Park Board Elects New Chair, Vice Chair

December 11, 2007 (No. 62) - Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Korina Houghton was elected as the organization's new Chair at last night's Park Board meeting. Commissioner Ian Robertson was elected as the new Vice Chair. The election of the new Chair and Vice Chair marked the beginning of the current Park Board's third year of a three year term (2006-2008).

Korina Houghton, previously Vice Chair, has a Degree in Forestry, currently works for a natural resource consulting firm and is a Forester in Training (FIT) with the Association of BC Forest Professionals. During her term as Park Commissioner she has been liaison to the Jericho Sailing Centre Association, the Vancouver Field Sport Federation, VanDusen Botanical Garden and the Vancouver Heritage Commission along with Renfrew, Strathcona and West Point Grey Community Centres. She has worked in recreation area management for BC Hydro and in ecological reserve planning in New Brunswick. In addition, she has an extensive sports background and was a BCRPA certified Fitness Instructor. Korina also founded and is President of the Foundation of Hope for Children's Hospitals.

Ian Robertson, the previous Park Board Chair, is a graduate of the marketing program at BCIT and is Executive Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs with Armstrong Group, owners and operators of Rocky Mountaineer Vacations and Gray Line West. Ian is a 20-year resident of Vancouver and has been involved in amateur sport primarily through the participation of his two sons in field sports. He served as President of Dunbar Little League for four years. He is the Park Board liaison for the Dunbar, Grandview and Riley Community Centre Associations, the Community Centre Association Presidents and the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre.

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For more information contact Joyce Courtney, Manager of Communications, 604-257-8699.
www.vancouverparks.ca

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 200 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.