Various advisory boards and committees in Richmond need volunteers.
But one advisory group, despite an ask from city council three years ago, still hasn’t been set up.
In fall of 2020, then-city councillor Kelly Greene asked city staff to look into setting up a women’s advisory committee, but, as yet, no information has come back to city council.
In her motion, Greene noted women are under-represented in government as only 28 per cent of elected officials are female.
Furthermore, only 3.5 per cent of CEOs are women and 19 per cent of board and executive positions are held by women, Greene said in her original motion.
“Implementing a Women’s Advisory Committee will benefit our entire community both for increasing civic political engagement and also increasing leadership opportunities for an underrepresented group,” she added.
The motion was supported unanimously by city council.
The current committees, boards and commissions provide feedback to city council in areas ranging from arts, culture and heritage, to recreation, social development and environmental awareness.
More than 60 positions are now open on 16 committees and boards for terms beginning in January.
Positions are open on the library board, the accessibility advisory board, the public art advisory board, the YVR environmental advisory committee, the Minoru Centre for Active Living program committee, among others.
The council-appointed roles are voluntary and committee sizes vary, as do the length of terms.
For more information, including a list of vacancies, application guidelines and the application form, go to www.richmond.ca/advisory or call 604-276-4007.
