One-on-One with Stacy Ashton
The Crisis Centre of BC’s new Executive Director
Stacy started her career in the non-profit sector as a volunteer on the Crisis Lines, prior to completing her Masters in Counselling at Simon Fraser University and working in the field as a Suicide Intervention Counsellor. She spent over a decade focused on non-profit management and volunteer engagement as the Executive Director of Community Volunteer Connections and as the Provincial Coordinator of Volunteer Resources with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. She is thrilled to be bringing her experience and skills back to the place she started. In her spare time, Stacy serves on the New Westminster Public Library Board, makes movies, and hangs out with her husband and cats.
What are you most excited about in your new role?
Working with a solid team of highly skilled and passionate professionals who are saving lives and helping people work through some of their toughest moments.
What quality do you admire most in a leader?
The leaders I admire most accept reality in all its complicated glory, don’t get (permanently) overwhelmed by it, and choose to act from a basis of hope instead of frustration. I call it “strategic optimism.”
What makes you laugh?
A lot of things, from the absurdity of the human condition to raccoons trying to wash cotton candy before they eat it.
What inspires you, and why?
Animal rescue stories. I love seeing people from all over the world drop everything to get a kitten out of a drain pipe or a dog out of a raging flood. It reminds me that most hearts are big and compassionate.
What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
I wrote and helped produce two short films for the Run ‘n Gun 48-hour film festivals. You get your required elements on Friday night; write, film, and edit a five-minute film; and turn it in Sunday night. The second film was actually pretty decent!
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned?
You can do ridiculous things if you don’t realize how hard they are going to be before you start them.
How do you like to recharge?
Sitting on my couch with a cat purring on my lap.
What is the best advice you were ever given?
If you think you know what’s going on for another person, lay down and wait a while. It will pass.
What would you like to be remembered for?
The quality of my hugs.
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
The ability to fly. And also the ability to control my body temperature so I wouldn’t get too cold while I flew.