Surrey Delta Métis Association board to learn about her Michif heritage and help where possible.