Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) is pleased to announce the elections of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the CRD, the Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD) and the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC) Boards. This marks the start of the third year in a four-year term for each Board following the local general election in October 2018.
Colin Plant has been re-elected as the CRD Board Chair for a third consecutive year and Rebecca Mersereau has been elected for the first time as the CRD Board Vice-Chair. Both directors are councillors for the District of Saanich.
In his opening remarks, Chair Plant confirmed the Board’s focus on regional priorities and made a commitment to adjust committee membership roles. “I am honoured to serve the Board and I pledge to continue working with every member of the Board to be successful and have good relations. After two years I believe it is healthy to have change at the committee level and to give some directors who were new in 2018 an opportunity to serve in a greater leadership role.”
The CRD Board Chair leads a 24 member Board of Directors comprised of locally elected mayors and councillors appointed by their councils and directly elected directors representing Salt Spring Island, the Southern Gulf Islands and the Juan de Fuca electoral areas. The Chair establishes standing committees, formalizes committee structures, and appoints committee chairs and vice-chairs as part of its governance structure.
In accordance with provincial legislation, representation on the CRD Board balances varying population bases with community interests. Each local government receives one vote for every 5,000 population and receives one director for every 25,000 population, which is reviewed by the Province after each census. Chairs and Vice-Chairs are elected each November. Directors of the CRD Board also serve as Board members of the CRHD and CRHC Boards.
City of Langford Councillor Denise Blackwell has been re-elected as the CRHD Board Chair and Colin Plant has been re-elected as the CRHD Board Acting Chair. The CRHD, a corporation of the CRD, is committed to improving and sustaining the region’s health infrastructure through its funding partnership with Island Health. The CRHD supports a healthy region by investing in healthcare service and capital strategic priorities, such as The Summit at Quadra Village, a 320-unit long term care facility which opened in 2020.
City of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps has been re-elected as the CRHC Board Chair and Town of View Royal Mayor David Screech has been re-elected as the CRHC Board Vice-Chair. The CRHC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the CRD, developing and managing affordable housing for low income families, seniors and persons living with disabilities. As the largest social housing provider in the capital region, the CRHC delivers affordable, attractive, inclusive, sustainable housing.
Responding to community needs, the CRD Board of Directors identifies priorities and sets the strategic course for the CRD over a four-year period, including an annual review of Board Priorities. The CRD, CRHD and CRHC Boards combine to lead decision-making on regional priorities and initiatives and provide oversight on a wide range of regional, sub-regional and local services. The CRD’s Corporate Plan outlines actions to deliver on the CRD Board’s Priorities, approved plans and ongoing service commitments.
For more information on the CRD’s priorities and mandate, please visit: https://www.crd.bc.ca/plans
For the complete list of Board Directors, please visit: https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/who-we-are/board-of-directors
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD is the regional government for 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, serving more than 392,000 citizens. Guided by its Board, the CRD works collaboratively to create a sustainable, livable and vibrant region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492