HI Canada Governance
For us at HI Canada, being travel conscious means travelling with open-mindedness, togetherness and mindfulness at the forefront. We want to help shape a global movement of conscious travellers who strive to create a more peaceful, inclusive world.
To help create this community, HI Canada starts at the grass roots level with the involvement of our members. Each HI Canada member has the opportunity to share their voice in the overall governance of the organization.
We invite you to join us!
Building a travel conscious community
Mindfulness
We’re on a mission to leave the world better than found.
We raise consciousness about a better way of travelling, to being thankful and respectful of the people and the places that make each moment unique and memorable.
Open-mindedness
We welcome people and ideas from all places.
We believe everyone should be free to express their point of view.
We encourage the sharing of knowledge, experience and beliefs.
Togetherness
We believe experiences are better lived when shared with others in friendship and understanding.
We believe in collaboration and the power of the collective: all for one and one for all.
Our Board of Directors
HI Canada currently has 10 members serving on the Board. Each board member is elected by HI Canada members and their role is to determine policy, ensure the proper management of HI Canada and provide effective guidance and leadership to the CEO and the rest of the HI Canada staff.
Lenore Neudorf, Chair
Lenore is passionate about hostelling and the connections and fellowship it provides. As a retired senior executive and lawyer, she has brought her extensive experience to Hostelling International Canada for over 20 years, both regionally and nationally. In her free time, Lenore loves to travel, golf and pursue her interest in art.
John Hutchings, Director
Growing up in Ottawa and abroad, John developed a love for travel and intercultural exchange through his family’s many moves. These experiences sparked both wanderlust and an appreciation for how travellers connect and enrich communities. A lawyer specializing in human rights, migration, and administrative justice, John has worked in Canada’s public service since 2007, including roles in Ontario and Montreal.
Victoria Oppenlander, Director
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Victoria has been an avid hosteller for over a decade. Through her work on the board, she is eager to continue fostering the sense of community that hostelling brings. In her free time, you can usually find Victoria on an adventure, or planning the next one!
Jeremy Fowler, Director
Jeremy had his first hostel experience in 2013 when he travelled to Malaysia and has been hooked ever since - he joined the HI-Atlantic board soon after that trip. Whether at home or on a hostel trip, this East Coaster is typically found running through the woods or constantly snapping photos.
Brandon Sousa, Director
Brandon is an experienced corporate communications professional who has worked with some of Canada’s largest brands and public companies. A passionate traveller with more than 50 countries under his belt, he believes adventure fosters personal growth and positive economic impact. A former accredited travel writer, he loves hostels for their community spirit. Brandon also brings eight years of board and governance experience, having served as a director with a provincial association for professional craft artists.
Kevin Pals, Director
Growing up in Alberta, Kevin embraced the outdoors and the adventures of the Rocky Mountains. Having lived, worked, and travelled abroad, he’s seen firsthand the impact hostelling has on young travellers. Now based in Vancouver, Kevin works for a travel technology company, supporting strategic planning, community engagement, and destination development. He’s excited to help HI Canada’s network grow from coast to coast.
Shane Kerpan, Director
Shane’s journey with HI began in 1998 when he became Hostel Manager at the Kamloops Old Courthouse Hostel. Over the next two and a half years, he successfully turned around a struggling operation while discovering what remains one of the most rewarding experiences of his career. Managing the hostel gave him the chance to meet incredible people from around the world, learn about diverse cultures, and experience the spirit of hostelling firsthand. Those years left a lasting impression on Shane and continue to inspire his passion for travel, community, and the connections that hostelling makes possible.
Veronique Lescaut, Director
With extensive travel experience across Latin America, Veronique’s love of hostels sparked a lifelong passion for tourism and sustainability. After living and working in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, she moved to Canada with her Québécois husband and three sons to raise them closer to home. Now embracing the joys of Canadian outdoor life (black flies aside!), Veronique brings strong corporate management experience in travel and tourism and a deep commitment to connecting people through meaningful travel. She’s excited to support HI Canada’s mission to inspire authentic experiences and global understanding.
Jeansil Bruyère, Director
Raised between Montréal, La Malbaie, and Zamboanga, Jeansil draws on his French Canadian and Tausug (Filipino Muslim) roots to celebrate intercultural connection and the transformative power of travel. As a biracial queer person of colour, he brings a vital perspective to HI Canada’s mission. His career in public service, law, and advocacy focuses on advancing the rights of refugees, migrants, trans communities, and people living with HIV. Now based in Montreal, Jeansil continues to promote inclusion and equity—and still finds joy in the simple magic of hostelling: a bunk bed, a new city, and a curious heart.
Sara Caissie, Director
Born and raised in Vancouver, Sara discovered her love of travel at age 11 on her first trip to Japan. She’s since set out to visit 100 countries before turning 100, hostelling and blogging along the way. With over 15 years in marketing, she’s worked with leading tourism organizations, including Destination Canada. Sara also volunteers with The Starfish Canada, mentoring young writers passionate about environmental sustainability. When she’s not working or travelling, she shares the joy (and chaos) of co-parenting a rescue dog with her sister.
Our Bylaws, meetings and events
Our Bylaws
Board Meetings
HI Canada Board Meeting Summary, Virtual, February 2025
HI Canada Board Meeting Summary, Halifax, October 26-27 2024
HI Canada Board meeting summary, HI Banff, June 1-2 2024
HI Canada Board meeting summary, HI Quebec March 16-17 2024
Annual General Meeting
Thank you to those who attended our Annual General Meeting on September 10th, 2025.
Member Socials
This is a chance for members to mingle with some of our board members and fellow HI members, and to visit a local hostel.
Details on any future meet-ups will be posted here and sent out via email to our registered members.