The Vancouver Police Board is the governing body for the Vancouver Police Department. It provides civilian governance and oversight of policing.

Police Board Members

Mayor Gregor Robertson, Chair and Board Spokesperson.
Mary Collins
Terry La Liberté QC, Lawyer
Patti Marfleet, Lawyer
Jason McLean, Businessperson
Sheryl Williamson, Businessperson and community leader
Glenn Wong, Businessperson

Under British Columbia’s Police Act, the Board consists of the Mayor as Chair; one person appointed by the municipal council; and up to five people appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Board members are chosen to reflect the demographics of the community. They are people who have demonstrated that they can act in the community’s best interest. Each Board member is appointed for a term of up to four years. They may be re-appointed, but cannot serve for more than six consecutive years.

Eligibility

The Police Act states that "a person who is a councillor or who is ineligible to be elected as a councillor must not be appointed to a municipal police board".

This means that only Canadian citizens aged 18 or over, who have lived in BC for at least six months and have not been disqualified from voting in local elections may be appointed to the Board.

Judges of the provincial court, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal; employees or salaried officers of the City of Vancouver; those under sentence for an indictable offence, in custody or in prison; or those found guilty of an elections offence, are not eligible. ¹

Further, Police Services requires that Police Board members either live or work in the municipality, and pass a security check.

Workload

The workload of a Vancouver Police Board member includes:

Attendance at monthly Board meetings, held on Wednesday afternoons from 1pm, alternately at 2120 Cambie Street and at community locations [estimated 4-5 hours/ month, except August]
Attendance at committee meetings [estimated 3-9 hours/month, depending on committee membership]
Attendance at Service and Policy Complaint Review Committee meetings, held as required [estimated 0-2 hours/month]
Attendance at BC Association of Police Boards annual conference [3 days/year, voluntary]
Attendance at Canadian Association of Police Boards annual conference [4 days/year, voluntary]
Attendance at ongoing Board member orientation and training [estimated 2 hours/month]
Attendance at formal VPD events, informal workshops with Council/Parks Board/School Board etc [0-5 hours/month]
Preparation for Board and committee meetings [estimated 5-10 hours/month]

Remuneration and expenses

Board members are volunteers. They are paid a stipend, called a per diem, to cover incidental expenses incurred during their Board duties. Each Board members total annual remuneration is published by the City of Vancouver. The Boards per diem policy and rates are reviewed at least every two years by the Boards HR and Compensation Committee.

Board member expenses for travel are paid according to the City of Vancouvers travel policy.

Appointment process

You can find further information about the appointment process from the province’s Police Services Division and Board Resourcing and Development Office. The Board, municipal government and local community can all submit candidates for Board membership.

If you are a resident of Vancouver and are interested in serving your community as a member of the Vancouver Police Board, you can contact the Board Executive Director for information or you can submit your resumé to the Director of the Police Services Division.

¹ Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Womens Services, Candidates Guide: Local elections in British Columbia