Donnie Rosa

General manager of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

With over 25 years of experience in parks, recreation, and culture operations, coupled with a degree in communications, Donnie Rosa (he/she/they) brings a brand of leadership focused on building a strong team and meaningful relationships.  Additionally, they have worked in mental health and homeless shelters, and have a breadth of experience working in community development, youth and seniors' programming, and the delivery of parks, unique gardens, trails, and open spaces to contribute to community resiliency and climate action.

In their prior role at the Park Board as Director of Recreation Services, Donnie was a key member of the team that successfully negotiated the new community centre joint operating agreement. Among their strengths is building relationships with colleagues and community partners, and respecting the challenges and rewards we all experience daily. Donnie is a champion of access and equity as a cornerstone to service delivery, with a priority focus on Truth and Reconciliation. Donnie is a settler working where they also currently live on the unceded, ancestral territories of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Along with having extensive municipal experience, they also have many very impressive accomplishments that range from being a professional hockey player, Hall of Fame inductee, and coach in the Team Canada program for the International Ice Hockey Federation, to being a committed and active community volunteer, as well as a multi-award winning leader, including receiving a Leadership Award at the City of Vancouver.