Board of Directors

Canadian Mental Health Association, Kamloops Branch Board of Directors

Shari Finlay – President

Shari Finlay (she/her)  is a passionate and dedicated servant leader committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive community. With a strong belief in the power of restorative justice, she tirelessly promotes healing and understanding in both her professional and personal life. A graduate of Royal Roads University with a certificate in Professional Management, Shari brings a unique blend of leadership skills and a heart for service to the CMHA board.

Outside of her professional work, Shari enjoys spending quality time with her family and their beloved dogs, as well as indulging in creative crafting projects. As a servant leader, she is focused on fostering environments where individuals feel supported, valued, and empowered—driving positive change at every level

Amisha Patel

Amisha Patel is a practicing registered nurse who graduated from the University of Alberta BScN Collaborative program. She has various experience providing care for those suffering from mental illness, disabilities, dementia and neurodegenerative disorders. She is currently completing her Master of Nursing degree with a specialization in education and research. An interest in system improvement has fed into her Master of Nursing research topic exploring women’s experiences of breastfeeding support. Amisha is a proud intersectional feminist and is proud to serve on various boards and committees within the community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, travelling, and trying new food.

Shari Caputo

Shari worked at RIH as a RN for 15 years on medical and maternity units and is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor for the BScN program at TRU. Shari enjoys teaching in clinical practice, psychomotor skills and simulation, and has a passion for nursing history. She joined the CMHA Board with the hope to positively effect change for people with mental health issues because of her own family history of mental health illness, in addition to witnessing the negative impact of the pandemic on the public’s mental health.

Jo Kang

Jo was born and raised in Kamloops and is a graduate of Thompson Rivers University. He has been working in local government since 2018 and is currently a Community Services Coordinator with the Thompson Nicola Regional District. He is also an elected School Trustee on the Board of Education for School District #73 – Kamloops Thompson. Jo brings 5+ years of experience from past boards to the CMHA board. Jo is an active member of the community, volunteering for numerous causes in Kamloops. Outside of work, Jo enjoys coaching basketball, working out, traveling, and spending time with family/friends.

Troy Clifford

Troy Clifford, MTMS, is a public service leader, governance professional, and community
advocate based in Kamloops, British Columbia, with nearly 38 years of experience in public
safety, emergency health care, labour relations, communications, trusteeship, and governance.

Troy recently retired from BC Emergency Health Services following nearly 38 years of service
in a variety of frontline and leadership roles, including dispatcher, paramedic, supervisor,
emergency coordinator, instructor, workers’ advocate, critical incident peer debriefer, and
paramedic chief. He is also the past Provincial President and a long-serving executive officer of
the Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers of BC (APBC), where he represented more than
6,000 frontline paramedics and dispatchers across British Columbia.

Until April 29, 2026, Troy served as a Trustee on the joint Public Service Pension Plan Board of
Trustees (PSPBT), where he chaired the Communications Committee and participated on
governance, benefits, responsible investment, and interplan committees focused on investment
oversight, trustee education, stakeholder engagement, and plan sustainability.

Throughout his career, Troy has been a strong advocate for mental health awareness,
psychological safety, and support for first responders, public service workers, and the broader
community. His involvement with CMHA Kamloops reflects both his lived experience and his
ongoing commitment to strengthening access to compassionate and inclusive mental health
supports, reducing stigma, and helping build healthier and more resilient communities.

Troy holds the Master of Trust Management Standards (MTMS) designation through the
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and has completed additional education in
pension governance, responsible investment, communications, leadership, and public relations
strategy through organizations including Cornell University, the Justice Institute of British
Columbia, SHARE, and the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division. He is also an
active speaker and moderator at pension, benefits, governance, and public sector conferences and
educational events across Canada.

He currently serves as a Director with CMHA Kamloops, a member of the Board Selection and
Nominating Committee for CMHA BC Division, an advisor on CMHA BC’s Adult Lived
Experience Advisory Group supporting the new Mood & Anxiety (Stepped Care) Program, an
appointee to the BCFSA Pensions Roundtable, and a member of the International Foundation of
Employee Benefit Plans Canadian Legal/Legislative and Public Sector Committee. As he
transitions into this next phase of his career, Troy remains active in governance, advisory,
engagement, and community leadership opportunities.

Dianna Bingley – Carson Semesock

If you are interested in becoming a board member, you can find more information here.