Joel has been involved in the aquatic industry since 2015 and LGOS since 2017. He stepped into the role of executive director in January 2021, taking the reins from LGOS founder and former president Paul Wechselberger. Joel is a 4th year business student at Thompson Rivers University and plans to attend law school after graduation.

“Leading LGOS has been a challenge for which I am grateful to have been presented. The past two years have been a massive learning opportunity for myself and the organization. Despite several bumps and hiccups along the way, including the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued our mission to deliver invaluable programming to communities across the province in 2021, and we are approaching summer 2022 optimistically.”

Stephen McCaugherty is a founding member of the Lifeguard Outreach Society  and he holds a Bachelor of Commerce through Thompson Rivers University.

Stephen has immense experience as an LGOS instructor, including working with several First Nation groups on Vancouver Island and spending weeks in the Kootenays. LGOS has remained a passion for Stephen, and he hopes to continue helping the society grow and fulfill its vision.

Stephen is an avid traveller who works full-time as a sports journalist and freelance writer.

Tim Bientjes is one of the founding members and current president of the Lifeguard Outreach Society. He has years of experience with first aid and lifeguarding, and has transitioned from helping the organisation’s frontline to supporting the back-end operations. 

Tim works as a biologist and loves to explore and learn about the different areas in BC.

Adam Burke was born and raised in Kamloops, BC and is currently a computer science student in his final year at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). After graduating, Adam plans on pursuing a career in merger and acquisition investment banking. Throughout Adam’s university career, he has sat as a student representative on his university’s Board of Governors, as a Board of Governors representative on his university Advisory Committee on Investments and is a founder of the TRU Student Investment Fund, raising $650,000 over two years.

Additionally, Adam has spent time interning with Scotiabank and RBC Capital Markets in Derivatives Sales & Trading, Raymond James as an Equity Research Associate, and BCIMC on a Global Thematic team managing a $6 billion global portfolio.

Adam was a lifeguard for six years, working as a lifeguard and swim instructor and splitting his time between the Kamloops YM/YWCA and the City of Kamloops. He also volunteered as an instructor for LGOS in 2019. Adam hopes to tie his passion for finance and lifeguarding back to his role as the treasurer for LGOS.

Having joined this the society three years ago, it’s been a huge learning experience for me in terms of understanding provincial water-safety education shortcomings, as well as helping me grow as an instructor and as an individual.

Using my skills and experience to help others has always been one of the core principles in my code of ethics and working with LGOS has given me the resources and capabilities to do so.  After finishing my Bachelor of Sciences with a major in chemical biology, I plan to pursue medicine as a rural family practitioner and attempt to bring care to underserved and isolated communities.

As time goes on, no matter how big or small of a role, I hope I can make a lifetime commitment to this cause.