Women's Advisory Committee

The mandate of the Women’s Advisory Committee is to advise Council and staff on enhancing access and inclusion for women and girls to fully participate in City services and civic life.

Meetings update

Meeting Format:

Civic Agency meetings may be in-person, electronic (as authorized by Section 14.14 of the Procedure By-law), or a hybrid of the two. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted online under the ‘Meetings’ tab below.

Virtual Meeting Platform:

Virtual meetings use Cisco WebEx Webinars (formerly Webex Events). No software download is required.

Attending Meetings:

  • To view a meeting online or listen by phone, follow instructions provided below.
  • Join link is made available at least 24 hours before the meeting.
  • For in-person attendance at City Hall, seek directions to the meeting room from Security staff. If arriving after 5:00 pm, enter via the 12th Avenue entrance by using the intercom (this entrance is equipped with a wheelchair ramp).

Note:

Unlike meetings of City Council, there is usually no public speaking option during Civic Agency meetings. Virtual attendees will be muted and unseen by meeting participants. If you wish to get in touch with a Civic Agency, please see the contact information at the bottom of this page.

Next Meeting Details:

  • Date: January 7, 2025
  • Time: 5:30 pm
  • Location: Cascadia Room, 3rd Floor, City Hall; Virtual (Webex Webinars)
  • Meeting Password: WADV (Dial 9238 from telephone keypad)

Joining via Webinar:

  • Click Join the Meeting (link will be updated the day before the meeting)
  • Enter the meeting password when prompted: WADV

Joining by Phone (Audio Only):

  • Dial 1-604-646-8916 (Local) or 1-855-699-3239 (Canada/US Toll-Free)
  • Enter the access code followed by pound:  2770 679 5320#
  • Enter numeric meeting password followed by pound: 9238#

Consent - Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

To view or participate in meetings virtually, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information outside Canada as described below. The City of Vancouver collects your personal information in accordance with section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for purposes of organizing and administering civic agency meetings. For virtual advisory body meetings, your contact information will be shared with the City’s web conferencing provider, Cisco WebEx. Information submitted to WebEx will be stored on servers in the United States and may be accessed in the United States or internationally for technical support purposes. If you have questions about the collection of this information, please contact the director of access to information and privacy by emailing privacy@vancouver.ca or mailing a letter to 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1V4.

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 

Membership

Appointments end December 31, 2024

  • Morrell Andrews
  • Alexandra Gunn
  • Nazma Lee
  • Serena Mohammed
  • Molly Needham
  • Alida Oegema Thomas
  • Avani Patel
  • Felicia Phan
  • Amy Robichaud

Liaisons

Council Liaison:

  • Councillor Rebecca Bligh

Staff Liaison: 

  • Carla Suarez, Senior Social Planner

Vancouver Public Library Liaison: 

  • Stephanie Kripps, Branch Head Terry Salman

Vancouver School Board Liaison:

  • Trustee Preeti Faridkot

Vancouver Police Department Liaison:

  • Inspector Kelly Risebrough

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.

2024 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
January 30, 2024 Agenda Minutes
March 26, 2024 Agenda Minutes
May 21, 2024 Agenda Minutes
July 30, 2024 Agenda Minutes
September 17, 2024 Agenda Minutes
November 19, 2024 Agenda Minutes

2023 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
July 18, 2023 Agenda Minutes
September 19, 2023 Agenda Minutes
November 21, 2023 Agenda Minutes

2022 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
January 11, 2022 Agenda Minutes
March 29, 2022 Agenda Minutes
May 24, 2022 Agenda Minutes
July 12, 2022 Agenda Minutes
September 13, 2022 Agenda Minutes

2021 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
July 27, 2021 Agenda Minutes
September 7, 2021 Agenda Minutes
November 9, 2021 Agenda Minutes

2020 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
January 14, 2020 Agenda Minutes
March 17, 2020 Cancelled  
June 16, 2020 Agenda Minutes
July 7, 2020 (Special Meeting) Agenda Minutes

2019 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
June 18, 2019 Agenda Minutes
October 29, 2019 Agenda Minutes
November 19, 2019 Agenda Minutes

2018 meetings, agendas, and minutes

The meetings listed below are open to the public.

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
February 27, 2018 Agenda Minutes
March 27, 2018 Cancelled  
May 22, 2018 Agenda Minutes
July 31, 2018 Agenda Minutes
September 25, 2018 Agenda Minutes
October 23, 2018 Agenda Minutes

2017 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
January 17, 2017 Agenda Minutes
March 21, 2017 Agenda Minutes
May 11, 2017 Agenda Minutes
July 18, 2017 Agenda Minutes
September 26, 2017 Agenda Minutes
November 21, 2017 Agenda Minutes

2016 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes
January 12, 2016 Agenda Minutes
March 15, 2016 Agenda Minutes
May 10, 2016 Agenda Minutes
July 5, 2016 Agenda Minutes
October 25, 2016 Agenda Minutes
December 6, 2016 Agenda Minutes

2015 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
April 7, 2015 Agenda Minutes

 July 14, 2015

Agenda

Minutes

 September 1, 2015 Agenda Minutes
 November 10, 2015 Agenda Minutes

2014 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
March 4, 2014 Agenda Minutes
April 8, 2014 Agenda Minutes
June 17, 2014 Agenda Minutes
November 4, 2014 Agenda Minutes

2013 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
February 5, 2013 Agenda Minutes
April 16, 2013 Agenda Minutes
September 10, 2013 Agenda Minutes
November 12, 2013 Agenda Minutes

2012 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
April 3, 2012 Agenda Minutes
May 8, 2012 Agenda Minutes
September 11, 2012 Agenda Minutes
December 11, 2012 Agenda Minutes

2023 - 2026 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.

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.

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.

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.

Resources for Civic Agency members

Follow the Women's Advisory Committee

Staff Contacts

Staff Liaison

Carla Suarez, Social Planner III, Social Policy & Projects

604-844-1727

carla.suarez@vancouver.ca

*Contact the Staff Liaison for subject matter expertise and information on City programs, services, and initiatives.

Clerk

Julie Emmerson, Committee Clerk

604-673-8385

julie.emmerson@vancouver.ca

*Contact the Clerk for information on meetings, schedules, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and procedure.