Claire MacLean is the Chief Executive Officer of SHARE Family & Community Services Society (SHARE). SHARE provides a range of services to vulnerable children, youth, adults, families and seniors in the TriCities, including the local food bank, affordable housing, counselling services, support for seniors, addiction services, services for newcomers and refugees, and supports for children and youth with special needs.
Originally from Calgary, Claire began her career working in a daycare for young children with special needs. From there she studied to become a Speech Language Pathologist, working in schools, hospitals, and child development centres in Calgary, and then Toronto. Claire spent over a decade working in the Ontario government, managing programs and developing policy for children with special needs while working closely with local non-profits, public health, hospitals and schools to support children and their families.
Claire returned to BC in late 2015 and joined SHARE in 2016 as their Director of Children’s Programs. She was appointed as SHARE’s CEO in November 2017. Claire is grateful to be living and raising her children in the TriCities community, and to be a part of the remarkable SHARE team!
Claire will be part of SVI Hollyhock 2026’s Case Study, with her business SHARE.
About SHARE
From babies taking their first steps to seniors striving to remain independent, SHARE Family & Community Services provides connection, care, and opportunity at every stage of life. We support children, youth, families, and seniors through times of vulnerability with integrated services across seven priority areas: food security, mental health and substance use, housing, employment, early childhood development and early intervention services, community inclusion, and senior supports.
Now in our 54th year, SHARE began in 1972 as a children’s clothing exchange in founder Gertie Grosser’s basement, quickly growing into a hub for neighbours helping neighbours. In 1990, SHARE established its sister organization, 43 Housing, which now operates 388 units of affordable housing across six locations in the Tri-Cities.
Today, SHARE is an independent, community-based nonprofit serving more than 30,000 residents across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Belcarra, Anmore, and New Westminster—reaching approximately 1 in 9 people in the Tri-Cities. Grounded in addressing poverty, isolation, and exclusion, we intervene early to ensure people receive the right support at the right time, strengthening resilience and changing trajectories before challenges become crises.