Our Team | East End Boys Club

About our Founder Jim Crescenzo

Alfonso James Crescenzo (aka Jimmy, Mr. C.) started this organization with only a desire to help that kid in the corner, that kid sitting by himself in the cafeteria, that kid self-medicating to escape the insanity of his home or that kid so lost, that only a street gang could provide the family structure that was missing in his life. Initially, it was Jim, sitting in a semi-circle, conducting meetings, comforting distraught teens, but always emphasizing the need to be together, to be a community.

After a 37 year career in education, Jim wanted to continue to serve the community he calls home. Every endeavour, every cause, must have a driving force, and in the East End Boys Club, that unstoppable, never-ending force is Jim Crescenzo. He is not only the Executive Director but personally takes on many other roles, from driver, to counsellor, to mentor, to leader of our community. His very unique hands-on approach ensures that our boys do not fall through the cracks. His firm commitment to seeing the boys succeed and complete a trades training program or post-secondary education are his genuine ambitions for the boys he serves.

Jim's career has been recognized with numerous honours, including:

2017 Community Builder Award, Motion Picture Production Industry Association
2016 Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence
2015 Peace Medallion, YMCA of Greater Vancouver.
2015 Award for Faith and Community, City In Focus
2014 Italian-Canadian Man of the Year
2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal
2001 Vancouver School Board Recognition of Outstanding Contribution

We are pleased to have working with us, community members who are "champions" in their own right. From world renown boxers and martial artists, to award winning teachers and business people to self-made industrialists, we have the knowledge and connections to inspire our boys to move forward and to seize opportunities that our community is able to provide.

EEBC Co-Founder and Administrator

Tina Crescenzo

Tina was a teacher in the Burnaby School District for 30 years, first as a French Immersion teacher and later as a Learning Support teacher, working with children with special needs and Learning Disabilities. Tina is trained at the Master’s level and has thousands of hours of clinical practice. Tina is the author of the Diagnostic Emergent Reading Assessment and Writing Frames for All Learners. She is trained in NARM (Neuro Affective Relational Model) and Neuro-Touch, for healing developmental trauma and in Somatic Experiencing for shock trauma recovery.

Actor, Kick Boxing World Champion

Jerry Trimble

Jerry “Golden Boy” Trimble is the former PKA and PKC World Kickboxing Champion of the World who has since been inducted into the Kickboxing Hall of Fame. He is currently a film and TV actor. Jerry is also a Motivational Youth Speaker who empowers teens to get out of their comfort zone, discover their gifts and go after their dreams. Jerry uses his real-life experiences as proof that if an insecure, fearful, bullied teen like he was can make his dreams come true, anyone can.

Teacher, Boxing World Champion

Manny Sobral

Manny is the former Canadian and IBO Super Welterweight Champion of the World who also represented Canada at the 1988 Olympic Summer Games. He is a former student of Jim Crescenzo’s at Templeton Secondary and now teaches for the Vancouver School Board, where he works with highly at-risk students in their SUMMIT program.

Mentor, Realtor

Phil Moore

Phil Moore has been a realtor with RE/MAX Central Burnaby for over 30 years and has served as the Immediate Past President of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver for the last 8 years. Phil is also a former policeman for the Vancouver Police Department.

Mentor, Drama Teacher

Tanya Zambrano

Tanya is a Drama Teacher at Templeton Secondary and is involved in supporting the EEBC theatrical productions as a Production Manager. She is the Lead Mentor for the EEBC Girls group.

Film Producer, Stunt Co-Ordinator

Danny Virtue

Danny is one of the most influential people in the Film and TV Industry. He was the recipient of the 2016 Motion Picture Production Industry Association Community Builder Award. Danny is President of the Virtue Foundation and is passionate about helping marginalized young people to find solutions to life’s adversities. Danny will be working with EEBC with our Film Industry Job Entry Program. His knowledge of the industry is unparalleled in Canada and through these contacts, Danny can offer the EEBC a virtual phonebook of experts willing to mentor our boys.

Film Teacher

Corin Browne

Corin has worked with Jim Crescenzo and the Templeton Film Program since 1997. Many of our boys have worked with Corin to produce films that have won top awards in City, Provincial, National and International Festivals. Corin is teaching our Film Program during the school year and taught the Indigenous Film Project Camp.

Indigenous Carver, Teacher

Dave Robinson

Dave is leading the Medical Wheel Puzzle Project with our EEBC members. As an indigenous carver and sculptor, Dave brings first-hand expertise to our boys both Indigenous and those from other cultures. We wanted to do our part in addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action by involving our boys in this year-long learning opportunity.

Mentor, Actor

Ali Chaudhry

Ali is an actor and also works in the finance industry for the community centred credit union Vancity. He has coached basketball for his community and was a coach at Camp Choice Summer Camps. Ali is a former student of Jim Crescenzo’s Theatre, Film and East End Boys Club programs.

Mentor, Firefighter

Mark Curtin

Mark Curtin is a North Vancouver firefighter with 11 years of service. His wife is a high school teacher and together they have two children, ages 10 and12.

Theatre Director

Kevin Bennet

Born and raised in Vancouver Canada and based in London UK, Kevin is a theatre director who is proud of his East Van roots. After graduating from Templeton Secondary in 2006 and Langara College’s Studio 58 theatre program in 2009, he got his start as an assistant director for two seasons at Canada’s Stratford Festival. Shortly after his time in Stratford, Kevin began working with Shakespeare’s Globe theatre as an associate director on The Merchant of Venice starring Jonathan Pryce. He currently lives in London where he works as a freelance theatre director and continues to travel the world to direct and teach acting. This past year Shakespeare’s Globe has sent Kevin to the USA, China and India.

Mentor

Suzana El-Khatib

Suzana El-Khatib is Vice President & General Counsel at the Aquilini Group. She graduated from UBC law school and strongly believes in the passionate pursuit of education to further one’s growth. Suzan is a strong advocate for mental health and support for the vulnerable, marginalized individuals in our community. Suzan is privileged to be a mentor to the Girls Club and hopes to inspire the women of tomorrow to shatter all glass ceilings.

Mentor

Alana Aquilini

Alana is a third-generation family member of the Aquilini

Group and the first female family member to join the business.

With her MBA, she is active in her family business as the Director of Corporate Development for Aquilini Development. Alana is dedicated to the EEBC Girls’ Groups and the support it provides ts members. Taking part in the growth of the program and mpacting the next generation of young people is something she oves very much.