Library Elects Executive Committee
February 23, 2026
Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) Board elects Chair, Vice Chair, and Executive Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nanaimo, BC – On Saturday, February 21, Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) marked the 90th Annual General Meeting and elected its officers and Executive Committee members for 2026.
Jonathan Lerner, District of Lantzville Councillor, was elected Board Chair by acclamation for a one-year term. Lerner served as Board Vice Chair and Chair of the Audit and Finance Special Committee in 2025. He provided leadership and insight as a member of the Executive Committee from 2023 to 2025, and as a member of the Audit and Finance Special Committee in 2024.
“I am pleased to take on this role and to work alongside such a skilled and dedicated Board of Trustees. Together, we will continue to support the vision of VIRL and strengthen the work already underway,” said Lerner. “Our strong service performance today is the foundation for the future. We will explore mobile infrastructure, operate effectively with affordable levies, and contribute to the quality of life in all communities we serve.”
Cheryl Northcott, Village of Tahsis was elected as Vice Chair for a one-year term. Northcott brings four years of experience with VIRL and six years as a Village of Tahsis Councillor to this Board leadership role.
The following eight members at large were elected to serve on the Executive Committee for a one-year term:
- Ann-Marie Baron, Town of Port McNeill
- Mary Beil, City of Parksville
- Penny Cote, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
- Travis Hall, Central Coast Regional District
- Russell Murray, Village of Port Alice
- John Rice, Strathcona Regional District
- Ali Sawyer, District of Tofino
- Jessica Stanley, Regional District of Nanaimo
Erin Hemmens, City of Nanaimo Councillor, will continue to serve on the Board as a Trustee in 2026. She is acclaimed as Past Board Chair and joins the Executive Committee in this capacity for a one-year term.
The VIRL Board welcomed the following new Trustees in 2026:
- Alberni-Clayoquot, Penny Cote
- Central Coast, Travis Hall
- Cowichan Valley, Ian Morrison
- Ladysmith, Deena Beeston
- Masset, Barry Pages
Returning VIRL Board Trustees include:
- Campbell River, Ron Kerr
- Capital, Al Wickheim
- Comox, Nicole Minions
- Comox Valley, Richard Hardy
- Courtenay, Wendy Morin
- Cumberland, Nick Ward
- Daajing Giids, Jesse Embree
- Duncan, Jennifer Capps
- Gold River, Alison Pringle
- Lake Cowichan, Lorna Vomacka
- Lantzville, Jonathan Lerner (Chair)
- Mount Waddington, Andrew Hory
- Nanaimo, Erin Hemmens (Past Chair)
- Nanaimo Region, Jessica Stanley
- North Coast, Evan Putterill
- North Cowichan, Tek Manhas
- North Saanich, Jack McClintock
- Parksville, Mary Beil
- Port Alberni, Todd Patola
- Port Alice, Russell Murray
- Port Clements, Kazamir Falconbridge
- Port Hardy, Treena Smith
- Port McNeill, Ann-Marie Baron
- qathet, Andrew Fall
- Qualicum Beach, Jean Young
- Sayward, Debbie Coates
- Sidney, Richard Novek
- Sooke, Al Beddows
- Strathcona, John Rice
- Tahsis, Cheryl Northcott (Vice Chair)
- Tofino, Ali Sawyer
- Ucluelet, Jennifer Hoar
- Zeballos, Ronald Deck
The Board of Trustees is comprised of elected representatives from 28 municipalities and 10 regional districts. Trustees administer a budget of more than $37 million to provide regional public library service to nearly 500,000 people. VIRL serves the territories of more than 53 First Nations, some of the fastest growing urban areas and among the most remote communities in Canada.
For 2026 Board Meeting schedule is available at https://virl.bc.ca/about/library-board.
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About Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL)
Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) connects and empowers island and coastal communities by providing equitable, barrier-free access to essential library services. We serve 38 jurisdictions spanning more than 42,000 km². VIRL is a vital hub for connection, discovery and community conversations throughout one of Canada’s most diverse regions.
For more information, interviews, or media inquiries, please contact:
VIRL Media Contact
Natasha Bartlett, Assistant Director of Marketing & Development
250.327.3114
nbartlett@virl.bc.ca
