Meet our Board
Bruce Law
President
Bruce has been an avid rider since he was 7 years old. His professional life was as a commercial photographer. And now he is continuing coaching education and certification. But instead of listing what he’s done, he would rather talk about why he rides…this is his story:
"I’m a cyclist and I think cycling is a metaphor for life. What is it when riding a bike isn’t just an activity to pass the time but is an obsession - not a way of life but perhaps a meaning of life? For me, riding a bike is not only about freedom or fitness, it’s about learning about myself. Goals, obstacles, challenges, wins, pain, losses, suffering and euphoria – moments I’ve had on the bike and can apply to living.
And like life, as we add years of riding we gain wisdom. In the ‘circle of life’, passing along our experiences and nuggets of wisdom to the younger is compelling. Instead of regaling in victories past and colossal failures, I have chosen the role of coach, to teach young cyclists not only how to ride a bike, but hopefully WHY to ride a bike."
John Clarke
Past President
John Clarke has over 25 years in environmental engineering as a remedial contractor. John combines technical knowledge with strong team building and client management skills. John has extensive experience in a range of remedial technologies including soil stabilization, cutoff wall design / installation, PRB wall installation, remedial plan development and implementation, and design build to name a few. John also has extensive experience in providing Emergency Response services to major industrial clients. In his spare time John can be found riding for pleasure. He has a son in the DEVO program.
Bryan Causton
Adult Membership
With a lifelong passion for cycling, Bryan is up for any adventure on a bike. Whether it's mastering a mountain trail, maneuvering a metropolitan maze, contesting a crit or cross course, or just hammering out on the open road, Bryan is always ready to ride, the faster the better.
Beyond his love for cycling, Bryan has dedicated over two decades to business intelligence, working in various roles to help health care in BC turn data into knowledge. His expertise in the field has been integral in the pursuit of constant improvement of our public service.
Bryan is a firm believer in the power of community and the importance of giving back. He's particularly passionate about the great work that EV does and is eager to contribute in any way he can to the organization's mission.
Alexa McLaren-Nabavi
General Director
Alexa McClaren-Nabavi specializes in Aboriginal law. Alexa was called to the Bar in Alberta and British Columbia in 2003. Prior to law school, Alexa earned a Masters degree in Aboriginal history with a focus on residential schools. She then worked for the Federal Government as a treaty analyst and assistant negotiator and travelled to First Nations communities throughout BC and the Yukon to attend negotiation sessions.
Joseph Tam
Secretary
Joseph works in IT Administration at a large educational institution, and is a founding member of Escape Velocity. Since the Paleozoic era when he became a member, he has held just about every role within the club, only resigning from them when members became aware he was no good
at them. He engages in many cycling activities, and what he lacks in competence, he makes up in enthusiasm.
Eric Gould
Finance
Eric grew up in Toronto, Ontario and works in Corporate Development at Mercer International. He used
the move to Vancouver as a great excuse to purchase a new bike and explore the beautiful Vancouver
region, including the local mountains. Prior to moving to Vancouver and joining Mercer International in
2018, Eric worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Raymond James covering the technology
industry. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier
University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
Teresa Rossiello
General Director
Teresa works as the Chair of the 'Task Force to End Homelessness in Burnaby' and she is also a Hop On instructor for Cycling BC.
Teresa is ‘that’ DEVO parent who is a team player and is always willing to pitch in! Last year she helped organize the Seymour Challenge and she is full of great ideas to enhance our club! She has two kids in the mountain bike program and her partner is also a DEVO coach!
Paul Rigby
DEVO Youth Development Liaison
Paul loves riding bikes and is best described as a recreational racer. Having grown up in Northumberland, UK riding bikes in the north pennines, Paul has had a passion for sport throughout his life. In recent years Paul has coached youth rugby Rugby with Tynedale RFC and Youth Cycling with Tyneside Vagabonds. Paul is a UK qualified architect and is a Partner of Faulkner Browns Architects, Faulkner Browns specialize in mixed use, commercial sport and leisure architecture and have designed and built velodromes in Europe and Canada. In 2019 Paul established Faulkner Browns first international studio in Vancouver and continues to build a new portfolio of work for the team in Canada. Paul's son Monty is part of the DEVO program and rides mtb, cx road and track.
Jeneen Sutherland, Executive Director
A marketing, communications and community engagement expert, Jeneen has been a cycling and skiing enthusiast her entire life. One of her main goals at EV is to see more kids at the start line bike racing and just to see more adults having fun on bikes in general! She is also an advocate for better cycling infrastructure across the province. When she's not involved with EV, she works for the Wilderness Tourism Association.
A History of our Club
The legend of what we now call the Team Escape Velocity Cycling Club (plus DEVO) is long and storied. What follows is a silly precis.
Normally, one begins at the beginning, but that may be the hardest place to start. When EV began, it wasn't EV at all, it was the Bike Cellar's bike club. That was in 1989.
Then in 1991, more or less, the founding members mostly left the Bike Cellar to form their own club, Escape Velocity. Club elder Michael Haywood shares this tale:
I pulled out of my driveway onto Pemberton Meadows Road on the weekend, with my wife in her usual spot hard on my rear wheel. Joe Tam’s favourite spot. Up the road was a solitary rider and we soon rode past her. She and Heather started talking, while I slaved away up front.
I was not paying much attention until I heard the visitor to our miniature pace line say, “I invented the name of your club, you know.” The pace-lining ended as I sat up to join the conversation.
Her story was that she, Alistair Barret (first club president, I think, and three in line prior to me) and two others were sitting around a kitchen table. The club was about to evolve from The Bike Cellar to something new. Alistair had liked the word “escape”, which makes sense if you know Alistair. She suggested velocity, as a combination of Velo and City. And the rest was history.
We later rode up to her spouse, who she met through their mutual membership in the club. He insisted on a slightly different story, but I like hers better.
One of our early club presidents sporting the jersey at that time.
ESCAPE VELOCITY/DEVO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION POLICY
Escape Velocity/DEVO is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Our members are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our members invest in our club represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation.
We embrace and encourage our members’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our members unique.
Escape Velocity/DEVO’s diversity initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices on recruitment and selection of coaches and volunteers, compensation, development, training and ongoing development of an environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces:
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Respectful communication and cooperation between all members.
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Teamwork and participation, permitting the representation of all groups and member perspectives.
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Contributions to the racing community to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.
All members have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. All members are expected to exhibit conduct that reflects inclusion during practices and events.
Any member found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be subject to disciplinary action.
Members who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with EV’s diversity policy and initiatives should seek assistance from the Board of Directors or Executive Director.