Career Development Centre Staff

Shirley Kricheldorf – Progam Coordinator




Shirley moved to the islands in 1991 and has filled the roles of bookkeeper, resource worker, and employment counsellor since joining the Career Development Staff in January 2004.

Shirley has a Bachelor of Arts with a joint major in Criminology and Psychology and has gained counselling, self-employment and office administrative skills with Significant Impact Awards Corporation, Corrections Canada, Department of National Defence, Hecate Strait Employment Development Society, and the Masset Economic Development Society. She is passionately interested in community economic and social development and has sat on many island boards over the years to promote those aims. Shirley strongly advocates goal-setting as a tool to living the life of your choice and enjoys supporting others in the pursuit of their dreams.

Hope Setso - Client Services Coorinator

Hope has been working with the Career Development Centre since July 2006. Prior to this placement, she was contracted to deliver a YouthLinks program through Hecate Strait Employment and completed a project with Old Massett Village Council Social Development, after a long tenure with Old Massett Village Council Education. Hope was born, raised and educated on Haida Gwaii; her connections with the communities, land and culture are strong and deep.

She is qualified to administer Step I and Step II Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and has recently been certified to facilitate Personality Dimensions workshops. Hope is working toward a certificate in Career Counselling through Concordia University College in Edmonton. Her education background includes a Social Service Worker Certificate, a Business Administration certificate and a degree through Simon Fraser University with a double minor in Linguistics and First Nations studies and courses in Early Childhood Education. Her career choices reflect her personality of helping, encouraging and supporting individuals realize their potential.

As a lifelong learner, witnessing clients and staff achieve their goals is what keeps her motivated; this current position is perfect for Hope.

Estrella Hepburn - Employment Resource Worker

Estrella Hepburn comes to us with a degree in English Literature and a background in counseling skills from her work as a holistic bodywork therapist and as a support worker at the Transition House. She brings these skills with her to the Employment Resource Worker position. She enjoys working with clients one on one, supporting and inspiring individuals to live to their fullest potential. She is currently taking career counseling courses through Life Strategies and is committed to personal development through continuing education.

Estrella has lived on Haida Gwaii for twelve years and is raising her family here. She is happiest when out in nature, whether it be hiking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, medicine gathering or in her garden. Estrella enjoys living alongside the Haida people and learning about living, food gathering and respecting the land. She hopes she can give contribute something back to the community through her work.

Laurie Chisholm - Employment Counselor

Laurie Chisholm was hired as the Employment Counselor at Career Centre in Queen Charlotte in September 2009 and has worked in the offices at Port Clements, Skidegate and Sandspit. She resides in Sandspit with husband Robert, and two boys Morgan and Walker. Laurie enjoys the challenge of a new position, meeting new clients and finding incentives for employers.

Raised in Cape Breton, she fully understands Island life: the economic challenges, the need for economic diversity, self employment, and the importance of valued added production of all resources on Haida Gwaii.

Laurie started working at a very young age o and has a varied background that includes EMT, (Emergency Medical Technician), Business Management and Human Resources for a major national company, and eight years working for AADAC, (Alberta Alcohol and Drug Commission), Ministry of Children and Families, and School District 50.
Laurie’s resourcefulness is her strongest asset and she enjoys using this tool as a way to assist individual clients as well as employers and business owners to get the most out of island living.

Brenda Vandal - Employment Resource Worker

Brenda Vandal joined the Career Development Centre staff in March, 2010 where she works as the Employment Resource Worker in the Skidegate and Charlotte offices.

Brenda grew up most of her life on Haida Gwaii, living in Skidegate and Sandspit. Her family is of the Naa’Yuu’ans Xaaydaga Skidegate Gidins Clan. Although Brenda has lived off island for quite a few years, Haida Gwaii has continued to be “home” to her, and she has continued to come back for visits. She is a proud, single mother of 2 boys.

Working with the Career Development Centre is a new position for Brenda. She has a diploma in Child and Youth Care Counseling; she has worked the past few years with youth, as a Youth Outreach Worker in West Vancouver, and as a First Nations Student Advocate in Kelowna. However she was up for the change and the challenge, as she loves to work with and help people, and knows what it is like to be looking for work on Haida Gwaii.

Brenda has been working hard at building up the clientele in Skidegate, and is also thoroughly enjoying the networking that she has begun with other organizations in the communities. One of her favorite sayings is, “Go in the direction of your dreams, live the life that you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau.