Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee

Mandate and scope

• Advises Council and staff on enhancing access and inclusion for persons with disabilities to fully participate in City services and civic life
• Advises Council and staff on the accessibility of City initiatives, plans, and programs, including the Vancouver Plan
• Works collaboratively with counterparts from other civic agencies to identify opportunities for joint action on issues of mutual interest
• Works co-operatively with external agencies and groups whose activities affect constituent communities
• Engages in outreach to disseminate information and encourage participation from constituent communities

Meeting and administrative procedures

• The Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee holds six regular meetings per year, in addition to working sessions generally scheduled during intervening months throughout the year.
• Type A Advisory Committees may, at their discretion, establish sub-committees focused on relevant topics of interest, non-members may participate in sub-committees and attend regular meetings if invited.
• A member who is absent from more than two consecutive regular meetings without a leave of absence is deemed to have resigned.

Remuneration

• Type A Advisory Committee members and alternate members are eligible to receive reimbursement for certain meeting-related expenses.
• Non-member subcommittee participants are not eligible to receive reimbursement.
• A light meal will be provided to Type A Advisory Committee members attending in-person regular meetings held over lunch or dinner hours.

Eligibility

Persons appointed to a Type A Advisory Committee shall meet the following essential criteria:

• Not be employed by the City of Vancouver
• Live or work in Vancouver, or have a significant body of experience with issues related to the mandate of the advisory body in Vancouver
• Have connections to relevant communities, groups, and/or organizations in Vancouver
• Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities, and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body
• Be able to work in a team environment with intercultural sensitivity

Term limit

Beginning in 2019, no member of the public shall serve for more than eight consecutive years on the same Type A Advisory Committee. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year of non-membership.

Terms of Reference

• Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee Full Terms of Reference 

Membership

Appointments end December 31, 2025

• Tasia Alexis
• John Atoyebi
• Peter Brown
• Vikram Bubber
• Salina Dewar
• Mikeal Frazer
• Niloofar Hedayati
• Tommy Leung
• Adam Roper
• Avery Shannon
• Casey Skinner
• Sarah van Baarsen

Liaisons

Council Liaison:

• TBA

Staff Liaison:

• Paul Storer, Director, Transportation

Vancouver School Board Liaisons:

• Trustee Christopher Richardson
• Trustee Lois Chan-Pedley (alternate)

Vancouver Board of Park and Recreation Liaison:

• Commissioner Tom Digby

Vancouver Public Library Liaison:

• Jennifer Streckmann, Coordinator, Accessible Services 

Vancouver Police Department Liaison:

• Sergeant Raj Jaswal

Terms and Membership Composition

Persons appointed to a Type A Advisory Committee shall meet the following essential criteria:

• Not be employed by the City of Vancouver;
• Live or work in Vancouver, or have a significant body of experience with issues related to the mandate of the advisory body in Vancouver;
• Have connections to relevant communities, groups, and/or organizations in Vancouver;
• Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities, and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body;
• Be able to work in a team environment with intercultural sensitivity.

Composition

• Up to 12 members of the public (quorum is a majority of appointed members);
• Greater than 50% of said members’ seats shall be filled by people who identify as a person with a disability;
• Up to 2 non-voting Council liaisons (appointed by the Mayor);
• Up to 2 non-voting staff liaisons (appointed by the City Manager).
• 1 non-voting Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioner liaison and/or staff liaison (optional);
• 1 non-voting Vancouver School Board Trustee liaison (optional);
• 1 non-voting Vancouver Public Library staff liaison (optional);
• 1 non-voting Vancouver Police Department staff liaison (optional).

Length of term

• Term ends immediately before the first Monday after November 1 in the year of a general local election. However, no regular meeting shall be held between the last day of the nomination period and general voting day.
• Members are appointed until December 31, 2025, at which point appointments are automatically renewable to the end of the term, and recruitment shall be conducted to fill any vacancies arising.
• Beginning in 2019, no member of the public shall serve in more than eight consecutive years on the same Type A Advisory Committee. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year of non-membership.

In addition to the regular meetings listed here, the Committee also meets several times per year for informal working sessions. Please contact the Meeting Coordinator for more information.

All meetings listed below are held on Thursdays at 5:30 pm, and are open to the public.  

2025 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2024 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2023 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2022 meetings, agendas and minutes

2021 meetings, agendas and minutes

2020 meetings, agendas and minutes

2019 meetings, agendas and minutes 

2018 meetings, agendas and minutes

2017 meetings, agendas and minutes

2016 meetings, agendas and minutes

2015 meetings, agendas and minutes

2014 meetings, agendas and minutes

2013 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2012 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2023-2026 Work Plan

• View the work plan

Report of Activities, 2021–2022

An overview of the committee's 2022 accomplishments.

View the Committee's report (pdf)

2021-2022 Work Plan

The 2021-2022 Work Plan summarizes the high priority objectives for the committee term and establishes an action plan to achieve those objectives.

• View the Work Plan  

2019-2020 in Review

An overview of the committee's accomplishments in 2019-2020, along with future goals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no Council of Councils event was held.

• View the report of activities

2017-2018 Work Plan

The 2017-2018 Work Plan summarizes the high priority objectives for the committee term and establishes an action plan to achieve those objectives.

• View the Work Plan PDF file (80 KB)

2017 in Review

An overview of the committee's 2017 accomplishments and future goals as presented at the Council of Council's on October 12, 2017.

• View the poster PDF file (297 KB)

2016 in Review

An overview of the committee's 2016 accomplishments and future goals as presented at the Council of Council's on November 9, 2016.

• View the poster PDF file (297 KB)

2012-2014 Term in Review

An overview of the committee's closing term accomplishments and recommendations for continuation of the work was presented at the Council of Council's December 2014.

• View the committee's presentation PDF file (191 KB)

Housing and support proposal for Pearson Dogwood Lands

The Committee outlined four housing and support models for future residents in response to the proposed Policy Statement for the Pearson Dogwood Lands Policy Planning Program. The Committee adopted the document on December 9, 2013

• View the Proposal for Housing and Support for the Pearson Redevelopment PDF file (60 KB)