Our second installment in our new Meet the Board series on our website features Vancouver Police Board (the Board) Vice-Chair and Board Spokesperson, Faye Wightman, BSCN, ICD.D.

Faye was appointed to the Board in August 2020. A well-respected philanthropic leader, Faye has spent decades in leadership positions in the not-for-profit sector. You can learn more about Faye’s background here.

While Board directors are appointed, it is a volunteer position. The dedication of Board directors – individuals like Faye – to the people of Vancouver is an important component of a well-functioning society. A main criterion for becoming a Board director is a strong tie to the community. Being a Board director involves a significant commitment and requires that those on the Board take time away from their personal and professional lives to fulfill their roles. As a part of this ongoing series, Faye has answered some questions about her work with the Board and what made her decide to become a director.

Q: What made you want to be a director on the Vancouver Police Board?

FW: I feel that it is important to contribute to my community, and taking on the role of director on the Board provided a key opportunity to do just that. I wanted to be able to use my learnings and experience in governance to assist the Board in providing responsive and accountable civilian oversight to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

I had obtained my Institute of Corporate Directors certificate and believed – and continue to believe – that the knowledge and skill sets that I gained through this program provide me with the opportunity to substantially engage in many areas that are important to the work being done by the Board.

Q: What do you feel you bring to the Board?

FW: Throughout my career I have worked with organizations that were founded on the principals of good governance. Often, I found myself in a leadership position where it fell on me to update, improve and increase efforts and achievements in this area. I have a strong belief in the value and benefit of good governance, and I also know how much work it takes to deliver that. I believe that this, along with decades of leadership experience running not-for-profit organizations, gives me unique insight and skill sets that I bring to my role on the Board.

Q: What do you wish the people of Vancouver knew about the Vancouver Police Board?

FW: That’s a good question. Along with understanding the responsibilities and role of the Board [which can be found here], I believe that it is key to understand that the Board is made up of a diverse group of people who volunteer their time and expertise for the betterment of the community. It is so important that we have a diverse range of perspectives and of personal and professional experience and expertise, and that we bring all of that together so that we can authentically represent the community of Vancouver – the community that we serve.

Stay tuned for more in this series.

If you are interested in becoming a Board director, you can learn more about the process here.