Colby Marie Althouse
Notary Public
Colby was born and raised in Nanaimo and is proud to be raising her own two children in the community she has always called home. Her strong connection to Nanaimo extends beyond her professional practice, as she is actively involved in the community and passionate about giving back.
Colby has held a number of community leadership roles, including serving as the President of the Vancouver Island University Alumni Association Board. She believes strongly in supporting local organizations and creating opportunities for children and families in the community. Through Colby Marie Notary Public, she proudly sponsors and supports numerous teams and programs, including Nanaimo Minor Hockey, the Nanaimo District Minor Lacrosse Association, and the Nanaimo Hornets Rugby Minis Program.
For Colby, being a Notary Public is about more than serving clients. It is about being part of the community, supporting local families, and contributing to the place she is proud to call home.
Colby attended, what was then called, Malaspina University College and obtained a Business Administration Diploma in 2008. After taking time off to travel the world Colby returned to Nanaimo and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with concentrations in both Marketing and Management in 2010 and at the same time completed an Event Management Certificate. Colby then went on to work with two major financial institutions over a 10 year span where she focused on expanding her financial acumen by completing many Canadian Securities Institute Global Education courses; including, a Mutual Funds License Investment Funds in Canada (IFIC) certification in 2010, a Personal Financial Service Advice (PFSA) certificate in 2012, and successfully completed the first Financial Planning (FP I) certificate in 2013. After taking a break from further education to focus on starting a family, Colby joined RBC where she was a Business Account Manager for 4 years and then she returned to the books and completed a Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies (MAALS) at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in 2021. In March 2022 Colby sat and passed the B.C. Notarial Statutory Exams and was Commissioned in our Supreme Court of British Columbia, in June 2022 to act as a Notary Public.
Colby is a current member of the Estate Planning Council of Canada and is a new member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) currently enrolled to obtain a STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates.
Colby is passionate about family time, recently completed her second half marathon and enjoys her free time on the tennis courts.
Sarah Taylor
Real Estate Conveyancer and Lead Office Assistant
With existing experience in office administration and a long-standing background in real estate, Sarah is proud to bring her experience, attention to detail, and genuine enjoyment of working with people to her role at Colby Marie Notary Public as Real Estate Conveyancer and Lead Office Assistant.
Throughout her career, Sarah has had the opportunity to work in a variety of professional settings, including a large law firm, dental office, and as an employment counsellor supporting individuals receiving social assistance as they worked toward their employment goals. She also owned and operated her own in-home daycare while raising her own son for 10 years. These experiences have strengthened her organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills and have given her the opportunity to work with and support people from many different walks of life. Sarah’s experience in real estate started when she worked at RE/MAX of Prince George and Coast Realty, where she supported Realtors with real estate conveyancing. Most recently Sarah worked at a large local law firm as the Conveyancing Coordinator, where Sarah also was responsible for her own real estate sale, transmission and family transfer files. These roles provided her with valuable experience in the real estate transaction process and strengthened her understanding of the importance of organization, accuracy, communication, and attention to detail. Sarah has always enjoyed working in real estate and being part of the process of helping clients navigate important milestones in their lives.
As Lead Office Assistant, Sarah takes great pride in supporting and mentoring the office assistants and reception team. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience, helping her colleagues grow in their roles, and contributing to a positive, collaborative, and welcoming office environment.
Sarah grew up in the Central Interior of B.C. and moved to Vancouver Island with her husband in 2008. They have been fortunate to call the Island home ever since. Family is her priority, and she cherishes spending time with her husband and their teenage son.
In her free time, Sarah loves travelling, gardening, and camping, and especially enjoys spending time in her yard with her dogs. She feels very fortunate to have made her home on Vancouver Island and to be part of the community she has come to love.
Olga Samoylenko
Real Estate Conveyancer and Office Assistant
Olga grew up in Ukraine and moved to Kamloops in 2021, where she completed a series of English as a Second Language courses at Thompson Rivers University. She then attended Sprott Shaw College and successfully graduated with an Executive Legal Administration Diploma in 2022.
After gaining valuable experience working in Kamloops, Olga moved to Vancouver Island and quickly fell in love with beautiful Nanaimo, where she joined Colby Marie Notary Public as an Office Assistant and Real Estate Conveyancer.
Olga has since relocated to Vancouver and continues to be an integral part of our team, working remotely from home. In September 2026, she will begin the next chapter of her professional journey by pursuing a Bachelor of Legal Studies (Paralegal) Degree.
We are excited to support Olga as she continues to grow her knowledge and expertise in the legal field.
Madison Murias
Receptionist
Madison brings a strong interest in office administration, creativity, and working with people to her role at Colby Marie Notary Public as an Office Assistant and Receptionist. She joined our team in July 2026 and is excited to begin building her career while gaining valuable experience in the legal field.
Madison was born in Calgary, Alberta, and spent her early elementary school years in Abbotsford, B.C. She later moved with her parents to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where she completed her schooling from Grade 2 through Grade 12, graduating high school online during the pandemic. Wanting to be closer to family, Madison and her parents moved to Nanaimo in July 2021, where she has continued to call Vancouver Island home.
Madison has always had an interest in learning and developing new skills. She completed several courses through Simon Fraser University’s online Editing Certificate program before continuing her studies through Vancouver Island University’s Visual Arts program. In February 2026, she completed her Office Administration Assistant Certificate, providing her with a strong foundation in administrative skills and preparing her to begin her career in a professional office environment.
At Colby Marie Notary Public, Madison enjoys being part of a welcoming and supportive team. She is eager to continue developing her administrative skills, learn more about the legal field, and provide friendly, reliable support to our clients. She brings a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and attention to detail to her role at the office.
Outside of work, Madison enjoys exploring Vancouver Island with her family, making art, and curling up in her favourite chair with a good book. She is excited to continue building her career while making Vancouver Island her home.
Myanna Theckston
Office Assistant
Myanna grew up moving across Canada with her family, giving her the opportunity to experience many different communities and environments throughout the country. She has called beautiful Nanaimo home for the past four years and recently graduated from high school.
In July 2026, Myanna joined Colby Marie Notary Public as an Office Assistant. She is currently taking a gap year to gain valuable work experience before beginning university in September 2027. She is excited to start her professional journey, develop new skills, and gain experience in the legal field while supporting our team and assisting our clients.
Outside of the office, Myanna enjoys staying active through sports and working out, as well as travelling and exploring new places. We are excited to have her as part of our team and look forward to supporting her as she begins this next chapter.