Women's Advisory Committee

Mandate and scope

• Advises Council and staff on enhancing access and inclusion for women and girls to fully participate in City services and civic life
• Advise Council and staff on the Women's Equity Strategy as it is developed, implemented, and updated
• 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 Women's 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.

Full guidelines 

• Women's Advisory Committee Full Terms of Reference

Membership

Appointments end November 1, 2026

• Morrell Andrews
• Alaina Chun
• Katsy Concepcion
• Ellie Lawson
• Nazma Lee
• Serena Mohammed
• Molly Needham
• Alida Oegema Thomas
• Avani Patel
• Amy Robichaud
• Shirin Shushtarian
• Olga Shcherbyna

Liaisons

Council Liaison:

• Councillor Rebecca Bligh

Vancouver Public Library Liaison: 

• Stephanie Kripps, Branch Head Terry Salman

Vancouver Police Department Liaison:

• Inspector Kelly Risebrough

Vancouver School Board Liaison:

• Trustee Preeti Faridkot

Vancouver Park Board Liaison:

• Commissioner Angela Haer

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) who identify as women;
• Up to 2 non-voting Council liaisons (appointed by Mayor);
• Up to 2 non-voting staff liaisons (appointed by 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, 2024, 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.

2025 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2024 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2023 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2022 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

2021 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

2020 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

2019 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2018 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

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)

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

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 (211 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

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.

• Read final report PDF file (738 KB)
• View the committee's presentation PDF file (155 KB)