Victoria, BC– Today, at the board meetings of the Capital Regional District (CRD), the Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD) and the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC), Directors elected the Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the upcoming year.

Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith has been elected as the CRD Board Chair for the first time, and Metchosin Mayor Marie-Térèse Little has been elected as the CRD Board Vice-Chair for a second year.

“Our Strategic Priorities and the Corporate Plan are our collective path forward. When we set our priorities at the beginning of the term we were innovative, bold and aspirational for the future of the 450,000 citizens we serve today and for the growth that will continue into the future,” said Chair McNeil-Smith in his remarks. “This board and staff took an innovative approach to establish a new transportation service and were aspirational in seeking to establish a transportation authority. Seeing an environmentally responsible and economically feasible solution to manage biosolids with gasification is a bold Environmental Resource Management initiative the first of its time in the province. Productive government-to-government relationships with First Nations is an imperative priority and an imperative responsibility. Of course we have many other important priorities in housing, climate change, solid waste, parks, the Regional Growth Strategy and others. But let us acknowledge that transportation, dealing responsibly with biosolids, and productive First Nations relationships are far-reaching and are transformative in their beneficial impact to the region. Having said that, I will commit to keeping our focus on advancing all of our strategic priorities.”

The CRD Board Chair leads a 24-member Board of Directors comprised of one or more elected officials from each of the 13 municipalities and three electoral areas within the CRD’s boundaries. Each local government receives one director for every 25,000 population and receives one vote for every 5,000 population for matters requiring a weighted vote such as financial plans. The chair establishes standing committees, formalizes committee structures, and appoints committee chairs and vice-chairs as part of its governance structure.

Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch has been acclaimed to serve as the CRHD Board Chair for a third year and Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson has been elected as the CRHD Board Acting Chair for the first time. The CRHD, a corporation of the CRD, is committed to improving and sustaining the region’s health infrastructure through its partnership with Island Health.

Saanich Councillor Zac de Vries has been acclaimed to serve as the CRHC Board Chair for a third year and Victoria Councillor Jeremy Caradonna has been acclaimed as the CRHC Board Vice-Chair for a second year. The CRHC is a wholly-owned, non-profit corporation of the CRD, developing and managing affordable housing for low income families, seniors and persons living with disabilities across the region.

The CRD, CRHD and CRHC Boards lead decision-making on regional priorities and initiatives and provide oversight on a wide range of regional, sub-regional and local services. The CRD Board Priorities  were developed at the start of the Board term and formed the basis of the CRD's 2023-2026 Corporate Plan. The CRD’s Corporate Plan outlines actions to deliver on the CRD Board’s Priorities, approved plans and ongoing service commitments.

The CRD has more than 70 commissions and committees that oversee operations, some of which have delegated authority. This work involves many citizens who volunteer their services in the Southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island and Juan de Fuca electoral areas.

The capital region spans the Territories of approximately 20 First Nations and the CRD is committed to respectfully and appropriately engaging those First Nations communities in regional strategies, decision-making and shared interests.

In October, the CRD Board acknowledged the significant contributions of outgoing Chair, Colin Plant, who has led the board since 2018.

“I would like to thank the Board, CRD staff and the public for their support over the last six years that I have served as Board Chair,” said former CRD Chair Colin Plant. “It has been an honour I will always remember and I look forward to supporting our new chairs.”

For the complete list of Board Directors, please visit: https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/who-we-are/board-of-directors.

The CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and government partners to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the 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