Leadership

Joanna Guo, Executive director

Joanna Guo is a registered nurse with a background in both acute medicine and palliative care. She has also served as a palliative care specialist, providing after-hours support to clients in the community and staff in Vancouver Coastal Health’s long-term care homes. Joanna holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Philosophy. She is deeply passionate about geriatric nursing and committed to delivering culturally sensitive, person-centered care. For the past two years, Joanna has served as Villa Cathay’s Director of Care, and she now looks forward to her new role as Executive Director, continuing her dedication to enhancing the quality of life for older adults.

Claire Zi, Director of Care

Claire Zi has been part of Villa Cathay for the past three years, serving as Assistant Care Manager. She brings a strong nursing background with two years in medical-surgical care and three years in emergency nursing, where she developed expertise in clinical care and crisis management. In addition to her clinical experience, Claire holds an MBA in healthcare and has worked in healthcare process improvement, further strengthening her leadership and system-level skills. She is passionate about combining hands-on nursing expertise with strategic leadership to support both residents and staff in delivering high-quality, compassionate care.

Selina Zhou, Director of Finance & Administration

Selina Zhou brings extensive experience in financial management, audit, and taxation. Her expertise includes organizational structuring, financial systems optimization, treasury management, and regulatory compliance. Before joining Villa Cathay, Selina held senior financial and leadership positions across public practice, publicly traded companies, and conglomerates. She is both a Chartered Professional Accountant (Canada) and a Certified Public Accountant (Illinois, USA), and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Selina is dedicated to ensuring Villa Cathay’s financial sustainability while supporting its mission of providing exceptional care.

Bernie Lee, Director of Rehabilitation Services

Bernie Lee joined Villa Cathay in 2021 overseeing physiotherapy and occupational therapy services. A registered physiotherapist since 1995, Bernie brings extensive rehabilitation experience across acute, sub-acute, outpatient, home care, and long-term care settings. Prior to Villa Cathay, he specialized in orthopedics at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto for 10 years, and later held various roles at Vancouver Coastal Health, including physiotherapist, facility liaison, and priority access clinician. He has contributed to VCH regional initiatives such as falls prevention, hip fracture care, least restraint, and the implementation of the BC wheelchair policy. Bernie holds a BSc in Physiotherapy from the University of Alberta and a BSc (Hons) in Human Physiology from the University of Toronto. He is committed to compassionate, standardized, and person-centered care that upholds the dignity, independence, and well-being of seniors.

Joey Cheung, Director of Donor and Community Engagement

Since joining Villa Cathay in 2018, Joey Cheung has focused on building meaningful relationships and successful partnerships to support fundraising initiatives and long-term projects. She brings broad experience from working with non-profits, small businesses, governments, and community organizations. A proud UBC alumna, Joey is often seen representing Villa Cathay at community events such as the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade, the Steveston Salmon Festival, and Canadian Cancer Society fundraisers. Her work plays a vital role in ensuring the sustainability and growth of Villa Cathay’s mission.

David Louie, Director of Facility Services

David Louie, a master electrician with more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, brings a wealth of technical expertise to Villa Cathay. His career has spanned both residential and commercial projects, from landmark developments such as the Bentall 5 Tower and the SkyTrain Millennium Line to day-to-day facility operations. David values the importance of every task—whether a major project or a small repair—understanding how each contributes to the comfort and safety of residents. At Villa Cathay, he blends his technical proficiency with a genuine commitment to service, ensuring the home remains a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environment for all.

May Zhang, Manager of Support Services

May Zhang is a registered member of the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management (CSNM) with a strong background in hospitality management and more than a decade of experience in the food service industry. She has managed food service operations in both acute care and long-term care settings. Passionate about caring for others, May takes pride in creating meals that are both nourishing and enjoyable. She believes that food has the power to bring joy and comfort, and through her work at Villa Cathay, she is dedicated to enhancing the dining experience and contributing to residents’ overall well-being.

Rikki Wu, Recreation Manager

Rikki Wu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Douglas College and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. At Villa Cathay, she plans, develops, implements, and evaluates recreation programs tailored to residents’ physical, social, cognitive, spiritual, and emotional needs. Rikki is passionate about using therapeutic recreation to support residents in maintaining independence, fostering connection, and enhancing their overall quality of life.

Want to join our team? Check out our current opportunities page or send your resume to [email protected]!