Victoria, BC– Today, at the inaugural 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.
Saanich Councillor Colin Plant has been re-elected as the CRD Board Chair, and Sooke Mayor Maja Tait has been elected as the CRD Board Vice-Chair.
“With all the new faces at the board table and the renewed commitment to work together, the CRD has a real opportunity to make a difference during this term on its Strategic Priorities,” said Chair Plant. “I have heard from Directors they really want to work together and explore Regional Transportation in a renewed, strategic way and to work with the province to deliver the best outcomes possible regionally. I look forward to working with our new CAO and all CRD staff to continue to deliver the services people expect from the CRD and to make the quality of life even better in this region by listening, planning and responding to emergent issues.”
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 will establish standing committees, formalize committee structures, and appoint committee chairs and vice-chairs.
Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch has been elected as the CRHD Board Chair and Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith has been 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 partnership with Island Health.
Saanich Councillor Zac de Vries has been elected as the CRHC Board Chair and Sooke Mayor Maja Tait has been elected as the CRHC Board Vice-Chair. 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.
One of the first orders of business for the CRD Board is to identify its most important priorities over the next four years, setting the course for region-wide, long-term impacts that will benefit the region. A consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, will facilitate the priority-setting process. This process will lead to the development of a corporate plan that will set out how the Board priorities will be achieved over the four year term.
In accordance with provincial legislation, representation on the CRD Board balances varying population bases with shared community interests. 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. Chairs and Vice-Chairs are elected each November.
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.
For the complete list of Board Directors for the 2022 to 2026 term, please visit: https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/board-committees/board-representation
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, 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 all levels of government 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.
-30-
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492